Henry G. Carr, Afton NY

 

H.C. Carr Soon to be 92 Years
 

Afton [Chenango Co., NY]:  Henry G. Carr, "Afton's Grand Old Man," will celebrate his ninety-second birthday on Nov. 6, next.  Mr. Carr has served as clerk for the town of Afton for the past 38 years consecutively, and has been endorsed for another term by both Democrats and Republicans.  Born on Ives Hill, on the east side of the Susquehanna River, he has lived his entire life in Afton.  In early youth he clerked in the old Daniel Carpenter store, after which he took up the study of drugs and for over 50 years has conducted his own drug store.  He became a Mason in 1870 and was elected to the office of high priest of Vallonia Chapter, R.A.M. in 1895.  He served as treasurer of the chapter for over 40 years.  Mr. Carr has three sons, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  On April 22 of this year, Mr. Carr was presented by the Grand Lodge of the state with a medal in recognition of 50 years' service to Masonry.  [about 1936]

 

Oldest Mason to be Honored
 

Next Tuesday evening, April 23, members of Afton Lodge, F.&A.M., no. 360, will gather at their lodge rooms to honor their oldest active member, Henry G. Carr, familiarly known to scores of folks as "Uncle Henry."  Henry Carr was born near Ives Hill, on the East Side of the Susquehanna River, and has always lived in this vicinity.  As a young man, he clerked in the old Daniel Carpenter store, located on the west side of Main Street.  Later he embarked on a business career as druggist, locating at the present site of the Shiffer Barber Shop.  His store burned with the rest in the great fire of August, 1884, in which the east side of Main Street was swept by the devouring flames, destroying nearly every block on that side of the street.  Following the fire, he conducted business under difficulty until the Masonic building was completed in the winter of 1884.  Leasing the ground floor of the new building he has conducted a drug store in the present location since 1884, or 51 years, and until recently has been at his place of business nearly every day since that time.  Mr. Carr was born November 6, 1844, joining the Afton Lodge in 1870, he was elevated to the office of High Priest in Vallonia Chapter, R.A.M., in 1895 and in 1899 served as Master of the local F.&A.M. Lodge.  Later he was elected Treasurer and served in that position continuously for 40 years.  Few persons in New York State hold such a splendid record of loyalty and faithfulness to Masonry and especially to the lodge in which they received their degrees.  District Deputy Grand Master James Boyd Griffis and Past District Deputy Grand Master Hugh G. Collins will be present.  Followoing the meeting, refreshments will be served....