Granville Then & Now – September 15, 2022

Celebrate Helen Macura’s 100th birthday

By Erik Pekar, Town Historian

This Sunday, Sept. 18, Granville’s Helen Macura will have her 100th birthday. She is a Granville person through and through, having been born and raised here. Macura is from a family of 13 children. She attended the Granville Public Schools of District 7 and graduated from the high school in 1941.

Helen attended school and went into nursing. She worked at a few different places in New York State, including the now-defunct Will Rogers hospital at Saranac Lake. In this capacity she devoted her working career to helping others.

In the years since her retirement, Helen has kept busy in several ways, including visits from friends and family. For many years she wrote for the Granville Sentinel. She also has been involved with functions and organizations. More recently she has been the woman of honor during every summer visit from performer Daryl Magill, who plays the summer concert series at Veterans Park in Granville.

For Helen’s centenary birthday, friends and members of the community are invited to participate in a drive-by birthday parade on Sunday. Cars will line up at the former Henry Hose firehouse on Quaker Street at 11:45 a.m. The parade will begin at noon.

Best wishes and happy returns for Helen on her 100th birthday. May Granville help commemorate the birthday of a deserving woman who has devoted her life to helping others and the community.

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School has started again at the Granville Central School District. Sept. 8 was the first day. With school having resumed, the school’s speed limit zones are in effect, both in the village on Quaker Street (Route 149) and other streets near the village schools, and on Route 22 in Middle Granville near the Mary J. Tanner School. The return of school also marks the return of school bus runs in the morning and afternoon; a reminder to all that it is state law to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights.

There are quite a few new teachers in the school district for the 2022-23 school year, and some teachers who will teach in different classes than last year. These teachers are Mackenzie Aldous, special education 1-6; Russell Batty, special education; Ashley Bounds, teaching assistant; June Brown, elementary; Sarah Cappabianca, elementary; Corey Cerullo, music; Madeline Coons, music; Molly Gillespie, speech & hearing; Patrick Iverson-Searer, elementary; Catharine Kilby, mathematics 7-12; Elizabeth Lavender, elementary; Kaitlin Limmer, elementary; Amanda Phillips, elementary; Peter Richard, alternative education, part-time; Julie Stuber, English; Beth Thompson, special education 7-12; Rose Tomassi, elementary; Rosalind Tomis, elementary; Mary Toomey, special education; Karen Vieira, reading (K-6); Stephanie Waldron, elementary; Terry Wheeler, business.

New administrative officials have been appointed as well, both for the Granville High School. Tammy Treen is the new assistant principal, and Beecher Baker is the interim principal.

Best of luck to all the students, parents, and to the teachers, and hopefully everyone will do their best to make the school year successful.

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Another highway maintenance project has started in the vicinity. Route 4 will be repaved from near Route 22 in Comstock to the Whitehall village limits; work started Sept. 6. Due to traffic volume on this part of Route 4, and the preparation work being done to the road prior to repaving, the lane closures will occur at night.

The Church Street bridge work is progressing. The sidewalk is now finished, as is the work that was done on the west face of the bridge. There is still some work on pipes for village utilities, and the final pavement layer still needs to be paved. Once that work is done, the Church Street bridge replacement project will be complete, over a year after it started.

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The time of year is almost here for a popular Granville event. The 35th annual Autumn Leaves Car Show will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Granville Little League complex. The craft fair, introduced last year, will also be held at the Little League along with the car show. Entry fees are $5 for spectators and $20 for those bringing their cars. Those who like classic cars, or show their classic cars, are encouraged to attend this show.

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It was an eventful weekend in Granville. After a year’s delay, the Granville Community Days events took place, commemorating 100 years of Telescope Casual Furniture being in Granville, and the founding of the Granville Community Foundation. Friday, Sept. 9, was the evening dinner. The event was well-organized. Large tents with tables were set up with tables and chairs inside. The dinner was made by several local eateries, including Mach’s Market, On the Rocks Pub, the Pine Grove Diner and Tommy’s Place. A bar for drinks was available, headed by Slate Town Brewing Company and On the Rocks.

The highlight of the evening included the dinner itself. It was done in a takeout format consisting of premade dinners with parts of the meal being from the participant local eateries, and even with the about 1,000 people in the tent, proceeded in a very organized manner. Dignitaries spoke at the event, including Mike Freed, chairman of the Granville Community Foundation board; Kathy Juckett, CEO of Telescope; Paul Labas, Granville village mayor; Matthew Hicks, Granville town supervisor; Elise Stefanik, member of the U.S. House of Representatives; and a few others. A few commemorative videos were shown, including a slideshow of historic photos of Telescope through the years. Many former and current residents of Granville were at the dinner, and for them it was a time of reconnecting and reminiscing.

Saturday was just as busy. A free family-friendly fun fair was held on the school soccer field across from the Telescope factory. There were bounce houses, games, mini golf, balloon makers, photo booths and other activities. Jordan Flower, the talented artist who painted the murals on Main Street and on the Telescope buildings along Church Street, was there exhibiting some of his paintings; some were for sale, the only items at the event to have a selling price. Food was available from the Clever Cleaver, a pizza trailer, the Pine Grove Diner, as well as the famed chicken barbecue dinners from the Granville Masons. There were also shirts, a raffle and other memorabilia given out.

A good time was had by all over both days. Thanks to Telescope Casual Furniture for supporting the Granville community over the years. All the participants and sponsors are to be commended for putting together these great events. Both the dinner event and the family-friendly fair will be remembered for many years to come.

Main Street – June 24, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

Dr. Willis A. Tenney was the last of a group of Granville professional and business men who shaped the community life of our village three quarters of a century ago. His death removes the last of a long list of names whose influence is even felt at the present time. He was more than a physician. He was the typical country doctor of another generation who also was a friend, counselor and adviser to the people he called on, in connection with his profession, and whose prescription was more than a few home-made pills.

Dr. Tenney was the typical physician of the Seventies and Eighties. He made his calls on foot, through snow drifts with horse and buggy, when the roads were passable. When the bicycle became popular, Dr. Tenney made his calls on his bike, gripping the handle-bars with one hand and dangling his black bag by his side with the other. Surgery had not yet reached the modern method of operation and Dr. Tenney performed surgery at the home of the patient. But, Dr. Tenney never stood still in his profession. He adopted all the more modern methods as the years of practice went on, until he retired. His passing closes an era in Granville when names such as these were familiar on the Main street: Hugh G. Hughes, Fitch Ottarson, Dr. Aaron Goodspeed, Slocum B. Norton, Oscar Baldwin and "Jock" Warren.

"Jack" Farmer commenting on the recent column of the minstrel shows which played at the Pember opera house said that a Negro minstrel troup anxious to catch a train from Whitehall for New York at midnight, after a performance at the Pember opera house, was taken by him in his hay rack to Whitehall. Passing what was then known as "The Haunted House" in Truthville, Jack Farmer informed his colored passenger boys that the house is supposed to be haunted and that at the stroke of midnight hour of twelve, mysterious sounds are heard coming from the "Haunted House". The Negro boys got fidgity and nervous and asked "Jack" to speed up his team, while passing the "Haunted House". Said one of them to "Jack" Farmer: "If I hear a noise coming from dat house," his eyes rolling in fright, "I start running and I will flatten every one of dem hills between here and Whitehall."

Not so long ago the Parent-Teachers Association held the title of the "Baby" among local civic groups; now it is the Mettowee Valley Business and Professional Women's Club. The enthusiasm which the members of this new group of active business and professional women are showing speaks well for this new organization taking its place in our community to help all progressive movements. Miss Margaret Wunder, the president, is the right person in the right place. Her ability for leadership will steer the new organization on a proper course. Welcome to Granville.

A recent newspaper headline read: "Egyptians Struggle to Escape Jewish Trap". It is history repeating itself in reverse. Isn't there a similar headline in the Bible which might read: "Jews Struggle to Escape Egyptian Trap", written about 4,000 years ago? ... When Robert E. Jones met "Joe" Ellis he said: "Do you know that Jane Davies is 95 years old and she has lived in Granville sixty-six years?" Replied "Joe": "That's nothing. I have been living here fifty-eight years and I am no wheres near ninety-five." Startled at Joe's quick reply, "Bob" looked him over and said: "Duw!" And when a Welshman says "Duw" it carries a lot of meaning with it.

Granville veterans who gathered at banquets, or at official visits, will remember the team of "Shorty and Slim". Two World War I veterans, who entertained with violin and accordion. "Slim" was Vieley and "Shorty" is Raoul Treehouse. "Slim" Vieley was buried in Glens Falls about two weeks ago, his remains being returned from Guam where he died in a hospital while serving with the "Seabees" in World War II. "Slim" Vieley's spirit must have hovered over such a large group of veterans organizations and friends who turned out to pay their last tribute of respect to one who entertained veterans at so many functions. The funeral was one of the largest ever accorded a veteran of World War I or II in this vicinity.

That was a strange coincidence of "Listen Folks" and "Main Street" writing a paragraph, on the same subject at the same time - about civil rights in the United States. John D. Kelley seems to be pleased that someone is in accord with some of his opinions. Communists often get their ears pinned back by some displeased reader but those who agree seldom take the trouble to compliment the writer when he strikes the nail on the head. Someday, John D., perhaps long after we are gone, racial and religious prejudice may yet be wiped out and an American citizen will be judged for what he is worth to his community, state and nation and not by the color of his skin or the kind of a church he enters. We may yet achieve true democracy some day. Who knows?

In choosing "Joe" Forcucci for the office of Commander of the Granville Post of the American Legion, the Legionnaires selected one of the hardest workers of the Post. "Joe" is a tireless worker and an enthusiastic supporter of the organization. And he has the support of every member in it. Leadership in any organization is the answer to the success or failure of that organization and "Joe" will give a good account of himself. This should prove a good year for the Granville Post of the American Legion. it is possible that the World War II memorial may be dedicated while Commander Forcucci is in office.

