He created the "Country Store" etching as a young man in 1929. His reference to the view from an upstairs window suggests he probably stayed at the Wilcox Hotel which was located directly across Granby Road from the store. To learn more about the Wilcox Hotel CLICK HERE.

It is also quite possible that his reference to occupied coffins in the basement is true since the Gibbons family owned the store and also served as the local undertakers.

To learn more about the fascinating life of Howard Cook CLICK HERE.

To learn more about the Granville Country Store and compare old photos to Howard Cook's etching CLICK HERE. Can you spot examples of artistic license?

The store depicted in Cook's 1929 etching was destroyed by fire in December 1934 and was replaced by the present, smaller structure. Photos of the destruction can be seen HERE.]]>
]]> 1941 photo from Herbert A. Hiers.
Store window photo taken summer 1998 by Paul Jensen, image used here with permission.
2020 Aerial Photo: Giguere's Photography, image used here with permission.
01 Feb 2021 Photo: Martin Kulig, used here with permission.
Sign Photo: Danny Nason, used here with permission.]]>
1998 Photo: Paul Jensen photo. No permission granted by the Granville Historic Image Library for further image use. Contact the photographer.
27 Dec 2020 Aearial Photo: Copyright Giguere's Photography, used here with permission; may not be downloaded or used further without express permission of Giguere's Photography
01 Feb 2021 Photo: Copyright Martin Kulig, used here with permission.
Sign Photo: Copyright Danny Nason, used here with permission. https://dannynason.com/]]>

The person standing to the right of the gas pump, next to the roadster, is Deputy Sheriff Harry S. Hartley. You can use the search function to see other photos and information about the Hartley family in Granville.

This photo is believed to have been referred to by Howard Cook when he created his "Country Store" etching in 1929. CLICK HERE to see the etching.

Note that in Cook's etching version the store is reversed, meaning Cook etched the image to the plate without reversing it, so when it printed on paper the image came out "backwards" from how the store appeared in reality.

Interestingly, when Cook reversed the image he also placed the gas pump to the left of the building. However it looks like the figure of Sheriff Hartley is still in the etching, standing to the left of the gas pump minus his roadster.

The store burned to the ground in 1934 so any comparison to the present-day store cannot be made, except the new store was built on the foundation of the old.]]>