by Bea Peterson
Joan and Gordon (Gunny) Gundrum owned the old house and land on the corner of Route 2 and Roxborough Road for many years. In ceremonies Monday, October 18, when the couple was presented with a plaque in appreciation of their donation of the property to Grafton for use as the Everett Wager Senior Center, Gundrum recalled some of the history of the old building. He said he was born in a farmhouse nearby and he knew the occupants of the house since he attended school in the building next door that is now the Post Office. He said his mother, who is 98, remembers coming to the Ira Ford Store that was once housed in the building to pick up feed. Ira ran the store and was postmaster in the same building. “He was active and well known in the community,” said Gundrum. He remembers when a family named Bartholomew lived there and operated a barbershop where he got his hair cut. “I have many great memories of the building,” he said. “Joan and I bought the property to save it.” It was empty for many years when the couple turned the building and land over to the Town.
Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino said that what resulted was a perfect partnership between the Gundrums, the Town and the County. The old building is now the front of the beautiful Everett Wager Senior Center. “It’s a place we can call home,” said Gundrum. “It was done for the love of Grafton.” The plaque was placed high on the wall in the entryway of the building, near the stained glass windows created many years ago by Joan Gundrum and donated by her to the Center. A picture of Everett Wager will be placed below the plaque.
Kathy Jimino gave the couple a Certificate of Appreciation from the County for their home. The Certificate acknowledges their generous donation. The plaque, presented to the couple by the Center Director Penny Jones, reads “In Grateful Appreciation For Their Generous Donation Of This Property Dedicated On May 25th, 2006.”
