After the columns were submitted, I was informed that this year, the December 21 and 28 issues will be combined into a single issue published December 21, 2023.
Neither installment made the Granville Sentinel this week. Therefore, the business recap writeup intended for December 28 will be reworked as the first column of the new year, for January 4, 2024.
I am making an important announcement regarding the "Granville Then and Now" column.
Back in October I made a post regarding the discontinuation of the column in September, formerly published in the Granville Sentinel from July 2020 to September 2023. I told the story of my column, and how I lost my way due to unforeseen and unwanted pressures made against me and the column I worked so hard to build up over three years, which made me decide that I had had enough.
Upon ending the column in September, I received requests to resume writing the column, including from people at the Granville Sentinel. I received more requests in October, including an email from someone high up in the Sentinel. I thought on it, and discussed the matter, but due to other things that I caught wind of, I said that I would only resume the column if it was assured that the Granville Sentinel bound book collection stayed right where it was (and is), in the Granville town historian office.
In December, I sent an email reiterating that I would resume the column, so long as the bound books stayed where they are. The proposal was accepted on the 12th, and as of today I have already written the two traditional entries that sum up the year: the Christmas greetings entry, and the yearly business recap entry. These are anticipated to be in the December 21 and 28, 2023 issues respectively.
The "plans" mentioned in the October announcement, have turned out to be utilizing both a resumed "Granville Then and Now" column, as well as an online blog site. Whether this site will continue here or on a different platform, remains to be seen.
I thank everyone again for their support to "Then and Now" in the three and a half years it originally ran, and hope and ask for your support and encouragement going forward with the resurrected column.
Erik Pekar
An index of the online writings column published here from time to time.
September 12, 2022 - New cars for 1957 model year from car dealerships in Granville and vicinity
December 10, 2023 - Fair Haven Outlet was open Thanksgiving Day in late 1960s
By Erik Pekar
For some years through 2019, many stores and chains were open early morning of Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Some stores took it further to the change of day at midnight on Black Friday, and others even opened the evening or afternoon of Thanksgiving Day.
Changes in 2020 and the years since have resulted in the return of more sensible morning openings on Black Friday, and the return of peaceful Thanksgivings with stores closed.
This change was received warmly by many of all ages, but the long-timers who remember "the good old days" would have especially liked it.
With that in mind, we present a rare exception to the "closed on Thanksgiving Day" rule from the "good old days".
This excerpt of an advertisement for the Fair Haven Outlet in the Nov. 27, 1969 issue of the Granville Sentinel clearly reads the following: "Open Thanksgiving Day - 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. - All items on sale beginning Thurs. thru Sunday (while quantities last) Open Sunday noon to 6 p.m."
The Fair Haven Outlet was located in Fair Haven, Vt., on Prospect Street (Route 4A), on the north side of the road next to the Castleton River, just west of the corner with Main Street (Route 22A).
Other than the anomaly of being open on Thanksgiving Day, this Fair Haven Outlet ad is otherwise the typical discount store ad of days gone by. Discounted pricing of gift items included a slinky for 49 cents, a rhyme top for 49 cents, the game Yahtzee for 49 cents, and a Tonka mighty loader for $4.99.
There also was a mini-ad for appearances by Santa. Again, there is the unusual event of Santa seeing hours including time on Thanksgiving Day.
The Fair Haven Outlet conducting business on Thanksgiving Day was the exception and not the rule; most businesses in that era closed for Thanksgiving, and reopened on Black Friday with regular business hours.
October 1, 2023
An important announcement has to be made about the "Granville Then and Now" column. The column was discontinued last month, entirely by my choice.
For the past few years, I have written various history articles and columns for the Granville Sentinel. From April 2019 to April 2020, I wrote several articles that appeared from time to time. These were of a primarily historical nature. During this time I offered to write a weekly column, but was turned down for various reasons.
This would be overcome in July 2020, when the "Granville Then and Now" column made its debut. From the start, I set out with the plan of writing a column much like that of Morris Rote-Rosen's "Main Street" column of over 40 years prior. As a result, the column featured historical topics, current events, commentary, and occasionally quotes on the street.
Around the end of the year I had a consistent set of features to write. In December I wrote of Christmas greetings from Granville businesses of yesteryear. I also wrote the yearly business review, which had an accurate run-through of the business changes which had occurred in Granville throughout the year, and supplanted the sometimes inaccurate summary done by the reporters in their "year in review" feature spread.
In the new year, I ran through the "feel good" events that occurred in the previous year, and eventually, ran through interesting topics that I wrote about in the column in the previous year.
In the column's three year run, I only ran a single series - the three part history of Granville's Masonic lodge in the issues from July 22 to August 5, 2021. There were several others planned, but these did not come to fruition. The closest to publication of the series in planning were those about the Memorial Chime Clock, and another on local option and Prohibition.
For much of the column's time in 2023, I wrote the column more or less like it was a "Granville - A Century Ago" column. This was due to factors necessitating such a shift, including from within the paper itself. Editorial influence attempted to discourage me from writing about businesses as current event sections. There was also the occasional tampering with articles, such as the March 23, 2023 column where a section had quotes and were removed before publication. Friction on the current events led to finding the path of least resistance, resulting in "Granville Then and Now" having lots of "then" and little "now" in 2023.
Another situation is the major changes at the Granville Sentinel in the years since I started writing, which also corresponds roughly to the years since the paper was sold out of the Manchester family. John may not have been perfect, and had his share of dislike and condemnation, but he did know how to run a small town community newspaper that actually focused on the Granville area.
The new owners attempted improvements early on, and some actually seemed to make some headway, but by 2022 the papers were being run in the old style of the new owners, not an entirely new style altogether. In those intervening years the Sentinel has seen less and less local advertisers, with only five or so in a count from last month. There is very little local news. At the same time, they have attempted to change their focus to be about the central and southern portions of Washington County - basically Granville and everything south - despite not being sold there, and that area already being served by two newspapers (The Eagle and The Greenwich Journal-Press).
Being the only locally based writer in all the Sentinel by the column's start, I received scads of criticism over the years about the Sentinel - not for "Granville Then and Now" but about the other things. I sent some points their way, but others were withheld for there was no point in attempting to change the direction their hearts were set on.
By this summer (2023), I realized that my continued writing of "Granville Then and Now" was an implicit gesture tantamount to supporting the direction the new owners are taking the Granville Sentinel. From these factors, of hearing increased complaints, and seeing few and far between local advertisers, and knowing I couldn't write the column I had been writing two years earlier with a proper balance of history and current events, and realizing the Sentinel is in decline, I made the decision to discontinue writing the column. I considered wrapping up the column with reflections and predictions and other things, but realized that attempts would be made to change my mind if the discontinuation was figured out in advance.
I decided the week of September 7 to end the column and any other feature I was writing at the time. Nothing was submitted for the week of September 14, and the receiver of column submissions was notified.
I thank everyone who supported the Granville Then and Now column and gave a good word for it during its three year run.
I am contemplating plans for more writing, but for now, this blog website will get more use.
Erik Pekar
By Erik Pekar
The new school year starts this week, and turning the pages back, we find it was also starting at this time of year in 1923. School quality was improving, as evidenced from this article that appeared in the September 7, 1923 issue of the Granville Sentinel: "The Granville schools opened Tuesday with 170 students un the high school and 730 in the grades in the Church street, Mason house and Annex schools. The public should know that the board of education is making a very close study of the school work. Under the determined efforts of Dr. Munson, president of the board, the standard of the work has been very markedly increased. In presenting the diplomas last June at graduation, he called attention to the fact that every student who was being graduated had completed 72 regents' counts. It has been a long time since this high standard was reached.
