Granville Then & Now – March 16, 2023

Granville businesses of a century ago

By Erik Pekar

A few weeks ago in "Granville Then and Now" we looked over some advertisements of a century ago. This week we continue this endeavor, reprinting or telling of those in the March 16, 1923 issue of the Granville Sentinel.

Edwards’ Garage reminded people of the coming season: "Prepare yourself for Spring and Summer motoring by having your car looked over by a man capable of doing the job." Schermerhorn and Brown had an advertisement for the new Willys-Knight automobile, as well as the Overland and F.W.D. trucks. Beecher & Guthrie of West Pawlet had the new 1923 Chevrolet.

The changing weather at the start of spring makes way for maple season, and C. L. Streeter utilized that time of year to their advantage: "Prepare for the Sugar Season now! Get your Syrup Cans, Sap Buckets, Sap Spouts, Sugar Pails, Tapping Bits, etc."

Haskins’ Drug Store advertised denatured alcohol and engine oil at 75 cents per gallon. E. C. Hewitt & Co. had a special; two cans of "New York State Bantam Evergreen Corn" for 25 cents. F. D. Ingalls reminded people of his upholstering business.

M. W. Freydberg announced their "spring opening", with the latest new clothing, including suits for men, for ladies, dresses, coats, wraps, and capes.

Spring brings mud season and both Ginsburg’s and W.F. Sweet had specials for rubber boots. Among the prices were $2 children’s boots for $1.59 and $5 men’s boots for $3.25 at Ginsburg’s, and men’s work shoes ranging from $1.98 to $5 at Sweet’s store. Adams & Snyder shoe store also announced a stock of rubber boots.

Wilson Clothing Co. also got into the trend of the changing season: "Why not think about your Spring wardrobe now. Our stock of Spring merchandise is quite complete and the styles are very much up-to-date, at prices considerably less than a year ago." Among the merchandise were top coats, suits, hats, caps, shirts, neckwear, hose, and collars. Margaret Warren’s "Ladies’ Store" also was advertising of their spring lines, and other seasonal items such as Easter greeting cards.

B. Goldberg, "the corner clothier", had new spring suits with "new styles, new patterns, new colors", and invited people to "come in and look them over." The Granville Bargain House and N. Goldberg & Son also had their new spring lines coming in.

All three banks operating in the village of Granville in 1923 – the Granville National Bank, the Farmers’ National Bank, and the Washington County National Bank – competed with one another as they encouraged people to start and use a bank account.

Barnard Brothers announced "National Canned Goods Week", with such items as: peas, 15 to 35 cents per can; corn, 15 to 25 cents per can, and a 2 cans for 25 cents deal; tomatoes, 15 to 25 cents per can; string beans, 20 and 30 cents. Other canned items noted were succotash, spinach, beets, asparagus, sauerkraut, sweet potatoes, carrots, cranberry beans, red kidney beans, green lima beans, mixed vegetables, pumpkin; all retailed from 15 to 25 cents per can, with the exception of asparagus at 45 cents per can. Also mentioned was a "wonderful line of canned fruits."

A.A. White’s Sanitary Market: pork chops, 20 cents per pound; hamburg, 2 pounds for 25 cents; pure creamery butter, 55 cents per pound; stewing beef, 5 cents per pound. The C. W. Sherman Estate store in West Rupert announced a "Special Grocery Sale" for March 16 and 17, where many items were priced 19 cents.

The Ellis & Jones grocery store announced the new Post’s Bran Flakes for 15 cents a package.

E. R. Evans’ drug store had specials in stationary, for 50 cents to $3.50; perfumes, 35 cents to $7; flashlights and batteries, 75 cents to $3; and the Belle Meade line of candies, 20 cents to $2 per box. Lasher’s was advertising Rexall products.

S. Weinberg was advertising of Andes ranges, which had the taglines of "the most beautiful range I have ever seen" and "better cooking for less money." Other items included Masury paint, "a paint for every purpose"; and wallpaper with "spring patterns." G.H. Bascom had new rugs.

Granville Candy Land, the Angelo DiBernardo confectionary, was "the place where you can get the Freshest, Best and Purest Candy at a Low Price", such as salted peanuts for 18 cents per pound, peanut butter and molasses kisses for 18 cents per pound, and vanilla and chocolate fudge for 25 cents per pound.

Granville Candy Kitchen, another confectionary owned by Harry G. Seferlis, also had some specials: fresh peanut brittle, 25 cents per pound; chocolate drops, 25 cents per pound; French vanilla ice cream, 50 cents for quart or 25 cents for pint; Neapolitan ice cream at 60 cents for quart, 30 cents for pint.

M.S. Strong called for work on monuments, headstones, markers, and other forms of cemetery work. H.E. Hemenway, jeweler and optician, had an electric motor for $20 that would allow one to "wind your Victrola by electricity." G. H. McDonald & Son headed their advertisement with the "Miss Manhattan" line of assortments, also having long cloth for 16 cents per yard and bedspreads for $1.49.

Smith’s Feed Mill advertised a cow feed product called "Purina Cow Chow." William W. Cary wanted raw furs, and was willing to pay "the highest market price." Levi Ayres was an agent for Prairie State: "Chicks – If you are going to hatch or breed any during the coming season it is none too early to order your incubators, brooders, coal burning brooder stoves or other poultry equipment."

The Granville Electric and Gas Company, which a few weeks prior was encouraging locals to purchase stock in the corporation, appealed again to the Granville public: "Let Dividends Pay Your Lighting Bills – Make good use of your spare dollars by investing them in the preferred stock of the Granville Electric and Gas Company. The dividends that are payable regularly every three months will be a great help in paying your gas and electric bills. It means a safe, sound investment with dependable returns.

"A limited amount of preferred stock is offered at $100 a share. Annual dividends at the rate of $7.00 per share are payable quarterly. Not subject to normal Federal income tax. Full and complete details concerning the stock and the attractive partial payment plan will be provided by our office or employee of the company. Apply by mail, telephone or in person Granville Electric and Gas Company, Granville, New York."

A new business opening appeared, the announcement reading: "My friends in Granville and vicinity will be interested to learn that I have leased the store in Dr. Collins’ Block for the purpose of opening a complete and up-to-date Gents’ Furnishings Establishment, with the merchandise of the highest obtainable quality. Please watch this space for date of opening. – Morris Rote-Rosen."

Dances were advertised as well. The Grange was having a dance on St. Patrick’s Night, March 17, starting at 8 p.m. with round and square dancing. The admission there was $1 per couple and 25 cents for "extra lady." A Home Folks Dance and chicken salad supper was announced for April 2 at the Fairvale Inn in North Granville. No starting times or admission were mentioned, but the dance would take place "on two floors", go until 3 a.m., and that 5% of proceeds would be "donated to American Legion of Granville Monument Fund." Both dances were to have music furnished by Juckett’s 5-Piece Orchestra.