Granby Living April2020

A Monthly Magazine Connecting Granby's Neighbors & Businesses
APRIL 2020
Photo by
Amy Geigner
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
Granby Real Estate...9
Teacher Appreciation...10
Celebrating Our Seniors...12
Calendar of Events...15
Salmon Brook Historical Society
Celebrates 75 Years
Dedicated Volunteers Work to
Preserve Granby's Rich History

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2 | APRIL 2020

PUBLISHER'S MESSAGE
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Publisher | Anthony Serino
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ADVERTISING
Contact | Anthony Serino
Phone | 860-305-4065
Email | tserino@bestversionmedia.com
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©2020 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.
Welcome to the April issue of Granby Living — your
local monthly magazine that connects Granby's
neighbors and businesses.
In this month's issue we feature Granby's Salmon Brook
Historical Society (SBHS). Organized in 1945, this year marks the group's platinum
jubilee. For the past 75 years, local volunteers have preserved and brought to life the
rich history of Granby's past.
Located at 208 Salmon Brook Street, SBHS features many displays depicting
Granby life in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. There is a museum store,
located in the Weed-Enders House (c. 1790), where you can find old maps, Granby
history books, vintage cards and more.
There are a number of historic buildings on the property, including the Abijah
Rowe House (built c. 1732). The Rowe House is the oldest structure left intact in
Granby from the time of the original Salmon Brook Settlement. A tour favorite is the
one-room Cooley Schoolhouse (built c. 1870).
Tours are available every Sunday from 2-4 pm, starting Memorial Day and running
through September. Admission is free, but donations are always appreciated. SBHS
is open for genealogical and archival research Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to
noon.
Special events for 2020 include the Spring Flea Market (May 16, 9 am-4 pm), the
Antique Car and Engine Show (June 6, 8 am-1 pm), an Ice Cream Social (June 20, 1-2
pm) and the Fall Flea Market (Oct. 17, 9 am-4 pm).
For more information, contact Dave Laun at 860-653-3965 or Todd Vibert at 860-
653-9506 or vsit their website at salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com.
I invite you to explore the treasures that SBHS offers. Set your calendar and take the
family on a fascinating tour of Granby life from a bygone era.
Enjoy the spring!
Anthony Serino, Publisher
tserino@bestversionmedia.com | 860-305-4065
Like us on FB | Granby Living - Best Version Media
FAMILY / COSMETIC /
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Dr. Kenneth Endres
Salmon Brook Dental
860-653-4551
salmonbrookdental@hotmail.com
SENIOR LIVING /
HEALTH CARE
Christine M. Looby
The Mercy Community
860-570-8400
clooby@mchct.org
FINANCIAL PLANNING
Chester Darling, CFP® ChFC® CLU®
RICP® APMA® CASL®
Financial Advisor, Stepping Stone Wealth
(860) 313-1313, ext. 5
chester.darling@ampf.com
PLUMBING / HEATING /
COOLING
Jason Brusa
Beacon Mechanical Service
860-844-0111
jbrusa@beaconmechanical.com
URGENT CARE /
OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Dr. Stephen A. Kei, M.D.
The Doctors Treatment Center
860-653-2382
www.urgentcarecentersct.com
REAL ESTATE
Judy Guarco
Berkshire Hathaway
NE Properties
861-651-2127
jguarco@bhhsne.com
INSURANCE
Daniel Hess
Southwick Insurance Agency, Inc.
413-569-5541
dhess@southwickinsagency.com
EXPERT CONTRIBUTORS
To learn more about becoming an Expert Contributor, contact
ANTHONY SERINO at tserino@bestversionmedia.com or 860-305-4065
GRANBY LIVING | 3

