Cooperation is like a one-way bridge

In my first column, I mentioned that a part that makes a successful community is “a composition of diverse interacting participants that are achieving unity in an unremitting quest for spiritual and social progress.”

To me, cooperation is like a one way bridge.  I grew up in Fairport with a number of those one-way bridges that spanned the Erie Canal and I think of them every time I use the One-way Underpass on Willowbrook Road.  You absolutely must cooperate with the driver on the other side or you get no where.

With that idea tugging insistently in the back of my mind, I couldn’t resist choosing Al Pezzimenti and Clem McGhan as my first example that binds our community together.  Their political dichotomy is notoriously legendary.  They make their opposing political and communal views in an extremely obvious way using banners, hay bales and doing all sorts of escapades.  They add true color to our lives in Victor.

But who really are Al Pezzimenti and Clem McGhan besides the fact that Clem owns McGhan's and Al owns his own Barber Shop nearly across the street on Main Street in Victor.

I stopped by one day at McGhans to ask questions and find out.  I ran into Bob Brady who was whiling away his time on a bar stool.  Bob said “I’ve been coming here since 1990 and I consider Clem one of my friends.  If I have a problem, I will come to Clem- A real asset to the community.”  Then I asked someone who worked for him and might have a different perspective.  Sheri Riesenberger said that “Clem is a very generous guy and he will do anything for you.”  Generous indeed!

My next stop was at Al’s Barber Shop.  I spent a lot of time at Al’s listening to the banter that goes on between Bill, Al and his customers.  Bill O’Brien has cut hair there for 10 years.  “Al taught me how to cut hair- I apprenticed with him.” Al knows all about each customer that sits down in his barber chair.  The day of my visit, Bill and Al teased an old friend Dick Militello when he came in.  Bill had bought a tomato plant for Dick to tease him and they tell him to take care of the plant until the season is right for planting.  They all start to chuckle at him.  Dick replies to me “I can’t stand to garden.  My father made me garden and so I hate it.”  I am mesmerized by their stories- some absolutely hilarious and others that can’t be mentioned in this article.  It is hard to break away and leave.  I promise to return just to listen to more of Al’s stories.  

For three generations, both Clem and Al’s families have lived in Victor.  Al and Clem grew up together and have followed parallel lives in many ways. 

Clem’s grandparents came to Victor after the hotel they were working at in Waterloo burnt down so they came to run a boarding house for the Italian immigrants that worked at Victor Insulators.  His grandparents eventually opened a restaurant and his grandmother named it “The Golden Rule”.  They were able to get the 2^nd oldest liquor license in Ontario County once Prohibition was over.

Al’s grandparents came to Victor so his grandfather could work at Victor Insulators.  All three generations have lived in the Village limits.

His father worked for the Victor school district and when Al finished High School, he began working in various Barber Shops.  Al spent two years in the Navy from 1966-68 as a Navy Ship Serviceman where he was an Officers Barber.  He opened his own Barber Shop on March 1, 1970 and there he’s stayed ever since in the place he calls home.  He was the Mayor in the 80’s.  “The first thing I did when I became Mayor was to take care of the large hole in the ground on Main Street that was left from a fire. We broke ground in the fall of 1985, and in 1986 we created Adams Street.  Al lives with his wife Linda and they raised Anthony, Frank and Lisa.  He has 4 grandchildren Anthony, Joe, Dominic and Dante.  His parents, Grace and Frank still live near by in Canandaigua.

Soon after Clem was born, the family moved their restaurant to the building where it stands now.  The family business has been a restaurant, bar, tavern- whatever the family felt the community needed.  Clem took a break and went to college for Law but came home when his mother had cancer.  Now he still carries on the family tradition at McGhan’s and lives with his wife Kathleen.  He has a total of 7 children and 4 grandchildren. 

 

There are so many differences in what they think and believe in but they have developed a fractious and humorous relationship together.  Their friendly rivalry has gone on for 10-15 years now and one never knows what they are up to next.  They share their wry humor with every one in Victor and they are both concerned about the direction that Victor is heading.

Al mourns the “loss of services- we used to have 5 grocery stores and 7 gas stations here at one time- now we have no grocery store and 1 gas station.”

Clem’s concern:  “I am trying to encourage debate from the community and make them more aware.  There is a lack of community support who fails to identify with the town of Victor by visiting the heart of the town- the Village.  The town of Victor has tried to do events but it doesn’t seem to be working.  They try to foster a sense of community identity.  We just don’t seem to make enough progress.”

So, what is Al’s favorite prank that he has pulled on Clem?  “The ‘morning regular’ would walk to McGhan’s at 8:40 am.  I would see him through my window.  I would call Clem when he was almost at the building and ask if he was there and Clem would say ‘No’.  Then, I would call Clem right after the ‘Morning Regular” got there and call him up to ask if he was there.  I used to do that a couple times a week to him for a while.”

And now Clem’s favorite prank that he has pulled on Al?

“I put a Barrack Obama Headquarters- Town of Victor sign above Al’s Barber Shop on the railing above his shop and in his window, too.  Every time he took them down, I put another one up.  I must have gone through four signs.”