Springfield’s Henderson retires

Harry Henderson has retired after 15 years as Springfield's public works director.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20121030/NEWS02/710309957

Harry Henderson, retiring Springfield Public Works Director, poses beside his truck. Photo: Len Emery Photo Published October 30, 2012 in the Rutland Herald Springfield’s Henderson retires By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — After 15 years as Springfield’s public works director, Harry Henderson has seen a lot. A lot of pot holes. A lot of snow-covered roads. A lot of headaches. “But I’ve got rose-colored sunglasses,” said Henderson last week, a few days after his retirement was announced. Henderson turned 65 on Oct. 2, and his last two weeks on the job will be spent training for his new vocation: He will spend it on vacation, mostly at deer camp with his brothers in Tigertown, a part of Hartford, getting ready for the 2012 deer season. “I’m a hunting junkie,” he said. He’s has already hung out his shingle, so to speak, as a fishing escort, similar to a guide. “You don’t stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing,” said Henderson, who before he started work in Springfield was the town manager in Manchester, city manager in Lebanon, N.H., a sales manager and a consultant. Last weekend, the Henderson clan celebrated the 65th anniversary of the family’s Tigertown camp, which is located in a remote area of Hartford, his hometown. “I’m a native of New Hampshire, but I hated it so after three days I moved to Hartford, Vt.,” jokes Henderson, a reference to being born in Hanover, N.H., at the old Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital. Henderson, who came to Springfield after a career that included working for Dufresne-Henry Engineering, said he has always enjoyed working, but he recently decided retirement was his next step. “Life has an expiration date,” he said. Henderson said his main goal as public works director was to “build a team” of people who plow the roads and sidewalks, keep roadsides cleared and make sure those all-important water and sewer systems are working just fine. John Johnson has taken over Henderson’s duties as public works director for the time being, said Town Manager Robert Forguites. “I’m just the orchestrator,” he said, giving credit for his public works crew for keeping Springfield’s 180 miles of road in good condition in all weather. Henderson loves Vermont, he’s a member of the 256 Club in good standing, having visited 230 of the 256 towns, villages and hamlets in the Green Mountain State. His family has deep ties in Hartford and Morrisville. Henderson was not above blending his two lives — being a public works director and fishing and tying flies. “I used to pick up road kill and I picked up a fox belly one time, and put it in a plastic bag”– and put it in his truck’s glove box. It became a “moving” experience, said Henderson. “I’ve learned you never should lose your sense of humor.” Henderson has written a book, which he said will be published in September 2013. Titled, “The Last Saturday of September: The Spouse and Girlfriend’s Guide to Hunting Camps,” is all about his passion of hunting. “Most of it was written while quietly waiting on a deer stand,” said Henderson. He said he carried a small, orange, waterproof survey book with him while he was in the woods, and he would jot down experiences and events. “It’s a story about why we all enjoy and go to camp, whether it is hunting, fishing or other sporting camps,” he said. He said he would be dedicating the book to his wife, who he said, ponders “why the hell does he love that old camp so?” “I’m hopeful that this explains the reason,” he said. He also plans on spending a lot of time on the water — fly fishing or being a fly-fishing “escort,” the main difference between a “guide” and an “escort” being the level of insurance you have to cover. Henderson, a gregarious man, has already started a new business, “Fly By Night: In Search of Water” and has volunteered time with Casting for Recovery and Project Healing Water. “I’m going to spent time with my family, particularly my wife Diana,” said Henderson. The Hendersons have been married for 43 years, and Henderson said his wife — his Hartford High School sweetheart — is his opposite. “She doesn’t hunt,” he said. The Hendersons live just over the town line from North Springfield in Chester. “It’s the best maintained road in town,” he jokes. They have one son, Jeffrey, who is a commercial fisherman in Nantucket, and Henderson proudly whips out his new fancy iPhone and shows off a massive tuna his son recently landed and sold. “Look at that fish,” he says.