The congregation of SS. Peter and John Episcopal Church in Auburn had a very special birthday celebration last week.

Three of its members are or soon will be 100 years old, so the church decided to honor these and other senior citizens of the parish.

Virginia Irish was one of the honored guests but she felt she was on the younger side.

“I've been a member of this church all my life,” she said, then added with a chuckle, “but I'm not 100. I'm only 92.”

“This is very amazing.” said the Rev. Douglas Taylor-Weiss, pastor of the church. “The three members who are going to be 100 are natives of Auburn, and they live independently in their homes.”

A reception and birthday party was held in the church hall after the Sunday morning service. The younger members of the congregation served as escorts and attendants for the honored guests. Taylor-Weiss opened the celebration with a prayer for the seniors and all the members of the church.

Winnie Bannister will be 100 years of age in February 2008; Florence Hendrick has already attained that milestone, and Harold “HB” Collver reached that point Sunday, Oct. 28. Because that day was his birthday, representatives from the

Department of Corrections Honor Guard presented HB with a flag.

“If you've got a good job,” HB said, “hold on to it, and give it the best you've got.”

HB found his first job when he was a young boy. He delivered newspapers for the Auburn Publishing Company. After picking up his daily papers, he had to pay 5 cents to ride the Tunerville Trolley back to route, which covered Foote Street to Seward Avenue. After finishing school, HB met a young woman named Marge, who stayed with her aunt in Auburn during the summer. A crush turned into love, and HB and Marge were married in 1934.

A few years later, HB became an employee of the New York State Corrections Department. In 1942, HB joined the marines and spent the next three years away from his wife and family. He then returned to his job at the prison, where he worked until 1970.

Not long after he had retired, HB had a heart attack while working on his house. He followed his doctor's advice for a good recovery: “Every day, put on your overcoat and walk outside for an hour at least.” HB lost his wife in 2006 after a long happy lifetime together.

And what was life like during the first decade of the 20th century, when HB, Winnie and Florence were born? America was the place to live. Over the next 10 years, nine million immigrants came here from different parts of the world. America was the land of excitement and adventure. The Wright brothers had made their famous first flight in an airplane. Millionaires were driving fancy cars that raced at more than 10 miles an hour. And the dime novels told of the escapades of characters with names like Fred Fearnot, Nick Carter and Bowery Billy. The typical wage was 22 cents and hour. Beef was 10 cents a pound, eggs were 12 cents a dozen, a can of baked beans cost 10 cents and coffee cost 15 cents a pound.

Looking back on her own life, Anna Vatter, who is a young 91 years of age, said, “I've learned an awful lot. You have to have patience to succeed.”