By Erik Pekar
For this week we
turn the pages back to the June 15, 1923 issue of the Granville Sentinel. To
begin we start with highlighting an important detail in article of a
promotional manner about the formation of a Albany "diagnosis
institution", a "new Medical Clinic at 111 Washington avenue".
The important detail is the following paragraph, noting the names of practicing
doctors in Granville: "The physicians acting on the Associate Medical
Staff, in Granville area, Drs. Levine A. Bromley, David C. McKenzie, Clifford
W. Sumner, Robert C. Davies, Walter S. Bennett."
A group meeting was
held near Granville: "The State Street Book club was delightfully
entertained at the home of Mrs. Anthony McDonough, with Miss Jennie Durfee as
assistant hostess. After the roll-call and business meeting the following
program was rendered: Song, 'America', by the club; patriotic selections by
members; song, Mrs. Cuthbert; reading, Mrs. Braymer; recitations, Laura
Roberts; victrola selections; reading; Maud Parker; violin and piano
selections, Margaret Melvin, accompanied by Mrs. Shangraw; song, Matthew
McDonough. At the close of the program a fine luncheon was served in the dining
room, which was prettily decorated with pink and white, the club colors. The
favors were small American flags. The guests were: Mrs. Temple White, Mrs. John
Powers, Mrs. A.J. Davidson and Miss Dorothy Stiles of Schenectady." This
group consisted of people living along or near the state highway, now Route 22,
going south from the village of Granville to the Granville-Hebron town line. As
for the reference to "victrola selections", this was a trade name for
what was known in much of the years since as "records".
Last week we noted
of work going on with the cottages over at Lake Saint Catherine. This week in
1923 there was similar fixing up being done with houses in the village:
"The residences of Walter Doll, Mrs. Carrie Rogers and George Norton on
East Pine street, have been made attractive by a fresh coat of paint. Mrs.
Jennie Gray's house on East Main street is also being painted."
A change of
schedule was soon to occur for the popular dancing program at the Fairvale Inn.
"Dancing at Fairvale Inn, North Granville, is changed from Saturday to
Wednesday. Hereafter, dancing will be on Wednesday and Sunday evenings."
Automobiles were
making their way to South Granville: "Harry Taylor has a new Ford touring
car and Herbert Parker has a new Chevrolet." There are times when auto
makes that appear in these pages in 1923 have names that are long forgotten, or
went out of business more recently; for Chevrolet and Ford neither is the case.
A Granville
organization reached a milestone: "In celebrating their twenty-fifth
anniversary, the Knights of Columbus of Granville plan to have a dinner some
time this month. They are planning to make this event one of the finest in the
history of this council. It is expected that Rev. M.K. Merns, formerly of
Granville and now pastor of St. Patrick's church of Troy, will be the speaker
of the evening. Everyone who knows Father Merns knows of his character, ability
and friendship for the people of Granville."
A family which left
Granville had second thoughts and returned: "John T. Williams' family, who
were residents of this village for some years and moved to Pennsylvania last
fall, are now moving back again. The mother, who has been ill for some time, is
anxious to return to Granville." If only more people originally from the
area were as wise as the mother and decided to return home to Granville.
A Granville student
won a prize: "Granville won the W.C.T.U. prize at the county convention.
Ruth Barnard, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William T. Barnard, won the
$3 prize for the seventh and eighth grades of the local school." William
T. Barnard was co-owner of the Barnard Brothers grocery store on Main Street in
what was then known as the Barnard block; the store is today occupied by the
Skene Valley Insurance Agency. The prize was reasonable money in 1923 but would
certainly be nothing to get excited over today.
An advertisement
for U.S. Tires noted of the local places to buy them, which were V.F. Bromley
& Son, Chandler & Needham, Thompson & Lavery, and S. Weinberg &
Sons.
Just as it will
soon be here now, graduation was coming up for Granville's high school seniors
in 1923. Wilson Clothing Co. advertised of "graduation needs",
including "Suits of Blue Serge and Blue Unfinished Worsted, $25.00,
$30.00, $35.00; White Flannel Trousers, $7.50, $8.50, $10; Silk Shirts, Silk
Hose, Straw Hats". The clothing styles and prices are quite different from
what would be expected for graduation wear in recent years.
Those involved were
getting ready for the big day: "Preparations for commencement in the
Granville high school are under way and further announcement will be made next
week. Class day is to be Monday, June 25, and the commencement exercises will
be in the opera house Tuesday evening following." The opera house in
question was the Pember Opera House, which was located on the site of what is
now the Main Street parking lot. It was one of two buildings now demolished
which had frontage to Main Street; the opera house was the easternmost of the
two, adjacent to the driveway and closest to what is now the Village Yarn Shop.
+++
With spring weather
here, the time has come for road work. Washington County paved a few stretches
of highway in this part of the county, including County Route 12 from Gray's
Corners north to the Whitehall village line, all of County Route 18A in Hampton,
and County Route 23 in Middle Granville between Routes 22 and 22A.
The town of
Granville paved the two prior paved sections of Upper Turnpike Road, Sheehan
Road, Grey Goose Road, Thomas Road, Dublin Road from County Route 23 to Beaver
Pond and a short section near the north end, and paved a new top coat for
Aldous Road.
Some of these roads
were varying degrees of roughness before paving, with County Route 12 at the
bridge over the creek going into Whitehall coming to mind. All that is gone
now, and the new pavement is smooth riding and will last for at least several
years.
+++
The old saying goes
that "a picture is worth a thousand words". People from this area
would agree that photos of Granville would be worth at least a thousand words,
if not more.
We are looking to
put together photo binders with photos of the Granville area over the years,
including its people, its organizations, businesses, schools, events,
occasions, buildings, activities, and more.
Those with photos
of Granville who want to preserve them for posterity are encouraged to contact
the Granville town historian.
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