"Last year a complete survey was made by experts from the state Educational department and many recommendations were made. This year it is expected that all of these will be complied with. The regents' standards of the state have been adopted by the board and under the direction of Prof. Snyder the four years of high school work is being rapidly brought to a comprehensive and progressive course of study. Post graduate work for the teachers has been very strongly suggested by the board and has been very favorably responded to by the teachers who have the proper professional spirit.
"The coming year more attention is to be paid to the supervision in the grades and especially to the question of uniformity and correlation. In this work Dr. Munson is showing intelligent and effective work. He is seeking efficiency and not catering to sentiment.
"The board has made a study of the school requirements in Granville and the Sentinel bespeaks the support of the public for this effort to give Granville the progressive and well rounded school system which we should have."
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Pawlet's local-personal mention column had several items of interest.
A nonagenarian is honored with a birthday commemoration: "Sunday, September 2, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Mason, a party of friends and relatives assembled to honor Mrs. Mason's father, John Alexander, who will be ninety-two years of age September 11. Mr. Alexander is and has always been one of Pawlet's staunchiest citizens, with a kindly word and pleasant smile for all, an exceptionally retentive memory and a most interesting man to visit with regarding conditions of the early days. He is an intelligent man who has read a great deal and kept up with the times. Those present at the anniversary besides the honored guest and Mr. and Mrs. Mason were Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Mound, a daughter of Mrs. Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mound and daughter Pauline of Poultney, Mr. and Mrs. Rollin Alexander of Pawlet, Mrs. Mary Hatch Jones and daughter Florence of Granville and Clifford Mound, Mrs. Eugene Howe, the Misses Ida and Nellie Howe of Glens Falls."
A business change was made: "Florence Lackey has disposed of her store, and is now presiding over the central wire at the telephone office."
An item of visitors: "Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shinn, who have been in town several weeks, left for home Sunday going down with Mr. Shinn, sr., in his car." We wonder if they were any relation to Charlie Shinn, the original owner of the Station Restaurant in Pawlet.
Pawlet students were entering high school: "Julia and Eleanor Foote entered the Granville high school Tuesday and Edward Leach and Cecil Dodge plan to go to Burr and Burton Seminary in Manchester, when the season begins." It is interesting to see that, even in 1923, there were some locals on the Vermont side who passed up the great opportunity of attending the local Granville High School and took the long trip to Manchester.
+++
Some of the items being sold by means of the Sentinel's classifieds in 1923: Curiously, there were not classified beyond "for sale" and "wanted". In the first group of classifieds, most of the entries were for sale, including the following: "horse, wagon, harness and sleigh"; "fumed oak davenport and a golden oak parlor table"; "square piano"; "pair of horses"; "six grade Holstein cows"; "15 hp IHC engine, 9 hp auto engine, Saxon six automobile and 12 good cows"; "nearly new silo, 14x24"; registered Holstein bull for heavy service at my farm in Hartford"; "a two family house, hardwood floors, all modern improvements, garage, all newly painted, also extra lot"; "good, gray team", "Empire milking machine, little used, at less than half price," "Premier cream separator, almost new"; "three houses with all modern improvements on North and Pine streets"; "demonstration car Hupmobile, 4-passenger coupe"; "house with modern improvements including electric lights and a good barn"; "the property of the late Ellen Morrissey on Pine street, nine-room house and one acre of land"; "one car, Guernsey grade, five years old", "five ewes, pure blood Shropshire", "ten R.I. Red pullets, hatched early"; "two registered yearling bulls ready for service", "3 year old Percheron colt"; "one Green Mountain silo 10x28 with 4 foot extension red cedar hip roof"; "New bungalow in a fine location on shore of Lake St. Catherine."
Most of the items above either would be easily recognized as cars, bulls, silos, real estate, or other items if they were classified today, even with the same text. It is unlikely that one would see farm animals, or car names such as Saxon or Hupmobile, in a 2023 classified ad. On the other hand, one may not know the "oak davenport" referred to a wooden desk, and we have no idea what was being referenced by the "good, gray team".
+++
Returning to the village, we notice that a water advisory was issued: "Water in the river from which the village of Granville obtains its water supply is very low and at such times is contaminated to a greater degree than when the supply is normal. On account of the prevalence of diarrhoea, stomach and intestinal disturbances it is advisable to boil all water used for drinking or culinary purposes. – D.C. McKenzie, Health Officer." This is not an issue today, as the Village of Granville has not used a drop of river water for over 80 years, instead utilizing wells. It should also be noted that in 1923 there was only a primitive sewer system used by Main Street and a few surrounding streets, and without any treatment plant. A modern sewer system was installed in most of the village in the late 1920s, with expansion to cover the entire village being completed by 1970.
+++
The low water in the Mettowee in Granville was also affecting the river downstream, as evidenced from this item in the Truthville column from the same issue: "The Adirondack Light & Power company's plant has closed for the present owing to low water in the river."
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Concluding this week's column, summer is coming to a close, and in 1923 the summer season at Lake Saint Catherine was also near its close. People were to leave soon: "Most of the cottagers, who have children in school, will leave this week for home." Dances were coming to a close as well: "The Forest House and Idylwild Park have held the last dances of the season."
By Erik
Pekar
Going back
to the August 24, 1923 issue of the Granville Sentinel, we find that the water
carnival mentioned last week had been held, and was a success: "The first
annual water carnival staged by the Lake St. Catherine association was
witnessed by a record crowd Wednesday afternoon. President Marden and Charles
Kitchell of the recreation committee said they were going to 'put Lake St.
Catherine on the map' and they did it. The notice of the event was short but,
nevertheless, many boats were superbly decorated and the crowd present showed
that all roads led that afternoon to the lake. Hundreds of cars were parked
about the Forest House and Idylwild Park grounds and the spectators constituted
one of the largest assemblages ever witnessed at the lake. The Granville band
furnished music. It was feared that the heavy wind in the early part of the day
might interfere with the success of the occasion but weather conditions
improved by noon. The feature of the day was the parade of decorated boats for
which prizes were awarded... The judges of the decorated boat parade were Myron
Roberts, F.W. Barrett, O.W. McShane, D.D. Woodard and H.J. Stevens, who had a
most difficult task in deciding on the winners, as great merit was noticeable
in each and every entry."
Prizes were
awarded in several fields, including decorations of motor boats, canoes,
rowboats; for races of motor driven rowboats, canoe singles and doubles,
rowboat singles and doubles; swimming races for boys and girls, split to under
10, 10 to 15, and over 15 years of age; bowling, men and women; dancing, men
and women.
Sponsors of
prizes included Rudd Electric, Granville Sentinel, F. and B. Center Company,
Ellis and Jones, Weinberg Hardware Company, F.G. Barrett, McHenry and Roberts,
Lawler's Market, Hayes' Market, Bascom's Furniture Store, Mrs. Lewis' grocery,
Olson's Ice Cream Parlor, Mason's Gift Shop, Granville Candy Kitchen, Minch's
New York Store, Lasher's Drug Store, C.L. Streeter, B. Goldberg, McShane's Drug
Store, A. and P. store, N. Goldberg and Son, Bastedenbeck's cigar store,
Quinn's Hardware store, Granville Candy Land, Rigali and Bernardini, Williams'
Bakery, McDonald's store, The Ladies Store, Haskins' Drug Store, Craig Weir,
Wilson Clothing store, Adams and Snyder, Granville Electric and Gas company,
Sweet's shoe store, Bertilino's Fruit Store, Evans' Drug Store.