Now that the movement of the Memorial is under way it is like an avalanche rolling down hill. The veterans of Granville are now anxious to see the bronze tablet memorial realized, their details having been assigned to them. Slate quarry operators seem anxious to cooperate with the veterans by offering slate stones of any color required for the memorial. And the plans and specifications are being prepared so that the date of dedication of the bronze tablet memorial, on the site of the wooden Honor Roll, may now be advanced of that originally planned.

One important factor about which few are familiar with are the records of the Granville veterans of World War II whose roster was kept by Bert E. Yurdin. Bert has kept a perpetual record of the Granville men and women as they entered the service - six hundred and ninety six of them. These are recorded in alphabetic order. The name of the veterans who died in the service are recorded with the name, place, date and cause of death. In short it is the only and most complete official record from which the names will be taken to be inscribed in bronze on the Memorial. For that, Bert, thanks from all the veterans.

Clarence Barden came into the office with a puzzled expression on his face. "What is martial status?" he asked. He was informed that it means the war status or the battle status. "It can't be," said Clarence, and he pointed at a paper form he held in his hand. "Oh, that reads marital status. It asks whether you are married or single." The difference may not mean much to Clarence who is still single, but a married man would easily grasp the meaning that the world "martial" and "marital" is one and the same to some husbands.

Mrs. Bennie Jones commenting on the tax rate in Granville said that the tax on a home like hers in Massachusetts would be much less than it is here. "But, would you rather live in Massachusetts than in Granville?" we asked. "Oh, indeed not," answered Mrs. Jones, "I have too many dear memories and associations with Granville. It will take more than taxes to make me leave this place." ... Alma Kitchell happy to be back at the cottage on Lake St. Catherine. "I have fifteen weeks at the lake," said Mrs. Kitchell, who will, no doubt, make her weekly trips to New York for her radio broadcast program just the same.

Main Street – June 23, 1949

By Morris Rote-Rosen

On one of these rare June days, Sidney Potter came hopping in like a youngster in his teens and in his choir-trained baritone voice soloed:

"Some guys tear through life like a blizzard,
Folks point out and say he's a wizard,
And then he's dead at forty,
With a burned out gizzard.
Uh! I'll be eighty-three come October".

Then sitting down in one of the office chairs said: "I told Doctor Owen I can outwalk any one my age, that is any one except Ben Getty, but he's nearly a hundred." Then we met Truman Temple who looked tired after a busy day at the library and he said, "Oh, that incurable old age!" ... Figure it out yourself.

And while on the subject of age we overheard a group of ladies commenting on the annual kindergarten program presented by Elsie Kniess on the graduation of her tiny tots of 1949. "Kids may come and kids may go, but Miss Kniess goes on forever in her excellent kindergarten work which has furnished many a good graduate for G.H.S.", said one lady ... Granville boasts of good teachers, but the work of Miss Kniess is outstanding in that of laying the proper foundation in her grade to prepare our children for higher education ... The parents of Granville, who can be counted in the hundreds ow Miss Kniess a lasting debt of gratitude and so do her grown-up graduates."

The driver of Swift's Packing Company truck did not have an order for venison out of season, but he accidentally killed a deer when he struck it with his truck near the Willow Glen farm ... Washington, Virginia, boasts that t was the first town named after General George Washington. Our county was the first in this country to be named after the General when the name of Charlotte was dropped ... Nettie Roberts calls our attention to the lone survivor of the Bulkleys - Mrs. Minnie Bulkley - who resides in Glens Falls ... If "Larry" Hayes becomes frantic and reports that his car has been stolen direct him to the Grand Union store. That's where he found it the last time it was "stolen".

The writer of the Blacksmith editorial in the Sentinel of May 26 must have had in mind the late Amos B. Noxon of Granville. He was the father of Daisy Williams and he was one of the most respected citizens in our community. His blacksmith shop on Slocum Avenue, which adjoined his residence, was a daily public forum where his friends used to gather to listen to his philosophy of life. He would stand at the bellows, operate them with one hand, hold a horse shoe in the other and disseminate wisdom between the puffs of the red smoldering soft coal, or between the flying sparks at the anvil. His only trade mark of a blacksmith was his leather apron, otherwise his neat appearance made him look like a white collar worker.

He was beloved by the children of the community and hardly a day passed when some little boy or little girl did not come to him to have a broken wagon or a tricycle repaired. Little girls even came to him with their broken dolls. Mr. Noxon was a patient and a kind, soft spoken man. He would take time out of his work, lean over and carefully listen to the woes of the little boys and girls and would send them happily on their way. He was a lover of harness horses and interested in training them for the track. He was a familiar sight on the village streets, exercising, or breaking in a new colt to harness. Recalling the character of Mr. Noxon is like a refreshing cool breeze on a hot summer day.

We sometimes wonder if we belonged to a young generation in which lived a different type of the older group than at the present time. We know definitely that we no longer have such personalities and characters as Amos Noxon, Lafayette Carr, James L. MacArthur or Charles E. McFadden. Reading the "From Our Files" column in the Sentinel a few weeks ago we came across the name of Lafayette Carr, who died ten years ago. Another lovable character in our community at the turn of the century, who rose from the ranks of a school teacher to become the first proprietor of a "five and ten cent" store in Granville.

Lafayette Carr conducted his business in the present Tatko building, on the corner of Main and Church streets, after he opened his store in the Durfee block on Church Street. We could write many paragraphs about Lafayette Carr, but who can forget him standing behind his counter of the "five and ten" telling a witty story; or with his inseparable collie dog whenever he appeared on the street; or at a Masonic clam bake; or while reciting poetry at an Eastern Star meeting; or his chuckling laugh at a Royal Arch Masons gathering; or at a Knights Templar conclave. No one can forget seeing him riding to the lake with J.L. MacArthur in a buggy which tilted on Mac's side, who weighed three times as much as Carr, while they were bumping over the rough stony road of Bull Frog Hollow on their way for a weekend at the MacArthur cottage.

The sudden passing of "Bob" Cathcart was a shock to many of those who remembered him as an enthusiastic outdoor man in his younger days. Bob was considered a good walker and hunter at one time and we joined him many times on the wooded trails with his well trained pointer dog beside him. "Bob" was as tough as nails and we recall joining him on a ski trip on a cold Sunday morning, leaving the village square, heading for Blossom's Corners, through Wells, over the frozen Lake St. Catherine and to Poultney without stopping once. From Poultney we took the 4 o'clock afternoon train for home.

While busily occupied in the office one morning we heard a little boy's voice from behind the chair: "Open up!" It was little Jimmy (Seferlis) Giannestras, Main Street's favorite little boy, pointing his tin toy pistol in an imaginary hold-up. He brought a laugh to several ladies who happened to be in the office at the time ... Jimmy isn't old enough to read the "funnies", nor to understand western movies, but there it is - the trend of the children of today, whether for good or bad. We would prefer to see our little boys carrying baseball bats and balls. Little Jimmy is no different than the average Granville child who prefers toy pistols and toy machine guns and, who, while playing, is dressed like a pocket edition of Jesse James or Cole Younger. If the cause is bad movies or perverted "funnies" - what is it?

Miss Athene S. Foster of Coconut Grove, Florida, in search of Bishop family history, paid us a visiting, coming all the way from Florida, by the way of Cleveland to Granville to complete her biographical and historical collection of Granville's first family. Finding more information that she anticipated Miss Foster was thrilled when she was presented with several historic documents bearing the name of John Champion Bishop and his sons Isaac and Abram. Miss Foster called at the library where she obtained additional information and left Granville with the same impression of many other visitors: "every one has been so kind and so friendly".

If Granville had more taxpayers of the caliber of May D. Braymer, Stanley Roberts, Or Mrs. Moses Roberts, public officials would have an easier time in trying to serve the community. Criticism is sometimes directed against village or town officials which is not based on fact and the way to get to the truth is to get to the source. Mrs. Braymer came up to a village board meeting, asked questions and had the books and records opened to her. "I am glad I came up," said Mrs. Braymer, "I am satisfied to learn what it's all about after hearing all kinds of reports".

Charles H. White was 86 years old on June 5. Although bedfast "Charlie" White is cheerful. And it isn't like him to be idle after such an active career over a period of many years. He accepts it all as the inevitability of time. Charlie served the village as street and water commissioner for a long time and in rain or shine, good or bad weather, he always gave the people of the village the best of service. His many friends think of him during his illness and wish him well. Perhaps Charlie will smile if he is reminded that he was once ordered by the Mayor William Munson to trim the overhanging branches of a tree in front of the Harry N. Jennings residence. Jennings swore that he would shoot Charlie of he cut the tree. When Harry wasn't around, Charlie White trimmed the tree and for several weeks after that Harry Jennings sat with a shotgun on his knee waiting to "kill" the street commissioner if he returned. Charles White never returned and that may be the reason that he has lived to the ripe old age of 86 years.

Main Street – June 17, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

No other day in the year draws such large crowds to Granville as does Decoration Day. Averaging excellent weather, for many years past, on this particular day, people come from far and near to witness the parade and to renew acquaintances from year to year. The local cemeteries become alive with activity and the result is that the city of the dead becomes a city of life, flowers, and of memories which are brought to friends and relatives who have made the final journey. The Mettowee Valley cemetery, Elmwood cemetery and all the others scattered throughout the town of Granville become alive with people.

We noticed a couple of visitors standing near a gravestone while their little girl, who came with them, tenderly and gently placed a bouquet of lilacs at the foot of the stone. The couple stood with heads bowed, as in prayer, and we wondered just what memories wee running through their minds. Perhaps they were thinking of their childhood days, or of the days of their youth when a kind father or a loving mother was guiding them through life. Perhaps of the picnics or the entertainment which their parents in life provided for them or for their education in their later years. We never wanted to read anyone's mind more than we did that couple's which stood with heads bowed while their little daughter placed flowers in memory of a grandparent she never saw. It was a touching scene.

The Granville High school, which for the past few years had the girl graduates outdistancing the boys, has turned the tables for 1948. Whether it was the war or for some other reason, the girls captured all of the honors. But, this year there are three of our GHS boys at the top, trailed by one girl. Royal Hanna comes first, Roger Edwards second and Paul Pelton, third... Jean Sumner need not feel hurt at being fourth to such headliners. She is not far behind and is an excellent representative of our intelligent GHS girls. The boys do not excel her in one department - she has good looks.

