The Granville Sentinel, April 24, 1952
The present modern Lasher drug store is a radical departure from the original Oscar Baldwin store and the one conducted later by Ed Ladd. We wonder what the old timers would say if they could see the present store and compare it with the one they conducted by the hanging kerosene lamp and the pot bellied stove. Drug stores today are different from those when the druggist rolled their pills and when the shelves were loaded with patent medicines guaranteed to cure any and all the ills of mankind. R.B. Jones is to be congratulated on his modernism in making the Lasher drug store one of the most attractive in this area.
The New York State Conservation Department reported 200,000 fishermen out on the opening day of the trout season. Judging by the activity along the Mettowee river there were 199,999 of the fishermen in Granville. Men and boys, ladies and girls, every one seemed to have caught the fishing fever. The fishing tackle varied from the most expensive rods to the old fashioned twig with a grocery string tied to it. But everyone was having the time of their life and there is no finer sport for the lovers of the outdoors than fishing.
We have received several inquiries by readers of "Main Street" of the significance in the overlapping of dates of Easter and the Jewish passover. The Jewish Passover pre-dates Easter by approximately 1,200 years and is the celebration of a historical event - the liberation of the ancient Jews from bondage in Egypt. Easter, as is known, is the observance of the death and resurrection of Christ. What confuses some is the fact that the Jewish Passover is mentioned in connection with the Lord's Last Supper which happened to fall during Passover week and when Jesus shared unleavened bread with his disciples.
The weather Easter Sunday was a disappointment particularly to the ladies who couldn't display their spring outfits and bonnets to advantage. It was a cold, rainy day which made it ideal for family reunions and visits from friends and neighbors. The Granville churches were well attended. After a church service a Granville pastor shaking hands with a member of the church said: "Well, I suppose I will see you again next Easter." He perhaps didn't mean it the way it sounded but there are those who attend church on certain occasions only during the year and most of the time the church is out of their thoughts.
We never saw democracy in action like we did at the Granville fire department annual meeting at the Norton Hose company rooms last week. There are 70 members in the Granville fire department and when a meeting of the firemen comes to a close practically every man in the department has expressed an opinion. But when it comes to final action on any proposition offered at the meeting there is an almost unanimous opinion expressed if it benefits the community. No organization or group in Granville has such a cross section of the citizenry of Granville like the Granville fire department. A fine group of men.
We were looking out of the office window on Good Friday afternoon and we could not only see but feel the solemnity of the observance of the holy occasion. Soon after the noon hour struck the fire alarm was the only thing that disturbed an otherwise silence of several hours while the local churches were holding special services. The sky was clear and the spring sun shone brightly. A cool breeze from the north caught worshippers shivering on their way to church. Then suddenly the street became deserted. The village office was closed in keeping with the other offices and business places in Granville.
Store doors had cards posted on them stating that they were closed from 12 o'clock until 3 o'clock. Although there were but few parked cars on the street one could see a truck passing hurriedly through the village during the afternoon. The sound of the motor trucks appeared strange and exceptionally loud. Two little girls came roller skating down the street and a young mother was slowly wheeling her baby. Two men stood huddled near the bank corner whispering. Another man on Main Street was smoking his pipe and watching the smoke curl upwards.
A man in dungarees crossed the street. He stopped suddenly deep in thought. Turned around and walked back to the place whence he came. A small boy holding his dog by the collar was looking in one of the store windows. Several young ladies heading for church, were wearing their new Easter outfits as well as their Easter bonnets which were not to be exposed to the public before Easter Sunday. But here they were. A little boy with a hand full of agates was looking for companions to join in a game of marbles. Even he didn't have any luck and returned home.
While looking out of the office window we saw several dried yellow leaves, released from under its winter blanket of snow, whirling in the air. First up and then down again. Resting for a moment and then again at the mercy of the wind. We saw in the whirling, restless leaves a parallel to mankind in the civilized world of today. Here we are observing the sacrifice made by the Prince of the Peace for the love of his fellowmen but his message and the tragedy enacted on Mount Calvary has not yet touched the hearts of men.
Two souvenir post cards, one from the Bahamas and the other from Jamaica, reached "Main Street" about the same time. Jack Huyck who is sojourning in Nassau and is about due to return home and settle down at the foot of the Green Mountains for the rest of the year. The other card is from Paul Roche, a former Granville resident, who boasts, or complains, he didn't state which, by writing that it is 102 degrees in Jamaica. Both Jack and Paul evidently tried to hide away from the cold and snow to a warmer clime. It's all right to come home now, boys, we are having fine spring weather.
It was well past midnight when we saw the village Board of Trustees break up a regular board meeting, which lasted for 5 continuous hours, most of the time having been consumed in trying to come up with a budget which would give the village some improvements without making the tax burden too heavy for the taxpayers to carry. What would happen to a community like Granville or any other community if we couldn't find five men who would devote their time and energy unselfishly to serve others. And we wonder how much their services to the community are appreciated.
Three youngsters came into the office and asked if we would like to contribute 25 cents to take a chance at winning a chicken. "What's the benefit for?" we asked. And the three boys explained that a fund is being raised by them to finance a baseball league composed of three teams: 'The Southwest Ozarks, the Skunkers and the Redskins," was their reply. "And there will be other teams in the league," they concluded. Writing down our name three times we were relieved of a quarter of a dollar as the boys ran out looking for another easy mark to help out a good cause. Who knows there may be a Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig in the making. And that's worth 25 cents in any man's league.
No comments:
Post a Comment