RESIDENT FEATURE
SALMON BROOK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
CELEBRATES 75 YEARS
By Faith Tyldsley
Photos by Amy Geigner & Shirley Murtha
Additional photos supplied by SBHS
SBHS volunteers pictured left to right, front row: Sally Sargent Markey, Ellen Cunha,
Melba Griffin, Patty Sansone, Martha Korostynski, Lynn Lochhead, Carol Laun, Mary
Zlotnick, Jean Potetz, Lisa Vibert. Back row: Bill Ross, Howard Berg, Dave Laun,
John Horr, Jim Glenney
The Salmon Brook Historical Society
(SBHS) began modestly, humbly housed in the
basement of the old Granby Public Library.
Seventy-five years ago, in 1945, a group of residents
began meeting in the library’s Historical
Room under the leadership of Ethel Robinson
Linnell.
Mrs. Linnell, the organizing force behind the
fledgling group, took on the role of curator, in
charge of keeping records and cataloging acquisitions,
planning exhibitions, and researching
objects and collections.
There was popular support for such a group.
Granby’s older lifelong residents were generous
in their gifts of artifacts, books and documents
of historical import. Exhibits and displays
gradually filled the room.
When Mrs. Linnell retired in 1958, she
turned her energies toward ensuring the
long-term sustainability of the group, and the
Salmon Brook Historical Society was incorporated
in 1959. The position of curator was then
passed on to Eva C. Dewey, who was subsequently
designated curator for life. She served
from 1959-86, when the position was passed on
to Carol Laun, who holds it to the present day.
VOLUNTEERS: THE SBHS FAMILY
The Salmon Brook Historical Society is staffed
solely by volunteers. A core group of approximately
20 gather every Thursday morning.
There is always a working list of repair and
4 | APRIL 2020
maintenance projects for Dave Laun and his
crew to attend to. Several women — under
the direction of Textile Curator Jean Potetz
— clean, repair and research donated vintage
clothing and other textiles.
Donated articles, referred to as accessions,
are recorded on index cards.
If it’s flea market time, Ellen Cunha and
helpers are sorting, cleaning and pricing contributions.
Curator Carol Laun and Assistant
Curator Martha Korostynski field phone calls,
meet with prospective donors, and deal with
never-ending piles of paperwork.
On a periodic basis, the Thursday group
gathers around the table in the kitchen, in
assembly-line formation, to prepare the newsletter
for mailing. At 10:30 sharp comes the
welcome break: time for goodies and camaraderie.
The kitchen becomes like a home full
of noisy children, competing conversations
resounding across the community table. It’s the
SBHS family.
SALMON BROOK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BUILDINGS | ABIJAH ROWE HOUSE
• Built c. 1732 — Acquired 1966
A permanent home for the society was
established through the gift of the Abijah Rowe
House by sisters Mildred Colton Allison and
Carolyn Colton Avery in 1966.
Melba Griffin and Sally Markey work
on accessioning new donations.
The Rowe House is the oldest structure left
intact in Granby from the time of the original
Salmon Brook Settlement. The house was
probably built by Nehemiah Lee, who sold it
in 1750 to his son-in-law Peter Rowe, who in
turn sold it to his brother Abijah Rowe in 1753.
The Rowe brothers were both blacksmiths and
may have made some of the hardware presently
in the house. Abijah Rowe lived there with his
wife Deborah and 11 children until his death
in 1812.
The Rowe house was restored to an early
1800s appearance through use of items from
the Bunce Collection, which consisted of
artifacts from the Granby area accumulated by
Laura Dibble Bunce (1838-1916). The Bunce
collection was donated by Mrs. Bunce’s granddaughter,
Miss Mary Edwards, in 1975 and accounts
in large part for the authentic ambiance
of the house.

