Morris in 2051
By Robert Hill, Morris Central School, 2026
Morris has always been a small rural town in Otsego County. Right now there is a population of about 1,800 people in the 39.1 square miles in between Route 51 and Route 23. But in 25 years this might be changed as a whole. In 2051, this small town for all we know could turn into something bigger than anything expected. But to look forward, we have to look back to see what this town once was.
The year is 1870 and Morris is celebrating 100 years after being settled. The village, Louisville, was renamed the Village of Morris so post offices would not get confused with the other Louisville in New York. The population of the Village alone was 601 and the town had 2,253 people. This was 30 to 40 years after the town’s “stone age” as many buildings at the time were built of stone such as the Zion Church and JK Lull Shoe Shop. By 1870, however, the shop was transformed into a dry goods store succeeded by Lull’s son. The Rotch House was also built around 1830 and was 40 years old at this point and held some of the first natural stone in the area. Many factories were also currently in use such as the Butternut Woollen and Cotton Factory, formed around 1820, and the Hargrave Factory, built in 1830 which was similar to the grist mill. People in 1870 came to work at these factories, providing income for their families.
If we go forward from that by 50 years, Morris isn’t looking too good. The year is 1920 and the population in both the town (1,200) and village (420) are at all time lows. The Rotch House is still standing strong and there is a very successful Manor near the north border of the town. People are leaving to find better places of work for the Roaring 20s. The town doesn’t look like it will survive for much longer, but The Otsego County Fair was moved to Morris and seems to be the only thing bringing people back.
Fifty years after the Roaring 20s, Morris survives. People are back both in the town (1,630) and the village (675). However, some places are going out of business but there are still different types of factors keeping people here for work. Most places built just 100 years ago were knocked down and replaced by different things, losing their past as well.
Now we get to 2026, populations are starting to drop again in both the town (1,791) and village (486) again and are almost hitting all time lows just like in the 1920s. The only company that has been open for more than 30 years in Morris is Dr. Naylor and his Udder balm for cows. Other than that, there are the churches still such as the Zion Church and others such as the Methodist Church on Church Street. Another solid institution in the village is the school, which has been standing and expanded since the late 1800s. It holds many community events for people to come see like concerts and the musical and has other events like the Senior Luncheon which honors and thanks our senior citizens.
What I want to see this town and village become is for it to return to its past glory and more. People came here for work and to help support their families with places right in town. It was a great place to raise families and it still is. Even though there are barely any businesses in town now, Morris is growing with the addition of shops such as The Gatehouse and a new bank. And now there is money to spend with a major grant our community won to beautify our town and make it a more desirable town to live, work, and play in. I would like to see a bustling community again by 2051 with a good industry for people again. I would love to walk down one of the sidewalks and meet someone new who moved here for a job opportunity that this town provides. I could go on about the natural beauty of this town also with the distinct pine smell and the many farms in the area, seeing livestock and the corn fields, but I know the community that is already here has no plans to ruin the natural element of the town. I could see a new factory or producer like maybe a grist mill again that makes local cereal using local goods or bringing more dairy farms back. There could also be newer ways to bring people back with better Internet, a local health center, and shops. Morris could also capitalize on the fact that it is the perfect bedroom community. It is close to places of work while being the perfect escape from more populated areas. Maybe our town could have more housing for people because the distance to jobs for people to live here is perfect and would not struggle for work. It would bring more people into the town and village and they would get to see the beauty I grew up seeing too. I want others to have the blessings of growing up here as I did.