By Morris Rote-Rosen
George Benway must have chuckled to himself when he successfully passed off a printed scrap of paper as a $3.50 check ... There were several red faces as a result ... In spite of the cold weather the sun is slowly creeping towards the north side of the street to remind one that spring can not be too far behind ... Helen Connors shivering like a Hula dancer from the extreme cold, asked how she liked. Her reply: "T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E" ... Another fine couple punching the time clock of golden wedding anniversaries: Mr. and Mrs. Hugh J. Thomas. Congratulations!
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Give and see how good it feels to know that your contribution to the "March of Dimes" will make some crippled little child walk some day ... Love and kisses to the ladies of the VFW auxiliary for remembering a crippled one-armed old soldier ... We liked the item from the old Sentinel files of fifty years ago which reported that the groom returning from his honey moon "was accompanied by his bride" ... Bill Corey, director of the Granville band is planning one of his fine public concerts for early April in which several soloists will appear during the program.
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One of our pleasant surprises on the street was to meet Harry Reynolds of Brooklyn, a former Granville resident, now living in West Pawlet. He looks fine and is the happiest man in the world to see so many of his old friends and to visit with them. Harry will be remembered by many of another generation as a noted amateur bicycle racer, whose photo is in the Granville history group in the library. He married one of the most beautiful girls ever in Granville. Welcome back home, Harry. We are happy to have you home where you can once more rub elbows with old friends and make some new ones.
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That was a masterful oration given by Gurdon Stevens, at the annual meeting of the Henry Hose company, which could rank with those of Patrick Henry and Daniel Webster, but unfortunately history will never record what he said, although he was properly rewarded for making it ... Did you see that blinding sparkler which "Tommy" O'Brien is sporting for selling insurance for 20 years? ... Lester Race said that he had been married 20 years and no one gave him a ring ... "You're a poor salesman," says "Tommy" to Lester ... A typical scene at a fireman's meeting: Easton Owens making his treasurer's annual report while sitting on the fire truck.
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Paul Forgette, photographer in Ray Brown's studio, is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican and an ardent "Tom" Dewey fan. Paul was formerly official photographer for the Young Republican Club and he thinks that Dewey should, and will, receive the nomination next June. "We can win with Dewey" says Paul ... Edward Riley, who is marooned in the snow drifts of the Green Mountains in Royalton, Vt., writes: "Not frozen yet, but nearly so. Two feet of snow here. See you in the spring. Glad you are back with 'Main Street'" ... The only weather prophet running true to form, so far in 1948, is the Farmers' Almanac, which predicted a severe winter.
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The "Saturday Night Bath" Sentinel editorial was interesting, but it failed to mention the weekly reservations for the bath tub in the barber shops of George Roberts and John W. Mayo 40 years ago, when the luxury of a hot water bath was extended to local tonsorial places. There was always a line-up waiting their turn and many came early to avoid the rush. And barbers handed out towels and cakes of soap to those anxious to have their weekly ablutions. That was in the old days of the derby and handle-bar mustache, when the shelves in the barber shops were lined with private shaving cups bearing the names of the owners.
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Lt. Emilio Mancini, U.S.N., son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Mancini, has been designated a member of the Four Power Naval Commission which consists of representatives from the United States, Great Britain, Russia and France, who have been commissioned to work out the details and methods the Italian government will have to comply with in the peace treaty between the Allied Nations and Italy, in respect to naval units belonging to Italy. Emilio, a Granville high school graduate, enlisted 15 years ago as a musician with the U.S. Navy and has since made fine progress in the service. He was chosen for the important assignment because of his knowledge of the Italian language, acting as interpreter and as a member of the commission.
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In our December 12, 1947 "Main Street" we wrote as follows: "If General Eisenhower threw his hat in the political ring we will have a Republican president." The Fortune Survey of Public Opinion in its release of Saturday, January 24, 1948, stated that "of six possible Republican opponents, General Eisenhower was the only one favored over the incumbent." The American Institute of Public Opinion also gave the General a lead over Truman and Wallace. Elmo Roper of the Fortune Survey shows that Eisenhower is the only Republican favored by union members, low-income groups and by veterans. The results of the nationwide polls in percentage is as follows: Eisenhower 48; Truman 43; Dewey 40; MacArthur 38; Stassen 36; Warren 31; Taft 27.
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We knew that John D. Kelley wouldn't pass by that remark about questioning his loyalty to his native state of Vermont. We knew that to John Kelley every grain of sand of his beloved home is as sacred to him as the Wailing Wall to the Palestinians. We wanted to know to how high a pitch of patriotism we could arouse the philosopher of "Listen Folks" in defense of a state which is second to none in the U.S.A. We not only got what we expected, but we never knew John D. Kelley to write a finer descriptive column of Vermont than in his answer in the Sentinel, Jan. 29.
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At the radio the over evening we listened to a medley of old songs, particularly one group written by the late Harry Von Tilzer. There's nothing that will recall memories like an old song. One number, "Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie," harked back to the early days of the silent movies in the Pember opera house when illustrated songs with colored stereopticon slides were featured with every picture program, when the audience was asked by the soloist to join in singing the chorus. And, now and then, the slide would appear on the screen upside down and the audience clapped and whistled to the despair of the picture operator.
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And then there were the slides asking the ladies to remove their hats. For mothers to keep their children from crying. For the impatient "One Minute Please", which lasted five and sometimes 15 minutes before a broken film was spliced, the crowd shouted disapproval of the delay of the show. When the Pember opera house orchestra consisted of a piano player and a drummer. When "Hearts and Flowers" was played more than a dozen times during a two-hour show to bring sobs to the sentimental. And when all this was had for an admission price of ten cents to adults and five cents to children. Good old days!
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Another echo of the Fred Thompson Christmas fund, dated Toronto, Canada, January 16, 1948: "Dear Mr. Rote-Rosen -- One of our patients, Mr. Fred Thompson, has been in to see me and brought along a very generous cheque and your very cordial letters, to which I felt I would like to reply and tell you that he appreciates very, very much the kindness of his old friends in your village. Mr. Thompson, as you know is quite handicapped, and I doubt if he is able to write at all, but he has a very keen sense of humor and is most appreciative of the kindly thoughts of you people and the lovely Christmas gifts. I thought you would like to know this, and with kindest regards, I remain, Yours very sincerely, (Signed) Sidney E. Lambert, Lt. Col. Chaplain, O.B.E."
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Full column reprinted January 19, 1994
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