CHARLES GRIDLEY REMEMBERED

 

It has been several years since Cortland native Charles Gridley passed away in Albany, N. Y. We miss him for many reasons, especially for his unique sense of humor. He contributed several articles to this blog, including "Memories of Cortland" and several short letters addressed to Mr. Paine and signed by Chuck's alter ego, $enator $ham. Several of these letters were requests for senate campaign contributions, followed by replies from Jeff Paine that "a check is in the mail." Mr. Gridley's writings can be found in the early years of this blog.

Recently a CC staff member uncovered a greeting card addressed to Mr. Paine.  It lacked the nom de plume, but "$tate Legislature" identifies the author.

The staff at Cortland Contrarian are still laughing, now it is time to share the celebration.

Here is a vintage 1885 Puck cartoon at the face of the greeting card, and the unsigned greeting found inside the card: