In these days fraught with danger, give yourself and your family and friends time to relax while celebrating Bricklyn Founders Day * at Lake Bricklyn Park. * Bricklyn Founders Day coincides with National Lego Day.
Games for people of all ages / Enjoy the offerings from a dozen food trucks / The Bricklyn String Ensemble at 1 pm / Pétanque with the Alliance Française at 2 pm / Water skiing experts demo at 3 pm / Bricklyn trivia challenge at 4 pm / Dancing for all from 5 to 8 pm / Spectacular Fireworks Display over the Lake at 8:30 pm
Scenes from last year’s Founders Day Celebration
All photos taken by The Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, with help from Dall E-3 AI.
One of the most puzzling aspects of Bricklyn to Outlanders (i.e.,humans) is the fact that only about one-quarter of the Realm of Bricklyn can be seen by them when they visit Bricklyn. The remainder is blocked from view by the Great Wall of Bricklyn.
What the Great Wall Means for Outlanders
The historic Stansbury Hotel, once threatend with demolition by Dunk Them Donuts, is at the heart of downtown Bricklyn Jct. While the Great Wall prevents Outland visitors from seeing any of Bricklyn Jct., Outlanders can view photos provided by Bricklynites of these otherwise off-limits parts of The Realm. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson. for The Bricklyn Eagle, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
What is hidden by the Great Wall?
Most significantly, most of South Bricklyn (including the airport; the regional high school; and the medical center) and all of Bricklyn Junction, including its historic downtown.
A substantial portion of the city of Bricklyn itself — including most residential districts — is also shielded by the Wall from the view of Outland visitors.
What is NOT hidden by the Great Wall and visible to Outlanders?
Bricklyn Harbor, and part of downtown. Also visible is the Brick Rail bridge connecting Bricklyn to South Bricklyn and beyond. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson for The Bricklyn Eagle, taken from NewsChopper5.
Downtown Bricklyn (including government offices; the courthouse; city hall; the theater; the natural history museum; the arboretum; and the central railroad station);
Photo by Walt Brickman (with assistance from Dall E-3) of a portion of the south side of The Great Wall of Bricklyn with its strange patterns. Different sections of the Wall have different patterns on the face of the Wall.
Portions of the Great Wall of Bricklyn have strange, intricate patterns and designs.
The Great Wall’s Origins
No one in Bricklyn, including historians and scientists, can fully explain the origins of these patterns and designs, or how the Great Wall acts to block Outlanders’ view of those portions of the Realm outside the Great Wall.
According to Bricklyn’s Chief Historian, Winifred Tiler Jackson:
“The Great Wall was constructed, according to plastic residue dating, in the first half of the fifth century BCE by some ancient people, perhaps castaways in the ‘New World,’ but with remarkable skills that we are only now beginning to understand.
Illustration of possible ancient peoples living at the site of present-day Bricklyn. Image prepared by Dall E-3 AI, with input from historian W.T. Jackson.
“Hidden in a corner of present day Vermont, The Great Wall ‘s presence kept the area now known as Bricklyn unseen by humans — undoubtedly a protective blessing. These ancient peoples, for reasons not yet known to historians, disappeared from the area by the second century BCE.
“It was not until the early 18th century that a shipload of LEGO people voyaged to colonial America in search of the remarkable wall that they had heard about from long-time legends.
Visualization of Colonial-era Bricklynites alongside a section of The Great Wall. Prepared by Dall E-3 AI. based on informational prompts from Bricklyn Chief Historian W.T. Jackson.
“At least a dozen of these Bricklynites (then called ‘Little Vermonters’) served with distinction as spies with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. The Bricklynites’ extremely small size — and their courage — proved to be invaluable assets to the American cause.