Many of the
businesses were based in Granville. Some were in Poultney, such as McShane's
Pharmacy and Bertilino's. The Lewis grocery mentioned above was likely Bertha
Lewis' general store in Wells.
+++
A Granville
business modernized part of their business: "Warden H. Lasher, the Rexall
druggist, has added a new National electric cash register to his store, which
makes it one of the most up-to-date drug stores in Northern New York. Mr.
Lasher is awake to the times and his growing business."
+++
Some
farmers were wondering about a pest: "The Sentinel recently referred to
the disappearance of the potato bug. Several farmers have written the Sentinel
asking that it present another question: what has become of the grasshoppers?
It is claimed that no one has seen a grasshopper this season. But there is
always another bug to take the place of those that disappear. Now it is a grub
that is destroying the corn and potato crop."
+++
A recent
post on social media by a Granville-affiliated page contained a brief three
paragraph history of Granville in 1920. While some elements are accurate,
others are wrong and contrary to the historical record.
The brief
history was written as follows: "In 1920, Granville had a population of
approximately 2,600 people. The downtown area featured a number of small
businesses, including general stores, bakeries and business shops.
"The
Granville Theater was a popular entertainment venue, (which) along with local
churches and civic provided community events.
"Transportation
was limited to horse and buggy, automobiles, and the trolley system that ran
from Granville to nearby communities like Whitehall and Rutland, Vermont."
Breaking
down the brief history, the first paragraph is mostly accurate. There is scant
record of a bakery operating in Granville in 1920, but there was indeed one.
The May 21, 1920 issue of the Sentinel had an item in a local mention column:
"Mr. Glass of Schuylerville, who made several trips to Granville with
regard to opening a large bakery, has decided not to come. Granville already
has an excellent bakery." The June 25, 1920 issue had in the personal
mention column the following item: "John Davies of Elm street has a
position in the Granville bakery for the summer. Thomas O. Jones and Sons of
Middle Granville had an advertisement in the July 9, 1920 issue mentioning they
were selling "Granville Bakery Bread". The bakery itself did not
advertise in the Sentinel that year, if ever at all.
The general
idea of second paragraph is accurate in that the theaters and churches provided
events to be frequented by community members. There was, however, no business
called the "Granville Theater" in Granville in 1920, a name only used
here by a country music venue in the early 1980s. Granville did have two
theaters in 1920. The Pastime Theater was located on the lot where Heavenly
Hair is now. The Pember Theater was on the site of the municipal parking lot at
the corner of Main and Church Streets, with frontage to Main Street. The latter
was earlier known as the Pember Opera House, and was often used to house
conventions, regional meetings of civic groups and fraternal organizations, and
hosting the Granville high school's yearly graduation commencement program.
The third
paragraph is somewhat accurate, in that there were automobiles, but horses and
buggies still were common sights around Granville. The claim of an operating
trolley is outright wrong, however. There were proposals to route a trolley
from Whitehall to Granville, and another on to Lake Saint Catherine and on to
Poultney. None of the lines were built, and no trolley ever reached Granville.
The nearest trolley line actually built was one connecting Poultney and
Rutland.
The inaccurate brief history of Granville in 1920 has no bearing on the page on which it was posted. It is perplexing how the social media manager could have mixed up the information. It is possible that some of the information could have been for another Granville other than ours in New York, such as Ohio or Massachusetts. We hope that in the future that the social media manager does more due diligence in their research of local history of Granville, New York for their Granville connected page.
Last year, in the June 9, 2022 issue, we wrote in "Granville Then and Now" of the owners of Main Street stores, eateries, and offices in the 1960s. At that time, there were two living retired merchants surviving from that era: John Belemjian and John Norton. Belemjian died earlier this year, of which we wrote about in this column. The death of John Norton last month removes the last surviving of the merchants of the Main Street stores of the 1960s.
Norton's involvement in community functions was numerous. He was an owner of Wilson's Clothing, and later had a painting and contracting business with his son. He served as village trustee in the 1960s and again in the 2000s, and as village mayor in the late 1960s. At the time of his death he was a member of the town planning board, a position to which he was appointed in 2001. Norton was a member of several organizations, including the Granville Rotary Club, the Granville Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and the VFW.
Norton raised his family in Granville, eight children with his wife Noreen. They were also friendly and welcoming to the neighborhood children: first the "Pine Hill Gang" when they lived on Pine Street, then another group after they moved to North Granville. In later years both displayed the same hospitality to their grandchildren and other relations and neighbors.
John Norton left a positive mark on the Granville community, one which has had a lasting impact. He will be missed, but he will be remembered for a long time. In our biography of him last year, we concluded in part with the following: "(John) Norton is certainly someone who contributed to Granville being a great place. He can look back on his efforts towards bettering Granville with a sense of pride and accomplishment." We can say that he did, and that his family can reflect with fond memories and pride that he was a true Granville booster who was determined, whenever possible, to take action for the betterment of his hometown of Granville.
+++
Going back to the Granville Sentinel of August 17, 1923, we find there were some news items coming from Lake Saint Catherine in that 1923 issue. A different sort of carnival was being planned: "The recreation committee of the Lake St. Catherine Association is arranging for a water carnival for Wednesday, August 22, at the Idylwild Forest House section of the lake. All the cottagers with guests and friends and the townspeople of Poultney, Wells and Granville are cordially invited to come and enjoy the day. A program is being planned of races, sports and a water parade of all kinds of boats, a feature of which will be the decorated section. The merchants of the nearby towns have generously given many beautiful and useful things which will be awarded as prizes. A full list of them with the names of their donors will be published in a later report of the event. The Granville band will give a concert and music for free dancing at the Forest House from 3 to 6 o'clock."
Dances, ever the popular social event for locals in 1923, were being held: "The private dance which was held by the members of the Lake St. Catherine Association Saturday evening at the Forest House was a delightful affair and was largely attended. All lake cottagers are included in the association, which was recently organized, and its success will mean the erection of a club house. Dances will be held every Saturday night; a children's dance from 8 to 9 o'clock. The main object of these dances is that cottagers may get better acquainted with each other."
In columns earlier this year we mentioned the island, the building of the footbridge connecting the island to the mainland, and the sunken island. With this column we mention another name associated with the lake, named in this item: "Roy Williams of Granville is building an addition to his cottage at Horseshoe bay."
+++
A picnic was announced in the same issue: "Granville Mettowee grange and Pawlet Mettowee Valley grange, will hold a picnic Monday, August 20, at the Forest House, Lake St. Catherine. All grangers, their families and friends are cordially invited. Sports, a ball game and a good dinner will be the features of the day. In the evening there will be a dance, with both round and square figures. Juckett's orchestra will furnish the music. The committee in charge will buy the rolls and the picnicers are to bring the good things for the tables. A way will be provided for the members of Granville grange who have no conveyance. Notify Leon C. Tooley."
