Granville Then & Now – October 21, 2021

It was busy times here in 1946

By Erik Pekar, Town Historian

There were quite the events happening in Granville in October of 1946, as evidenced in the Oct. 24 issue of the Sentinel. The Emma Laing Stevens Hospital was given a electrocardiograph. The fund was started by Dr. Harry Naylor, in memory of Dr. D.R. Haskins, who had been a pharmacist in Granville for many years. The fund also received two other generous large donations from a daughter of D.R. Haskins and from Mrs. E.R. Norton of Granville. The hospital also received a dishwashing machine, also the result of a fund; the donation here was from the family of Henry Vanderminden, Jr.

An era in the slate industry came to an end that month, as Hugh G. Williams sold off all his quarrying properties and retired from business. Williams had owned about 18 slate quarries, spread among the towns of Granville, New York, and Poultney, Pawlet and Wells, Vermont, as well as a marble quarry in Fairmount, Georgia. The properties and business were sold for $600,000.

A Parent-Teacher Association was formed in North Granville on Oct. 14, at the North Granville Schoolhouse, district 11. The officers were elected as follows: Mrs. William Aldous, president; Mrs. Sheeler, vice president; Mrs. Willard Tyler, secretary; Mrs. Wesley Logan, treasurer. The membership fee was set at 25 cents per member, per meeting. The schedule for meetings was set for the second Monday of every month. Another meeting was set for Oct. 23, to initiate the organization’s activities.

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After a few weeks’ delay, the fall foliage is in full swing in the Granville area. The timing of the foliage’s progression depends on when the temperatures begin to cool down. Last year the temperature began to change midway through September. This year, however, the cool-down occurred in early October. Progress was hindered by a warm spell, but cooler temperatures have returned. Last Saturday’s storm brought little in the way of heavy rain but was preceded by high winds. This has accelerated the start of the trees shedding their leaves for the winter.

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Those who went to Granville’s Main Street in the afternoon early last week may have seen the village bucket truck on the street. This was for maintenance of Main Street’s decorative building outline lights. The lights were turned on and checked to make sure they worked, and bulbs were replaced where necessary. The lights were then turned off again. The work was done by the primary core of village volunteers who worked on the installing and maintenance of the lights in prior years.

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Progress is being made on the Pember House on West Main Street. The house was bought in January of 2021 by George Ignatiadis, proprietor of the Station House. He promptly began to hire workers to work on the house. The interior was entirely gutted, and the house stabilized. By July, work began on the outside. Old shrubs and trees were removed. Replacement of the siding and work on the doors and windows began. The exterior of the house will be done in a color scheme of white, with red trim and green accents.

The house renovations will likely be completed next year. The family plans to reside in the house, upon which time the house will be lived in and loved once more. Many are thankful to see something significant being done with the Pember House after all these years of deterioration. Ignatiadis is to be commended for taking the initiative and investing to renovate this residence.