“Remarkably, within two years of arriving they had found The Great Wall, and began building the settlement they called Bricklyn, largely within the protective confines of the Wall. This was, of course, three centuries before the great emigration of LEGO peoples from Denmark in the 1970s and ’80s, including a wave of migrants who sought a new home in the cities of Bricklyn, South Bricklyn, and Bricklyn, Junction, Vermont.”
Walled Villages & Cities in Medieval Times
Historian Jackson has also researched walled villages in other Inland realms, and considers it likely that ancestors of many Bricklyn families would have lived in walled realms like those shown in the renderings below during Europe’s “Middle Ages.”
Visualizations above of walled cities ancestors of today’s LEGO people might have looked like.Images generated by Dall E-3 AI, based on data inputs from Bricklyn Historian W.T. Jackson.
Historian Jackson also asked us to link to the following two videos. The first briefly explores Europe’s heritage of defensive city walls, and how they helped define the shape of cities. The second video provides quite fascinating aerial views of 15 walled cities — though Jackson recommends watching the second video with the sound off, as she found the narrator’s “voice” quite irritating!
Tunnels through the Great Wall of Bricklyn
Even though the Great Wall of Bricklyn remains hidden from Outlanders, Bricklynites easily navigate through the Wall using any of eighteen short tunnels. Eleven are solely for pedestrians and cyclists, while three serve Brick Rail freight and passenger trains. and the final four are for cars, buses, and trucks..
Most of the these passages connect areas in downtown Bricklyn and its near downtown neighborhoods with adjoining parts of South Bricklyn or Bricklyn Junction. Two of the bike/ped tunnels and one of the rail tunnels are shown below. Photos by Bricklyn Eagle staff photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
Drawing Inspiration from The Great Wall to Help Meet Bricklyn’s Housing Needs
Bricklyn’s Great Wall Street — which runs along portions of the Great Wall — is the focus of new zoning provisions which will allow for dense new high-rise buildings on a number of lots facing the Great Wall.
The Bricklyn Planning Commission felt that allowing taller buildings along the east side of Great Wall Street would better match the height and scale of the Great Wall (which parallels the west side of the street) while also helping address housing shortages within the Realm.
Bricklyn Planning Director Tim Brickedy and his staff drafted the necessary zoning changes and then shepherded them through the Federal Council, which adopted them just this past September.
Portions of the Great Wall of Bricklyn (on left) bordering Great Wall Street. On the right, facing the Great Wall, would be new housing.
Two residential projects are already on the drawing board, once again teaming Dunk Them Donuts CEO Dave Broffman with Bricklyn architect Moshi Saftbrick.
See several of Saftbrick’s initial renderings.
“The new buildings,” Saftbrick told The Bricklyn Eagle, “would respond to the chiseled, layered look of the ancient Great Wall, while bringing to Bricklyn a cleaner, contemporary design.”
Historian W.T. Jackson adds this historical footnote: “In the above photo rendering, note the ‘Star of David’ motif on the section of the ancient Wall located at the corner of Lower North Street and Great Wall Street. I’m not alone in wondering whether this could reflect the presence in ancient Bricklyn of one of the ‘lost tribes’ of Israel. Plastic residue dating of this part of the Wall has proven inconclusive.” Illustrations by Dall E-3 AI based on prompts by Moshi Saftbrick and his team.
Edited in Prisma app with TokyoEdited in Prisma app with Tokyo
Renderings by Dall E-3 AI based on prompts provided by architect Moshi Saftbrick and his team.
Additional Resources for Understanding The Great Wall
Below: nighttime view of portion of Bricklyn Jct., on a snowy, Winter night. The fact that there’s snow on the ground makes clear that the we are OUTSIDE the Great Wall of Bricklyn. Portions of the Realm of Bricklyn OUTSIDE the Wall are subject to the same weather as in Burlington, Vermont.
