Main Street – July 22, 1948

By Morris Rote-Rosen

Eye-arresters: The meticulously trimmed Vandyke of Truman R. Temple ... The snow-white hair of Rev. Ira M. Stanton ... The shuffling feet of nonagenarian Ben Getty ... The high-pitched voice of Walter Doty ... The yawning, open car of Tom King, on "Sentinel" day, waiting to be loaded ... The curls of "Cathie" Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oswald Williams ... The plodding team of horses of Hubert Haley who never heard of the motor age ... The contagious laughter of Lester Race ... The long stride of Dr. D. J. Campbell.

Granville's only lady taxi driver - "Joe" Hayes ... The license plate of S. M. Rising: "P 19-09" (Princeton 1909) ... The shiny baldplate of Arthur Austin on a hot July day ... Arthur Cronin's new Granville-Glens Falls bus ... The pleasant greeting of Mrs. J. N. Huyck in any kind of weather ... The long visored cap of Captain "Walt" Brown ... The inseparable pals: Michael Chornyak and his old pipe ... The morning baritone groan of Albert Berkowitz, which is a song to him ... The tired looking feet of "Eddie" Keelan, which can do a tap dance at a moment's notice.

The infectious smile and pearly teeth of Ernest Morris ... The long, loose dangling arms of George Woodard - a la Abraham Lincoln ... Granville's pretty babies ... The jaunty angle of the cap of Chief of Police "Dick" Stanton ... The summer visitors star-gazing at Granville store signs ... Hitch hikers lining East Main street, thumbing traffic for Lake St. Catherine ... David J. McHenry and his two grandsons ... The television aerials atop the Main street buildings ... The colored slate floor and walls in the post office .. The memorial bank clock, a constant reminder of the guardians of American liberty.

The river watchers on the West Main street bridge ... The characters going to and coming from Water street ... The cigarette butt picker ... The advertising on the Railway Express truck ... The Diesel railroad engines ... Pauline Pauquette (period) ... The inconspicuous J. W. Gillespie - a gentleman of the old school ... The Sam Browne belts on the Granville police ... Carl Hall when wearing a Legion cap ... The colored neon signs at night ... The rumble of falling bowling pins on the Caruso and Grottoli alleys ... The tiny grocery delivery truck of Harold Edwards.

And while on the subject of eye-arresters, how would you like to walk up to an automobile, peek in and find the glazed eyes and open mouth of a dead man staring you in the face? It happened to us the other day when we passed the office of Dr. Irvine. A car was parked on the sidewalk and we had to take to the road. Curiously we looked into the car and there was "Ownie" Jones, who had just expired, sitting in the back seat, in a natural pose, except for his death mask. Frank Yauger and "Hepper" Williams were the only two in sight. They found him ill on Water street and brought him to Dr. Irvine.

While more than five hundred deaths have been reported the July 4 holiday, Granville reported none except a runaway horse. The occupants fell out and no one was injured ... When we met "Jim" Hitt, an old classmate, he seemed to be worried about Americans losing their liberties if we have another war ... "Him" has cause for worry, like the rest of us. American people are being regimented more and more each day by losing their governmental powers and by being taken over by centralized government, both in the state and in that nation.

Local governments are being deprived of the power and authority of local administration. The village Board of Trustees, under the New York State Laws, has had certain powers conferred upon them for the management of the affairs a village. Today they are no longer permitted to appoint officers for the village. They are not even allowed to exercise their judgment in the financial affairs of the village. Additional laws, every time the Legislature meets, are gradually placing a noose on representative government and if the people of our country continue to doze, they will find themselves on the end of a dictatorial rope.

Overheard in a local store: "Hello, Bill, what are you doing here you old son of a gun?" It was a greeting of two summer visitors to Granville and the lake. "I have been coming up here for the past 15 years," was the answer. "What are you doing here?" he asked and the other replied: "I heard what a nice place Granville is and I thought that I would try it this summer." Still shaking hands the other said: "You're right. This is the sweetest little town I have run into in a long, long time. Great little place, people are so friendly and neighborly."

Visitors to "Main Street" this week were Clifton Neal, Poultney; Bert Hills of Waltham, Mass., and Tom McDonough from Elmira Heights. Neal is associated with the Bomoseen Raceway at Hydeville, summer harness racing program ... Bert Hills is trying to learn the art of woodchopping from 90 year old Levi Pratt in Wells. Bert dropped into the office in time to renew acquaintance with Bert Nichols and the two pow-wowed about Granville at the turn of the century and both had an enjoyable time.

"Tom" McDonough who was born and raised in the American House talked of the Pember opera house, when, as a little fellow, he made the theater his hang-out. He talked about "Tom" Boyle, manager of the Pember theater and the old show days. "Tom" brought regards from his step-mother Kate McDonough, an old friend of long standing. "Tom" was also a member of the Granville fire department. "I must try to come up carnival week," said "Tom", "my vacation is never complete without paying the old home town a visit."

Those of us who have had dealings with "Pat" Tierney regret his going out of business. "Pat" who has been with the Munson and Tierney firm for 25 years will be remembered by his many customers for his square dealing and for his courtesy. Particularly, during the war, his worries added a few gray hairs to "Pat's" head. He was most considerate to his customers to see that there was an equal and fair distribution to all. Sorry to see you quit your business "Pat". You couldn't have picked a better successor than John Scott. Good luck to both of you.

From Miss Mary-Lewis Finch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Finch. "This is just a little note to tell you what an awfully nice item, I thought you had in 'Main Street' last week, about mother and dad. It isn't too often that I get 'starry eyed' about things like that, but your little paragraph has touched me very much. I am sure, is because all that you said is so very true. They are two pretty grand people and no one can know that better than I. My richest blessing is having had their loving care, guidance and companionship, and I hope and pray I will continue to have it for many more." ... Which is our sincere prayer also, Mary.