Sally Markey restoring the original
decoration on the peddler wagon. Schoolhouse event. Antique farm implement outside the Tobacco Barn.
Miss Edwards recollects that her grandmother
“was an enthusiastic collector of antiques in
the Granby area from 1890 on, going to auctions
and watching porches and woodsheds for pieces,
buying ‘things’ for pennies (broken or not).”
Mrs. Bunce eventually raised the roof of her
home, making an attic room for her “things”:
“spinning wheels, warming pans, wrought iron
items of all kinds, quilts and baskets.” — from
notes of Curator Eva C. Dewey, 1975
WEED-ENDERS HOUSE
• Built 1790 — Acquired 1974
Moses Weed built his home in 1790 in the
hills of West Granby, where his family cleared
and farmed the land. The home was eventually
used as a hunting cabin by John Enders, who
purchased it in 1924. Following the establishment
of Enders State Forest, the Weed-Enders
House was rescued from demolition through
donation to SBHS by the state of Connecticut.
COOLEY ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE
• Built 1872 — Acquired 1972
(Including Outhouse and Attached Woodhouse)
Merrill Clark donated the Cooley Schoolhouse
to SBHS in 1972. Of the 13 one-room
schoolhouses in Granby, Cooley is the only
one that hasn’t been renovated into a private
residence or fallen victim to deterioration due
to lack of maintenance. It was built in 1872 on
the corner of East Street and Cooley Road in
North Granby.
An interesting aside: Although the schoolhouse
itself was in Granby, the boundary
“notch” wherein Massachusetts dips down into
Connecticut abutted the backside of the building,
necessitating students to use an outhouse
located in Southwick, Massachusetts.
After 1948, when the one-room schools in
Granby were closed, they were auctioned off,
and the desks, chairs and stoves were sold.
Merrill Clark’s father acquired the Cooley
Schoolhouse, which represented a piece of
family history: He had attended the school in
grades 1-9, and his wife had taught 15 years
there.
After the building’s move to SBHS property,
a 19th-century schoolroom was re-created,
complete with an 1855 Connecticut map, the
mandatory portrait of George Washington,
and wood stove, water bucket and dipper.
Granby’s second-graders visit SBHS every year.
They visit the Rowe and Weed houses and the
Tobacco Barn. They play with reproduction
old-time toys and games and get to write their
names with a quill pen dipped in ink.
Second grade class day.
In the Cooley Schoolhouse, they sit at
vintage desks, open readers and geography
books, and write in chalk on slates once used in
Granby district schools.
COLTON-HAYES TOBACCO BARN
• Built 1914 — Acquired 1976
The Tobacco Barn, built in 1914 by Fred M.
Colton, was given to the society by his daughters
in 1976.
Within the 30-foot by 128-foot structure
lives a microcosm of Granby’s past: The vast
GRANBY LIVING | 5

Martha Korostynski, Assistant, and Carol Laun,
Curator, working on archival donations.
Car show 2018.
Jean Potetz, Patty Sansone and Pam Palmer
examining clothing in the textile room.
space is divided into sections, each highlighting
an aspect of bygone days: an exhibit of local
Indian artifacts; a collection of early quilting,
spinning and weaving tools; recreation of an
early Meeting House (ecumenically created
from parts of Granby’s early churches); a village
store; a dressmaker’s shop; a shoemaker’s shop;
and a kitchen equipped with apple-peeler, iron
stove and ice box.
Granby’s rural farm heritage also resides
here: farm tools and machinery; sleds and
sleighs; hay rakes and hay forks; carpenter
tools; a tobacco production exhibit; and items
used in cider mills and grist mills, blacksmithing
and maple sugaring, and beekeeping and
ice cutting.
MAIL HUT
• Originally located at Barn Door Hills and
Route 20
The mail for the Bushy Hill-Barn Door Hills
neighborhood was delivered to a diminutive
shelter resembling an outhouse during the
1860s and into the 1900s before Rural Free
Delivery functioned fully throughout America’s
farmlands. Mail was left in a bag that was hung
on a hook.
There was a shelf, and whoever got there
looked through all the letters and postcards
as they searched for their own. The busybody
matrons of the area kept a close watch on correspondence
and used to criticize young Addie
Holcomb for writing to too many soldiers
during the Civil War. Addie complained about
the nosy neighbors in her diary (property of
SBHS) in 1862.
PRESERVATION BARN
• Built 2007
For years, members of SBHS had dreamed
of having a multipurpose building. This was
not to be a typical building with office, storage
room and bathroom. The perfect structure was
clearly defined in members’ minds.
Included would be climate-controlled rooms,
large spaces for exhibits, a staff room with
kitchen facilities, a library and two handicapped-accessible
restrooms.
The dream became reality when, in 2005, a
Building Committee was formed, chaired by
Laun. At the April 2007 annual dinner, Laun
announced that the building was nearly complete,
and by fall of 2008 it was in full use.
SADOCE WILCOX HOUSE
• Built 1787 — Acquired 2019
The Wilcox House, barn and 45-acre property
is located in West Granby at 147 Simsbury
Road. It is the only 18th-century house in
Granby that has been continuously lived in by
descendants of the family who built it. Steve
Wilcox Hastings, the last owner, sold it to the
Granby Land Trust, which will preserve the 45
acres while SBHS will preserve the house.
This is a prized addition to the society’s
properties, with proposed uses including tours
and theme exhibits, such as a loom and weaving
room.
6 | APRIL 2020