In contrast, those areas INSIDE the Wall are located in the basement of an Outlander, where it never snows or rains! For more on weather phenomena in Bricklyn, see the interview with meteorologist Tiler Brickoski linked to above. — Photo by Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
Four times each year: on the first Monday of December, March, June, and September Bricklynites of all ages take the morning off to clean up Bricklyn — while having a lot of fun. It’s called Clean Day Bricklyn.
As most readers probably recognize, all of Bricklyn is made of a specially formulated LEGO brand of plastic. As a result, it is very important that the surfaces of all buildings, streets, sidewalks — as well as “natural” surfaces such as stones, grass, flowers, and even Bricklyn’s lakes and bay — are regularly given a good scrubbing.
Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson went out in the field to capture some of today’s Clean Day action, and also had her recorder running so she didn’t have to write down notes. She started by the steps of Bricklyn City Hall.
Photo by The Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
[Ann Tiler Anderson for The Bricklyn Eagle] Here we are at City Hall, and glad I have my camera ready because City Hall staff are out in force scrubbing the steps leading up to the entry door. There’s City Clerk Gil B. Gilbertson in the gray suit on the first step. Clerk. Gilbertson, good morning. How are things going?
[City Clerk Gilbertson] Hi Ann. Couldn’t be a better thing to do on a sunny December morning than give our City Hall a good scrubbing. But got to do something about these gritty tiles we’ve been encountering; may need to replace them unless our tougher scrubbing brushes work. We’re going to give them a try.
Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson (left) speaking with Bricklyn Treasurer of the Realm Abigail Plater Jeffries (right). Photo taken by City Clerk Gilbertson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
[Bricklyn Eagle]] I also see Abigail Plater Jeffries, the Treasurer of the Realm, standing near the top steps. How are you doing Madame Treasurer?
[Treasurer Jeffries] Doing great! Glad to see The Bricklyn Eagle covering this event; it’s so much fun! Oh my, I just got soaked. Wait a sec. Yes, we Bricklynites know that besides having fun — and getting some exercise — what we’re all doing today is saving the Realm about ten thousand CuDos ,funds that would otherwise be needed in the DPW budget if city employees were to do this work.
[Bricklyn Eagle]. Thanks Treasurer Jeffries … I’m now walking over to the East Side Gazebo Park. Should just take about ten minutes.
Photo by The Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
[Bricklyn Eagle] Here we are. What a happy crowd of Bricklynites! Let me speak with the red-capped gentleman holding the red hose. Hi, sir, yes, can I ask you a question? I’m Ann with The Bricklyn Eagle. What’s your name, and why are you taking the time to be here spraying this morning? [Bill] JHi. I’m Bill. Love these Clean Days. What a great way to meet neighbors and clean up our LEGO bricks, tiles, and plates. Just spoke with a couple of visitors to Bricklyn, said they’re from Brickover, New Hampshire. There’s one of them, the young lady with the pony tail on the Gazebo platform. Think she said her name is Laurie. [Bricklyn Eagle] Bill, anything surprise you today. [Bill] Just that every Clean Day we have seems more enjoyable than the one before.
Laurie B. …. photo by The Bricklyn Eagle’s Gloria Vanderbrick, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
[Bricklyn Eagle] I’m heading up to the steps of the gazebo to speak with the young lady with the pony tail. Hi ma’am. I’m Ann with The Bricklyn Eagle. Mind if I ask you a question? But first, what’s your name? [Laurie B.] My name is Laurie B. [Bricklyn Eagle] Laurie B., what brings you here today? [Laurie B.] I’m here with some friends. We came up from Brickover, New Hampshire to join in Bricklyn’s Clean Day. Took the Brickstar train. That sure was fun, and so is doing this clearing. Made some new friends here too. We need something like this in our Realm. We’re going to let our councilors know we want to start up a Clean Day in Brickover!
