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.