Granville sportsmen have struck a fishing bonanza at Lake St. Catherine the past two weeks. The perch are biting! And after the word was passed around, local fishermen enjoyed some fine fish frys, the perch varying in size from six to ten inches. Milford Sheldon, Ray Brown, John F. Evans, John Donovan, Wilson Gilman and Ed Moloney and many others have cut down their meat bill. These fishermen have had more fun evenings than young William (Butch) Billow had in landing his 1 1/2 pound trout. No one seems to know the reason why the perch have become so angle-worm conscious at this time of the year, unless it is because those pesky motor boats haven't yet appeared on the lake to keep the fish on the run from one place to another. May the motor boats run out of gas before they are launched!

We sat in our row boat with one eye on our fish pole, landing a perch now and then, and with the other eye focused on the boat nearby, which contained Wilson Gilman and Ed Moloney. It is the first time we ever saw our fire chief in action with two poles, one on each side of the boat. The contortions and acrobatics of Ed Moloney when he got a bite on both lines at the same time while his fishing reel slid off the fish pole handle, to drop into the lake, was something to see. But, he retrieved the two perch and the reel which happened to be tied to the other end of the line, without catapulting Wilson Gilman into the lake. "Busier than a one armed paper hanger with the seven year itch," grumbled Moloney to himself - which could be heard over in Wells.

The sudden death of Serafina Caruso during the Decoration Day parade recalled the time when Oscar P. Munson died on a Decoration Day, an hour or so earlier. Mrs. Caruso's sudden death saddened many of the standees along the sidewalk who scurried to their homes rather than see the rest of the parade. And we never had a tougher assignment than to walk up to Michael Caruso, a member of the band, and tell hhim that his mother had had a "fainting spell" on the sidewalk. We knew the truth, and it seemed that Michael too had sensed it.

We hadn't seen any of the old large currency bills since they were called in from circulation, until the other day when a man approached us and asked if "that was good money. He handed over a handful of crumpled money consisting of one $5 bill, a $2 bill and two $1 bills of the large notes. He said that he had found the money in a junk bag on the public dumping grounds. When he was informed that it was "good money" he hurried to the bank and in a few minutes came out smiling with $9 in his pocket. "Someone told me that it was good money, but I didn't believe it, that is why I came to ask you," and he hurried away with a big grin from here to there.

The last time we saw the old large bills after they were out of circulation was several years after the gold certificates were called in by the U. S. Treasury. An old lady would come into the office and pay her village tax and her water rent with large $20 gold certificates. These bills were wrinkled and had a musty smell as if they had been hidden in a damp cellar. The old lady was afraid, during the depression, that the United States was going broke with the WPA the CCC and the other alphabetical government agencies. "That Roosevelt is crazy," she would say, as she unfolded a large $20 gold certificate, "and I hain't taking chances."

While standing in front of the bank with Rev. Malcolm F. Kelley and Rev. Ira M. Stanton, the latter remarked: "Why do ministers hang around banks all the time?" And every minister, as well Mr. Stanton knows, that the answer lies in the present financial headaches of all churches ... The Sentinel building, one of the oldest landmarks in Granville, is undergoing a facial and beauty treatment which improves the looks of the building a lot ... Mr. and Mrs. Beman Waite of Pawlet were entertained by 100 of their friends on the occasion of their sixtieth wedding anniversary. It couldn't happen to a nicer couple.

The many friends of Donald Sweet learn with regret that he is to give up his business at the West Main street service station after 15 years of courteous service. He is the victim of a corporation system which insists that its products only be stressed to the public, without performing any other services such as repairing or washing cars. "It's bad enough to pay $2,400 a year in rent to try to make a living," says Don, "but they insist that nothing can be sold except their products. Now, after giving them 15 years they don't care what happens to you even if you go out with nothing. It's a raw deal," concluded Don.

Granville veterans are now unanimous in a movement to have a bronze memorial with the names of the veterans of World War II erected on the site of the present wooden Honor Roll. A Memorial committee is now being organized and the names of the veterans, which are to be inscribed on the bronze tablets, will be published in the Sentinel between now and September 1 for the purpose of making such corrections and changes as are necessary. Veterans and their families should read the roster of names carefully and notify the Roster committee of such corrections and changes.

Rumors and reports that Joe Louis will not be in his best physical condition when he meets Joe Walcott at the Yankee Stadium in New York, June 23, can be taken with a grain of salt. It is propaganda to affect the standing of the betting odds by professional gamblers. We saw the television pictures of their previous fight and all that Joe Walcott needed that night was a bicycle to keep up a faster gait in running away from Joe Louis. True, he landed two good punches during the first fight which sat Joe Louis on his boxing trunks, but he was up and looking for more which Walcott hesitated to furnish. We are going out on a limb with our predictions. Joe Louis will win by a knockout before the sixth round - if he can catch Walcott.

Main Street – June 10, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

If we were asked what we value more than money, or precious jewels, our reply, without hesitation, would be: "Friends." We know of no greater pleasure in life that can come to any one than to have good people of our acquaintance, who think enough of us, spare a few moments for a friendly chat. Some combine business with pleasure, others drop in for a social call and when the day is done we can sit back in a happy mood and truly be grateful to these good people because every one of them leaves something that cannot be matched with material wealth. And while these friends represent different walks in life, yet they all come with the same friendly spirit and leave us with some friendly thought. Life would indeed be empty without friends - something that money cannot buy.

Let us take one day last week and look at the friendly merry-go-round. The first one to bounce in through the door was Frank B. Allen, who had just returned after seven years' stay in La Mesa, Calif. Frank felt as if he had just been released from prison. "Gosh, it's good to be back," said Frank as he pump-handled our right hand. "Darned if it doesn't feel good to see someone smile. I am going up to Maine for Memorial Day and then I am coming back to Granville. Hear me! To stay! Granville! A wonderful place and the finest people in the world!" And, saying this, he plumped down into a chair and heaved a sigh of relief. Back among friends!

Then came Bert and Mabel Nichols just for a minute. It was good to see Nick and Mabel Rogers who recalled our high school days when they were young sweethearts. "Still the same old sweethearts," we remarked to them. "Yes," answered Mabel, "and we are proud of our children." We noticed a smile spread over Bert's face as we reminisced with them of days gone by, when the present elementary school was the Granville High school and of days when such names as Leslie Munson, Oscar Munson, George Hull, Irving Weinberg and others were real and not just a memory of good fellows who are gone.

Bert and Mabel had just left when we stood facing the kindly eyes, the the friendly smile and the hearty handshake of Rev. J. Richard Owens of Judson, Minn. No matter how long Rev. and Mrs. Owens may stay away from Granville this beloved couple is still recognized as one of their friends and neighbors by the Granville people. "We like it out there," said Mr. Owen, "but to us Granville will always be the same. We made new friends in Judson and they are very kind to us, but we can never shake Granville from our hearts." There will always be a void in our community until Rev. and Mrs. Owens return here to make it their permanent home.

Truman R. Temple, waiting for the bus, took a seat and his discussion turned to the remnants of the Grand Army of the Republic. "How many did you say there were left in New York state?" he asked. Informed that there are only two living G.A.R. members and one Civil War soldier, who is not a member of the G.A.R., Mr. Temple said that actuarial statistics once published the information that there would not be one living Civil War soldier by 1947. "The figures are not far off, said Mr. Temple. "There are less than 100 now living and most of them are more than 100 years old."

"Bill" Hughes, highway superintendent of the town of Granville, then came in and the discussion turned to the oncoming Decoration Day. "I never think of Decoration Day without thinking of the Young Men's Guild baseball games," said the best left fielder who ever represented Granville on the baseball diamond. "Decoration Day was always the opening day of our baseball season," continued Bill, "and many of us used to go into our own pockets to help finance the games." Then he told how the members of the Y.M.G. team so loved the game, that after working hard in the slate quarries all day, they would stop at the baseball field on their way home, set down their empty dinner pails and, in overalls and quarry shoes, would practice for several hours. "The boys don't do it today" and Bill was off to his job.

Rev. Maldwyn A. Davies, a newcomer to Granville, pastor of the Welsh Presbyterian church of Granville, was next offered a seat. He was much interested in the traffic and motor vehicle regulations in New York state. "How do you like Granville?" we asked. Mr. Davies talked about the cordial reception from the people of Granville and about the beauty of the country. He has only recently arrived from Wales to fill the pastorate of the church. Rev. Mr. Davies is a sincere, friendly gentleman and those who have had the pleasure of meeting him feel that his six months' trial at the Welsh Presbyterian church will develop into a more permanent pastorate for him.

And the merry-go-round of friendship swung around and around as Bertha Kingsley came in next, followed by Attorney Robert Bascom of Fort Edward and a Special Agent of the FBI. Then the telephone rang and on the other end Dr. W. E. Owen called up to leave a friendly message. And to top it off we lather found a calling card from Charles H. Lord of Plattsburgh reading, "Sorry I missed you. Charlie." He came after office hours. It was not an exceptional day, but one which is an example of what our contacts with our friends and neighbors mean in our every day life. There are few who don't have the same experience almost daily, but we don't stop to give a thought to how much friendship helps one to hurdle the rough spots which we encounter in our daily lives.

Bertha Thorne Owen was greatly interested in the recent column about "Little Known Facts About Granville," particularly the item about the rowdyism in Granville some years ago, when mining town conditions existed in our village. Mrs. Owen recalls the time when hoodlums of those days poured kerosene on a calf and set it on fire to watch it running down Main street. Her father, Leonard Thorne, was one who, with Daniel Woodard, organized the First National Bank of Granville in 1875, later the Granville National Bank. In order to induce farmers from the adjoining Granville area to come here to do their banking. Leonard Thorne and Daniel Woodard had to give them assurance that they could come to Granville and do business unmolested by the local hoodlums.

