Granville’s most festive time of year
By Erik Pekar, Town Historian
There were great feelings in the area when the first snowfall fell a couple of weeks ago; some were of joy, and others of discontent. The afternoon of Nov. 26 brought snow, and it seems few were prepared. Predictions had suggested a dusting to a few inches, but at least a few inches fell in the Granville area, and some surrounding areas received as much as 10 inches.
The roads were untreated and unplowed for the afternoon. There were one-car accidents in the area, caused by drivers unaccustomed to the sudden change in roadway conditions, including one just north of Middle Granville. By the following morning of Nov. 27, the roads had been plowed and treated. The weather changed midway through last week, however, and most of the snow was melted away by warm temperatures reaching as high as 50 and a rainstorm.
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Granville’s Christmas holiday season lights have returned. The decorative building outline lights were turned back on the night of Nov. 24. The previous buildings have returned. Older light installations on the Granville Engine and Hose firehouse, village offices and the Chamber of Commerce building were replaced with lights of the same color as those installed on buildings in 2019 and 2020. New installations were made this year; the Granville convenience stores of Cumberland Farms and Stewart’s each received lights, as well as the American Hardware building on Church Street.
Decorations have also appeared in buildings. Chamber-sponsored displays were placed in the 6 Main and 15 Main buildings. Decorations in tune with the season have appeared in the windows of Blown Away and Second Time Around, as well as in front of the Granville Post Office and several locations around the village.
The Christmas trees returned to Main Street on Nov. 27, as a shipment of more than 20 trees was brought to the street. A group of volunteers took the trees and secured them to the tree posts. The posts, and wiring for the lights, were placed earlier in the week. Within a few hours, the Christmas trees were all set up.
The Christmas tree-lighting parade was held on Dec. 3, with a theme of Frosty the Snowman, and both he and Santa coming to Granville. With this event, the lights in Veterans Memorial Park were formally turned on for this year. A light show coordinated to music (played at 89.3 FM) runs for about 20 minutes at the top of the hour, each hour from 5 to 9 p.m.; for the rest of the time the lights are static.
The decorative building outline lights, along with the Christmas trees and decorations in storefronts, really make Main Street look attractive during the Christmas holiday season. All these, together with the decorations in Veterans Memorial Park and those on the houses around here make the Granville area look festive this time of year.
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The anticipated move of the Granville Family Diner occurred last week. Its last day in the 70 Quaker St. building was Nov. 29, where the diner had been located since opening on July 5. The opening in the new location occurred on Dec. 2, at 11 a.m. It is located at the Big Lots strip mall, between the NYVTmedia office and Fred’s Pharmacy.
The site in the strip mall was most recently used by AJ’s Restaurant, which opened in December 1981 and closed in December 2018. The old sign for AJ’s came down the morning of opening day, and the Granville Family Diner sign was put up that afternoon.
The new location of the diner has been refurbished. The tall wooden booths have been re-stained, the shorter wooden booths used in the old location have been brought over. The diner has been decorated for the season, and the rooster table covers have been placed on all the tables, as had been done before. The atmosphere already looked of the folksy, country feel before, and the new additions completed the look.
Congratulations to the Granville Family Diner on the move, and Granville wishes the business success in its new location.
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