+++
This Middle Granville news item had a connection to Lake Saint Catherine: "The DeKalb family reunion was held at Idylwild Park, Lake St. Catherine, Tuesday of last week with thirty-six in attendance. Members from Middle Granville and Raceville were present. A beautiful day at the lake and an excellent dinner is worthy of the efforts one takes to leave cares for awhile to get together for reuniting friendships and recreation. The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all."
+++
A Granville woman gained a prominent position overseeing the rural schools of a portion of Washington County: "Mrs. Lena M. S. Brown was officially notified Tuesday afternoon, after the board of directors had held a meeting, that she was unanimously elected superintendent of the rural schools of this district. Mrs. Brown succeeds Mrs. Emily Devine-Cronkhite, who resigned. Mrs. Cronkhite was a most faithful worker and accomplished results that ere entirely satisfactory. The Sentinel can assure the public that Mrs. Brown will put forth every effort for a successful administration, which will not be second to her predecessor in any way."
+++
A change of management was happening to a component of a Granville business: "D.R. Haskins has sold his soda fountain after operating it in his store for over forty years." The fountain eventually closed, as an advertisement in 1939 announced that Haskins' Drug Store was opening a soda fountain counter.
By Erik Pekar
School board meetings sometimes get the public interest, and sometimes are practically ignored. The latter result also occurred a century ago, as reported in the August 10, 1923 issue of the Sentinel: "The annual meeting of school district 7 of the town of Granville was held Tuesday evening in the high school building with only about a dozen persons present. S.E. Everts acted as chairman. The report of the finances for the year as well as the estimated report of the expenditures for the present year were read and accepted.
"The following nominations for trustees were made: Dr. W.L. Munson, Dr. R.C. Davies, Mrs. D.D. Nelson.
"At the election Wednesday afternoon eighteen votes were cast of which Dr. Munson received 18, Dr. Davies 18, M.W. Hicks 11, Mrs. D.D. Nelson 5, John Pember 1, R.G. Hughes 1.
"The treasurer's report showed that the total expenditures last year was $51,838.49."
Annual school board meetings were the predecessor to the annual school board and budget elections, and were held later than their modern equivalents. Today candidates do not get on the school board ballot via nominations by constituents at a meeting held in the town meeting style, but rather by the candidates themselves securing signatures for petitions and submitting them to the district.
+++
A century ago there were Civil War veterans living in Granville. Their group, the Grand Army of the Republic, had a Granville post and a report in the August 10 issue told of an upcoming event: "H.E. Howard Post, G.A.R., and the Women's Relief corps, will meet with Comrade Harrington and his sister, Mrs. Woodell, in Hartford, for a picnic dinner Tuesday, August 14. Ladies of the W.R.C. will kindly provide food. Members desiring transportation should notify L.L. Barnard not later than Monday."
+++
A business change was reported: "Ernest L. Allen is to re-open the late Charles Mosher's garage in which he will do repairing and automobile painting." The garage was located in the village, on Elm Street.
Another business was mentioned in a brief item, that likely is unknown today: "Arrangements may be made by the telephone to the Shaw Homestead Tea Room of Truthville, for the entertainment of clubs with refreshments provided."
+++
The Granville Fruit Market's advertisement in the August 10 issue started with a reference to a popular song of the time: "Yes, We Have No Bananas, but we have some Bananas - nice fruit, too; also a complete line of other fruits, such as Oranges, Grapefruit, Pineapples, Peaches, Plums, Pears and all Berries in season.
"Our line of Confectionery is in a class by itself and the special boxed goods we handle are the finest to be procured. We have a special stock of chocolate Bon-bons with an extra coating at 60c per pound which cannot be equalled. We recommend you give these a trial and you'll come again.
"Our Own Ice Cream, manufactured under every sanitary condition, is the finest in town. We make a specialty of service social functions and on short notice can give any desired flavor."
The business was owned by Albert Rigali and nephew Emilio Bernardini. It was located in the two-storefront Rigali block on Main Street, which has since been renovated to a one-storefront building, and now is the location of O'Reilly Auto Parts.
+++
In last week's column we mentioned that the summer is fair and carnival season, and told of various carnivals that were operating locally in 1938. Going further back, there were some fairs operating in the summer of 1923.
The Great Cambridge Fair was announced that it would be held in Cambridge, New York, from Tuesday to Friday, August 14 to 17, 1923. Their advertisement said it was "Day and Night, Bigger and Better Than Ever".
The ad continued: "The Management cordially invites the Public to attend the Fair this year, assuring them of good clean amusements and entertainment. Come and bring the little folk, and let them enjoy this great collection of concessions." One building had a display of "novelties and kindred exhibits with novel Fernery, palms and flowers, the output of several mammoth greenhouses."
On Tuesday the admission would be free, with free dancing and special music. On Wednesday and Thursday, the admission would be 50 cents for adults and 15 cents for children, but no other charges. There would be "grand display of fireworks, free dancing, Band concert and special platform attractions."
Horse racing was a part of the Cambridge Fair in those years, and races were held daily, with a special trot and pace on Friday for "local horses that have never trotted or paced for money" with the restriction that the drive could not be professional or does business in owning or driving horses.
The ad concluded "A Good Time For All. Come Early! Go Home When You Please."
The Great Cambridge Fair was held from 1890 to the early 1940s. Its charter was dissolved in 1947. Some writings claim the modern Washington County Fair to be the successor of the Cambridge fair, but that is not the case as both coexisted for some years. In 1929 there was an advertisement in the August 9, 1929 Sentinel for the Washington County Fair to be held at the "Washington County Fair Grounds, Between Fort Edward and Hudson Falls." The Washington County Fair ad was at the top of the page, and the ad for the Great Cambridge Fair appeared at the bottom.
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An annual community program returns this week. The 17th annual Backpack Project will be held this Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Granville Baptist Church on 23 Quaker Street, Village of Granville, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is open to students in the Granville Central School District, the Wells Village School and the Mettawee Community School. This applies to all grades within these schools, from pre-kindergarten up through 12th grade.
The founder and leader of the Backpack Project is Ann Schinski, who started it in 2006 in memory of her late husband Steve Schinski. She spends time over the winter and spring getting the next year’s program ready. In recent years, about 200 to 300 children have benefitted from the program; last year's program attracted about 300 children.
On the day of the backpack project, each child receives a backpack. The child and parent look over several tables of school supplies, picking up what they need. Every child leaves with a full backpack.
Donations are received throughout the year from local businesses, organizations and individuals. The monetary donations go towards the cost of buying backpacks and school supplies. Checks can be sent to The Backpack Project, c/o Ann Schinski, 5075 Vermont Route 31, Poultney, VT 05764. Those seeking to volunteer, or interested in more info, are encouraged to call Schinski at 802-236-4726. Thank you to Ann Schinski and all involved with the Backpack Project for putting together, or supporting, this community minded endeavor, which has helped many children over the years.
By Erik Pekar
The summer season
is also known as fair season, but at one time it was also carnival season.
Let's turn the pages of time back to the summer of 1938, when there were quite
a few carnivals and events going on in the vicinity.
+++
The Granville Fire
Department's carnival was held, and its report was given over two weeks. An
excerpt of the first article, in the August 11, 1938 issue of the Granville
Sentinel, regarding opening night: "The sixth annual carnival of the
Granville Fire Department got off to a good start Saturday night with the
largest crowd that ever attended the opening night. The receipts that night
exceeded the total of the opening night of 1937.