Leonard Thorne organized a reform movement in Granville in an effort to "civilize" the community. He was a noted temperance advocate and he induced more than 100 people of Granville to join the "Reform Club" which met in a small wooden building which stood on the site of the present E.C. Hewitt store on West Main street. The opposing faction did all it could to break up the club and to discourage it from holding temperance meetings. Frequently during these temperance lectures, bricks, stones, rotten eggs and vegetables would be hurled through the club windows. Granville in the early 70s was in its worst behavior in all its history. And those who talk about the present generation, stressing its faults, don't know what they are talking about. We live in one of the finest communities in our country thanks to the present generation.

Why don't more of the traveling public which comes to Granville to do its shopping, use the two free parking lots in our village? While shopping the other day we couldn't find space on the streets and drove into the parking lot in the rear of the Louis Goldberg store. Automobiles and trucks were parked on the street double, blocking traffic on both sides of the street and yet we found only six cars on the parking lot, by actual count - a lot which could accommodate 50 to 75 automobiles. The two-hour parking ordinance is not being enforced for the present, waiting for the traffic signs to reach here. AS soon as these signs are erected and the two-hour parking ordinance is enforced, the Granville police court will do a land-office business from double parking violations. Isn't it easier to park on a free parking lot than violate the traffic laws and pay a fine?

Television aerial antenne are increasing in Granville and several can be seen located in different parts of the village ... Watching a little boy climbing a six-foot ladder and talking to himself, we heard him say, "I may get killed climbing a high and dangerous mountain, but I guess I can make it all right." ... Will Barnard loading his delivery truck says that Barnard brothers have been delivering groceries for nearly 48 years. They started with horse and wagon and are still making weekly trips to Raceville, Hampton and South Poultney, the only store in this village delivering groceries out of town.

Main Street – June 3, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

Since writing about the recollections of the Pember theatre, several weeks ago, we have received letters from readers including Theodore H. Leake of Albany and from Louis Blossom of Detroit, to write another chapter of reminiscences of the "good old show days" in Granville's popular theatre of nearly fifty years ago. The Pember theatre flourished between 1901 and 1930, but it was during the first ten years after it opened, that Granville theatre lovers saw the best productions from the American stage. In our previous column about the Pember opera house we described the activities around the opera house of a one-night stand, special train attraction. Let's go to the Pember theatre and take a peek behind the curtain of time at one of the top-notch minstrel shows of the good old days.

The dressing room hall is full of trunks, the entrance being blocked by a huge trunk containing the bass [violin] of the orchestra of John W. Vogel's Big City Minstrels. The cornetist, the trombonist, the clarinetist and the tuba player are running up and down the scales. The snare drummer is rolling his sticks on the drum, while the minstrel show director is announcing the minstrel parade, which is already forming, to march out at 11:30 o'clock from in front of the opera house. "Parade at 11:30 sharp," shouts a voice which can be heard above a welter of confused and discordant sounds. The stage door is slammed as the members of the minstrel show emerge from the opera house.

The minstrel men - forty strong - hustle out of the alley of the opera house. Cleanly shaven wearing silver-gray top hats, scarlet, waste-fitting overcoats, with large silvery buttons, a flower in the overcoat lapel, every man carrying a cane. With the drum beat of the minstrel band in the lead they fall into line in twos and, swinging their canes, the minstrel parade is off over the village streets, to the tune of "Dixie". Boys playing hooky from school carry silk and satin banners, reading "John W. Vogel's Big City Minstrels." They receive a free pass to the show for dodging Mostyn Parry, the old truant officer.

Children run along the sidewalk, cheering and yelling. Dogs are barking. Horses tear and tear at the hitching posts. Merchants come running to the store doors. Two minstrel men step out of line of the parade, remove their top hats and with canes under arms, do a cakewalk to the delight of the onlookers and then fall back into the parade. Down Main street, the minstrel parade turns at Maple street to Morrison avenue, up Church street and when the parade reaches the village square the six foot tall drum major twirls his baton in a specialty to the amazement of an excited crowd of young and old. Hand bills are handed out to the large group of admiring spectators and the parade is disbanded.

The minstrel men disappear from view through the stage floor of the Pember opera house and head for their dressing rooms. Walls are covered with costumes and wigs. Makeup boxes, grease paint, burnt cork cold cream, powder boxes, cover the shelves and tables in the dressing rooms. A sign reads "On stage at 8 o'clock". "Curtain at 8:20" and the minstrel men relax. There being no matinee they scatter all over the village - a good advertisement for the minstrel show. Some retire to their special sleeping car, sidetracked on the depot siding, and the village of Granville is all agog and keyed up to a high pitch. The minstrels are in town!

At 7:30 o'clock in the evening there is another free entertainment. The minstrel band gives a concert in front of the Pember Opera House. A large crowd gathers around the village square early to be on hand to listen to the minstrel band. At 7:30 the band comes out to the front of the opera house under the large electric light near the bill board. The band renders several ragtime numbers featuring southern melodies. The cornetist steps into the center of the group and features in a solo. He is followed by the trombonist and the crowd applauds their renditions. At 7:45 the concert ends and the minstrel men rush to their dressing rooms while the crowd rushes up the creaky stairs of the opera house and to the box office where choice tickets are taken up in record time.

Few, if any, of the better minstrel shows failed to have a "sell-out" and standing room is being sold in the opera house by 8 o'clock. Price range from 25 and 35 cents in the balcony to 75 cents top on the main floor. At the door is one of the minstrel cast who shouts: "Buy a copy of the most popular songs of our minstrel show." And the books are sold at five cents per copy. Ushers hurry up and down the aisle of the Pember to seat the patrons before the rise of the curtain. The orchestra pit is vacant at the minstrel show. For the first part of the show the orchestra is on stage, elevated behind the minstrel circle.

Foot lights are flashed, a hush falls on the house and the curtain rises to disclose a dazzling array of colors on the stage in contrast to the darkened theatre. The entire company is singing. End men in burnt cork makeup and black wigs, dressed in green satin coats and trousers, stiff busomed shirts with long pointed collars. They occupy the extreme ends and they receive a thunderous applause in greeting, recognized by some as having played in the Pember opera house previously. The soloists, dressed in white satin, knee length breeches, long white silk stockings, pea-green jackets with white ruffled collars, white wigs of the colonial period and black patent leather shoes with shining buckles.

The stage draped with plush curtains, strings of glass beads, shine like sparkling diamonds, the chairs in the circle are covered with silk covers with the familiar "V" of Vogel's Minstrels shaped in pearl buttons. Raised on a dias is the interlocutor, holding a silk fan in his hand, master of ceremonies of the show. He glances down occasionally behind his fan for the program cue. Behind him, on the orchestra platform elevation, palm plants almost obscure the players from the sight of the audience. And the minstrel show is on.

From now on the program is a continuous panorama of singers, dancers, story tellers, and the end men, as always, are the star attraction of the minstrel show. "Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown," "All I Got Was Sympathy," "Nobody," these are end-men's vocal solo features, followed by one of them doing a soft shoe dance to the strains of "Way Down Upon the Swanee River." In between the black face numbers, white faced soloists sing "Only a Message From Home Sweet Home," and "Fly Away Birdie to Heaven." The quartet renders a medley of church hymns of the old village choir. Then the eyes of the audience turn to a popular soloist, an annual feature of Vogel's Minstrels. His name - Harry Leighton.

A man of small stature, Harry Leighton, slowly walks toward the footlights at the introduction by the interlocutor and in an amazing falsetto-tenor sings "When the Evening Breeze Is Singing Home Sweet Home". It is several minutes before the thunderous applause dies down, as he slowly backs towards his chair in the circle. The ovation brings him back for an encore, which nearly disrupts the regular program of the minstrels. Harry Leighton bows to the audience, then to the interlocutor. He is the feature soloist with Vogel's Minstrels.

The curtain on the first half of the minstrel show is lowered and now comes the piece de resistance - the olio. It's a whirlwind program of high class variety vaudeville. The hoop rollers, comedy cyclists, tight rope walkers, sword swallowers, dire eaters, jugglers, tumblers and comedy acrobats and the second part would not be complete without "The Human Frog" - contortionist, who makes the ladies in the audience wince at his twisting form. Then comes the instrumental comedy duet and last but not least, the entire group of end men in a "hilarious, uproarious, mirth provoking" one act comedy sketch. And the minstrel show is over. No variety program offered as pleasing a show as the old minstrels in the Pember opera house to the people of Granville.

Main Street – May 27, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

Riding on the "Laurentian" from Main street to Broadway, a four-year old boy, traveling with his grandmother, whom he had been visiting in Montreal, on his way back home, ran up and down the aisle of the passenger coach. He stopped and asked us to tell him a story and we obliged him with one about two little rabbits. The little boy became so interested he didn't leave us for a moment. When we reached Grand Central, he threw his arms around our neck and said: "You're the nicest man I ever met". And when we parted we could see him waving his little hand, smiling, but sad at our parting. And we walked out of Grand Central carrying with us a pleasant memory of a sweet little four-year old boy, Michael Jordan, whom we will never meet again, but who added a little joy to the things which make life worth living.

In a few moments we were on Broadway - the madhouse of the world ... The heart of New York is a human ant hill ... People rush to go underground on one side and are disgorged from a hole on the other side of the street in a never ending stream of human ants ... And where they go nobody knows ... They are the saddest looking people in the world ... Not a smiling face in ... They are so tired they sleep while going home from work and when returning to work in the morning ... Pasty-faced automatons, moving by an irresistible force, knowing little and caring less about the outside world.

Morning newspapers being peddled the night before ... Pitch men and barkers ballyhooing to a group of suckers, who readily hand over their cash, and not a country yokel in the group - all "wise" city slickers ... Boys and girls making love while waiting for the subway train, and the rest of the world passes them by without noticing them ... Dowagers, half-dressed, in the morning hours, leading their dogs to the nearest hydrants ... Mendicants holding out tin cups to passers by ... A blind man poking his way with a walking cane, holding out a tattered hat ... If he hears no jingle of the dropping coin in his hat, he taps the sidewalk so much harder to attract attention.

We meet a bum who recites that old familiar quotation, which we thought had gone out of existence a long time ago: "Say, bud, how's about a dime for a cup of coffee" ... The shriveled old woman bundled like a Laplander, grinding a miniature organ, begging for alms, only no music comes out of the box ... The broken down blonde, who has seen better days, trying to appear glamorous, but no takers ... Every move calls for a tip: the bell hop, the waiter, the taxi driver, the shoe-shine boy ... And if you don't tip, the icy stare you get would make a penguin look like the smiling Dutchman ... And if a New York learns you are from the country his first question is: "Are you a farmer?"

