No, that’s not Grandma Phoebe bustling around the country store, behind the counter one moment, helping you find something the next. Doris Jones Clearwater is a grandma, called as such by many more than her six grandchildren. And the gentle man you only see on occasion, for he’s often fixing a tractor or some other piece of machinery, is her husband of 64 years, Belding Clearwater.
But you will see them together this July Fourth, when, as grand marshals, they lead the 2014 Cornwall Independence Day Parade, not in the usual convertible but on the float from Jones Farm, which happens to be celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Belding and Doris married on Feb. 26, 1950 at the Canterbury Presbyterian Church. Before that, Belding would travel 10 miles from Central Valley to Cornwall by bicycle to court “the cute little blond girl.” They enjoyed square dancing at the Mountainville Grange, the Little Britain Grange and Cronomer Valley Fire Department. In time, the couple raised three sons — Russell, Jim and David.
Belding, who was born Aug. 14, 1925 in Peekskill, went to Coyne’s Electrical School in Chicago for the New York Telephone Company and worked for the company for 40 years. At age 18, he served in World War II as a Navy SeaBee in the European Theater. He has also been a Boy Scout Master, a Mason and a Revolutionary War Re-enactor. Doris was also involved in scouting as a Cub Scout Den Mother.
Canterbury Presbyterian Church played an important role in their lives. Doris taught Sunday school and Belding served as the school superintendent. He also sang baritone in the choir,
The Clearwaters have long participated with floats in the Cornwall Independence Day Parade and are honored to be grand marshals. “One year we didn’t do a float,” said Doris. “Boy, did we hear about it.”
Doris and Belding are proud to be farmers. They enjoy seeing people, including many West Point families, who come back to the farm to say “hello.”
“How many families are able to go on being farmers like us – five generations now” said Doris. “Cornwall and Jones Farm, they go together.”
And they are proud to call Cornwall home. They like its beauty and its friendly people. Doris summed it up by saying, “Cornwall is the way a hometown should be.”
Excepted from copy supplied by the Cornwall Independence Day Committee.