by Kieron Kramer
Two families from the Eastwick area came to the well of the Rensselaer County Legislature on Tuesday to receive copies of resolutions passed at earlier sessions. One was the extended family behind two very successful enterprises in North Hoosick, J.A. Bradley and Hoosick True Value Hardware. The other was the family of Reverend William O’Dell of Grafton, whose life was memorialized by the Legislature at the adjournment of the July meeting.
[private]J.A. Bradley’s 100th
A resolution was passed at the June session commending J.A. Bradley and Sons upon its 100th anniversary. At this Tuesday’s meeting, Vice Chairman of the Legislature Stan Brownell and Legislator Lester Goodermote made the presentation after calling for the extended family to enter the well of the Legislature. The Legislators represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls.
Brownell read from the resolution. According to the resolution, Phil Bradley of J.A. Bradley and Sons began his electrical contractor business in 1913 at a storefront on 6 John Street in the Village of Hoosick Falls. The business continued to expand and grow through the time of two World Wars and the Great Depression. Philip’s son, Joseph (Joe) A. Bradley entered the business. Joe Bradley, along with his sister Julia, took over the business in 1942 with the passing of Philip, and in 1955 they moved the business to its second location, on Hall Street in the Village of Hoosick Falls. Two of Joe’s sons, Don and Phil, began working in the family business in the late 1950s and early 60s. Joe Bradley ran the business until the early 1970s when Master Electricians Don and Phil Bradley took over day to day operations; both continue to serve to this day. In the early 1980s, the business moved for the third time to its current location just north of the Village of Hoosick Falls on Route 22. Master Electrician Scott Stroffoleno, son in law to Don, now runs daily operations and his son Colin, who recently completed a two year program in Electrical Construction Maintenance at HVCC, entered the business, ensuring the family firm’s commitment to its community and customers. Currently, J.A. Bradley serves a large area of eastern New York and Vermont, still providing service for residential, industrial, commercial and farm needs. The company continues to expand. It brings modern technology and energy saving opportunities to its customers, including in the burgeoning area of solar power, according to the resolution.
Referring to the hundred year anniversary Brownell said, “In today’s world, and as it was reported in local newspapers already, this is an unbelievable achievement. I wish Phil were here, but he is recovering from a shoulder operation.” Brownell added that he had graduated from high school with Dan and had worked at J.A. Bradley’s for a while. Brownell mentioned that J.A. Bradley has started working with Monolith, the solar panel company, and has 180 panels on hand. Brownell concluded his comments by saying that the Bradley family had recently helped out the Town of Hoosick with Town Pool repairs.
Lester Goodermote said he wanted “to touch more on the True Value Hardware Store” part of the enterprise. The hardware store has been operating for 23 years. “These guys have everything you would ever need in their store, and their inventory does not consist of [just] one [item]. They are a great asset to the community.”
Rev. William H. O’Dell
The Legislature had adjourned the July meeting with a resolution memorializing Reverend William H. O’Dell of Grafton, who died on May 15, 2013. Brownell and Goodermote made the presentation at this session. The O’Dell family was accompanied into the well by former Grafton Town Supervisor Tyler Sawyer, now the County Auditor.
Brownell read from the resolution. According to the resolution Reverend O’Dell was born and raised in Grafton. He was the son of the late William H. and Eudella Weeden O’Dell and attended the Grafton one room schoolhouse and Berlin High School. After school he began work with his father in the family logging and sawmill business. After studying at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Reverend O’Dell served as the joint pastor of the Alps Baptist and West Stephentown Baptist Churches for ten years before being called to the Grafton Baptist Church where he served for fifty years. Twelve of those years he joint pastored with the Stephentown Center Church. Pastor O’Dell served the people of Grafton and surrounding areas, regardless of church affiliation, being on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. He also built houses and was a master carpenter, teaching many young men the trade over the years.
The resolution says, “Reverend William O’Dell will be missed by his family: his wife, Astrid Marie Ring O’Dell; his son, David (Kathy); his two daughters, Deborah (David), and Ingrid (John); his two sisters, Lucy and Mary (Bob); his brothers, Jared (Catherine), Theron (Betsy), and Bill (Doris); nine grandchildren: Seth, Shea, Saul, Kara, David, Isaac, Erik, Mark, Chad; and twenty great-grandchildren…”
Brownell commented on his relationship with Reverend O’Dell. “Working in Curtis Lumber days in the 1980s, I got to know Bill O’Dell; he was one of the most prepared contractors; he knew exactly what he wanted. His service to the Grafton community is unsurpassed. Bill and his wife Astrid made a lot of difference for the people of Grafton. He was an unbelievable man; we will miss him; he was quite a man.”
O’Dell’s daughter said, “With the passing of my dad – you take for granted someone in your life, but I am very proud of my dad. He talked the talk and walked the walk.”
Tyler Sawyer said he knew Bill O’Dell for 40 years and “always loved sitting down with him.” He told of his first meeting with O’Dell. “I was 18, just out of boot camp, basic training. I had news that ‘a new arrival was on the way,’ and we needed to get married. I had ten days leave. I am a practicing Catholic, and the Catholic church back then required that you announce the marriage across the alter two weeks before so I couldn’t get married [during the leave]. People said, ‘Reverend O’Dell will marry you.’ He showed the symbol of the ring as a symbol of something that never ends. Forty years later we are still married, and I always reflect back to that moment.” Chairman of the Legislature Martin Reid chimed in. Quoting his wife’s grandmother he said. “The first baby can come at any time; the second and third always come at 9 months.”