Courtesy to a lady is laughed at when offering her a seat in the subway or bus ... And if you step aside politely to let a lady pass first, those nearby look for hay-seeds in your hair ... A pleasant expression, or a smile, to those about you on the street, might bring the patrol wagon in an instant ... When a lady became ill on the street and needed a hand, people turned and walked the other way ... The city is a Babel of languages, where foreign newspapers catch your eye as you pass newsstands .. And if one pleasantly remarks about the weather to one standing nearby, he will move away from you as if from a contagious disease.

The highlight of the three day visit to New York was our witnessing "Command Decision" at the Fulton theatre, where Paul Kelly, as Brigadier General K. C. Dennis, is supported by an eighteen all-male cast, including Jay Fassett and Paul McGrath. Paul Kelly portrays a fighting general of a group of American fliers during the war. He is faced with decisions which send young American fliers to Germany, on bombing missions, to certain death and is constantly interfered with by swivel chair strategists in Washington and by Congressional committee investigations. Paul Kelly is a great actor and he held the attention of the audience from the rise of the curtain until its final drop.

Our stay in the Woodstock hotel, in New York, was the first since March 1919. Having just returned from service in the A. E. F., we tried to get a room at the Woodstock, but the hotel having been full for the night, we started out to find another hotel. Just then Waite Hicks came down and out of the elevator. He was stopping at the Woodstock. When we told him that we couldn't obtain a room there he offered to share his room with us. It was the first time we had slept in a bed in more than a year. And to this day we remember with appreciation the kindness of Waite Hicks.

From Archie "Bobcat" Ranney, from the Adirondacks, comes an interesting letter about his appearance in the Sportmen's Show in Schenectady recently as "The Hermit of Tombstone Swamp". "Bobcat" Ranney expects to return with next year's show. He writes that during January and February, the temperature registered from 26 to 46 degrees below zero. "I wallowed trails and dragged in my own firewood from four to six hours daily", writes the "Bobcat", "and I only bought one cord of chunk wood all winter. The woodlot is from an eighth to a quarter of a mile from my place. Not bad for a man of my age, It would buffalo some of the young men and I'd sweat the shirt off of them with a cross-cut saw."

Another letter in the mail to "Main Street" is from Detroit, Michigan. Louis Blossom, who was a young violinist in the Pember Opera House about forty years ago writes: "I am waiting for your next column on the Pember Opera House. Remember when Tom Boyle made Henrietta Crossman use the stage entrance on a rainy night? She wanted to come in the front of the house. And the time Frank Stoddard got excited at a rehearsal on a big musical show, kicked over his music stand and the traveling orchestra leader said: 'Pack up boys and just watch the show'. I can see old Cal Nichols, three-sheets-in-the-wind, on the stage, cussing and getting all mixed up with the stage lights. And I recall the time I drove from the farm for the five o'clock afternoon rehearsal to the opera house, wearing a derby hat, and froze my ears. If I come up this summer I would like to have a long visit with you."

Lou: Many incidents happened in "the good old days" in the show business. When Nance O'Neil and McKee Rankin played the Pember theatre in "Magda", she refused to walk from her "star" dressing room, up the few steps to the stage, unless the floor was laid out with a thick carpet. When Daniel Sully played in the "Matchmaker", his staged manager used such violent language to the men that they let go of the wood border ropes and dropped it on his head. And the roar from the audience which spoiled little Eva's trip to "heaven" in one of the Uncle Tom's Cabin shows, when the ropes got tangled. See you this summer, Lou.

Must we wait until we have a child's funeral in Granville before the speed maniacs are checked from tearing over the village streets at fifty and sixty miles per hour? We haven't enough on the police force to follow every lunatic driving an automobile who endangers the lives of our children, but it is time to call a halt even if the village board has to engage a motorcycle officer to arrest these traffic violators. And perhaps Police Justice Albert Berkowitz can forget the fine and just impose a jail sentence for everyone traveling over the village streets more than 25 miles per hour. Let's not wait until it is too late.

While some of our leading American citizens are beating their brains out how to stop the spread of Communism here, there are other Americans (?) who are doing all in their power to plant the seed of hatred and prejudice which nourishes Communism in America. Fifty-one children from New York, who were offered a trip to visit historical Washington, were compelled to cancel it because there were four Negro children in the group. Washington hotel doors were slammed in their faces because of the four colored children. Can there be anything more terrible among civilized people than that which strikes at the heart of a child because of the color of its skin? Can there be a greater strain on our flag that the cruel prejudice which takes revenge on a child because of its race? Give these youngsters a few more years and then try to talk to them about human rights, about democracy, about justice, about freedom and about what the Stars and Stripes stand for, then wait for their reply that the Hammer and Sickle beckons all persecuted as a haven of non-discrimination because of race and color. Will we ever learn?

Main Street – May 20, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

We were acquainted with Fred D. Roberts for nearly 20 years without a cross word between us, in spite of the fact that it was our duty to pass on to him nothing but complaints from the public. He served the people of Granville in one of the most unappreciative jobs in our village. He was one of the kindest hearted men we ever came in contact with. He never asked for a favor but was always ready to grant one. We never heard of anyone giving a public official credit and Fred D. Roberts was no different. His hours were long and his job was never done. He lost many hours of sleep because of his interest in his work and his devotion to a job in which the health and welfare of the people in Granville was concerned.

Sundays, holidays, after hours, Fred D. Roberts was the watch-dog of the village water supply. He worried when the water reservoir was low in case a serious fire broke out in the village. He was blamed for more break-downs which he had nothing to do with than any other individual in the village. Frozen water pipes and plugged disposal drains, caused by the weather, were blamed on Fred Roberts. He received many "cusses" but never a thanks. But it is a matter of record that his long public service is outstanding, as the village board of trustees will agree. If it were not, he wouldn't have stayed on the job as long as he did.

A cloud-burst which flooded the streets was blamed on Fred Roberts because of the inundated sidewalks. A drought was blamed on Fred Roberts because "he did not lay down enough calcium chloride" to keep the dust down. If the drinking water was rusty Fred Roberts was to blame, he didn't clean out the water mains. And during the past winter, which recorded the heaviest snow fall in the village in more than 60 years, Fred Roberts was blamed because 20 miles of sidewalk were not clear of snow when people got up in the morning. When slush and ice formed on walks and streets Fred Roberts "wasn't on the job" to remove it. It was a testimonial of unappreciated service by a public servant who was doing his very best and which caused strangers and visitors to remark: "Granville is the best looking village in Washington county."

We lost a personal friend when death took Fred Roberts so unexpectedly. His family and his home was his pride. He loved both and beamed with happiness when he talked about his children. Fred was religious and he deplored the laxity of religious training in present day homes. He wondered what would become of a world without religion. He was outspoken against the New Deal as the beginning of the breakdown in the American way of life as he knew it when a young man. Only a few days before his death he said: "Aren't there men big enough in this world to talk of peace and not of war?"

We will miss Fred Roberts, whom we used to see as he came to the office to dictate a letter, or use the telephone. His greeting was always present no matter how rough the going. He always left the office with the words: "See you later". The last time he spoke these three words, death was waiting around the corner. Only we didn't know it. But, because life is so uncertain we now mourn the loss of a good friend and fine gentleman. Fred Roberts will hear no more complaints. But if there are any words spoken in the world of eternal rest may he hear the kind words which he so richly deserved while here on earth: "Well done good and faithful servant".

The New York Department of the Grand Army of the Republic will go out of existence on June 11. Only two members of the G. A. R., remain from the thousands in New York state who served in the War of the Rebellion. They are James A. Hard, 106, of Rochester and Robert Rownd, who is 104 years old, of Ripley, N.Y. Most of the other state departments have long closed their charters, but with the coming 82nd annual encampment, the New York G. A. R., will be no more. Commander James Hard, in announcing the dissolution of the New York G. A. R., said that the organization has served its purpose of "keeping alive the tradition of freedom".

At the funeral of Fred Roberts we stood near an American Legion grave marker with the flag on it. Curiously we looked at the stone and the name on it was that of Clarence C. DeGroff. Our thoughts drifted back over the years to World War I when as a courier for the United States Army we opened a packet of papers when we reached Tours, France. These papers contained a large list of officers and enlisted men "missing in action". The second name from the top, on the first sheet, read: "Clarence C. DeGroff".

We miss our old friends from the street who used to come into the office at various times during the year, so we send greetings to Elizabeth Williams, 20 Columbus street, now in her 88th year and Ellen Williams, Williams street, who is in her 79th year ... When we asked the Ritz theatre to bring "Bill and Coo" to Granville we didn't expect to see it so soon. It was shown here April 29 and 30 and the picture was all that we said it was - a most enjoyable one to young and old .... We rubbed our eyes when we saw an ancient high-wheeled velocipede on a truck going through the village. It was an antique. One of the earliest make of two-wheel bicycles with a high wheel in front and a small one in the rear, with a straight short handle bar.

A deaf man was arrested for intoxication and brought before Police Justice Albert Berkowitz. Trying to inform the arrested man of his rights in court, Albert said: "You are charged with intoxication". To which the deaf man replied: "Eh?" as he cupped his hand to his ear. In a louder voice Albert said: "You are charged with intoxication." Again the man cupped his ear and said: "I can't hear you!" Straightening up and shouting at the top of his voice this time, Albert repeated the charge. The deaf man lowered his hand from his ear and said: "My feet are tired". To which Albert replied: "Oh, hell, get out of here". The man heard it without difficulty and Albert stood there quizzically, just wondering, as the man hurried out of court.

That photograph in the Sentinel of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wooddell observing their 60th wedding anniversary in Santa Monica, California, brought back pleasant memories of a fine couple, who were well known in Granville about forty years ago. We have a photograph of "Charlie" Wooddell receiving the mail bags on the 10:12 morning train, coming from the south, and loading them at the Main street crossing, taking about 1908. "Charlie" did trucking in those days with his horse and wagon. The picture in the Sentinel shows Mr. and Mrs. Wooddell well preserved, proving that time has been kind to a grand couple. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Wooddell. Remember me?