"Several
additional new tents were added by the fire department, improving the general
appearance of the carnival grounds. There are several rides such as
chair-o-plane, ferris wheel, Venetian swing and the miniature train which was
purchased by the fire department, has been going each evening from 7 o'clock
until closing time.
"Among the
various booths of merchandise and games are the following: Food booth,
conducted by the ladies of the fire department, hot dogs and hamburgers; bingo
game; blanket rack; duck pond; pin game; baseball throw; penny game; kitchen
utensils; hams and sugar; electric novelties; balloons and punch board; fish
pond; ice cream and soda."
The closing of the
carnival was reported in the August 18 issue, an excerpt of which is reprinted:
"The sixth annual Granville fire department carnival has come and gone and
the officers' report is that not only did the carnival establish a record for
total receipts, but it broke all records of attendance with an audience of
5,000 milling in and around the carnival lot on Quaker street, Saturday
evening, the closing night.
"With the
weather man playing right into the hands of the Granville firemen by sending
down storms and heavy showers during the week, only to call it off before it
was time to open the midway, the crowds which jammed the lot during the earlier
part of the week were a forewarning that before the week was over the greatest
attendance ever to partake in an entertainment event in Granville would be
recorded.
"Running true
to form of previous years, but surprising to many firemen who estimated a drop
in attendance this year, the crowds commenced to swell the attendance Thursday
night and from then on it was a question whether the lot would hold the visitors
and the parked automobiles. There were automobiles, not only from this area of
the state, but from Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey."
+++
Granville Italian
community event was reported in the August 18, 1938 issue of the Sentinel:
"The annual Italian celebration sponsored by the Granville
Italian-American society, held last Sunday and Monday in Granville, was a
success. Sunday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, a parade with the Granville band of 29
members in the lead, followed by the members of the Italian-American society,
opened the activities. Their line of march was through Main street and the
Italian section.
"In the
evening there was a band concert on the Main street square, from 8 o'clock
until 10. The 29 members under the direction of Lovell R. Corey presented an
excellent program receiving high praise.
"Aerial bombs
opened the celebration Monday morning at 9 o'clock. There was a parade to St.
Mary's R.C. church where high mass was celebrated. The sermon was given in
Italian by Rev. Joseph Kelley of Schuylerville. There was special music by the
choir with a vocal solo by Margaret Marellis of New York. Victor Secci,
violinist, and organist Mrs. D. E. Roche.
"Following the
service, the society marched again with the Granville band, two flags marking
the lead, one an Italian flag carried by Joseph Bernard, and the other the
Stars and Stripes carried by Dominic Villano.
"Monday
evening sports were participated in on the street at 6 o'clock which lasted an
hour, and at 8 o'clock the band led the way to the field on South Quaker
street, where the recent firemen's carnival was held. An excellent band concert
was given, followed by fireworks at about 11 o'clock which lasted until 12:30,
including aerial bombs and novelties.
"It is
estimated that over 2500 people enjoyed the program, the grounds being filled
with people and cars."
+++
Wells had a new
celebration, and it was reported in the Sentinel of August 25, 1938: "Over
in the village of Wells, Vt., the preparations for a carnival and Old Home day
are promising a fine time for people within the town's radius. Sponsored by the
Modern Woodmen of America, this gala affair will be held this week, August 25,
26 and 27, on the village green. Saws, axes and hammers are beating out the
news that everything will be in fine shape today when the festivities begin.
"Thursday
evening (tonight) will find a spelling bee composed of the Mettowee grange of
Granville, and the Friendship circle of East Poultney. Friday night will find a
quiz holding the prominent position. The battle will be between a lawyer's team
of Granville, composed of Attorney Charles Potter, Attorney Paul Hughes and
Attorney Albert Berkowitz, and a team from Lake St. Catherine, including Willis
Pratt, Norman Ritchie, and Marshall Rising. Saturday night will be amateur
night, with many interesting and entertaining features on the program.
"The following
events will be staged at the village green Saturday of this week: Parade of
Horribles, program of music and speaking, music by the Granville band and a
ball game between Wells and Wallingford."
+++
The same issue
included this item from Middle Granville, of an event arranged by the Penrhyn
Engine and Hose Company: "The Middle Granville Firemen's Carnival opens
Saturday of this week and continues for a week to include September 3. The men
in the company are working hard to get things all ready for the Saturday night
crowd and they are looking forward to a happy but busy time.
"The affair
takes place on the church grounds and during the week there will be band
concerts, pony rides, bingo games and amateur contests. The grand prize
Saturday evening, September 3, is a General Electric radio.
"They say the
hot dog stand will be handy by the entrance and booths of food, fancy articles
and general merchandise will be operated each evening. These firemen who help
the entire community in time of disaster are inviting everyone to come, help the
cause and have a rattling good time."
The article the
previous week (August 18) regarding the planning of the carnival indicates it
was held on the grounds behind Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, and referred to
it as an annual event.
A Middle Granville
carnival in 1938 may come as a surprise to many from Middle Granville, as the
longtime annual carnival was held by the Penrhyn Engine and Hose company from
1951 into the mid-2000s.
+++
Time brings much
change, and unfortunately one of those changes was the demise of many of the
carnivals in this area. The Granville firemen's carnival, the Middle Granville
carnival, the Italian-American Society celebration, all of which were held in
1938, have since bit the dust. The same goes for several other carnivals that
were held later, including those put on by the North Granville and West Pawlet
fire companies.
The one exception is the "carnival and Old Home day" in Wells, organized by the Pine Tree Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. The current rendition of their carnival is being held in Wells this week. The above quoted writeup was of its first year in 1938; it is now the only one left of the carnival events covered here in this week's column.
By Erik Pekar
Road improvement
was one of the topics mentioned in the Granville Sentinel of July 27, 1923:
"At a special meeting of the county board of supervisors held late
Thursday afternoon in the Hudson Falls court house, an appropriation of $7,600
was made for the repair and completion of the Comstock-Granville road. The work
on this road is now at a standstill and the highway is in bad condition. The
state commissioner of highways has promised to take this road over into the
trunk line system provided it is repaired by the county. The appropriation of
$7,500 makes a total of $20,000 for the construction of this road which is 5.2
miles in length. This amount is considered by the county commissioner of
highways a reasonable amount for this length of road."
The state did
eventually take over the road in question, as it became part of State Route 22.
Most of it is still used as such, with a few portions here and there bypassed
for more direct roads.
+++
An interesting item
gave birthday greetings of a different sort. "Troy Times: In a casual way,
just as if it were nothing extraordinary, J.L. McArthur remarks in the
Granville Sentinel that it is forty-eight years since he started the Sentinel.
That is quite a voyage on what the genial editor calls 'the uncertain sea of
journalism.' Congratulations, Colonel, and many happy returns. It is now
contended, as the result of scientific observation, that juvenile precocity
continues to superior maturity. It is just as true that the good do not die
young, but continue to bless the world with their presence. The Granville
Sentinel, prosperous at forty-eight, and The Troy Times, ditto at seventy-two,
are substantial proof."
The felicitations
on the part of the Troy paper, and remarks by Publisher McArthur, were both a
little premature. The first issue of the Granville Sentinel is dated September
17, 1875, which means they were off by two months. The volume-issue count did jump
up to the next volume and reset the issue number with the July 20 issue, so
this could have been the source of the confusion. The volume convention would
be discarded in 1935 in favor of using the ordinal number of years since 1875.
