Carnivals, celebrations abounded in 1938
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.
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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.
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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.
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