Cold didn’t deter tractor parade, spectators
By Erik Pekar
Granville was again the place to be on the night of Dec. 9. Many spectators braved the chilly temperatures in the mid-20s to watch the fifth annual Granville Lighted Tractor Parade.
The judges’ stand was set up on Main Street a few hours before the parade. Music started playing on Main Street just before 5 p.m., consisting mostly of Christmas music with some recent country music included as well. The parade participants, with their tractors or floats, began to assemble in the Telescope parking lot near the shipping entrance.
The parade started at 6 p.m. This year’s route went up Church Street to Main Street, down Main Street and West Main Street, around Veterans Memorial Park and down Quaker Street to Potter Avenue, and east on Potter Avenue and East Potter Avenue back to the Telescope alternate shipping entrance through the Granville Rescue Squad parking lot.
Sixty-six floats were entered in the parade this year. The head of the parade line arrived at Main Street at 6:22 p.m. The participants’ floats ranged from more simplistic designs to elaborate productions. These included the Penrhyn Engine and Hose’s 1952 fire truck decorated with lights, and pulled by three of the company’s firefighters; Ritchie’s “Toy Story.” a flatbed truck with a recreation of Al’s Toy Barn, led by three people dressed as Woody, Jessie and Rex; the Granville Masons’ “Faith, Hope, Charity,” with the North Pole, a Christmas tree, and a giant lit up representation of the Masonic symbol of the compass and square; Barlow’s “Christmas Creamland,” a trailer decorated with ice cream cones and a themed poster, riding on which were dogs, a couple of people, and Payton Barlow with an ice cream cone hat; and a decorated large size Rubik’s cube.
As the floats turned to come down Main Street, they passed the judging booth. This year’s panel of judges were Lisa Ackert, Will Kuban, Jenine Macura, Cara Talmadge and Sara Williams. Those who entered their tractors or floats were encouraged to slow down as they passed the judging booth and show their entry’s features or talents to the judges.
The large parade took more than a half hour to clear Main Street. The last float, from the Rescue Squad, stopped at the judges’ stand about 7 p.m. In a departure from past years, rather than letting it through, the spectators parked along the parts of the parade route already cleared by the paraders were allowed to depart from Granville. This resulted in a practical traffic jam on all the primary thoroughfares of Granville, which slowly cleared out. By 9 p.m. the traffic situation was back to normal.
After the parade ended, the judging booth was brought down to the starting area at Telescope, and the award recipients were announced. The first registrant was the Aldous family, and the 50th was Seth Chapin; both won Stewart’s gift cards. This year, there were six honorable mentions, up from two last year: Hayes’ “Abominable Snowman,” Penrhyn Engine and Hose Company’s “Magical Christmas Firefighters,” Szkutak Family Lights’ “Up on the Rooftop,” Ritchie’s “Toy Story,” Hunt’s “Candyland Christmas”, and the Granville PTO Backpack Program.
The prize winners were then announced. First place went to the Aldous family’s “Whoville,” a “train” of tractor and hay wagons with scenes from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Second place was Maynes’ “Elf” and third place was Hammond’s “Santa’s Workshop”.
Open voting for “People’s Choice” was held as well until noon the following day. Brownie’s won first place in this voting and received a trophy. The rest of the top five were Aldous family’s “Whoville,” Szkutak Family Lights’ “Up on the Rooftop,” Maynes’ “Elf” and Hunt’s “Candyland Christmas.”
The cool wind may have chilled and nipped at the spectators and parade participants, but it did not shut out the flames of good spirits in the hearts of all who were present. The lighted tractor parade was again a success this year, and both the crowds and participants were pleased with the show. Many are already thinking of next year, to watch, or to make and enter floats. The lighted tractor parade is the fifth such event to be held in Granville; the first was held in 2017.
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In Whitehall, work has begun on a new business building at 132 Broadway, at the corner of Gilmore Street. This was the site of Joe’s Pizza until the flooding in August 2020 damaged the building; it was razed that year. In August 2021, owner Joe Kelley revealed plans to the village of Whitehall to construct a three-story building on the property. The building will occupy roughly the same square footage as the demolished building, with a pizza shop, restaurant, and apartments. The façade is planned to have a historically minded appearance and there will be porches on the upper floors.
Construction began in steps last year, and work on the foundation began this fall. When the building is complete, it will be the first new three-story business building in Washington County in more than 80 years. Kelley is to be commended for his efforts.
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Another new business has opened in Granville. The Opal Rose Company opened on Dec. 14 at 13 East Main Street.
The business is owned by Kelsey Preston and, together with her husband Tyler and children Penelope and Grace, the whole family is well involved in the business. The business is named after the children of the family, for Penelope’s birth stone and Grace’s middle name, respectively. Preston describes the store as a specialty shop, in the niche of the metaphysical and spiritual.
Opal Rose Company began in early 2021 as an online shop, expanding last year to area festivals. In recent weeks the shop at 13 East Main Street was made ready for opening. The shop opening was in the “soft” form, with a preview on Dec. 11 and opening outright on Dec. 14.
The Prestons are Granville residents, having moved here in early 2020; they like Granville and want to grow their business here. Preston is optimistic that Main Street will be revitalized in the coming years. Opal Rose Company is open from Wednesday to Sunday and is closed Monday and Tuesday. Congratulations to the Opal Rose Company on the shop’s opening and best wishes for success.
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The Christmas holiday season is well underway, and Christmas itself is a few days away. Many homes are festive for the season with lights and other decorations. Several locations around the village of Granville are decorated as well, including the Pember Library and Museum, the Slate Valley Museum, the walkway from the rail trail bridge to the footbridge connecting the museums, and Veterans Memorial Park.
There are several business buildings in Granville with windows decorated for the holidays. On Main Street, there are the windows of Blown Away Hair Salon, Joel Carpenter, Maggie’s Hair Salon, On the Rocks, Tommy’s Place; the 26 Main building, with Christmas trees; New Creation Church, with a nativity scene; Second Time Around, with white lights and trees; the storefront of the vacant building at 15 Main Street, which has been decorated in recent years by volunteers. Up in Middle Granville, Chapman’s is also decorated for the season, with lights and decorations such as an inflated Santa Claus.
All are encouraged to drive around Granville and see the decorated houses and businesses. Thank you to all who have decorated for the Christmas holiday season.
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours this season.
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