Granville Then & Now – June 22, 2023

By Erik Pekar

Turning back the pages of time to 1923, it was getting warm in June, as can be told from this quote about a Granville theater in the June 22 issue: "Six large electric fans going full blast at Pastime theatre - all windows and doors open - good ventilation and a splendid program of moving pictures three times a week - Mondays, Fridays and Saturday nights, with a matinee on Saturday at 2:30. Always ten cents and twenty cents."

Ventilation systems have come a long way since 1923; indeed, the one described would be replaced by an early air conditioning system a couple years later. The Pastime was later known as the Ritz and is now gone from the landscape of Granville's Main Street, both in the sense of showing movies and the building no longer existing. As for ticket costs, one would long for a twenty cent ticket when today's movie tickets are over $10.

A regional organization met in Granville on June 16 for their monthly meeting. This was the Washington County branch of the State Charities Aid Association. The meeting was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. Edson Hall. Organization chairman was Rev. J. Servis LaRue of Hudson Falls. Various aspects of the organization were reported. The speaker at the meeting was District Attorney M. J. Herrick of Montgomery County, the president of the State Charities Aid Association. About 60 people were present, including representatives from Hudson Falls, Fort Edward, Whitehall and Cambridge.

An organization sought to establish themselves in Granville: "Capt. J. P. Gourley and Adjutant F. G. Barber of the Salvation Army were in town Tuesday prepatory to the establishment of temporary headquarters for their organization. Through the kindness of M.J. Hayes they will be able to erect their tent, which is 30 by 60 feet, on the Hayes lot opposite the railroad station. The opening meeting will be held the middle of the coming week by a special corps of Salvation Army workers who are being sent from the New York headquarters, the corps consisting of graduates of the Army college. Several Salvation Army lassies will precede the corps of officers, and assisted by members of the Granville Post of the American Legion the tent will be set up as summer headquarters. The Salvation Army will later in the summer establish permanent headquarters."

The reference to establishing headquarters would more accurately be described as reestablishing, as the Salvation Army had been in Granville in the 1890s and 1900s decades, using as headquarters the building on River Street, many years later used by the Fish and Game Club.

Wells also had a book club in 1923: "The Jolly Dozen Book club was delightfully entertained Thursday of last week at the home of Mrs. Emory Howe, where cards and contests were enjoyed by all. The prizes were awarded Clara Cone, Hazel Blossom, Emily Thomson and Grace Clayton. At the close of the business meeting refreshments were served by the hostess, assisted by Mae Park and Lillian Goodspeed. The guests were Mrs. Ida Park, Mrs. William Humphries, Mrs. Eunice McClure and Mrs. Barton Reynolds of Granville. The next meeting will be held with Mrs. Frank Lewis and Estella Humphries, where good things are always served."

A camp at Lake Saint Catherine was soon to reopen: "Henry J. Silverman and A. George Jacobson of New York city, directors of Camp Arrowhead, are getting the camp ready for this season, which opens July 1. Mr. Silverman has been here in connection with the work which is being done at the camp, and reports that this season is expected to be even more successful than last year, as nearly all of the boys are to return again this year with others who will be here for their first season. The attractions at the camp for the boys are numerous, and include bathing, canoeing, swimming, diving, hiking, baseball, handball, tennis and good food."

More dancing was being held at venues in Lake Saint Catherine. In this column of June 1, we mentioned the dancing at the Forest House. This week in 1923, it was Idylwild: "The opening dance at Idylwild Park Friday evening was a great success. Two hundred and forty-one couples were in attendance."

241 couples attending the dance equates to 442 people, an impressive number for 1923 or any year since. Many of the organizers of dances and other events put on in the past sixty years would long for 442 people to have attended, but such a feat was accomplished in 1923 at Idylwild, Lake Saint Catherine.

One summer resident of Lake Saint Catherine decided to try his hand at getting road maintenance: "Prof. Campbell has had a barrell of oil placed on the highway in the rear of his bungalow, Wissahickon, and there'll be no dust blowing his way this season."

A venue at Lake Saint Catherine announced it was open for the season: "Roberts and Price, Lake Shore Inn, Lake St. Catherine, are now opened for business and are prepared to do all kinds of home cooking, baked beans, salads, etc. Lunches served at all hours. Dinners to order. We also handle pasteurized milk."

This was the mentioned as opening "some time this month" in our column of June 8, which focused solely on Lake Saint Catherine news items from the same issue of 1923. There the business was referred to as the "Lakeside Inn".

A birthday party was at South Granville: "A party was held at Mrs. H. D. Taylor's Saturday afternoon in honor of Mrs. Taylor's birthday and also for Mrs. Leslie Beecher. About eighteen guests were present and an elaborate supper was served. It was a most pleasant affair."

There was no news of the 1923 Granville graduation, as it would not be held until July 2, after the June 29 issue. It will be in next week's column. This event is also known as "commencement", and that term will be encountered next week.

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The 2022-2023 school year is at its end in the Granville Central School District. The elementary students had their last day today, June 22; the high school students' was on June 13 and many have been taking their Regents exams since. The last event of the school year takes place tomorrow, the 2023 graduation ceremony. This is the 137th such event that has taken place at Granville, dating back to the first graduation in 1886. Congratulations to the Class of 2023.