Prized Quilt. Second grade tour 2018. Fall Flea Market.
Fabric and clothing display.
Antique tractor & engine show 2.
2020 EVENTS
Spring Flea Market
Vendors, Mrs. Murphy’s donuts
May 16 — 9 am-4 pm
Car and Engine Show
June 6 — 8 am-1 pm
(rain date June 13)
Antique tractor & engine show 3.
Ice Cream Social
June 20 — 1-4pm
Fall Flea Market
October 17 — 9 am-4 pm
Tours — starting Memorial Day
Sundays — 2-4pm
Salmon Brook Historical Society
208 Salmon Brook Street, Granby,
Connecticut 06035
860-653-9713
www.salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com
Hours
• Tuesdays 9 am-12 noon
Genealogical and Archival Research
• Thursdays 9 am-12 noon
Thursday Morning Work Group
Salmon Brook Historical Society buildings
featured on the open house tours .
Tobacco barn exhibit.
GRANBY LIVING | 7

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2019
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8 | APRIL MARCH 2020

REAL ESTATE STATS
RECENTLY SOLD IN GRANBY
Granby Real Estate page is sponsored by Santa Realty
ADDRESS TOWN LIST PRICE SALE PRICE BEDS TOTAL BATHROOMS # OF ROOMS SQ FT
18 Fawn Dr. Granby $339,900 $330,000 3 2 Full & 1 Half 7 1,938
46 Old Stagecoach Rd. Granby $294,900 $301,000 3 2 Full 7 2,200
202 Salmon Brook St. Granby $264,900 $265,000 3 2 Full 6 1,800
17 Cranberry Lane Granby $259,950 $250,000 4 3 Full 8 2,280
2 Hampton Village Dr. Granby $249,900 $249,900 3 1 Full & 1 Half 7 1,736
223 Barn Door Hills Rd. Granby $249,900 $242,570 4 3 Full 8 2,524
22 Buttles Rd. Granby $182,900 $178,000 3 1 Full 8 1,743
240 N. Granby Rd. Granby $199,900 $175,000 4 3 Full 9 2,403
226 Salmon Brook St. Granby $169,900 $157,500 4 2 Full 10 2,369
Best Version Media does not guarantee the accuracy of the statistical data on this page. The data does not represent the listings of any one agent or agency but represents the activity of the real estate
community in the area. Any real estate agent's ad appearing in the magazine is separate from the statistical data provided which is in no way a part of their advertisement.
GRANBY LIVING | 9

