50 YEARS AGO — 1976
Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Link of Cumberland Head believe the most memorable thing about the People’s Republic of China is that all 800 million of its people have adequate food, clothing and housing. The Links, along with 20 others from the Northeastern United States, recently returned from a 22-day tour of China. Dr. Link is a professor of American social history at Plattsburgh State University College and his wife, Beulah, recently retired as a special education teacher in Peru. Their interest in China and the reason they went there goes back before they came to Plattsburgh. While teaching at New Paltz, Link explained, their son, Perry, became friendly with a Chinese faculty member. So friendly, that he studied Chinese language and culture, became a liaison for the Chinese table tennis team on its U.S. tour and, more recently, was named professor of Chinese education at Princeton University. The first thing they found while preparing for the trip, and while on the trip, is that the Chinese people bend over backwards to please American visitors. Mrs. Link explained that the group compiled a list of about 60 things they wanted to see while in China. Not expecting to see many of them, they found the Chinese went out of their way to show the group all but a few. Both said they found a China completely different from the one they were told to expect. “Nobody sleeps in the street,” Mrs. Link said, during an interview. “There’s food, clothing and housing for everyone.” Dr. Link explained that the housing might be minimum by our standards — “you wouldn’t want to live there and neither would I” — but he said the small homes were “absolutely clean.” Medical care is well above minimum standards, they said. Chinese doctors combined acupuncture with traditional Western methods, they said. However, the doctors used acupuncture to cure one of the American visitors of a migraine headache.
Getting kids to eat what’s good for them can be a tough job, but the Clinton County Cooperative Extension has a program here which apparently makes it painless and enjoyable. The theme of an eight-day program being conducted here is “Make Snacks Work For You.” The 40 Rouses Point youngsters taking part are doing that and enjoying it. The program, which started this week, runs from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 each weekday at St. Patrick’s School and concludes Thursday, according to Mrs. Beverly Newell of the cooperative extension. Rouses Point youngsters in the 6-11 age range are involved and each day of the program has seen attendance growing. The children have a number of games they play which are all “good nutrition-oriented.” The games have names like “food bingo,” and “the milk puzzle.” The children also become involved with a number of art projects, such as making posters and mobiles, expounding on the “good nutrition” theme.
75 YEARS AGO — 1951
Robert Ripley’s personal collection of “Believe It or Not” oddities, being exhibited on national tour under auspices of Disabled American Veterans is being presented for the final day today on Margaret Street in front of the Post Office building. The mobile unit is mounted on a special custom-built trailer. “Believe It or Not” cartoons have been appearing in newspapers throughout the world for years. On display in this exhibit are some of the original drawings, picturing facts which many may have found difficult to believe. The greater portion of the exhibit features part of Ripley’s amazing collection of the authentic original subjects on which the cartoons are based.
Graham Witherill Velsey is visiting Plattsburgh for a few days. That might be a mere personal mention in today’s columns were it not that Mr. Velsey is a grandson of Hiram Witherill, who founded the Witherill Hotel many years ago. And, incidentally, that is where Mr. Velsey is a guest during his stay in the city. Mr. Velsey is a native of Plattsburgh and was born in 1886, a son of Isaac and Charlotte (Witherill) Velsey. His birthplace is the stone house, still standing at 38 Court street, now occupied by Mrs. Eleanor E. O’Brien. Mr. Velsey’s mother was a singer of note, a mezzo-soprano who could have gone to Metropolitan had she not chosen domestic life, a home and family, Mr. Velsey recalled yesterday during a brief interview.
“I just wanted to come home,” he said, “and, though I might not meet old acquaintances, I might walk about the city and reminisce on my childhood.” Now a resident of New York City, he has not visited Plattsburgh in 28 years. He has resided in New York since 1907.
100 YEARS AGO — 1926
The feature of the week at Plattsburgh Barracks is the many distinguished visitors coming from various places to inspect the camp and become informed as to the work done in building up the 1,650 young men in training. On Monday night, Brigadier General George A. L. Lamont, French attache at Washington, D. C., arrived at the Post with his wife and daughter. A salute of 11 guns was given the General who manifested great interest in what he saw. On completion of the parade held in his honor, the General remarked to Colonel Hughes, the Post Commander, that he was very much pleased with the fine showing made by the C. M. T. C. regiment. The General with his family left at noon for Washington, D.C., after having been shown around the post by Lt. Colonel R. T. Phinney.
Speedier service is the aim of the Northern New York Telephone Corporation in establishing a new rule for the operators to follow. In the future the operator will not repeat the number providing she understands it the first time it is given, but will merely say, “Thank you.” The number will be repeated however if the operator has not understood. Formerly the operator would repeat the number and await the “yes, please” of the person using the telephone.
— Compled by Contributing Writer Ben Rowe