Photo by The Bricklyn Eagle’s Gloria Vanderbrick, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
[Bricklyn Eagle] There will also be some music here at the gazebo at Noon, as soon as Clean Day cleaning wraps up. Are you staying for that? [Laurie B.] Wouldn’t miss it. That’s why we’re taking the overnight train back to Brickover. So my friends and I will be here for the music, then walk around a bit before heading over to The Bricklyn Diner. We heard it’s a great place for some good home cooking … and it’s not far from the train station!
[Bricklyn Eagle] I’m heading over now to Bricklyn’s Red Brick Middle School. Should take about fifteen minutes. Will post some photos on the way over there as I’ll be passing through the Eastside neighborhood.
[Bricklyn Eagle] A lot going on in Eastside. Took a bunch of photos, but these two are typical of the Clean Day activities I was seeing.
Photos of Eastside neighbors taken by The Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
[Bricklyn Eagle] OK. Just got to the Red Brick School. Sure looks like everyone is busy, and smiles on all the kids’ faces. Lots of them have their overhauls on. Smart idea. Let’s see who’d like to talk to me … Young man, yes, you holding the gold-colored bucket in front, I’m Ann with The Bricklyn Eagle, can I ask your name? [Peter] I’m Peter [Bricklyn Eagle] Peter, do you like Clean Day Bricklyn? [Peter] It’s fun to clean things up with all these suds around. Plus, no classes this morning, which is a good thing since I didn’t get all my homework done. Hey, are you recording this!? [Bricklyn Eagle] Don’t worry. Tell you a secret Peter, I never did homework on Clean Days when I also went to this very school. The teachers don’t expect it … and I even see two of your teachers there by the front door helping out with some spraying.
Students in front of Red Brick Middle School on Clean Day Bricklyn. Photo by The Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
[Bricklyn Eagle] I’m going up to the young lady on the lowest step with the spiky orange hair and holding a spray hose. Hi. I’m Ann with The Bricklyn Eagle. What’s your name? [Al] Hi. I’m Alene. But you can call me Al. [Bricklyn Eagle] Al, what do you like best about Clean Day Bricklyn? [Al] In class last week we talked about our community, and what makes it strong and a good place to live. I think our Clean Days are part of the spirit that brings us together. I like that. [Bricklyn Eagle ] Couldn’t have said it better. Thanks, Al, and enjoy the rest of Clean Day!
[Ann Tiler Anderson for The Bricklyn Eagle] That’s all from me, Walt. Dropping my photos and recording off at The Eagle offices. Hope you can use them, and thanks for the fun assignment. Hope the Eagle staff also took part in Clean Day Bricklyn! ✥
The Bricklyn Eagle staff cleaning exterior of The Eagle Building on Clean Day Bricklyn, Dec. 2, 2024. Photo by Walt Brickman, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
For more about another way Bricklyn students engage wiith the community, learn about the teen-run organization, One Bricklyn.
To the Editor: Just took a look at your very interesting article. I’m what I guess you call an Outlander, since I’m from New Jersey. I like reading your paper online, but I know there’s a lot I still don’t understand about Bricklyn. Wouldn’t your Clean Day Bricklyn also involve folks picking up trash along roadways or in parks? Your reporter didn’t mention this. That’s what we really could use having cleaned up here in our Garden State, not spraying and scrubbing everything in sight. — Cindy L, New Jersey
Reply from the Editor: Sorry some aspects of Clean Day Bricklyn weren’t adequately explained. The spraying and soapy scrubbing is needed to keep the LEGO bricks in good shape so they don’t get grimy or discolored as they age.
As to your other question, there’s almost no litter to pick up in Bricklyn’s parks, along roadways, or in any public space. One of the characteristics of Bricklynites is they love keeping public spaces neat and clean. They simply rarely litter, and when they do it’s pretty much by accident. Also, any time Bricklynites spot a piece of litter, they’ll just pick it up and bring it to the nearest trashor recycling bin. It’s no big deal, and just part of being “community minded.” However, being located in an enclave in the State of Vermont, we’re also impressed by our adopted home state’s annual Green Up Vermont day.