TEACHER APPRECIATION
Compiled by Bruce Deckert
MARGARET BASTIAANSE
MARGARET BASTIAANSE
MATH TEACHER
HIGH SCHOOL MATH CONTENT AREA SPECIALIST (CAS)
GRANBY MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
Grades, subjects: Mathematics — Grades 9-12
This school year — Geometry, Precalculus and
Calculus
Year you began teaching:
Started as a long-term math substitute teacher
in Granby in November 2000. Hired by Granby
as a math teacher in May 2001.
Year you began teaching in Granby:
Started as a teaching assistant at Granby Memorial
Middle School in September 1999.
Career history:
• Mass Mutual 1983-85 — Accounting/Finance
• The Hartford 1985-99 — Cost Accounting,
Personal Lines Financial, Director Strategic
Planning, Comptroller in Managed Care
Claims
Where were you born and raised?
Born: Montague, Mass.
Raised: South Deerfield, Mass.
What motivated you to pursue a teaching
career?
In high school I wanted to be a P.E. teacher, but
I was encouraged to consider getting a degree
in Accounting. Even after working in Finance
and Accounting for many years, I still thought
about teaching. I really enjoyed the aspects
of my job that included training other staff
members. I was often told, “You would be a
good teacher”.
In 1999, we moved to Granby and, fortunately,
with the support of my family, I was able to
pursue my long-term desire to teach. It was a
decision that changed my life and my family’s
life for the better. I can’t imagine myself doing
anything else that is more fulfilling for me.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your
work as a teacher?
Getting to know students and their families
and building relationships. Teaching isn’t just
about sharing content knowledge. It is equally
important to help my students make good
choices, celebrate their successes, and help
them understand that it is OK to fail, if they
learn something from it.
Being involved with student activities is also
a rewarding part of teaching. I have so many
great memories of coaching field hockey and
softball, co-advising Student Government, and
mentoring the Granby Grunts Robotics Team.
What do you enjoy most about working with
young people?
Every day my students make me think and
always make me laugh. You get to see your students
change over time. … It is amazing to see
them grow intellectually, but also sing, play in
bands, excel in athletics, build robots, get their
first job, attend their first high school dance,
and so many other great moments. What could
be better than that!
What is the biggest impediment to student
success today? How can teachers help students
overcome this obstacle and succeed?
Access to technology is a blessing and a curse
in education today. Technology can enrich and
support learning, but some students spend too
much time on electronics and do not always
use it appropriately. Stressing the value of personal
conversations and handwritten notes, and
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10 | APRIL 2020

Detroit class trip
“Access to technology is
a blessing and a curse in
education today.”
Emily's wedding day
— Margaret Bastiaanse
trying to figure something out on your own,
even if it is hard, are important lessons that
are sometimes forgotten, because we rely too
much on technology.
We all need to put down our phones and
talk to each other, watch an event live, and
listen to each other. Conversation around the
dinner table with family and friends is really
important. Finally, helping our kids set boundaries
and use technology responsibly will help
them in school, their future careers and their
personal lives.
A brief anecdote that gives a glimpse of your
work in education:
I always want to give students opportunities
to pursue their interests inside and outside the
classroom. A memory I will never forget occurred
the first year of the robotics program in
2009. A student walked into the first competition
at the Hartford Convention Center, looked
around at all the other students, and said, “I
have found my people!”
I hope my students find that same kind
of joy when learning in my classroom. If
students realize they are “good at math” and
that math is useful in so many different ways
in their everyday lives, then I have made a
difference. I also want them to know that I,
like all of their teachers, care about their wellbeing
as well as their grades.
Family — My husband John and I have been
married for 31 years. We met playing co-ed
softball in an adult league in Simsbury.
We have four great children who all attended
the Granby public schools — daughters
Andrea, 30 (husband Brett); Emily, 29
(husband Brian); Jessica, 28; and son Joseph
(25). Our family is “over the moon” for our first
grandchild, Declan, born to Andrea and Brett
on Dec. 27, 2019. We look forward to when
Declan can hike with us and our dogs on the
beautiful trails here in Granby.
My parents, Susie and Danny Apanell, live
close by in South Deerfield, Mass. I am the
second-oldest of four children.
Age — 58
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GRANBY LIVING | 11

