GRANVILLE – After 41 years serving the town as assessor clerk, Mary Woodger has retired.
Woodger officially left her position last month. However, she can still be found in her old office on occasion, helping her replacement, so the town has a smooth transition.
Woodger said she will miss the job because she enjoys talking with residents and staff.
“I like working with the people and helping them out,” said Woodger. “You get to know everybody.”
Woodger started out working from home one day a week in 1970 after having the second of her three children.
“I had all the books here,” she said. “I worked out of my house one night a week.”
A few years and another baby later, Woodger moved the books into Town Hall where she began working part-time. Woodger also worked part-time at the post office and said she was a little intimidated when they got computers in the 1980s.
“Then, Town Hall got them,” she said, laughing. “It was a tough transition for me – I was used to the old way.”
Woodger admits once she got the hang of the technology, she grew to appreciate it because it did make the job easier.
“I used to have to type the books by hand,” she said. “With computers, I could just push a button.”
When Woodger started working in 1970, pocket calculators were not commonplace yet. Now, all assessor records are computerized and online for easy access. She was in office for the Massachusetts Miracle, and the implementation of Proposition 2 ½. Over those 41 years, she served under seven Presidents, from Richard Nixon’s term to Barack Obama’s term, nine Governors, from Sargent to Patrick, and 16 different Select board members.
With so many changes to deal with over the past 41 years, Woodger said some things have remained the same.
“The town has actually stayed sort of static,” said Woodger. “With three large watershed lands, the possibility of developing it wasn’t that great.”
Since retiring last month, Woodger has been spending time at home where she and her husband Richard have a dairy farm.
“He runs the farm and I take care of the house,” said Woodger.
She does, however, enjoy sending time outdoors and said gardening is on her retirement agenda. She has also begun a new hobby.
“My mother-in-law, who is 91, insisted that now that I’m retired I should be going to the senior center and play cards with her, so I do,” said Woodger.
In addition to gardening, Woodger said she hopes to travel and looks forward to spending time with her family.
Woodger is married to Richard Woodger and has three grown children, son Daniel and his wife Sharon of Granville, daughter Debbie and husband Brian Keller of Sudbury, and son Doug and his wife Michelle of Granville and four grandchildren: Cole Woodger, Megan and Emily Keller and Macy Woodger.
Woodger will be honored this Sunday during a reception at Town Hall from 2-4 p.m. The public is welcome to attend the event.
