Bowling buddies Harry Murphy, Willis Prudom, Harvey Van Wie, Bob Burghdurf and Claude “Red” Coleman were friends, veterans and patriots who spent a lot of time together in the 1950s and 60. They were farmers, mechanics and a Victory highway superintendent and all enjoyed hunting and fishing in New York state and Canada. They were all part of that “greatest generation” who supported their country whether at home working or abroad in the service and came home to a thankful country and went on to marry and have large families. They also shared a camaraderie and “fellowship” of sorts at the Victory Four Corner Garage. Claude Houghtaling and the Jones Brothers, Morris and Norris, owned the garage over the years and the friends could be found there in the late afternoon and evening gathered around the small front desk playing pinochle.

I can remember the old soda cooler where soda in glass bottles “sat” in cold water and you had to lift the cooler lid to get one out. The peanut machine was also a kid favorite. For just a penny you could get a handful of peanuts. Some people liked to put their peanuts in a cola bottle, drink the cola, and then shake out the cola-flavored peanuts to eat.

Most of the men also smoked and “rolled” their own cigarettes in cigarette paper (you can still buy it today) and used tobacco in a cloth bag with drawstrings. You made a trough in the cigarette paper, sprinkled the tobacco in, rolled it and secured it with a little spit, and twisted the ends slightly to hold it in. They also chewed tobacco and smoked pipes and cigars. The garage had a flavor all its own.

One of my best memories of cigar smoke was at the Red Creek/Fair Haven baseball games of the late 50s when you could sit in the stands and smell the aromatic cigar smoke wafting up through the crowd. Many times it was my step-grandfather's (Steve Finck) cigar that I could smell. Being outdoors you only smelled it for a few seconds and it was gone.

The Four Corner Garage was not only a place for car and truck maintenance, but also a place to share ideas (gossip, yes, even men) and catch up on the news of the world, town, countryside, and local families.

Not many towns have these old time garages anymore. Today Matt Murphy, son of Harry Murphy, owns the garage business on the four corners.

We recently lost another one of the bowling buddies. Harvey Van Wie passed away just before Christmas. He was one in a family who has served their country for over 100 years amongst themselves. He served in the 99th Infantry in World War II and with the 395th under General Patton at the end of the war. The flag is flown at his home day and night, patriots all.

Beverly Sayles is the Victory town historian. She may be reached at beverlycs65@gmail.com