The dissonance between the volume-issue increment and the actual years passed
would not be solved until 1994, with 1995 being the first year where the first
issue was "Number 1" of the volume. The switch to tabloid size that
year resulted in another jump in volume-year numbers, which would not
restabilize for a few more years. Since then, the system as appeared more or
less accurate to the years since 1875, with the issue numbers resetting yearly.
+++
A church group in
Granville gained itself a new pastor: "Rev. J. Parry Jones, who came to
Granville from Wales a few months ago to supply the pulpit of the Welsh
Presbyterian church, has accepted a unanimous call to become its pastor. Mr.
Jones is an exceptionally bright young man and a fine preacher. He has already
received a most cordial welcome in the community. The church parsonage is being
made ready for the occupancy of the pastor and his wife."
+++
Two Granville
residents went off to go fishing and caught something: "Craig Weir and
little son, Nelson Ramadill, visited a brook near Belcher Tuesday and brought
home the finest catch of trout ever exhibited in town. Two of the larger fish,
weighing from three-quarters to one and a fourth pounds were caught by the
young lad. The boy is named after an old Saratoga sport, J.N. Ramadill."
+++
Lake Saint
Catherine was in its busy season, and some had made a long tradition of going
to the lake: "This is the fifty-seventh year that W.B. Miller of Granville
has been at Lake St. Catherine. There were no cottages on the west side of the
lake when he first came here. Idylwild was
the first and owned by the late Henry Reynolds of Granville. Today from
Mrs. Guild's cottage on the west shore around the lake to what was formerly
known as Grey Gables, there are cottages of all descriptions, about eighty-five
in number and forty-three of them are owned by Granville people."
+++
A section regarding auction sales included this seemingly late mention of a Granville business: "Twenty-eight horses will arrive at the Central House Livery barn, Granville, N.Y., and will be sold at auction Saturday, July 28. Horses weigh from 1,000 to 1,600 pounds. - P. Myers." The livery was the last remaining building of the former Central House, a hotel that stood at the corner of Main and North Streets, and which burned in February of 1917. It was the last full-fledged hotel establishment operating in the Village of Granville.
By Erik Pekar
The Granville Band
was mentioned in last week's column, and comes up again in this item from the
July 20, 1923 issue of the Granville Sentinel: "The members of the
Granville band tendered their leader and musical director, Frank B. Allen, a
surprise Tuesday evening at his beautiful new bungalow on the old Lake St.
Catherine house grounds and it was all that the word implies. While preparing
his program for the weekly concert in Granville, the band, in the rear of his
place, 'hit up' a number, which took him completely off his feet and up to the
present time has been unable to regain equilibrium. Several selections were
rendered from the veranda throughout the evening, which was greatly enjoyed by
numerous people on the lake and nearby cottagers, after which refreshments were
served. The members of the band departed for their homes at about 10 o'clock
after a very pleasant evening being satisfied that the surprise had added ten
years to Mr. Allen's existence."
+++
The following news
item is also from Lake St. Catherine, and displays some sentiment that may be
familiar to Granville area residents today, even if the terminology is
different: "Some one around these parts is a linguist of 'purest ray
serene' as is shown by a circular proposition to cottagers to remove garbage in
a manner 'not to "offuscate" the sense of sight or smell of the
residents.' Offuscate may be a good word to use in some sentences but Webster
fails to connect it up with the garbage industry. But then, in this instance,
it may be an innovation. Just think of the joy of some genius coming along and
'offuscating' your garbage cans. Somewhat aesthetic, eh?"
The term
"offuscate" is an older form of "obfuscate," the latter
understood today to refer to the obscuring or hiding of things. In other words,
the originator of the circular proposition likely felt the garbage cans were
unsightly and smelly, and wanted them hidden from view of passersby on the
roads along Lake St. Catherine.
+++
An unusual
happening was reported in Truthville: "Our meat-market man, Charles
Connor, had a very narrow escape from being thrown over the gorge near William
Aldous' by a fast running car recently. The meat car just stopped before
toppling over an embankment of many feet in height. The fast car kept on
without ascertaining the damage but some numbers were secured." There were
two general stores in Truthville at the time, owned by William L. Bemis and
Delbert Chapman; Connor may have worked for one of these stores, or had his own
meat market.
+++
Granville
semi-professional baseball fans had a situation, as arrangements for playing a
team in Granville had gone sideways. The situation was also told in detail in a
letter to the editor, some of which is reprinted: "Editor Sentinel:
Granville baseball fans are very much peeved over the treatment accorded them
by the Glens Falls baseball team whose management has made arrangements to play
Sunday baseball in Granville only to discontinue after playing three games to
record breaking attendance. ... the Glens Falls team announced that it has
severed all connection with Granville baseball fans who have enthusiastically
assisted in helping Glens Falls to maintain its team financially..."
The letter writer
continued: "The only excuse given by the Glens Falls team for its
discontinuing games was that there was not enough money in it, in spite of the
fact that the attendance the last game totaled nearly 3,000 paid
admissions." Glens Falls then attempted Hudson Falls and Saratoga; both
rejected. The writer suspected that Glens Falls would attempt to approach
Granville again but discouraged Granville fans from being "used as a
'sucker' to any such scheme." They asked why Granville players such as
Atsey and Andy McGrath, Kenneth Woodard and "Bill" Humphrey should go
to other teams rather than play in Granville.
The writer summed
up their sentiments by encouraging a Granville team be formed: "Granville
has always had good talent ... With the assistance of a few hired players, if
necessary, our own boys can make a good showing on the baseball field with any of
the teams from this vicinity. Why not give the same support to our boys who
have never commercialized the game and who have always played for Granville to
win, regardless of the box offices receipts, rather than have three thousand
loyal fans turn out to contribute and help swell the treasury to keep a
baseball team (from) another town? And it is a hundred to one shot that our own
Granville team can put up a better brand of baseball than the kind that was
forced on to local fans for three consecutive games."
The letter writer
concluded by saying they wrote it "at the request of several local fans
who feel highly indignant at the treatment accorded them by the management of
the Glens Falls baseball team. Yours for class play, Morris Rote-Rosen."
Some still wanted to see baseball played, even if it wasn't in Granville: "A number of Granville fans attended the ball games Sunday at Greenwich, Poultney and Saratoga, there being no game on the Granville diamond that day. Owing to the dissolution of the Granville-Glens Falls partnership local games are up in the air, but there is thought that a new nine will be organized soon."
By Erik Pekar
Summer time is
known to many as concert time, and just as Granville people of today frequent
the summer concert series held at Veterans Park, Granville people of 1923
listened to the repertoire of the Granville Band. They also performed in
neighboring communities. The following news item, from the July 13, 1923 issue
of the Granville Sentinel, reports of their performing in Granville and Salem:
"Immense
crowds assemble in Salem every Saturday night to listen to the concerts given
by the Granville band, many of the people doing the shopping for over Sunday
and it is understood merchants are enjoying a gratifying business by these
concerts. The main thoroughfare is turned into a veritable Fifth avenue every
Saturday evening, Cambridge, Shushan and Rupert being well represented.
Pleasing programs have been rendered at each concert, which Director Allen
knows how to arrange.
