Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Orson L. Thorp - Bainbridge Mayor, 1941

Orson L. Thorp

Orson L. Thorp, now serving his second consecutive four-year term as mayor of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], and partner in the woodworking and cabinetmaking firm of Thorp & Hayes, has been one of the most active leaders in the social, civic and business life of this community throughout his career. 
 
Mr. Thorp was born at Sidney Center, Delaware County, June 3, 1898, the son of Zephniah and Mary (Hine) Thorp.  His father, also a native of Sidney Center, was born in 1871 and died in October, 1938.  His mother passed away in 1901.  Mr. Thorp received a general education in the public schools of Sidney and Bainbridge.  After completing his studies he began his career as an apprentice in the woodworking trade which he followed for three years.  He then established himself in a garage business in Bainbridge which he conducted for fifteen years.  In the meantime he had resumed his interest in general woodwork and cabinetmaking as a hobby and eventually determined to reestablish himself in this field.  Thus, in 1935, he formed the firm of Thorp & Hayes which has been devoted to the manufacture of doors, window sash and truck bodies and is one of the most successful establishments of its type in this section.
 
Outside of business his principal interest has been in politics.  For a number of years he has been one of the influential leaders of the local Republican organization which has nominated him and renominated him for the office of mayor, a post he has occupied with ability and distinction.  He is an ardent sportsman and finds his principal diversions in fishing and hunting, pastimes which he indulges during his leisure.
 
In 1920 Mr. Thorp married (first) Alta S. Shelton, daughter of Andrew and Mary (Ives) Shelton, of Sidney, who died November 4, 1934.  He married (second) in July 1936, Blanche Throop, of Bainbridge, daughter of Miner and Lottie (Moate) Throop.
 
Central New York, An Inland Empire, Vol IV (Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., New York) p247.
____________________________________________________________________
 
 Family News Clippings
 
Mrs. Alta (Shelton) Thorp of Bainbridge, passed away at the hospital in that village Monday evening of complications following a major operation the week before.  Mrs. Thorp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.B. Shelton, was born Sept. 11, 1897, in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].  She attended the Sidney High School and was for a number of years employed at the Sidney Department store in this village.  July 26, 1920, she was married to Orson Thorp and went to live in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], where her husband was interested in the garage business.  She is survived by her husband, her mother, Mrs. Shelton, and a sister, Mrs. V.N. Killen of Philadelphia.  Funeral services were held this Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Colwell chapel in Bainbridge, with the Rev. G.H. Orvis, pastor of the Bainbridge Presbyterian church, officiating, and interment was in the Greenlawn cemetery [Bainbridge, NY].  [Sidney Enterprise, November 8, 1934]
 
Septic poison, that set in from gangrene of the left leg, caused the death of Zepahiah Thorp, 48 Pearl street [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], last Friday afternoon.  Thorp had given up his barber practice last September and had been under doctor's care since July.  Thorp was a resident of Bainbridge for the past 35 years and was in the barber shop business for 30 years.  He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Minnie Thorp, and by a son, Orson.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, Aug. 25, 1938]

 
Thorpe-Throop:  A very quiet wedding was solemnized Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock at the Baptist parsonage when Miss Blanche Throop, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Miner Throop, became the bride of Orson Thorpe.  The ceremony was performed by Rev. M. DeForest Lowen and the attendants were the bride's parents and Mrs. M. D. Lowen.  The bride was attractively attired in light green chiffon with a wreath of rosebuds and ferns for her hair, also a corsage of matching flowers.  She also wore white glove and shoes.  Mrs. Thorpe was graduated from the  Bainbridge High School in 1927 [..torn...] for six months, entered the Cortland County Hospital School of Nursing, from which she later was graduated.  Since that time, she has been employed at the Niagara Falls Hospital and for the past year has been a nurse in the office of Dr. Edward Danforth, of this village.  Mr. Thorpe is Bainbridge's popular young mayor and for many years has been connected with the garage business in this village.  Mr. and Mrs. Thorp left Wednesday morning by automobile for a week's fishing trip in Maine.  [Bainbridge News & Republican, July 9, 1936]
 
Orson L. (Jim) Thorp, 63, of 50 Pearl Street, Bainbridge died Friday January 27, 1961 at his home.  He is survived by his wife Mrs. Blanche (Throop) Thorp, Bainbridge, several nieces and nephews.  Mr. Thorp was former mayor of Bainbridge and was a member of the Village Board for many years.  The body was removed to the Harold Sherman Funeral Home, 56 W. Main Street, Bainbridge where the funeral and committal services were held Monday at 2 p.m. Rev. Andrus B. Smith, of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Bainbridge, officiated. Burial will be later in Green Lawn Cemetery, Bainbridge.  [Sidney Record & Bainbridge News, February 2, 1961]

No comments:

Post a Comment