28 YEARS AGO — 1997
• A pair of Plattsburgh developers have plans to put the former Merkel’s building back in the spotlight of downtown. From 1910 to 1993, Merkel’s was the flagship of downtown retail, dominating the block between Margaret and Durkee streets. But it has sat idle since the business closed, leaving a void on Plattsburgh’s main drag. John Seiden and Judith Baer, partners in Today’s Lifestyles Realty, hope to fill that void with a major renovation of the 14,000-square-foot building. They plan to install office and retail space with a spacious lobby off the freshly renovated Durkee Street. “Having a nice Durkee Street helped, but the economic climate really was the main factor,” Seiden said. “Things are getting a lot better, and there are a lot of things going on downtown right now, and every little element helps.”
• The clicking of computer keyboards will be heard in most Willsboro Central School elementary classes as wide-eyed children connect with the rest of the world. With the help of Willsboro Central School Superintendent Kent Cauley and retired General Electric worker Vim Vetter, the school will receive 10 computers in the next four to five months. The school was chosen based on need and its plans for the computers. “We requested that each school write a two-page explanation on their need and how they planned on using the computers,” said Gregory Casagrande, manager of General Electric’s Information Management Services. “There were some really innovative papers submitted. “We wanted to make an impact on that school, not just give a school that might not have really needed them.” The surplus Macintosh computers are from the G.E. Research and Development Center in Schenectady. The company is switching from Macintosh to PCs. “We are so excited to be able to do this,” Casagrande said.
50 YEARS AGO — 1975
• An estimated crowd of over 15,000 people attended the eighth annual St. Mary’s Bazaar that was held May 24 and 25, according to bazaar officials. The Rev. Donald Seguin, pastor of St. Mary’s Church, estimated that the crowd on Saturday, May 24, ranged about 5,000 while on Sunday, May 25, it ranged from 10 to 15,000. The priest explained that figures concerning the profits realized from the event should be available by next week. He noted that bills were still being received and until all had been paid out, a profit figure for this year’s bazaar would not be known. The proceeds from the bazaar go towards the operation of St. Mary’s School.
• Clinton County District Attorney Ara Asadourian Monday urged the Clinton County Legislature to make the district attorney’s position full-time. He made the recommendation Monday evening in a public announcement that he will not seek reelection as district attorney. Asadourian said he believes the office of district attorney can no longer be properly or fully performed by an attorney who also maintains a private practice. “I would urge the Clinton County Legislature,” Asadourian stated, “to pursue the trend occurring throughout the state in counties of less than 100,000 population and make the office of district attorney a full-time position. “I am convinced that this is the only way in which the people of this county will receive the service we deserve from our criminal justice system.”
75 YEARS AGO — 1950
• After a reign of something over sixty years on Trinity Square, the “lady of the fountain” was removed yesterday to make room for the erection of a World War memorial that soon will be placed in the park by the Clinton County chapter of Gold Star Mothers. As near as some old timers could figure yesterday, the “lady of the fountain” was placed there about 1886 and the trough that surrounded her has been the center of attraction for many youngsters, as well as oldsters, through the years. Early yesterday forenoon a crew from the Department of Public Works started operations. The “lady” was carefully removed from her pedestal, as was the pedestal itself. Afterward, the bulldozer was put into operation and soon the stone base was history. Dirt from the base was transferred to make a fill on the city hall terrace where coal trucks last Winter and this Spring had dug deep ruts. The fountain is to be relocated in the park at a point 75 feet west of the curbing of City Hall Place. This work, it is believed, may be started in the near future. The war memorial to be erected by the Gold Star Mothers will be placed at a point 75 feet east of the Margaret Street curbing. Thus, there will continue to be attractions in the park. Work on the base of the memorial is expected to get underway within the next few days.
• Mayor J.J. Tyrell has just received a letter of commendation for Plattsburgh’s record of no pedestrian fatalities in 1940 from the American Automobile Association. Plattsburgh was recommended by the board of judges of the eleventh annual National Pedestrian Protection Contest sponsored by the AAA for special recognition for excellent pedestrian record of no pedestrian deaths during the past year. The letter to Mayor Tyrell reads in part, “The American Automobile Association extends sincere congratulations for this outstanding pedestrian safety record with the hope that it will continue through 1960.” Experts say: “A vigorous pedestrian program will help to extend an excellent record of no pedestrian deaths and make your community more conscious that pedestrian accidents will be prevented.”
100 YEARS AGO — 1925
• Mrs. W. E. Lawrence, of 114 Crandall Street, Glens Falls, 75 years old, is recovering at the Champlain Valley Hospital from a deep gash in the left side of the neck, received Saturday when she was hurled through the windshield of the Dodge sedan her husband was driving; Mr. Lawrence, who is the same age, was unhurt. The aged couple were coming north on the Lakeshore Road on their way to visit friends in St. Lawrence County over the holiday. Mr. Lawrence failed to notice that a D&H train, also headed in the same direction, was paralleling his course. A catastrophe at the crossing near the Catholic Summer School seemed certain. A soldier whose name cannot be learned jumped out in the middle of the road and waved his arms for the automobile to stop. Mr. Lawrence slammed on the brakes. The car skidded into a telephone pole beside the road. Mrs. Lawrence was thrown through the windshield. The train thundered by. E. A. Learned was on the scene immediately with his big car. Blood poured from Mrs. Lawrence’s neck. Her husband pressed a handkerchief against the wound, while Mr. Learned broke all speed records to the post hospital. Army doctors then tied together the jugular vein, which was severed, and sewed together the muscles so that she might be removed to the Champlain Valley Hospital. Dr. R. S. Macdonald is now in attendance. All the time the painful work of the doctor was going on, Mrs. Lawrence was conscious. Mr. Lawrence held her hand. The army men were astounded at her virility and gameness. After the flow of blood had been stopped, she turned to Mr. Lawrence and said, with a twinkle in her eye, “So this is the way you try to get rid of me after we’ve been married 53 years.” Doctors say Mr. Lawrence’s quick action in partially stopping the flow of blood, coupled with Learned’s speedy drive to the hospital, saved the old lady’s life. While she is in a perilous condition, she is expected to recover.
• Warning to tramps to steer clear of Plattsburgh was given yesterday by City Judge J. Edgar Downs. “The impression seems to prevail, among the fraternity that Plattsburgh is an easy place,” the judge said in imposing a sentence on John Lynch, state tramp. “I want to dispel that impression, but I will give you the shortest term possible, thirty days.” “Thank you, Judge,” said Lynch, with a trace of sarcasm. In answer to a previous question whether he wanted to be sworn in and give his reasons for being in this part of the country without visible means of support, Lynch had said: “No, I don’t swear.”
— Compiled by Contributing Writer Ben Rowe