Miscellaneous, Who's Who in Bainbridge 1938 - Fred Robbins

Who's Who in Bainbridge

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 10, 1938

 

"I guess I'm a crazy old so-and-so, but I think everything in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] is the best there is," so says genial Fred Robbins, commissioner of roads for the township.  This intense loyalty for the "home town" has won for him the epithet of "one of the best liked men in Bainbridge."

 

Born in Bainbridge, he moved shortly afterwards with his parents to Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY] where he spent his childhood.  Returning as a young man to his native village and to the farm where he has since lived, he went to work for the Standard Light, Heat and Power co., the original power organization for this vicinity.

 

Making a hazardous living by sidestepping high voltage wires, his career as a linesman came to an abrupt end by the electrocution of a fellow worker.  Upon parental suggestion, Mr. Robbins came back to earth by way of repairing and trimming carbon arc lamps in the village.  These "carbon-arcs" were the first electric lights installed on the village streets.

 

Returning to his first choice, he again went up in the air for the Riverside Telephone co. for whom he helped bring telephones to the farmers of this locality.

 

Twenty-two years ago last Fall, he wrote, for the first time, his signature, "A.S. Fred Robbins, Commissioner of Highways," a title which he has not relinquished since.  Nominated on the Democratic ticket, it was a surprise to him, that he carried off top honors in a traditionally Republican center.  He has since been endorsed by both parties.

 

He first went to work with two old road machines and one steam roller.  There were no improved roads out of the village, and the 73 miles of dirt roads required constant attention and repair.

 

The years have brought many changes and, at present, the highway department is equipped with stone crushers, stone rakes, modern road machinery and snow plows which were necessitated by the regular trips of the school buses.  The 73 dirt miles have given way to 50 miles of town supported roads, the rest having been incorporated into the state and county systems.  Of the 50 miles still patrolled by Commissioner Robbins and his "outfit", 32 are improved gravel.