FRANKLIN—George Steinbach’s 100th birthday on Jan. 29 was just another birthday for him.

But not for nearly 150 of his family and friends, who all came out to the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Shirlie and Billy Camp, last

Saturday to wish him well.

&uot;I don’t know what all the fuss is about,&uot; he said, as the guests, one by one, wished him a happy birthday as they embraced him. He smiled.

&uot;But it is so good to see you all.&uot;

This is typical of George Steinbach, who has spent much of his adult life thinking of and helping others. Indeed, his contributions to the community, many started nearly 50 years ago, are still going strong.

During his 35 years at Camp Manufacturing Co., where he simultaneously held the position of superintendent of the pulp mill and the wood yard, Steinbach spent much of his time off involved in activities that would make life better for his friends and co-workers.

Take the Bronco Rod and Gun Club on the Nottoway River, for instance.

Steinbach was instrumental in organizing the group of sportsmen.

But that’s not all.

After securing the land on which to establish the club, he worked for months with other members to clean and put the old homestead located on the property in good enough condition to use as its first clubhouse.

&uot;The club actually was started for the men on my shift at the mill,&uot; Steinbach said, &uot;but it has evolved to include the activities of other sports clubs and many community and civic organizations, from wedding anniversaries to fund-raisers.&uot;

This doesn’t bother Steinbach. He is happy the club is thriving.

Born and raised in Tomahawk, Wis., the seventh of 10 children, Steinbach started work when he was in his teens.

Keenly interested in &uot;making things with his own hands,&uot; he worked in a machine shop and later a lumber camp.

He even worked on a railroad laying rail ties.

In 1928, however, he embarked on the career that was to carry him through until retirement in 1973. This was making paper.

&uot;I worked in a paper mill in Tomahawk until I became a top operator,&uot; he said. &uot;Then, the superintendent told me that his brother was going to Virginia to work in a mill in Franklin that had just started making paper. He said he wanted to take two men with him and asked if I would like to go.

&uot;Well, I was already in line for promotion to foreman, but my superintendent said the opportunities would be much greater in Virginia.&uot;

By now, Steinbach was married with three children. He said, &uot;I talked it over with my wife, Frances, and we decided that it would probably be a good move.&uot;

Leaving his family behind, Steinbach and the two other men arrived by train in Franklin in November 1938, &uot;cold, tired and with no place to stay,&uot; he said with a grin, as he remembered the ordeal.

&uot;We arrived about 11 p.m. and the Stonewall Hotel was full. We had no idea where we would stay—they wouldn’t let us stay at the train depot.

But then we happened to run into the police chief and he just happened to know some people who owned some cabins.

&uot;We ended up staying in a double cabin with only a little tin wood heater for heat,&uot; he said.

&uot;Boy, it was cold, but we managed to make it through the night.&uot;

Steinbach started work immediately at the Chesapeake Camp Corporation, a forerunner of Camp Manufacturing Company.

He stayed there until he retired at 65.

Six months after he started work at the mill, Steinbach brought his wife, Frances, and children, Georgia, Shirlie and Roger to Franklin, where they lived until they married.

&uot;Daddy spent a lot of time with us when we were little,&uot; said Shirlie. &uot;He always saw that our toys were fixed and operable.

&uot;We spent a lot of time during the summer at the Bronco Club and he was always fixing up an old boat for us to take a ride down the Nottoway.

&uot;He also loved working with wood and as a matter of fact, made a lot of our furniture.&uot;

She said that all of his children, nine grandchildren and most of his 19 great grandchildren have beds, as well as other pieces of furniture, that he made.

She added that she was not sure about the two great great grandchildren, however.

Another thing that Steinbach is noted for is his Sea Scout Troop, one of the few such troops around.

&uot;After we organized the troop,&uot; Steinbach said, &uot;I wanted to get some kind of boat to train with.

Fortunately, I was able to get through the mill a 30-foot harbor boat that had been used by the Amy.

It was in pretty bad condition, but the boys and I worked on until it was seaworthy.&uot;

The troop then sailed down the Blackwater to the Chowan River and into Edenton, N.C.

&uot;It was all-day trip,&uot; he said, &uot;but boy, did we enjoy it?&uot;

Steinbach said the scouts have all gone their separate ways, but he still hears from some of them on occasion.

&uot;In fact, I just received a letter from one of them for my birthday.&uot;

During the later years and after retirement, Steinbach and his wife have done quite a bit of traveling, both in the states and abroad, he said.

But nowhere has he had as much fun as when he, Frances and three other couples organized a senior square dance team at the WMCA.

Called the &uot;Peanut Promenaders,&uot; they danced at many events around town, including fairs, parades and dances.

&uot;We danced for about 10 years, I guess.

Sometimes we’d have a dance every week.&uot;

Steinbach glanced lovingly at his wife of 76 years, who, like him seemed to be remembering those good days.

There’s no doubt this couple enjoyed those wonderful times.