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.