CELEBRATING OUR SENIORS
Harry Werner with his friendly donkeys
HARRY WERNER
GRANBY’S HORSE DOCTOR FOR 46 YEARS
By Sarah Merrill
Harry Werner Jr. knew from a young age
that he wanted to be a veterinarian. But having
grown up a city kid in South Philadelphia, it
wasn’t until he was in vet school that Harry
even had contact with a horse or a cow. He
would ultimately become an expert in the care
of horses and other farm animals and did so for
46 years. He retired in February.
Born in 1947, Harry grew up in a diverse
community representing a melting pot of
immigrant families. His parents were Harry
and Mildred (Steel) Werner, both born in Philly
and married in 1936 in the middle of the Great
Depression. “My father would say that they lost
nothing in the Depression because they had
nothing to lose,” says Harry.
His mother Mildred was the daughter of
Turkish and Scottish immigrants, and his
father Harry Sr. was the son of immigrants
from Frankfurt, Germany. Harry’s paternal
grandmother was born on a ship just outside of
New York Harbor in the 1860s.
“Our grandmother knew perfect English but
would only speak German to me and my sister
Mary,” says Harry. “And because Grandma
essentially ran our household, if we wanted to
eat, we spoke German!”
Harry earned a biology degree at the
University of Delaware and then completed
one year of graduate study in chemistry to
facilitate his admittance to the University of
Celebrating Our Seniors is sponsored by McLean
Harry with his faithful dog
companion, Rose, 2006
Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
While in college, Harry met his wife Susan
(Harrison). “Susan deserves full credit for
my getting my act together and actually
accomplishing my goals,” says Harry. While
he was in graduate school, Susan worked
as a bank teller during the day and finished
her undergraduate degree at night at Temple
University. Harry and Susan were married in
1969.
Harry entered vet school assuming he’d work
with cats and dogs. However, within a couple of
weeks, he bumped into an equine veterinarian
who offered him a job drug-testing horses at
racetracks and horse shows all over the East
Coast. “That experience really caught my
attention,” says Harry.
His next job was also with large animals,
testing milk from Lancaster County dairy cows
for the Upjohn Company. Harry began to tailor
his graduate studies so that all his electives
were geared toward horses, cows and other
farm animals.
Shortly before Harry graduated, Dr. Robert
Milkey of Granby visited Penn Vet with his
injured racehorse. By chance, Harry was one of
the students assigned to this horse. Bob invited
Harry to Granby to take a look around, and
in 1974 Harry took a position with Milkey &
Davis. This practice would grow and become
Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital.
Susan and Harry bought a home on Kearns
Circle, where they raised their two children,
HP (Harry Phillip) and Robin. Today, HP is a
sailor with the Merchant Marines, traveling all
over the world. Robin has an education degree
and lives in Avon with her husband and three
children (14, 12, 8). Harry found Granby a
great place to raise their kids. He coached his
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many with golf course views,to our nature-filled campus.
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can enjoy today, knowing that tomorrow is taken care of.
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860-658-3908 or visit ExploreMcLean.org.
75 Great Pond Road | Simsbury, CT 06070
A Life Plan Community
12 | APRIL 2020

Harry and his wife Susan
daughter’s soccer team and served as a Cub
and Boy Scout leader for his son.
Harry says he’s had many great clients over
the years, including the late Seth and Lucy
Holcomb. One day, Dr. Milkey asked him
to visit the Holcombs, who had a horse with
colic. Harry explains that years later, Seth told
him, “When Lucy and I saw you coming up
the driveway that first time, we said, ‘Oh my
God, they sent the new guy.’”
“In spite of me the horse survived,” says
Harry, “and I became Seth and Lucy’s only
horse doctor for nearly 40 years.” After Seth
and Lucy died, the Holcombs left a University
of Pennsylvania professorship in Harry’s
name for $6 million. “They were wonderful
and very frugal people!” he says.
In 1979, Harry and Susan decided it was
time to start their own practice. They moved
to their current 50-acre property on Goddard
Road in North Granby. The oldest part of
their beautiful farmhouse dates to the 1730s,
while parts of the barn date even earlier.
“Up until about three years ago, our barn
was our in-hospital facility for horses. We
also did a great deal of ambulatory work,
traveling from farm to farm,” says Harry,
who is licensed in Vermont, New York,
Massachusetts and Connecticut.
At one point, Harry was responsible for
the veterinary care of over 3,000 head of
dairy cattle, a hog farm, multitudes of sheep
and goats, and many horses. Little by little,
the livestock portion shrunk, and by the
mid-‘90s he and Susan decided to focus their
energy and resources entirely on horses. Their
practice became Werner Equine.
Harry notes that his membership in the
American Association of Equine Practitioners
was “at the heart of the success we’ve enjoyed.”
In 2009, Harry was named president of
AAEP. In addition to continuing education
and networking, Harry’s involvement in
AAEP provided the Werners with multiple
worldwide travel opportunities.
In February Harry and Susan officially
retired, signing over their practice to a new
owner. “I miss it already, especially the
animals,” says Harry. “If I had to sum up the
46 years I’ve worked as a vet, I would use the
word ‘privileged.’ I was privileged to treat
every one of those animals.”
Harry maintains a friendly menagerie
on his property, consisting of three Dorset
ewes, three goats and two donkeys. His
three grandchildren love to visit and help
care for the animals. “We’re very lucky that
our grandchildren live nearby and come see
us all the time,” says Harry.
Regarding his animals and the threat
of coyotes, Harry explains, “We’ve got them
in our woods here — we can see and hear
them up on the hill — and our sheep and
goats wouldn’t last a week without those
donkeys. Faced with a threat, a donkey holds
its ground. They’re extremely effective in
controlling predators, especially if you put
them with other smaller animals.”
The Werners also have two dogs, Captain
Fitzroy and Stella, who are their third and
fourth Jack Russell Terriers. “For many years I
always had a dog by my side as I traveled from
farm to farm. First there was Fred, then Rose,
and then Stella,” says Harry.
Harry expresses his deep appreciation for
Granby’s natural beauty, and he stresses the
importance of continuing to protect it. To
this end, Harry served on the Conservation
Commission and was involved for several
years in efforts to assure that Holcomb Farm
remained farmland and woodland. Harry
applauds the significant land preservation
efforts of the Granby Land Trust, to which he
and Susan have entrusted 40 acres.
Harry concludes, “I
pinch myself every day,
living in a place like
this.”
Sarah Merrill is
a personal historian
based in Granby. She
works with individuals
and families to capture
and record their
personal memoirs and
family histories. Visit
her website at www.
memoirsbymerrill.com
GRANBY LIVING | 13

EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR
GETTING IN HOT WATER?
Learn about these water-warming options
By Jason Brusa
Domestic hot water … how does it work in your home? That is an
interesting question as there are so many different ways of heating
water. These range from the more traditional tank-type water heaters
to the tankless on-demand systems. Here is a brief guide to the various
types of water heaters most commonly found in our area.
Conventional Storage Tank: This style of unit features a tank that holds
water to be heated. This means that the capacity of the tank determines how
much hot water you have available at once. The tank is insulated so that when the
water heats up, it remains warm until it is needed. These water heaters can be electric,
gas-fired or oil-fired. These are the most common types of water heaters in residential
homes. The capacity of the tank and the way it is heated determine how much each water heater
can produce. As an example, a 50-gallon electric water heater will produce approximately 67
gallons of hot water, first hour draw. A 50-gallon gas-fired unit will do about 86 gallons, and a
50-gallon oil-fired water heater can produce upward of 200 gallons, first hour draw.
Tankless Water Heater (On-Demand): As the name implies, a tankless water heater has no
tank. Instead, the cold water flows through a heat exchanger that flash-heats it. These allow for a
nearly endless supply of hot water. Tankless water heaters run primarily on either electricity or
gas. Like most other water heaters, these units come in different sizes based on output flow rate.
It’s critical to size the system properly based on the needs of the home. Be careful not to confuse
these systems with a tankless coil boiler. Though they both do not use a tank, the tankless coil
boiler is an inefficient way of creating hot water as it requires the boiler to maintain temperature
24 hours a day.
Heat Pump Water Heaters (Hybrid): This is typically a tank-type water heater that uses heat
in the air to heat water. This means that electricity is only used to move heat from the air to
the water, instead of the alternative where electricity is used to generate heat. Heat pump water
heaters can use up to 60 percent less electricity than traditional styles of water heaters. The
downside of these units is that they require more space to accommodate the compressor on the
top and they do make a bit of noise. In addition, since they are pulling latent heat out of the air,
the area around the water heater (in the basement) can be fairly cold. A 50-gallon heat pump
water heater will produce approximately 69 gallons, first hour draw.
Indirect Water Heater: This style of water heater uses a storage tank and the heat from your
boiler to provide your home with abundant hot water. In an indirect system, water is heated up
by the boiler and is then passed through a heating coil or heat exchanger to heat the water in
the tank. Like a conventional tank-type water heater, these tanks are well-insulated to store the
hot water. When paired with a high-efficiency boiler, these units can create large amounts of hot
water for less money. A typical 50-gallon indirect can produce more than 200 gallons, first hour
draw. The obvious downside is that you must have a boiler in your home.
These water heaters are merely a snapshot of the various options available. There are so many
to choose from with various capacities and efficiencies. When looking to replace your water
heater, contact your plumber or mechanical company and they can offer you options to properly
take care of your needs.
Jason Brusa
Beacon Mechanical Service
Phone 860-844-0111
jbrusa@beaconmechanical.com
14 | APRIL 2020

