HARRY NEWMAN

Harry Newman was born January 25, 1916 in Cold Brook, the son of Edgar H. and Anna R. Newman.

He married Marjorie Wilcox in 1936 , after graduating from Poland Central School in 1935. He has three sons, David, Herbert, and William, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild. A daughter, Jackie, died in 1990.

As a boy Harry helped in his father and grandfather's slaughterhouse. He remembers when they had 300 calves hung up in the barn, the next day they hauled the calves to Poland and loaded them onto the freight train. When he was 16 he joined his father and brothers in the family business, E.H. Newman & Sons-Cattle Dealers. With just a learning permit he drove to Massachusetts after cattle. In 1952 they were the biggest importers of Canadian cattle in the U.S. They owned four trucks which were always busy.

As a young man he dipped chairs at the Cold Brook Chair Factory for 25 cents a day. When he drove a snowplow for the Town of Russia in the 1950’s he was paid 50 cents an hour with no overtime.

He became an auctioneer in 1962. He and his brothers operated Newman Livestock in Newport where he auctioned off cows and produce every week. He eventually auctioned off households and just about anything sellable. He’s proud that he never allowed any drinking or swearing at any of his auctions. These values were instilled in him by his mother who was a strong Temperance woman. He has donated his auctioneering skills at over 300 charity auctions including ten years for Rotary.

When the weather cooperates he still grows and sell corn.

Harry has been a member of the Poland Fire Department for over 50 years. He was Cold Brook Mayor for nine years.

He has enjoyed hunting since he was 16 and helped build the Newman camp in Morehouseville. He remembers when you could catch a good trout in Cold Brook. One time when he was young he was so involved fishing that he forgot he was supposed to be home churning butter until his father found him and gave him a good scolding. But then a few days later his father came home from Poland Union with a new $1.99 fishing pole, line, and reel telling him if he was serious about fishing he should have the right equipment.

The best thing about living in the Town are the people, how friendly they are especially the older ones. He appreciates that most everyone tries to get along and be happy. But he does think that some of the newer residents have too many new ideas; he likes the old ways best when there weren’t so many rules and regulations. He would like to see the Town grow with new business

Mr. Newman who has old-fashioned values and ethics is a well-respected member of the community..