For the second time John F. Evans has saved a life. This time a despondent man, ill and tired of living was about to do away with himself, when John showed up and talked him out ... When two men got out of a car and spotted one of our modern stores on the Main street, one remarked: "Isn't it a honey for a small town?" ... We repeat these remarks because of our pride in our community and anything which is a credit to the community is a feather in the cap of every individual living in it ... It looks like Lake St. Catherine is to have a long season this summer. Because of the nice weather, the last two weeks in April and early May, cottagers have opened their camps, and lights are showing up like never before for this time of the year.

Ralph T. Kettering of Chicago, director of the anti-dry campaign of the National Beer Wholesalers Associations of America, warned beer brewers that prohibitionists are getting the upper hand again by establishing the upper hand again by establishing more dry territory in this country than before prohibition, by a systematic drying-up of communities, through local option. Mr. Kettering is sending out a call to the 600 beer wholesalers in the East to halt the "march of the drys". he said that the drys, realizing that they could not bring back prohibition through national legislation, are now making progress through local activities. To the brewers it is a warning of stormy weather ahead.

Main Street – May 13, 1948

 By Morris Rote-Rosen

Little known facts about Granville: The first ballot, of the first village election in 1885, contained the following names: D. D. Woodard, Abram Temple, George W. Henry, Charles E. McFadden, Byron H. Sykes, J. Warren Gray, Robert J. Williams, Marcus T. Day, Oscar Baldwin, Hugh G. Thomas and Andrew H. Green ... Did you know any of them? ... There is an ordinance which prohibits horses, cattle, swine and sheep to roam the village streets or sidewalks ... The village budget in 1886 was $1,500 ... In 1948 it is $44,730.79.

There was a standing reward to anyone reporting the names of those maliciously throwing rocks at the street kerosene lamps ... Chauncey H. Robinson, was appointed the first "Police-Constable" of the village in 1889 ... Special police to assist him were: George Dorsey, William P. White, William C. Searles, Lyman F. Raymond, William Tolman, Robert S. Roberts, James Walsh, Patrick Walsh, Truman Temple, B. F. Howard, Sidney Hannibal, Thomas Brown, Joseph Safford and William Gunther ... Quite a police department ... And today Chief Richard Stanton does it with the assistance of only three.

One hundred dollars reward was offered by the village board for the arrest of anyone desecrating the local grave yard ... Would any youngster today think of such an act? ... The people of this village weren't unanimous to have the kerosene lamps abolished for electric lighting. The vote was 88 for and 44 against the change ... "Jim" Walsh, the first chief of police, was paid $25 monthly salary with orders "to devote his whole time to the duties of his office" ... And those who remember "Jim" Walsh remember a chief who feared no one, not even the toughest of them.

Only a few old timers can recall the courage of "Jim" Walsh who took on all challengers of the law without fear. There was a professional prize fighter who lived in Granville, and who fought in New York and Philadelphia prize rings. With his prize money he would return to Granville, gather a crowd of hero-worshippers and make the rounds in the local saloons, setting them up for the house. Before the rounds were half completed the fighters pugilistic spirit mixed with the liquid kind would be aroused and he would rear his challenge to world combat. It was up to "Jim" Walsh to keep the peace.

When "Jim" called for order on the street, the prize-fighter and his mob of followers dared "Jim" to step into the crowd and arrest the hero. "Jim" tightened his belt, pulled out his billy club and waded into the crowd cracking skulls and laying the prize-fighter low. The crowd stood back amazed as "Jim", dragging the prize-fighter by the collar, headed for the lock-up. When the crowd became threatening, trying to save their hero, "Jim" came down with his billy on the fighter's head, knocking him out for the count. The others stepped back as "Jim" picked up the prostrate form of the "hero" and threw him in the lock-up.

One of the Main street landmarks was the wooden Indian in front of the Maurice Carter drug store. The Indian held a bunch of cigars in one hand and was painted in all the colors of the American aborigine. A shoe-shine stand stood near the curb under a huge elm tree where the local newsboys used to gather to discuss ... John L. Sullivan, Jim Jeffries, Jim Corbett, Terry McGovern and Jimmy Britt ... Their bicycle champ was Harry Elkes of Glens Falls, who was killed in a bicycle race ... Sunday newspapers were delivered with horse and wagon.

The village fathers did not worry about parking lots for motor vehicles. The merchant worried that he did not have enough hitching posts to accommodate his trade ... These hitching posts lined the business section on both sides of Main street and were made of iron pipe, wooden posts and slate stones, with rings in them for hitching horses ... When fifty teams of horses stood fetlock deep in mud, tied to these posts, it was a good business day in the village ... Factory street was known as Stevensville, East Potter Avenue was the Quarry Road and Pearl street was Stevens street.

What did the early Granville police men look like? Here is a description: "On and after the first day of August 1894, all regular police or patrolmen, within the village, shall at all times wear the following uniform, to wit - The regulation grey or blue pants, double-breasted frock coat with brass buttons; cap or helmet, belt and night stick, the uniform to be worn at all times while on duty." ... D. R. Haskins was the first to introduce the telephone in Granville by installing a crude switchboard in his drug store ... John W. Hewitt served as street commissioner at 20 cents per hour.

Special police were ordered to be at the depot at train time to keep the curious crowd moving, keep the platform clear of loafers and to see that the passengers could make their way to the train ... Broadview Terrace was better known as Carnarvon street ... A franchise was granted by the village of Granville for a trolley car line which was to be known as the Whitehall and Granville railroad company ... It was to run over North street, to East Main street, to the Vermont state line, and from Main Street to Church street and to Potter avenue to the Vermont state line. It was never built.

Granville was once known as a gamblers' paradise. Not only were high-stake poker games conducted here regularly, cock-fights were a regular feature in a barn off the Main street. The deputy sheriff, believe it or not, stood guard at the barn door to keep out law-enforcement officers from raiding the place ... Albert Martin was probably the most picturesque police justice this village ever had. He would make out all information, picking on a tobacco-juice covered typewriter, with one finger, and administered stern justice to drunks, tramps and bums. No one could read his handwriting, except Judge Martin. His slogan to bums, brought before him, always was the same: "I'll give you five minutes to get out of town."

Lucille Weller (now Mrs. Jack McHenry, Nutley, N. J.) was the first stenographer for the village clerk ... The original speed limit for automobiles passing through the village was eight miles per hour. It was later increased to ten miles per hour ... Today any one driving at ten miles an hour would be arrested for obstructing traffic ... Granville once had a curfew law which prohibited any minor, under fifteen, to be on the village streets after eight o'clock in the evening ... And how the kids used to scram for home when they heard the sad moan of that siren whistle ... Parents were fined ten dollars for its violation.

The Salvation Army in Granville used to hold nightly meetings on the village square and many drunkards "hit the trail" to salvation ... The Salvation Army lassies could go through the local saloons with their tambourines and were always received with courtesy by the habitues who never failed to drop a coin in the tambourine ... The Army even owned their own building, now the Granville Fish and Game Club, on River street ... The loss of the "big fire" of January 1911, which wiped out the buildings on both sides of West Main street, from the present Weinberg store to the track, totaled $250,000.

Main Street – May 6, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

Granville's World War II dead are coming home one by one ... First it was Albert Libert ... Now Robert O'Donnell was returned to his final resting place ... In the West Granville R. C., Catholic cemetery ... The military funeral with veterans of three wars participating was held Monday morning April 26 ... And seeing the flag draped casket resting in a cozy little room in the O'Donnell home, banked with flowers, and surrounded by relatives and friends, gave the living the feeling that perhaps it is best to bring the bodies of the World War dead back home.

The stillness of death was a contrast with everything coming to life around the humble home of the O'Donnell family in the spring time of the year ... Soldiers, sailors, marines, stood outside the house whispering ... A robin perched on an overhanging branch sang his solo ... But no one paid any attention to him ... A meadow lark circled several times like a miniature plane ready for a landing ... A gurgling rivulet was rolling tiny waves down the hillside ... Budding tree branches, like a canopy of pale green flowers, spread over the house containing the remains of a soldier who gave his life for his country ... In the midst of life there is death.

The members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and of the American Legion who turn out to pay their respects to a comrade rate a salute. The Granville veterans feel that they have a duty to perform and many of them give up a day's work to take time off to attend a veteran's funeral. These men feel that they have a sacred obligation to perform and it is gratifying to see so many come out. Besides, the ordeal of the surviving family is made a lot easier and they look to the living veterans for comfort and sympathy.

Sidelights of the O'Donnell funeral: Names on the stained glass windows of the church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, no longer heard in Granville - Redden, Mulligan, Cassidy ... The familiar face in the sanctuary, Rev. Father T. J. Curley, who later received a warm greeting from many of his old friends ... The photograph of Robert O'Donnell placed near the casket refreshed the memory of those who had forgotten him ... Thomas O. Jones, who rarely misses a funeral ... Gray haired veterans of World War I scattered among mourners, unrecognized by the younger veterans ... The impressiveness of presenting the triangularly folded flag to the mother of the deceased.

Says Commander John J. Lawler of the American Legion to Commander Bennie di Nucci of the Veterans of Foreign Wars: "So you think you're a big shot because you're commander? Wait till you're married like I am. The old girl will bring you down a few notches. When I come home from work and ready to sit down to take it easy, all I hear is 'John, carry out the ashes' or 'John do this' or 'John do that' and if I don't, 'bang' comes a wallop right on my jaw. Why, you don't know anything about how a man suffers. Yes, sir, wait till you're married like I am." ... If Mrs. Lawler reads this, perhaps she can get John to admit that he was kidding DiNucci.

Did any one notice the new lease on life of the Granville police? New uniforms, new badges and neatly shined shoes. The police department in any community gives visitors and strangers the first impression of the place. The management of the village is judged by the appearance of the police, and the newly uniformed and equipped police of Granville are in keeping with the neatness and cleanliness of Granville. Chief of Police Richard W. Stanton is making good and is endeavoring to bring the standard of the police department, with the support of the village board, up to date. And Mayor Ted Brown is behind it all.