"The fifth
concert of the season in Granville was given last evening and the usual large
assemblage of automobiles were present. Each number was heartily received,
showing their appreciation. Through the kindness of George W. Braymer, our
enterprising townsman, the band will be enabled to present the last six of
their concert on the west side, he having consented to the erection of the
bandstand on the vacant lot at the corner of Quaker street and Irving avenue.
This will be an ideal location, enabling people to park their cars on four or
five different streets. Next week's concert will be the final one on North
street."
For many years the
Granville Band lacked a permanent bandstand. The one mentioned above would soon
be lost as a bungalow house was constructed at this lot, numbered 31 Quaker
Street; for many years it was the residence of Granville teacher Miss Lulu Hull.
The Granville Band would not get a permanent bandstand, and have it last, until
the present bandstand at Veterans Park was completed.
+++
A Granville
business owner was remodeling their business: "J.J. Lawler has been making
extensive improvements about his market. An addition to his office adds much to
the convenience of the place. Miss Lorraine Lawler, daughter of the proprietor,
is in charge of the new office." The Lawler store was on East Main Street;
its building, since demolished, stood at what is now the green at the Village
Yarn Shop.
+++
A few weeks ago we
mentioned the State Street book club. This week in 1923, a news item shows that
Middle Granville also had a book club: "The Middle Granville Book club was
entertained by Mrs. Sherman of Broadview Terrace Wednesday afternoon."
+++
A Whitehall
attorney gets an important task: "L.M. Layden of Whitehall has been
appointed a special attorney general for the purpose of assisting the state
conservation commission to examine titles of lands, proposed for state parks.
The Lake George park at Tongue mountain is among the parks considered for
development along with Alleghany state park, a tract at Saratoga, additional
land for the Niagara Falls state reservation, Watkins Glen, Letchworth, Enfield
Falls and John Boyd Thatcher and parks in the Finger Lakes region."
This item was filed
in the West Pawlet column. It may seem odd for it to be placed there, but Mr.
Layden did have ties to that community. A relative of Layden was a co-partner
in the Layden and Burdick general store in West Pawlet, which was located in the
brick building adjacent to the building that currently houses the West Pawlet
Post Office.
+++
A news item from
West Rupert: "The degree staff of Indian River Rebekah lodge assisted the
institution of Loyal Rebekah lodge, No. 66 of West Pawlet which took place
Thursday of last week." The Rebekah lodges were affiliated with the Odd
Fellows lodges.
Another item from
the same settlement: "Carney Buck received severe injuries to his foot
Sunday when it was stepped on by a cow." We wonder if he may be a relation
to the Buck family that now owns the manual car wash on Quaker Street.
+++
A literal
"fender-bender" in Vermont involving an automobile from Granville:
"The Rutland Herald of Monday says: A heavy touring car, owned by Mrs.
Edward Vail of Granville, and a smaller machine owned by Victor Searle of this
city and driven by Mrs. Jessie LaFrance of Center street, crashed together a
mile and a half north of Castleton Corners on the road to Lake Bomoseen late
last evening, damaging both machines but injuring no one. Bishop Vail, Mrs.
Vail's son, was driving the heavier car and with him was Arthur Sennett. The
running board and fender on the Vail car were smashed and a front wheel and
axle were torn from the Searle car."
+++
A different program
was reported in that issue to be coming soon: "Young men sound physically
and of good moral character, seventeen to twenty-four years of age may apply to
attend one of the Citizens' Military Training camps, which are held August 1 to
30, 1923. The government pays entire expense. The basic Red course is at
Plattsburg and the advanced Red, White and Blue courses are to be held at
Madison Barracks, N.Y.; Fort Hancock, N.J.; Camp Alfred Vail, N.J.; Camp Dix,
N.J. For further information write to Major T.L. Crystal, C.M.T.C. officer,
Governor's Island, N.Y. Applications for attendance at one of these camps may
be obtained from Major P.R. Manchester, Sentinel office."
+++
The Sarcoid Bike
Tour Reception was held Friday, June 30, at the VFW Pavilion on North Street.
Over 50 people were present to honor and congratulate John David Norton and
Tommy Taylor on completing their cross-country cycling tour. They started from
the Pacific Ocean at Santa Monica, California on April 7, and finished at the
Atlantic Ocean at Hull, Massachusetts on June 26.
A two part display
was put up: inside, John David's bike and some of the equipment and supplies
and food the duo used during the trip were displayed at a table; outside, a
tent was set up, which was used on many a night to get out of the elements for
a night's rest.
Michael Norton
spoke and was the emcee during the presentation. He presented the duo with
"Granville Strong" shirts, the culmination of an idea of a gift
brainstormed by him and some of his friends. Norton and Taylor each gave brief
speeches. Ann Schinski introduced John Norton, who also spoke at the event,
congratulating the duo and expressing his pride in their accomplishment.
Food, snacks and drinks were brought by many who attended. The event was enjoyed by all. Congratulations to John David Norton and Tommy Taylor on completing their incredible journey.
By Erik Pekar
The front page of
the July 6, 1923 issue of the Granville Sentinel had a personal mention column
for a community named "Hebron Center." There were only five news
items, which are reprinted here: "Anthony Mitchel of West Pawlet, is
occupying 'Brier' Crest. – Leslie Nelson is taking piano lessons of Mrs. Ryder
of Rupert. – Miss Alice Lincoln has gone to Teachers Training school at
Plattsburg. – Mrs. Jessie Lincoln-Boise of Detroit, Mich., visited at M.W.
Hannibal's last week. – Both roads leading from Rupert to Hebron are in the
best condition they have been for over thirty years."
The question here
would be where Hebron Center was located. One possibility is that this was
another name for East Hebron, the corner of the Chamberlain Mills and Sheldon
roads with Route 22, which NYSDOT signs as just "Hebron." Another is
that it was referring to another intersection in town, perhaps more centrally
located. A third possibility is that it was a "catch-all" for the
central part of Hebron outside of the hamlets such as North Hebron, West
Hebron, and East Hebron.
+++
Over in Poultney,
management of the post office was to change: "The Sentinel extends
congratulations to Charles W. Humphrey, editor of the Poultney Journal, who has
received the appointment of postmaster in that place to succeed Dr. P. Mahoney,
who has held the office for two terms. The salary is to be $2,500 per year, an
increase over the old salary." The Poultney Journal published in Poultney
on a weekly schedule from the late 1860s to the early 1930s.
+++
Two years ago in
our column of July 8, 2021, we wrote of the work on the Salem-Rupert town road
that was in the July 3, 1931 issue of the Sentinel. In that issue the writer of
the article made a nice remark about the beauty of the drive from West Pawlet to
Salem by means of West Rupert and Rupert. This highway is now designated in
Vermont as Route 153; the part in New York east of Salem also has that number,
first as a state highway in the 1960s and 1970s, and now as a county route.
In the
aforementioned 1923 issue, eight years earlier, there was a news item entitled
"A Picturesque Ride," entirely devoted to lauding the beauty of the
same thoroughfare: "The highway from West Pawlet to Salem by way of the
Ruperts has got the state road beat forty ways when it comes to the matter of
comfort and picturesqueness. There is no finer scenery on earth than the Rupert
valley affords. The highway is in fine condition and is flanked by prosperous
farms and attentive buildings. Many fine lawns and old-fashioned flowers are in
evidence. A Sentinel man motored over this road the Fourth of July and the trip
was an inspiration. The spirit of patriotism was everywhere seen, sparsely a
home but which displayed the flag. Especially this was the case with West
Rupert."