April
2020
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2ND ANNUAL GRANBY’S GOT TALENT
Saturday, April 4
@Granby Memorial High School
Last year’s event was a huge success. We expect amazing talent to be
featured again! Don’t miss out — purchase your tickets early. Purchase
online and at the door on the night of the event. Sponsored by the
GMHS Athletic Boosters Club, a nonprofit organization that supports
the Granby Memorial High athletic community. Concessions will be
available.
Time: 6:30 pm
Cost: Adults $10 • Students/Seniors $8
www.GMHSBoosters.com
SOMETHING ABOUT THE AUTHOR BOOK CLUB
First Monday of month — call to confirm
@Granby Public Library
Call 860-844-5275 to register and for more info. Copies of books are
available at the library.
Time: Call 844-5275
Cost: FREE
www.granby-ct.gov/granby-public-library-system
OPEN MIC NIGHT IN THE BISTRO
Every Thursday
@Infinity Hall, Norfolk
Whether you like to listen to great music or are an aspiring performer,
join us on Thursdays to enjoy local talent. Performers sign up after 7
p.m. A few artists will be chosen to compete in our Big Stage Competition
and play an opening act at an Infinity Hall concert.
Time: 8 pm
www.infinityhall.com/Events/
CASUAL BIKERS: UPCOMING EVENTS
Throughout the month
@Various locations
Check the Casual Bikers website for details about weekend and weekday
bike rides all month long.
Cost: FREE
AROUND THE WORLD BOOK CLUB
Third Monday of month — call to confirm
@Granby Public Library
Call 860-844-5275 to register and for more info. Copies of books are
available at the library.
Time: Call 844-5275
Cost: FREE
www.granby-ct.gov/granby-public-library-system
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
Wednesdays — call to confirm
@Granby Public Library
All ages can drop in and enjoy a family-friendly film. We'll provide the
popcorn! Call for movie titles. No registration needed.
Time: Call 844-5275
Cost: FREE
www.granby-ct.gov/granby-public-library-system
SCI FI / FANTASY BOOK CLUB
Last Wednesday of month — call to confirm
@Granby Public Library
Call 860-844-5275 to register and for more info. Copies of books are
available at the library.
Time: Call 844-5275
Cost: FREE
www.granby-ct.gov/granby-public-library-system
GRANBY LIVING | 15

Granby Living
0601
Judy Knows Granby!
• Customer Service Awards for 15+ years
• Five-Star Professional Realtor Award for
the last 5 years.
• President’s Circle” award top
4% nationally
• Top 4% Nationally for Berkshire
Hathaway Designation for Company
Excellence
• Granby resident for over 50 years.
Oh, by the way...I’m never too busy for any of your referrals!
WHEN YOU HAVE REAL ESTATE NEEDS...
THAT’S WHEN I SPRING INTO ACTION!
Judy Guarco | 860-651-2127
judyguarco@bhhsne.com
www.judyguarco.bhhsneproperties.com
A brighter smile for your whole family
Kenneth E.
Endres DDS
Providing
State-of-the-Art
Preventative, Cosmetic
& Restorative Dentistry
New Patients Welcome!
Emergency Service • Family Oriented Practice
• Convenient Evening and Weekend Appointments
• Invisible Braces • Periodontal Treatments • Chair Side Bleaching
• Digital X-Rays • “No Drill” Dentistry Techniques
Now Offering CEREC ® Single Visit Crowns
860.653.4551
35 Hartford Ave. Granby, CT
www.SalmonBrookDentalCT.com