Business
Several resolutions were passed on Tuesday that relate to eastern Rensselaer County. Two called on the NYS Department of Transportation to improve eastern Rensselaer County’s highways.
One resolution requested a review of road conditions on State Route 22 and appropriate repairs to be undertaken. The resolution says, “Conditions on State Route 22 have deteriorated significantly in recent years, prompting complaints to this Legislative Body and the State from residents and businesses…The deterioration includes decay and cracking of the road surface, decay of road striping, crumbling shoulders on the road, dips in the road surface and potholes in many areas of the road…Improvements would lead to safer and more convenient travel on the road for residents, businesses and visitors in Rensselaer County, along with improving the overall appearance of our County.”
The other resolution urges the New York State Department Of Transportation to conduct a study on a portion of New York State Route 7 because, the resolution says, “Many accidents have occurred on the portion of New York State Route 7 between the Bennington Battlefield Motel, 4328 Route 7, and the intersection of Routes 7 and 22… Another accident just occurred on July 15, 2013 where a tractor trailer rolled over and several people were injured…It is incumbent upon this Legislative Body to ensure the safety and protection of the citizens of Rensselaer County.”
It is not just major accidents like the February 13, 2013, accident when a gasoline truck crashed through the guardrail and caught fire, polluting the Shingle Hollow Brook or the propane truck crash in July of 2011 that required a major, difficult emergency response and an evacuation of the area but also a series of less dramatic but damaging accidents involving vans, cars, motorcycles and a delivery truck. Although many suffered injuries there was only one fatality, further west on Route 7 when a 28 year old motorcyclist was killed in September of 2006 near Potter Hill Barn.
In the resolution the Legislature asks that the NYSDOT conduct a review of the lighting, motorist speed and signage on this stretch of Route 7. “This review is necessary because of the amount of increasing accidents,” the resolution says. The Legislature has made several requests for the DOT to conduct a study along a portion of New York State Route 7. The March 2013 resolution was worded almost exactly as this one was.
Auction Of Foreclosed Properties
The third resolution pertaining to the Eastwick area authorized the County’s Chief Fiscal Officer to sell real property at public auction. The properties are the subject of delinquent tax liens held by the County of Rensselaer. The Chief Fiscal Officer was authorized to sell at public auction those parcels designated under List No. 2 for the year 2013 (Rensselaer County Clerk’s Index Number 242265). The County Executive was authorized to execute quitclaim deeds to the purchasers in a form approved by the County Attorney. The auction is scheduled for September 24 with an informational meeting on September 17 at 6 pm in the Franklin Terrace Ballroom, 126 Campbell Avenue, Troy.
Unless the owner satisfies the tax lien and pays a $1,000 reconveyance fee before the auction the following properties will be auctioned: a parcel on Main Street in Petersburgh owned by Dan Mitri, two parcels on Rabbit College Road in Petersburgh owned by Smith, a parcel on Bly Hollow Road in Berlin owned by Mitchell, a parcel on Plank Road in Berlin owned by the Thomases, a parcel on Plank Road in Poestenkill owned by Crandall, a parcel on Josh Hall Pond Road in Grafton owned by Karamanos, a parcel on Taconic Lake Road in Grafton owned by Meyer, a parcel on Snyder Road in Cropseyville owned by Spadaro/Lecce – in Hoosick – 3 parcels on Mitchell Road owned by Riva Gold Enterprises, a parcel on NY 22 owned by Pello, a parcel on NY 22 owned by Hoosick Fuel Storage, a parcel on NY 22 owned by Vincent, 3 parcels south of Wilson Hill Road owned by Green Valley Associates, a parcel on NY 67 owned by Val Erb & Son Builders, a parcel on NY 7 owned by 4324 Route 7 LLC – 6 parcels in Hoosick Falls – one on Waldron Avenue owned by Duffy, one on 5th Street owned by Kelley, one on Wilder Avenue owned by the Myerses, one on Church Street owned by Pepper Kat Properties, one on Wall Street owned by Yankus and one on Willow Street owned by Hoosick Fuel Storage. Apparently the national economic crisis has taken its toll in eastern Rensselaer County. Often the previous owners, the County owns the properties now, will pay the back taxes and the fee before the auction in order to retain their property.
September Meeting Date Changed
The regular September meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature falls on Tuesday, September 10. This is the same date as Primary Election Day. According to the Rules of the Rensselaer County Legislature, when a regular monthly meeting falls on Primary Day the meeting shall be held the day after at its regularly designated time. So, the Legislature’s September meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 11, at 6 pm with presentations to begin at 5:30.
Berlin Community Days
In an interview after the meeting Brownell and Goodermote said they are both excited to be attending the Berlin Carnival and Community Days sponsored by the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company on August 23 and August 24. The legislators have purchased table space and will be giving away useful County related items, like maps and directories, and promotional materials for the upcoming election.[/private]