In the purchase of the former Church street school lot by the Granville Masonic lodge, history repeats itself. When, during the anti-Masonic period, more than one hundred years ago, the Methodist church would not admit members of the Masonic fraternity to worship, they crossed the street to the school house, which stood on that site and formed the Wesleyan Methodist church. Later, when the anti-Masonic feeling subsided the two churches merged as one. Now, with the purchase of the lot from Ted Lutz, the members of the lodge are dreaming of realizing a Masonic temple on the very site where they attended church services at one time.

Didn't Jack Kenworthy have a narrow escape when his vestments caught fire from a candle while assisting with communion at St. Mary's? ... Stewart's ice cream parlor has something sweeter than the things it sells. We mean that attractive young lady behind the counter - Jean White ... When we met Wilbur Fish of Middle Granville recently he looked us over and said: "A little white on top and you're white too." ... Thanks, Wilbur! ... That little boy, leading his pet dog up the street with a rope strong enough, and heavy enough, to hold a steer and afraid the dog would break away.

When John Corey met 96-year old Ben Getty, he said: "Ben, you will live longer than L. L. Barnard did, and I feel like a boy compared to you. I am seventeen years younger than you are." Ben credits his longevity to the fact that he drove horses all his life time. "I never drove a car or a truck. The world is traveling too fast these days." ... When Grandpa "Mel" Blossom was asked how his granddaughter was doing, he said: "She has taken over the Blossom ranch and she is the boss. Say, did you see her picture in Lasher's drug store window?" he asked.

Henry Dutcher was signally honored by the Warren-Washington Baseball League, when he was offered the presidency of the league, which consists of about 14 teams, some from Saratoga county and from Rutland county. Henry Dutcher is an old baseball fan, having managed several teams during his baseball career and always playing the game on the level. Henry Dutcher can't give physically to baseball, his base paths having run out on him because of crippled feet, but he can still give his heart to it as well as his years of experience to a game which he played clean all the way. Henry never disputed an honest decision.

With the approach of Memorial Day, cemeteries in the town of Granville will become alive with fluttering new flags to designate the final resting places of America's war dead who came from the town of Granville. North, south, east or west, wherever cemeteries are located there, lie the men from our town who answered the call of duty. Granville, true to its tradition, will observe Memorial Day with exercises and with prayer appropriate for any American community. And among the names will be found those who originated in foreign countries but, as citizens who served our flag, All-Americans.

Main Street – April 29, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

We receive inquiries from time to time asking where the original Bishop's Corners were located, the name of our village when it was first settled by John Champion Bishop, which later was changed to Granville. We have also been disputed for locating the "corners" at the intersection of Quaker and Mettowee street, some claiming that the "corners" applied to the present village square. For the historical record, once more, we place the "corners" where we originally did - Quaker and Mettowee street.

Some years back, when we wrote the history of Granville in the columns of the Sentinel, we published the fact that John Champion Bishop had his store located at the intersection of Quaker and Mettowee street and not near the village square. Our source of information is the original deed granted by John Champion Bishop and his wife Abigail, October 7, 1805, to the first Stephen Dillingham, who bought the site for the erection of the Friends' Meeting House, the present Grange hall.

In describing the lot purchased for the Society of Friends the deed reads: "Beginning at a stake and stones, three chains and thirty-four links, from the well on the corner of the road leading from Isaac Bishop's store to Hebron." If we place the well of the Bishop store three surveyor's chains (198 feet) and thirty-four surveyor's links (22.44 feet), the well would be located 220.44 feet north of the Meeting House of the Society of Friends, (or present Grange Hall) or on the present north line of the Quaker burial ground on Quaker street. The Bishop store being a short distance north of the well, would place it in the vicinity of Quaker and Mettowee street, probably on the present site of the Saka house, formerly owned by David Owens.

Jack Huyck, poet and philosopher of Lochlea of Wells, Vt., passes along the following story from "The Christian Monitor": "A city councilman, in a certain Southern community, was delighted when he received whispered intimations that he was to be invited to deliver the Memorial Day address at the meeting of the local American Legion post. But the wording of the invitation, when he received it gave him pause. 'You are invited to be one of the speakers at our Memorial Day meeting,' the summons read. 'The program will include remarks by the Mayor; a high school student reciting Lincoln's Gettysburg Address; your speech and then the firing squad.' "

A recent news item caught our eye because the owner of a new 1946 automobile was so disgusted with it that he hung a string of lemons over it with the slogan: "This car is a lemon". About fifteen years ago Scott Severance of Granville purchased a new Cadillac sedan, paying more than $3,000 for it. Displeased with its service he made an effort to have it traded for another car of the same make but the agency he purchased it from in Glens Falls refused to trade it for him. Severance festooned two oil cloth signs on each side of his new Cadillac, reading: "My $3,000 Lemon" and drove it all over, particularly in Washington and Warren counties. It wasn't long before he received a new car in exchange.

William I. Toomey, approaching his 77th birthday, still retains his love for athletics and attended the 54th annual Penn Relay Races, held at Franklin Field, in Philadelphia. This is the fifty-first such meeting that he has attended, missing only three of them. The relay races bring together the greatest athletes in the United States. Mr. Toomey once ran one hundred yards in eleven seconds flat, which today is considered record time for any top-notch runner just below championship class. "Of course I couldn't do it now," said Mr. Toomey.

The recent item about the origin of Truthville has finally been clarified and the original source of name traced. Louise Douglas, a granddaughter of Squire Charles R. Mann of Truthville said: "My grandfather C. R. Mann originated the name of Truthville. When grandmother asked him why, he said: 'Because there are so many damn liars living here.' And the same stuck." ... Squire Mann lived in Truthville and his residence was a popular gathering place for Granville Masons when meetings were held in private homes. Charles R. Mann served as Master of Granville Lodge in 1855, 1856, 1860 and 1861.

Bill Corey, director of the Granville band is now the proud father of a little drum majorette. Hi, Pop! ... Add another improvement to our fine looking Main street: The Stewart ice cream store which should prove a paradise to Granville's young people ... Plenty of yum-yum in any flavor ... Sportsmen will salute the members of the Granville Fish and Game club who assisted the Conservation department in depositing 13,000 brown trout in the vicinity rivers, some varying in size from six to eight inches ... And isn't this the time of year when fishermen's fancy turns to thoughts of landing that big one, in the Indian river, which has been seen to leap three and four feet out of the river to shout "hello" to Charles Schermerhorn and Pat Kelly. Says John F. Evans: "I swear he is about 3 1/2 feet long!"

Bill Little shouted to a friend across the street to catch a hard boiled egg. He threw it, only the egg wasn't boiled at all. It laid fresh all over the catcher from head to foot ... Can't we find some fine young lady in Granville who will volunteer to become leader of the Girls Scouts, a swell group of girls who are eager to keep the Girl Scouts going. "We have asked several," said one of the Girl Scouts, "but we haven't been successful." ... Our young girls who seek outdoor recreation and worth while activities during their spare time ought to be encouraged and commended for their interest. Who will volunteer as Girl Scout leader? There is no finer way to serve your country and your community.

We overheard Mike Minogue praising the girls and boys of Granville. "Juvenile delinquency?", asked Mike, "we need have no fear in Granville. I think we have the nicest girls and boys in Granville and if you don't believe it look around you and see how little, if any, trouble our boys and girls have been to us." Then he thought for a moment and said: "We ought to encourage young people to bring their friends to our homes where parents will know where they are. My kids have had a house full on many Saturday nights when they take things over, and I get a kick out of them."

Fred W. Allen has passed his 80th birthday and congratulations are in order. Mr. Allen is one of the few who shows no wear and tear of the years. We remember him when he and Mrs. Allen used to come with horse and buggy to Granville, put up their fine looking rig, at Paul's livery stable, and call at the Pember theatre box office for "two of the best seats in the house" to enjoy an evening's entertainment. We have always had a high regard for Mr. and Mrs. Allen and an esteem which has grown with the years. A couple who add the tradition of the old with the living present and may they go on enjoying life for many happy years.

Looking in on a friendly game of cards the other evening we asked the players where Bert Braymer, Bill Carey, Ed Bushee and Mike Tierney were. It was a recall of the times when the cigar store of Craig Weir was the social gathering place evenings and when the back room was so thick with smoke that the electric light overhead was obscured in a fog. The round, black oil-cloth covered table, cuspidors within striking distance for the tobacco chewers, pitch games going on steadily into the midnight hours for smokes, where every one tried to sneak the low, while kibitzers crowding round the players made standing room at a premium. Days which bring back a happy nostalgia.

Main Street – April 22, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

Old friends, now living out of town, drop in occasionally for a few moments chat and the subject invariably turns to old Granville and to a period when another group of men and women were prominent in the affairs and the activities of our village. The faces of our friendly visitors beam with pleasure, mingled with sadness, as they recall names, which, to them, bring happy memories of other days. One of them stopped in to see us recently and he expressed regret because many of the Granville people he knew in his youth are no longer with us.

As he hurried out he left us with the thought that Granville has changed to such a great extent as to almost make Main street unrecognizable to these older people when they return for a visit here after an absence of many years. They stand on the village square, as if in a dream, looking up and down the street, searching their memories to try to locate some business places, or, among the pedestrians, a face they knew long, long ago. We met an old Welsh gentleman, a former resident of Middle Granville, and as we shook hands with him, his eyes were glued across the square from the Pember opera house block and he said: "I can see George Finch standing there in the doorway of the Central House."

Death and fires have played havoc with the Granville these older people knew. The older generation is practically all gone having reached the end of life's journey. Buildings which were well known land marks on our Main street have long been replaced as a result of the many disastrous fires. The young people of Granville can not conceive the changes which have occurred on our Main street. Old timers visualize these changes in their memory. The youngsters go on seeing Granville as it is, never having known it to have been different.

