The Vedder Research Library

Greenville Free Academy, pre-1906

Alva E Sutton’s blacksmith shop mirrors the modern pace of 1914, as the auto livery sign attests. The men of freehold, l–r, are: Elmer Simmons, Leon Wood, Al Sutton, Lon Hale, Bert Weaver, Herb Antus, Vic Hoose, Loran Antus. The building, greatly modified, still stands as a storage building for B&G Plumbing, opposite the Mobil Station on Route 32 in Freehold.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 1994, Sunny Hill Resort has emerged as one of Greenville’s most successful resorts. This 1928 photo shows Sunny Hill’s beginnings - the main house on the right (now the new Austland unit) and the carriage house and dining hall on the left (today’s Viking unit). With the hard work of Peter and Gurine Nicholsen, the boardinghouse continually adjusted and grew to meet new demands. Son Arnold and his wife Mae Zulch oversaw Sunny Hill’s growth from the 1940’s. Since Arnold’s death in 1985, the progress of Sunny Hill is still overseen by Mae and by the third generation - Gary, Wayne, and Gail.

Sketch by Stanley Maltzman of Shaw Farm on Big Woods Rd, Freehold

Sutton’s Garage presents a classic mid-1950s look for Freehold, one-tenth of a mile north of the four corners. Starting as a blacksmith shop, this building incorporated the new technology of the early twentieth century, the car, and provided service through the 1950s.

The classes of 1916 at the Freehold school pose. Their teacher (not shown) was Ethel Cozine. Shown are: front row – Ruth Hunt, Curtis Lacey, Beulah Sutton, Dorothy Story, Rudolph Delamater, Charley Garrison, Alice Hunt, Chester Phinney, Herman Story; back row – Floyd Simpkins, Jesse Hallock, Marion Beers, Ruth Youmans, Myrtle Hood (behind Ruth Youmans), Leonard Buell (bent over and out of sight), Ophelia Buell, Rose Palmer, Harry Gibbons, Mary Phinney, Searles Seabridge. Their one room schoolhouse is now the Freehold fire station. Boys’ fascination with guns is shown by the toy guns in the hands of Rudolph, Charlie and Chester.

In the early 20th century it was much easier to move the sawmill to the wood, and not the other way around. This portable sawmill, located on Red Mill Road, about one-quarter mile north of Rt 67, approximately across the street from the Staunch house, feeds the local need for lumber. In the distance, one sees the road snaking its deforested way up the Brundage Hill, today the site of the Spinner and Buel families. In the picture, Harmon Becker has his arm around Elmer Simmons; Albertus Becker (Harmon’s father) leans on the hook; on the far right might be Lon Hale; to Lon’s left is Jeff Simmons (Elmer’s father); the sixth man is Garrett Becker. No current picture is available because of brush and tree growth.

What was once fine for horse and wagon was becoming uncomfortable and unsafe for the auto. The New York State Erwin Plan of the 1950s helped towns upgrade the roadways. The upper left picture shows 1954 Red Mill Road, about one-half mile south of Alberta Lane, between the Fred Simpson and Harmon Becker residences. Upper right shows beginning of the project with l-r: Edwin Hart (EP Engin.), Jos. Heck (Dir. of Co. & Town Rds NYS), Francis Decker (on bulldozer), Arnold Nicholsen (Tn. Gr. Supervisor), John Parks (Tn. Gr. Super. of Highways), Bruno Mongardi (owner of Lea Constr. Co). Bottom left shows the improved section of road. Bottom right shows the roadway today.

Drawing in loose hay before hay balers were available, Abner Olden and his horses, Maud and Kit, plod toward his farm just east of the intersection of today’s Routes 67 and 41, near the former Pine Springs (today’s Miracle Mountain). The intersection is just behind the wagon. It is told the Olden was a tenth-generation Mayflower descendent of John Alden. All buildings on his farm the graced the first rise above the intersection fell into disrepair or were burned.

This fading ghost on Big Woods Road, the Shaw Homestead, had seen much better days before this 1970s photo, and represents the invisible history of things that once were. The oak tree still stands even though the house burned about 1980. Preservation of our historic architecture requires not only friendly legislation but also the persistent care of owners.

One of the two GLHG’s community recognitions (see also April), Gary, Gail and Wayne Nicholsen have carried on the tradition of the parents (Arnold and Mae) and grandparents (Peter and Gurine). The first two generations have been recognized in previous calendars – September 1995 and Cover 2002. Sunny Hill Resort, on Sunny Hill Road, has evolved into one of the area’s finest resorts, drawing thousands of tourists into the area each year. However, it is the selfless commitment to community service the GLHG recognizes. Each has contributed his and her time and energy to community projects, perhaps with Gary the most recognizable (GCS School Board). Still, it is their combined generosity that has not only allowed for the community use of their grounds and buildings for area events but also has witnessed their coordination and unstinting participation in the many fundraising efforts of our town.

In March 1950, John and Isabel (Stroell) Singer purchased a house, barn, and outbuildings on Alberta Lane, about two miles northwest of Freehold. Previous owners included John Sirgant, Ivan & Maude Arnold, and Ernest & Grace Slater. The Singers renovated the main house several times, transformed the barn’s second floor into the Hayloft Nightclub, and added 21 motel units, a cottage bungalow and their own private home while they operated the Alberta Lodge Resort until 1979. The inset shows the remodeled dining room area of the early 1970s.

Alvah Sutton operated his blacksmith shop (1906-1912) a couple hundred yards north of Freehold’s four corners (today’s junction of SR 32 and CR 67). The men, tentatively identified as Lorenzo Hale and Alvah Sutton, posed for this 1909 scene, a scene which would drastically change with the building of a garage in 1912, marking the advent of the automotive era. Sutton’s Garage was a Freehold mainstay into the 1960s (compare August 1992).

Many a year has passed since sheep roamed Freehold’s roads. This picture was taken near the junction of today’s Rt 32 and Sunny Hill Rd. The photo looks southward toward the hamlet’s center, with the house visible under the tree’s bough belonging to Herman Story and, today, the Rosa family. In the inset, the most visible building is Tip Top Furniture, within yards of the Freehold’s four corners.