Granley's honored

Various people spoke at the party honoring the Granley family for 104 years of service to the area communities in the grocery business at the Clearbrook American Legion banquet room. They had stories about Bob, Kay, George and other members of the family. George Granley started the first retail business in Clearbrook when he opened the City Meat Market. George married Hannah Skime on October 20, 1912. They had three children Marvin, Olander (Herman) and Arvilla (Livingston). George was active in the business until the late 1940’s when his son, Marvin, took over. Marvin married DeVona Larson on August 25, 1934. They had four children: Gerald, Robert, James and Mary. They opened Fairway Grocery Store on main street and when Marvin died in 1958 she sold the meat market to Lief Haugen but she kept the grocery store. That business was sold this past year to Jill and Jeremy Bakke who are staring on their first year of business.
Muriel Halvorson stated that she met Arvilla Livingston on the street after she came home from the military service. Arvilla wanted to go to school but she got married anyway and Muriel went on with the GI bill and taught for many years. She said that George Granley made the best hamburger. She always asked Bob Granley to make his special BBQ ribs for her Christmas Eve supper. She will miss that from Bob. She said it was a privilege to shop at their store and to enjoy everything.
Jake Boomgaarden commended the Granley’s not for what they did by how they did it. He told a story about ordering specialty meat that he wanted ordered. Bob would not order frogs and he would not break the rules.
Bob and Sandy were good parents and they knew how to relate to kids. Bob and Sandy had a conference when Kay was in high school and they wanted to know how she was doing. He replied, “a lot better student than he was.”
Charlotte Stoker was honored to be a part of the program. She and husband Ernie bought the home of George and Hannah Granley and they are still living there after 60 years. She recalled the trips to Granleys meat market with the wooden tubs of pickled herring. The men had white aprons and there was a big butcher block for them to work on. There were long trays of brown bread on the shelf. George had a special recipe for hamburger. The meat would be scooped in a boat like container and wrapped in white paper, that had string around it and her mother would save the string. The locker plant was necessary as people did not own refrigerators with freezers. Everyone would rent a box and keep their meat until they needed to bring it home. George’s wife DeVona helped and she always had a quick smile. The Granley family was a main stay in Clearbrook and helped to fill a great heritage.
Tom Anderson worked with Martin Maple who went out to the farms to get the cattle that were to be butchered at Granleys. Marvin Granley would be busy to get it into the locker for the farmer. Tom recognized Bob Granley, as a member of the Clearbrook American Legion, for all the efforts that he put into helping with various events. He had them spoiled as he would know how much to order and get for the different functions.
Betty Langseth and Gladys Larson have enjoyed many years working at Granleys in Clerbrook. They also worked with Edna Metcalf, Marilyn Lindem, Vi Bagaason and Mike Gibeau. They enjoyed the time when Sandy and Bob’s babies came. Mike and Kay were a joy. They were really excited when the Granleys decided to build a new store. They were great to work for and the whole tine they never hated going to work.
Betty Johnson appreciated having them in business in Clearbrook for so many years. She also said that every year when she went around collecting money for the left over tickets from the Clearwater County Fair that were sold, they always matched to the total number sold.
George Postier, Mayor of Clearbrook, congratulated the Granleys for 104 years of serving the community. He thanked everyone for attending.