Historical Association’s annual meeting features Lucy Dates

The Groton Historical Association (GHA) held its annual meeting Oct. 8 with 26 attendees, including members and others with an interest in Groton’s history, who came to hear the presentation, “Groton Then & Now,” given by long-time GHA member, Lucy Dates.

Prior to Dates’ presentation, everyone enjoyed a meal consisting of meat loaf, ham loaf with mustard sauce and mashed potatoes, provided and prepared by Flo Allen, Betty Conger and Dates, along with a lovely assortment of side dishes and desserts brought by attendees, followed by a short meeting at which the members conducted their annual business.

Allen, who is the GHA president, introduced the other officers. Dates is vice president, Conger is secretary, and Alan Christopher is treasurer.

After Conger read the minutes from the GHA’s last annual meeting, Christopher gave a treasurer’s report, during which he reported that the association’s annual “Crafts & Collectibles” vendor show held during Groton Olde Home Days was the most successful the GHA has ever had.

“This is our only fundraiser every year,” Christopher said. “And this year, we had the largest number of vendors ever and we raised $705 in profit for the museum.”

Allen spoke about some of the newest acquisitions the Groton Historical Museum has added to its displays, including an 1876 parlor organ that she was able to donate from her family’s estate.

“It’s a pump organ, and it still works,” Allen said with pride. “I traced the history on it because we only want things that are associated with Groton and its people, and I discovered that it was originally in the home of Porter Morton, who was the father of Verne Morton — a famous photographer from Groton.”

Elections were held at the conclusion of the business portion of the meeting, reinstating the existing slate of officers for another year, after which Dates began her talk by displaying a ladies’ vintage one-piece swimsuit that she had found, asking the audience what they thought it was — and quite a few knew!

Dates then went on to explain how she moved to Groton from Trumansburg in 1968 to attend Tompkins Cortland Community College in its very first class in the building on Main Street, known today as School House Garden Apartments.

“My husband, Jon Dates, had just returned from Vietnam and was going to TC3 part time while he helped his father, Karl Dates, run his car dealership in Groton,” Lucy said. “We met there at TC3 and have been together ever since.”

Lucy spoke about Smith Corona (SC) being located across from the school building and that “at 3:30 every day, workers streamed out of the building.” She further explained that SC was the focal business at that time, but there were also many other thriving businesses.

“Back then, Groton had two grocery stores, a pharmacy, the Groton Hotel and many other places of business,” Lucy said. “It had a 5&10 store where you could find anything and of course TC3 until it moved to Dryden in 1974.”

Lucy had assembled several posters mounted with historical photos and newspaper articles from the “Groton Then” era of her presentation, as well as scrapbooks the audience could look through.

“There have been many changes in Groton from then to now,” Lucy said. “Our students today can now earn TC3 credits while in high school, trades are offered through TST BOCES, and the STEAM lab in our school exposes students to how farming was important ‘then,’ and it is becoming a viable trade to learn in the ‘now,’ including the Future Farmers of America is valid again now.”

Lucy went on to extol the abundant offerings the Groton Public Library has for people of every age and described its director, Sara Knobel, as demonstrating “the same enterprising focus that Groton’s early settlers had.”

Lucy was very kind in mentioning that this column is very important to the people of Groton now, as well as the Groton Food Pantry, the Groton Fire Department, police force and more. She also spoke about Rosemarie Palmer Tucker, who authored a book about Groton called “Images of America — Groton,” others who have written books about it and Verne Morton — the accomplished photographer who is known for his more than 12,000 photos of Groton.

There was so much more to Lucy’s presentation than can fit in this article. She touched on the history of Groton’s founding and Native American roots, its many historical figures and buildings, its fame for being the home of not only Smith Corona, but also of the Groton Carriage Works — which became one of the best-known companies of its kind in the U.S. — its memorials to military heroes from Groton, the founding of the First National Bank of Groton and its consistent five-star ratings even today, the history of Benn Conger and so much more.

So many Groton treasures and so much history are waiting to be explored in the Groton Historical Museum. It is generally open May through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, all weekend during Groton Olde Home Days and Groton Alumni Weekend and other times by appointment.

It is quite likely, whenever you might choose to visit, that Lucy will be your tour guide!

The GHA also welcomes anyone who has an interest in Groton’s history and/or in helping to maintain the treasure of a museum we have at 168 Main St. For further details about becoming a member, or for any questions at all, call or text Allen at (607) 280-4233 or email her at nellaolf@gmail.com.

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com or text or call Linda at (607) 227-4922.

In brief:

Groton Story Walk updated for fall

The Groton Story Walk, located on the trail behind Groton Memorial Park, has been updated for fall with “Mango, Abuela and Me” by Meg Medina. Head outside with the children and check out this story, along with the beautiful fall foliage!

French Club craft show

Save the date now! The Groton High School French Club will host its annual craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 12. Admission is free, and this show has become one of the school’s biggest and most well-attended events of the year!

There will be over 100 vendors with an extensive variety of crafts and items for sale, including homemade crafts and woodwork, handbags, jewelry, quilting, embroidery, homemade soaps, baked goods, original artwork, clothing and more.

Vendors will be located in both gymnasiums, the cafeteria and the school library, with parking available in front of the school as well as on the high school gymnasium side.

The French Club also runs a silent auction, bake sale and two concession stands for breakfast and lunch.

Water hydrant flushing

The Village of Groton Department of Public Works will be flushing water hydrants throughout the village from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 17 through Oct. 21.

It is important to know that this project could discolor the water in homes, which may stain white clothing, but is completely safe for all other uses. For questions or concerns, feel free to call the Village Office at (607) 898-3345.