Gladys Cox, faculty adviser to the Vocational school in Binghamton, N. Y., mailed us a copy of the "Vocational View-Point", a mimeographed magazine of fourteen pages, composed and edited by the school children. The articles are well written as well as the poems, and a report on the school athletic activities. The names of the basketball teams are the "Electrons", "Termites", "Woodpeckers" and "Grease Monkeys", representing the different trades in the school. We don't know the age group of the youngsters attending the Vocational School, but the make-up of the magazine is on a par with many high school publications we have seen. Thank you Gladys.

From Washington, D. C., comes a pleasant note from a reader of the "Sentinel": "I just want to tell you that it is like home for a few minutes to read 'Main Street', which always reflects your concise and honest opinion and the ability to look beyond the cold surface of human nature and into the heart of people and things." ... It has been years since the going out of the ice at Lake St. Catherine has done so much damage as this year. The ice took every dock which wasn't anchored for the winter and moved it out of sight. Alton and Clifford Ellis, proprietors of "Idylwild", are still looking for most of their large docks, some parts having been found as far north as "Whip-poor-will Lodge".

John G. Cary of Middle Granville, who spends most of the year with his daughter, at Seneca Falls, has the distinction of being the first from Granville to be awarded the Palm Leaf to his 50 year Grand Lodge of Masons Medal, indicating membership of sixty continuous years. Congratulations Brother Cary! ... Is Ruth Lyng flashing an engagement sparkler to friends ... The Veterans of Foreign Wars of Granville have turned over $375 as a starter for furnishing a complete ward in the local hospital, which is expected in time to be known as the John Falvey - Sullivan Fringi VFW ward. When the room is completely equipped, at the expense of the VFW, a bronze plaque will be placed on the floor of the ward crediting the Post with it.

Granville can not afford to let the Pember Library slip below its present level of high standard because of the lack of finances. But, that is just what will happen if the people of our community don't take more interest in the library and support the trustees of the library with funds appropriated by the town, or by private subscription. The Pember Library is now financed on practically the same income it had forty years ago. Unless the financial support is brought up to date in keeping with the times, irreparable damage will be done to one of the finest libraries of its kind. Can't we do something before it is too late?

Said John Foster Thomas: "I enjoyed your article about the old shows at the Pember theatre. I have seen some good shows in Liverpool years ago, but I remember in 1909, seeing the play 'The Call of the North' in the Pember opera house and it was the best play I ever saw. I can still see the man coming onto the stage in his canoe and the moonlight effect on the state was beautiful." Mr. Thomas was referring to Paul Gilmore who played the lead in that play, appearing as a dashing hero of the Hudson Bay county in the Canadian fur trade.

Why all this delay in Congress about outlawing the Communist party and its followers in the United States. Is there any question in the mind of any American citizen that the Communists have one aim in their political life. They are definitely committed to the overthrow of our government by force and violence and yet they are given their "constitutional rights" before our courts. Let's not be sentimental in giving the Communists "freedom of speech", which can only result in the enslavement of our people. There can be but one choice. Which shall it be?

When Mac Manchester of Washington was in Granville recently, he made a trip to Boston. An emergency telephone call came in to stop him before he reached Boston. We contacted the police at North Adams, Mass., and in less than half an hour Mac was on the phone. All the police in North Adams were on the lookout for a Virginia license plate on a 1947 Chevrolet. When Mac reached the city limits of North Adams, a police car was waiting for him and it followed him. The officer blew the horn to stop him, but Mac, having a clear conscience continued on his way, and at the same time he could see through the car mirror that he was being followed.

Looking at his speedometer Mac realized that he was exceeding the speed limit by only two or three miles - not enough to be arrested for. He slowed down. The police car was still after him. Mac again searched his conscience for any law violations. he found none. When he heard the siren of the police car ordering him to pull over to one side of the highway Mac stopped. The officer asked him for his license. Then Mac was asked to identify himself. Then he was told that the police department in Granville requested the North Adams police to stop him and telephone to Granville - that's all.

Later, when Mac returned to Granville, he said that the North Adams police had him sweating and guessing for a few minutes. "My conscience was clear," said Mac, "but I thought of my wife and baby being in Granville and surely something must have happened. I didn't know what to think. Everything ran through my mind for a few minutes until I found out what it was all about." Mac was impressed with the efficiency of the North Adams police. Mac is editor of "The Officers' Reserve", official publication of the reserve officers of the United States, with headquarters in Washington. He is a captain in the U.S. Reserve.

Main Street – April 15, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

We have heard nothing but praise during the recent Granville band concert at the high school auditorium. It was a well selected and well rounded out program, not too long and yet long enough to show the Granville band at its best. The concert was suggested by those two music masters - Sigrud Rascher and Paul Pelton - who helped to make the program a most enjoyable one. The conducting of "Bill" Corey and the ease with which George Ritchie, master of ceremonies, handled the program, received rounds of applause. Not many places the size of Granville can boast of such an excellent musical organization.

A Whitehall resident, whose name is left out for obvious reasons, was so taken back by the modernly equipped Granville high school building that he stared in wonderment shaking his head. "Whitehall is a larger town than Granville," he said, "yet we have no such school auditorium like you have, and our gymnasium is old and out of date. Our school building cannot be compared with yours." He was then led to the gymnasium door which was swung open to him and his eyes popped. "I still can't understand it, and Whitehall is such a larger town than Granville."

On the gym dance floor, after the band concert, we watched the dancing couples go around and around, some jitter-bugging, others taking it easy. There was a great contrast between the older dancers and the young people - as there always is - to prove that dancing is intended for youth and not for age. Boys and girls locked in each other's arms, glided lazily over the floor, cheek to cheek, whispering secrets in each other's ears, drifting on south clouds of dreamland, while the older couples had space enough between them for a third party, their eyes wandering in different directions as if they were bored.

And while this was going on, we sat on the sidelines of the gym visiting with a friend who was reminiscing of the days of long ago, when Zita's orchestra of Troy played dance engagements in the Granville Odd Fellows' hall. She compared the dignified dances of another generation with the prancing, shaking, jumping, holy-roller, tap-dancing and wrestling jitter-bugs, in which the girl is practically thrown for a loss. "Dancing was different then," she said, "and the ladies dressed differently. Now they dance in dungarees and slacks, but I suppose it is the modern trend." Nevertheless, to us, the jitter-bugs personified youth, vitality, happiness and cheer and we enjoyed their crazy antics.

Roy Potter was the last of the Potter boys, sons of Jonathan and Lucy H. (Stevens) Potter, of whom there were four. The Potter family was well known among our leading families at one time and they are all gone now from Granville. Roy, the youngest in the group, was of a quiet disposition and enjoyed his work as mail carrier in our village for nearly twenty-five years. Retiring because of ill-health Roy put up a game fight, never giving up hope. His hobby was his home and his family. Those of us who knew Roy will miss a good fellow, a fine friend and a kind neighbor.

The firemen answering an alarm to the first grass fire of the spring season, were interested in the explanation. Kenneth Courter, caretaker of the hospital, tried to make for calling out the fire department. "I only burned some papers in the steel drum," said Kenneth, "and all at once the whole patch of grass was on fire." He scratched his head and said: "I can't understand it." And it wasn't but a short time before the firemen were off to the second grass fire of the day, to Dave Beecher's farm, where before the fire was put out, Fire Chief Moloney had to fight off two dogs from trying to chew a flank off one of Dave Beecher's goats.

Decoration Day will soon be here and the Granville veterans, as well as the general public, would appreciate a much shorter program which seems to be getting longer with the years. Have a heart Committee, we want to have lunch before one o'clock ... The many friends of George Fialkovich are happy to see him in circulation after such a long winter's illness .. Roy Gandron, local manager of the A. and P. store in Granville, is a combination of friendly service, courtesy and efficiency. Store managers like Gandron are not a dime a dozen. They are scarce.

The Sentinel "subscriber" who explained the origin of Truthville, is telling the truth, historically, according to tradition. We once asked an old resident from Truthville, the origin of the name and he said: "The old settlers are gone now from Truthville so it is safe to tell you how Truthville derived its name. It was from having the reputation of having the biggest lairs in the town of Granville. But, don't ever let the cat out of the bag. They won't like it." ... Now that the "cat is out of the bag", the story of the hog having the litter of pigs inside the pumpkin can be matched with several stories credited to the old settlers of Truthville. One is about the fox, which tired after being hunted for ten years, captured the hound dog, returned it to the owner, by dropping the dog on the door steps.

From the mail bag: "A friend of mine, Mr. Francis X. Ryan, who formerly lived in Granville, loaned me the Sentinel of March 18, containing the fine article about the One Night Stand Companies. The fine detail covered in the article shows study and research and I have never read a more interesting description. There will come a time, not too far distant, when information such as you have set down will be just impossible to find. Please pardon this method of congratulating you on your most interesting article on a difficult subject. Sincerely, T. H. L." ... Thanks, T. H. L. Watch for an early column on the old minstrel shows soon.

And Wesley Hughes of Middle Granville, who is touring the south, writes from the Middleton Gardens, in Charleston, S. C., as follows: "It is spring in the south and the wisteria, azalea, dogwood, jasmine, roses and irises are in full bloom. These gardens are out of the world. Charleston is a charming old city." ... The fellow who drove his car through a wall of one of the buildings belonging to the local electric light company, on Water Street, must have gulped down something that had the kick of an Army mule. "I thought I hit something," he said the next morning, "but I didn't know what."

John Parry Owens, 80-year old West Pawlet settler, reminded us that he is the last of a group of Welshmen who came to West Pawlet a long, long time ago. There are two other survivors of that group who are living away from West Pawlet ... Eugene Barden and George Gallup, another pair of old timers, were discussing farming. Said George Gallup: "Gene, we can't farm it now like we used to. Times have changed." Replied Eugene: "What? After 72 years of farming experience? The hell we can't." And the two launched into the intricacies in the field of agriculture.

If the Ritz theatre ever advertises the picture "Bill and Coo" drop everything and bring not only the children but grandpa and grandma as well, and give them a joyous entertainment. All the characters in the picture are birds - not a human being in it. And the interesting life in the imaginary village of Chirpendale on which roam hundreds of birds is one of the most remarkable pictures ever produced. And when the circus comes to Chirpendale there are birds, cats and dogs who perform as trapeze artists.