Often I find myself justifying to customers why Fronhofer Tool is located in the middle of nowhere.

It’s a quiet setting on the edge of Cossayuna Lake. Heidi (our office manager) had the idea that we should have an article in this newsletter featuring the beauties of Washington County.  She even thought a graphic depiction of the views she had on her way to work might be a  way to explain to people why we love it so much. Just the hundreds of buffalo roaming the rolling hills might be enough. But the other wild life, beautiful country farms, lakes and New England style villages make Washington County an unmistakable treasure in a world where in many cases money has replaced peace of mind.

We always have a meeting to brainstorm about future articles for our newsletter. Heidi had a great idea, but then I upped the anti. A story about the life of Ralph Briggs, born on June 1, 1916, native of Easton, Washington County, would not only exemplify the beauty of our County but also gives it the personal touch that to my knowledge could only be told by such a person. I first met Ralph in 1983, he was the justice of the peace performing the marriage vows at my sister Sue’s wedding. Being quiet, old fashioned, pleasant, mild manner and respectful, Ralph’s the kind of man you can’t help but like on first impressions. He’s the heart and soul of Washington County. Since the wedding I’ve had many occasions to visit with Ralph both business and pleasure. Ralph owns and operates a crane service in Greenwich next to BDP and across from the Washington County Fair grounds. We have hired Ralph to load, unload, locate and install equipment many times over the years. During this time I have grown to respect Ralph to the degree where I feel he is not only to be respected but also idolized. If you think I’m exaggerating listen to some of my stories and I’m sure you’ll change your mind.  I always knew Ralph was honest but never really understood the depth of his convictions in striving toward perfection until I interviewed him for this article. I asked him what he liked most about our county and he said it is just the perfect blend of people, views, climate, work-ethic, environment and attitude. The thing he likes the least are the people in a position of power thinking that they have more rights or the ability to have the rules bend for them and/or their friends. I could tell how much it really irked him as he told the story of a person with political clout that asked Ralph (a judge at the time) to do a favor for someone. But I think the most telling moment of Ralph’s character was when he told the story of a boy that asked him why someone was calling him a name. It was a racial slur and Ralph didn’t have an answer for the boy. It broke his heart and it still bothers him to recall the event. Even at our interview, the tears swelled in his eyes. I could tell that nothing bothered Ralph more than the injustice of people not being treated equal. My secretary and I sat there with our hearts in our throats. How could it be that at our respectively young ages we could be more calloused than this man at age 85? Although Ralph gave up being the judge of Easton after thirty years, he still works everyday.  In fact, he told me that he plans to work for the rest of his life. He loves people and he loves to work. When I decided to call Ralph to see if he would do an interview, his wife of sixty-two years answered the phone and informed me Ralph was in the woods logging and wouldn’t be in until after dark.  Ralph owns two wood lots and works them regularly. A local company uses the wood supplied by Ralph for veneer. Ralph said they call him when they have requirements. I’m sure they’ve come to trust his quality as does anyone who has worked with Ralph. Ralph graduated from Greenwich High School and went right to work. His first job was working for Briggs Machinery Co., a family owned business that was doing work on the road to Whiteface Mountain. The road was narrow with sixty-foot drops on either side, apparently it was very scary, but to the best of Ralph’s recollection, no one got hurt. Most of the people he worked with were immigrants and couldn’t speak English. Ralph spent twenty-four hours a day with his coworkers, working long hours building roads during the day and sleeping in tight quarters at night. The housing consisted of small rooms where thirty people shared the same floor as their bed. As he told the story he smiled, reliving the moment, he became good friends with his coworkers and grew to respect them all.  He relived the moment as he told the story.  Although the conditions were harsh, it was obvious that the lessons learned there, about life, were profound. I think this is where he felt first hand, the injustice of prejudice. Ralph worked many jobs since working for the family business. He couldn’t recall how many years he had worked for G.E., but when the workforce went out on strike for the third time he picked up his tools and walked out. He had been a toolmaker there for many years but I think the idea of not being able to work everyday bothered him. He simply had to move on.  Ralph went to work for Clark Equipment and eventually was fired. He was persistent in letting the superiors know that he wasn’t happy with one of the drivers not having a license. Their solution was to let Ralph go. After that he went to work in the Adirondacks as a logger. He grew to fear the risks he had to face each day, the machinery was dangerous and Ralph didn’t want to take the chances anymore. He told his boss once again; it was time for him to move on. His boss convinced him to buy a used crane, this was 1965 and the beginning of Briggs Crane Service.  To this day Ralph runs and operates his own business. With several cranes in his fleet he can usually match the right machine for the job. In recalling different jobs Ralph thought it might be interesting to note that his biggest job was a six hundred foot long building for Fort Miller and his smallest was a mailbox for someone in Shushan.  During this incredible life Ralph studied law at St. Lawrence University for thirty consecutive years while never attaining a degree epitomizing intrinsic values over extrinsic rewards. It isn’t the plaques on the wall or the recognition that fuels Ralph. He is simply motivated by doing the right thing at the right time, mixed with a thirst for knowledge matched by few. Not to say Ralph hasn’t been recognized for his service to mankind because he has; being awarded several honors including the nineteen ninety-four Liberty Bell award for thirty-three years service as Easton Town Justice.  I, like most people that know Ralph, will always be in awe of the way one person can defy all external pressures through public and private life using only one criteria: When making a decision, is it the right thing to do? I feel as if Ralph is the only person that I know that can truly delivery the wisdom that he would like to pass along to the youth. “Be honest, be fair, and keep your word. The first being the most important.”

-          By Paul Fronhofer

Ralph Briggs operating crane to bring in new machine at Fronhofer Tool.

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Last modified: November 08, 2007