The Montvert Hotel
A Service-Learning Project, A Personal Growth Experience

by Sarah Jones
  The following article was written by sophomore student Sarah Jones as part of an evaluation of her participation in the Montvert Project-- an historical archaeology community research project funded by a Learn & Serve America grant given to Troy Academy of Green Mountain College. Says Pamela Lewis of Poultney High School, "we work with students from Troy Academy, Poultney High School and Middletown Springs Elementary School along with community members from Middletown Springs and the Middletown Springs Historical Society. Sarah, along with graphic arts student Tim Fonte, designed a brochure describing the Montvert Hotel, to be placed in the Middletown Springs Park and the Historical Society Museum, to inform visitors about the hotel and healing water springs... I was touched by the personal growth Sarah gained through doing this project and her honest appraisal of her experience. We hope the article... will inspire other students to try community service learning."
 
I took part in a community service project for the Middletown Springs Historical Society during the Spring of 1997, working with a partner to make a brochure telling about the Montvert Hotel. The brochure was designed to tell the history of the Montvert Hotel and to remind people of what it was like in Middletown Springs one hundred years ago. This resort was very popular near the end of the nineteenth century, but after the turn of the century its popularity quickly declined so the hotel was torn down. Working with the project supervisor, Pamela Lewis, who is part of the faculty at Poultney High School, we learned about the printing process and how to put facts together into technical writing.
 
I learned a lot from this project about the printing process but also about life. Calling printers forced us to deal with other people and become comfortable talking with business people and other adults. Often I had to work with others and cooperate in order to get a good outcome and a professional looking brochure. I enjoyed putting pictures into our brochure and seeing it finally come together. At the beginning of the project I was nervous and sometimes uncomfortable with giving my opinion. I probably should have spoken up more often because I may have seemed uninterested. As the project went along I became more comfortable and confident in speaking my mind and giving my opinions and that helped me to get along with others.
 
I only got small criticisms about how things were written, but they were always given to me as suggestions that I thought about and often used. I learned that I can't always help making mistakes and when I do make them that there is nothing I can do but think it over, maybe change it, and move on. I also learned that if I am friendly and take an interest in other people thy are usually more interested and comfortable with me.
The best parts of this project were when we accomplished our goals. Every time I typed something up or finished making changes I felt proud and satisfied because I had done it on my own. I also felt proud of myself for asking people to help when I needed it and listening carefully to nay advice. I felt important when people complemented me on my work.
 
This project took several steps and a lot of patience but in the end I think it paid off. I think that community service is very important to society because it helps out in ways that others may not have thought of or that no one else is willing to do. It is always a good feeling to know that you have accomplished something and that others appreciate it. It will seem even better when we finish the brochure and know that others will see it.
Community service projects are also important because they look good on college applications and they can also be put on job applications. Community service is commendable because it helps people in need and will also give the community a positive view for future projects because people look for the good things that others do. It is always profitable to know more people and have more connections and to know that people trust you and think that you are a responsible person. I enjoyed my community service project and I hope to do a lot more in the future.