The reasons for
these compliments are evident today. Route 153 is less hilly than Route 22 to
its west, and the valley still shows its beauty and farms are still operating.
+++
A bank had proof of
its success and prosperity: "At a regular meeting of the directors of the
Granville National Bank last Wednesday the regular semi-annual dividend of 5
per cent was declared payable on and after July 2. The bank started in 1875 and
has declared ninety-six semi-annual dividends."
+++
South Granville
gained a new business: "Thomas I. Roberts has purchased a gasoline tank to
supply his customers with gas at twenty-four cents." The monetary amount
is referring to the cost per gallon.
+++
More new cars in
Granville: "Stanley Porter has a new Studebaker car. Also Steven
Krannick." We believe the correspondent intended to refer here to Steven
Kranak.
+++
The Granville Odd
Fellows elected their new officers: "The following officers were elected
by Mettowee lodge, No. 559, I.O.O.F., for the ensuing term at the regular
meeting Friday evening: Nobel Grand, Richard Tudor Roberts; vice grand, Joseph
Loesch; representative to grand lodge at Watertown, WIlliam H. Hughes; proxy,
Raymond Roberts. Their installation will take place at a later date."
+++
A major event was being prepared for Granville: "Through the courtesy of O. P. Munson and M.D. Whedon the grounds committee has been able to secure from them the playground lot at the end of Glen avenue for the Chautauqua tent. This will insure ample space for parking cars, is centrally located and an idea spot for the purpose. Next Wednesday afternoon the place will be cleaned and leveled and the wish is to get volunteers for the work. The boys of the juniors are asked to help. - Chairman." The chautauqua was a popular speaking and educational program in the northeast at the time, but which faded into obscurity by the 1940s.
By Erik Pekar
This week we return to 1923 to look at some of the news of Granville in the June 29, 1923 issue of the Granville Sentinel, and afterwards, some interesting happenings in the present.
Several weddings
made the front page of the June 29 issue, as there were quite a few June brides
in the Granville area that year. Three of them would be of interest for those
aware of business or area history. The first is the "Morrissey-Reil" wedding,
which took place "Monday morning at 9 o'clock at the church of Our Lady of
Mt. Carmel". The bride was Miss Anna Reil, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
Reil of Middle Granville; the groom was Wilfred Morrisey, son of Mrs. M.
Morrisey of Hudson Falls. They took a trip to Niagara Falls, and went to Hudson
Falls to reside. Morrisey worked at the Standard Wall Paper company there. Mrs.
Morrisey was "a graduate of the Middle Granville union school, Oneonta
Normal school and has been a member of the Granville school faculty for several
years." John Reil operated the Central hotel in Middle Granville, next to
the A.N. Rogers hardware store and later the B.E. Curtis general store. Reil's
building was later known as the "Grandma Tatko" house before being
demolished circa 1990. The Curtis general store is now Chapman's.
The second is the
"White-Dwyer" wedding, held the same day at St. Mary's Church at
10:30 by Rev. Father Thomas J. Walsh. The bride was Miss Anna Dwyer, daughter
of Mrs. Mary Dwyer of Church Street. The groom was Arthur A. White, son of Mr.
and Mrs. A.O. White of North Granville. They took a honeymoon trip through
Canada, after which they resided in Granville, "where the groom has been
engaged in the meat business since his discharge from the army." The
business in question was the A.A. White meat market, which was located on Main
Street in the building now occupied by the Blown Away Hair Salon.
The third is the
"Lichtig-Glickman" wedding, held in Albany at the Temple Beth El on
the afternoon of June 26, and performed by Rabbi Ramson. The bride was Miss
Lena Glickman of Granville. The groom was Samuel Lichtig of Albany. They took a
honeymoon trip to Philadelphia, and would return to Granville. Lichtig was manager at the Glickman
department store in Granville, and he would assume ownership of the store as
Lichtig's around 1926.
+++
An area business
wrote a letter encouraging road work to maintain a stretch of highway near
Comstock: "Editor Sentinel: The highway between North Granville and
Comstock is in very bad condition and steadily growing worse. Would it not be a
good idea for you to call it to people's attention, and urge that something be
done to make at least necessary repairs. There is a repair gang at work all the
time on the road between Whitehall and Comstock, and it is kept in fine
condition, but I can't learn that anything is ever done on the Granville road.
It is hurting Granville too. Motorists are commonly advised to avoid that road,
and I have heard several remark that they would not drive to Granville if they
could help it. A little work will keep a good road in excellent condition, but
neglect soon puts it in bad shape. Yours very truly, Whitehall Autobus Co.,
Inc., C.E. Holden, president."
The autobus company
was an early bus transit firm. Such firms operated in this area as late as the
1950s; unlike the late era firms, the Whitehall Autobus firm had to contend
with unimproved highways. Work to maintain the aforementioned road would eventually
take place, but it would be many more years before the North Granville-Comstock
highway would be improved.
+++
The Granville High
School seniors of 1923 concluded their years of school education at the Pember
Opera House on June 26, 1923. The 37th commencement started at 8:15 p.m., and
among the speakers were Rev. J.D. Brehaut of the Baptist church, Dr. W.L. Munson,
president of the board of education, supervising principal R.E. Brown, and high
school principal G.N. Snyder; salutatory by Alfred C. Beck, essay by Karl
Jefferson Thomson, class reader by Dorothy Vaughn Baker, and valedictory by
Mary E. Considine. Dr. Munson presented the diplomas. There were 22 graduates
that year.
The ceremony was
preceded by a baccalaureate delivered at the Welsh Presbyterian church on
Sunday evening by Rev. J. Parry Jones. Monday was Class Day at the high school.
+++
Granville's
graduating class of 2023 concluded their years of school education last Friday,
June 23, at the 137th commencement, held in the senior high gymnasium starting
at 6:30 p.m. Among its speakers were high school principal Beecher Baker,
district superintendent Thomas McGurl, board of education Audrey Hicks; with
the salutatory by Matthew Fisher and valedictory by Lilly Strout. The diplomas
were presented by Hicks. This year's class had 80 graduates.
Congratulations to
the graduates of the Class of 2023. May you all be successful in your plans in
life.
+++
In our
"Granville Then and Now" column of April 4, we wrote that John David
Norton and Tommy Taylor were to embark from Santa Monica, California on April
7, commencing the Sarcoid Bike Tour. This tour was finished earlier this week,
when they reached Boston and dipping their front tires in the Atlantic earlier
this week, as they did their back tires in Santa Monica.
Over these past few
months, Norton and Taylor, both originally from Granville, have practically
retraced their steps taken earlier when they hitchhiked across the country
together back in the 1970s. They have been cycling for over two months, and
have rode through 14 states: California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas,
Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York,
and Massachusetts. This accounts for over 3,400 miles, and to put the icing on
it, they are both about 70 years old.
Taylor's goal, of
raising $10,000 towards researching sarcoidosis, was reached a few weeks ago.
Norton is looking for a perfect donor of a kidney for his grandson Broderick.
Norton and Taylor
are currently back in Granville. The Sarcoid Bike Tour Reception will be held
tomorrow, June 30, at the VFW Pavilion at 119 North Street in Granville,
starting at 3 p.m. Anyone can attend, and they are encouraged to bring
appetizers, snacks, hors d'oeuvre or other food to share. Come congratulate two
of Granville's own on this remarkable achievement.
