(3/21) Carroll Valley Borough is gearing up to commemorate its 50th anniversary later this year. To mark this special occasion, each month, we will feature articles highlighting the rich history of our community, stories of notable residents and their contributions, and updates on the Borough's plans for the upcoming celebration. Stay tuned for a trip down memory lane and a look towards the future of Carroll Valley.
The valley of Carroll’s Delight
Kathy Megyeri
To know and love Carroll Valley on this 50th anniversary year is to see from whence it came and to explore its colorful, tumultuous, and treasured past. After studying the Borough archives and the many items collected by long-time resident and local businessman Charles Dalton, here is an abbreviated history of Carroll Valley Borough’s humble beginnings.
Charnita Development
Originally intended as a luxurious resort community nestled against the mountains, Charnita was to be a haven for the wealthy seeking outdoor recreation. In the late 1960s, landowner Charles Rist was granted permission by Liberty Township supervisors to subdivide hundreds of acres into thousands of lots. Though Rist's vision was bold, the required infrastructure was extensive. Despite challenges related to inadequate infrastructure, by 1970, 5,000 buyers had expressed interest in the half-acre lots. However, concerns soon arose as citizens realized that the sold lots were unsuitable for building due to soil conditions and road maintenance was lacking. By 1973, a documentary titled "Trouble in Paradise" was featured on a D.C. television station, highlighting the community's issues.
As such, Charnita filed for bankruptcy to salvage what it could. Roads were deteriorating, lights were being turned off because electric bills were unpaid, and properties were desolate and neglected. Even the ski slope’s facilities and public park were decaying and in disrepair.
Citizens Unite
But residents came to the rescue. Talented professionals from nearby major cities teamed with local inhabitants to solve the dire economic situation. Charnita, now called Ski Liberty, had become a popular destination, but it was falling into extensive disrepair; 65 miles of roads were not maintained, and snow removal was marginal. A citizens' action group was sorely needed. A group known as the Tri-Township Citizens Association sued the supervisors for approving the plan. They claimed that improving the vacant lots would require sewage and road construction costs that the municipalities could not afford. Charnita agreed and posted bonds it claimed were sufficient to provide a sewer system and roads adequately.
Charnita, Inc. attempted to quell resentment directed toward them by forming the Carroll Valley Citizens Association (CVCA). The "Citizens Association" sounded like a great way to promote community while protecting the divided properties existing residents opposed to the newcomers owning.
In March 1974, Judge Clinton R. Weidner ruled that Charnita's bonds were inadequate. The plans also did not meet sewage disposal or road construction code requirements. Charnita was to cease developing the lands. Charnita was in ruins, and it went bankrupt.
Retired U.S. Ambassador John M. Steeves, one of the purchasers in Charnita, was asked to take leadership of the CVCA. CVCA membership was determined by property ownership within the boundaries of what would become Carroll Valley Borough. It began with 36 members but three years later counted 2000 participants. Their ambitious plan was to petition Pennsylvania courts to create a municipality with taxing authority to raise the funds needed to complete infrastructure.
The importance of a name cannot be overstated. Ambassador Steeves and the community members understood that to gain acceptance, they had to separate themselves from the now despised Charnita Community and embrace the historical connection and natural surroundings. To do this, they named their community after a portion of land known as "Carroll's Delight," which was given to Charles Carroll in 1732 by the State of Maryland. The CVCA members were proud of this history, and the chosen name is a tribute to it and a departure from the initial name of the community (Charnita, named after Charles and Juanita Rist).
A Borough is Born
The Borough of Carroll Valley was established on September 30, 1974, following a successful petition from more than eighty percent of its prospective freeholders. This unique formation resulted from Charnita, Inc.'s collapse and the indifference of local township officials toward the affected residents and landowners. The Borough's boundaries were designed to encompass the most built-up areas of the Charnita development, but not all, with some non-development farms, orchards, and residential properties remaining within its limits. These boundary lines have remained unchanged, enclosing 5.5 square miles of land and water over a distance of 21.5 miles and containing over 70 miles of roads within the Borough.
The Carroll Valley Citizens Association succeeded in incorporating the Charnita Development into Carroll Valley Borough, and Ambassador Steeves was elected its first mayor. In 1975, the newly elected seven council members and a mayor faced the reality that they had no assets or equipment to maintain the infrastructure. Thus, the council floated a loan from a local bank to conduct temporary business until revenue started to flow.
This new Borough moved quickly to prevent haphazard construction by implementing proper zoning and planning and a police force to ensure its desirability to prospective homeowners. State assistance made it possible for 43 miles of roads to be properly maintained with plans for adequate snow removal. The Borough bought the 20-acre park to become a community picnic and recreational area. The Citizens Association refurbished, beautified, and renamed it Carroll Commons. An old snack shack in the park was converted into the Carroll Valley Borough Office. Volunteer help had its limitations, so a permanently paid staff was necessary. In 1975, the Borough hired six administrative staff/laborers and 2 Police Officers.
Although its recreational facilities are currently its most significant asset, the most prominent attractions are the well-managed Borough, the desirable environment, and the security that ensures pleasant living.
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