John Norton, Granville booster
By Erik Pekar
There are many ways one can get involved with their town or village in their life – joining civic organizations, owning a business, supporting the community, even going into public office on the municipal board. And lifelong Granville resident John “Hector” Norton has done it all.
The story begins at the place it all started – a house on Irving Avenue in the Village of Granville, in which lived the family of William and Anna Norton. “I was born at home on Irving Avenue, January 13, 1924,” said Norton. “It was before we had a hospital [in Granville].” He joined his parents and older sister Clare in the house. A few years later, when he was about 5 years old, the family moved to the Pine Hill neighborhood. “I grew up on Pine Hill,” said Norton. “I lived there for 20 years.”
Norton attended the Granville public schools of district 7, graduating from Granville High School in 1940. He enlisted in the Navy. “I joined the Navy in 1942,” recalled Norton, “I served in the South Pacific.” He was discharged in April 1946.
Upon returning home from his time in the Navy, Norton was met with a surprise. “I got home on Good Friday,” remembered Norton,” and my father said, ‘We’re going to be busy in the store tomorrow, can you come and help?’ I went to work the day after I got home.” This began a long career of working at the Granville store of the Wilson Clothing Company, known to many as Wilson’s.
In 1950, Norton met the love of his life. “I married Noreen Casey from Glens Falls on August 20, 1950,” recalled Norton. He bought a house on Pine Hill, and together John and Noreen raised 8 children: William, John David, Aileen, Thomas, Ann, Michael, Stephen, and Kevin. During the family’s time on Pine Hill, they also welcomed in the other kids of the neighborhood to their house, collectively referred to in an affectionate way as the “Pine Hill gang”.
Norton entered other endeavors in Granville. “I’ve always been a great Granville booster,” said Norton, and added, “I was quite involved with the Granville community.” He joined, and was involved with, the Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, the VFW, and other groups. He was also particularly involved with Main Street. “I did a lot for Main Street,” remembered Norton. “Sidewalk sales, Friday night raffle drawings … thousands of people came to Main Street to hear if their name would be called [as the winner of the drawing].” Norton was heavily involved with Granville Homecoming Days celebration, a two-day event that had lots of events on both days, including a seven-division parade on the second day. “In 1959 Frank Caiazza and I organized Homecoming Days. We did a damn good job on that,” Norton recalled.
In the early 1960s, Norton ran for the office of village trustee, which he won. He recalled that at the time that village politics were entrenched in old ways, and he wanted to see change and improvements. A few years later, in 1967, he ran for mayor. “I was elected Mayor [of the village] twice,” recalled Norton. In his time as mayor, Norton was involved with the early planning of the expansion and renovation of the village sewer system, and other improvements, including softening the sharp turn from Quaker Street to West Main Street to its present form.
In the late summer of 1969, Norton and his family moved from Pine Hill to the quiet area of North Granville, buying the old Fraser house. The Nortons lived there for about 40 years. Just as happened when they lived on Pine Hill, the children of North Granville were frequent visitors to their residence.
By the late 1960s, Norton had also become involved with the Wilson’s store in the village of Saranac Lake, in the Adirondacks. “I went there at least once a week,” recalled Norton. “That was a great town, and Lake Placid too.” The mention of Lake Placid would bring to mind that two Winter Olympics were held there, and Norton was too. “I was there [at Lake Placid] for the 1980 Olympics,” said Norton. “That was some thrill.”
The ownership of the Wilson’s clothing store chain, by the 1970s, was solely in the hands of the two Nortons, Clare O’Brien (the same as mentioned prior) and Carleton Wilson, son of the founder of the store. Wilson, then in his early 90s, sold his share to the other owners in 1979. That same year, William J. Norton passed away; he had managed the Granville store since its opening in 1914. John Norton himself sold his share of Wilson’s to the O’Briens in 1981.
Norton entered other activities as the eighties went on. “After I got out of Wilson’s, I did painting and construction work with my son Thom,” recalled Norton. He did this for over 20 years. “I was painting houses in my 80s, thank the Lord for good health,” said Norton.
The Nortons moved back to the village in the early 2000s to Quaker Street, their house having a prime view of Veterans Park. This move allowed Norton to make a return to village politics, running for village trustee, and won. He put serious consideration to running for mayor in 2007, but decided to not run, prior to the election petition phase. Over the years he mulled the idea on occasion of running for the town board, although the idea did not come to fruition. As for the school board, it was out of the question for Norton, likely due to prevailing attitudes of both school board members and school taxpayers. They later moved to another house in the village. Noreen passed away in 2017; he recalled, “we were married for 67 years.”
In more recent years, Norton has kept busy with seeing family, doing arts and crafts, and other activities. Norton was involved with the Veterans Clock Rededication committee in 2010, which planned and oversaw the process of restoring and rededicating the Veterans Memorial Clock that stands at the corner of Main and North Streets.
Norton has been a fan and booster of Granville for many years. His appreciation of Granville came from reflection during his time in the Navy. When he enlisted, he held a markedly different opinion; an opinion surprising for the 1940s, but more common among some Granville High School students in more recent years. “When I joined the Navy, I wanted to get the hell out of Granville,” recalled Norton. “Once I did, I couldn’t wait to get back. I met fellows from all over the country, but never met anyone like Granville people.”
Since then, and to this day, Norton holds his hometown of Granville in high regard. “Granville’s the greatest place on Earth,” said Norton. “I love everything about it. People, weather, you name it. Granville’s a great place to raise a family.” Norton added that, “when I say Granville, I mean the area,” and named all the Granvilles, Wells, Pawlet, West Pawlet, and the rest – the communities of the Granville area.
Norton, now 98, is convalescing at the Holbrook Adult Home, and is still in good shape. “[I have my] good health,” said Norton. “People say, ‘you can’t be 98!’ Yes I am!” He is still quite with it and aware, and his memory remains sharp as a tack, with a vast memory of events and people of the Granville area through the past 90-plus years. He still sees family, keeps up with local happenings, and still has ideas on how to improve and better Granville.
John “Hector” Norton has been a true Granville booster. He has been involved with business affairs and civic endeavors of Granville for many years, always having had a connection to his hometown. Norton is certainly someone who contributed to Granville being a great place. He can look back on his efforts towards bettering Granville with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Norton is known for those efforts now, and will be remembered for them many years on from now.
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