28 YEARS AGO — 1997
• Falling cinder blocks injured two firefighters in a dramatic inferno at the historic Depot Tavern building early Thursday. The fire reduced the Route 11 building to rubble. Arson is not suspected at this time, but fire officials are investigating, according to Ellenburg Depot Fire Chief Richard Manor. A neighbor noticed fire and smoke coming out of the building just after 3:30 a.m. The blaze moved so quickly that the roof began collapsing by the time firefighters arrived. A number of cinder blocks fell on Mooers firefighter Steven Hapgood’s right foot just as he began to set up in the zero-degree weather. Hapgood, who was wearing fire gear, had to be pulled free by a number of other firefighters. His boot was left behind, pinned under the blocks, said Mooers Fire Chief Wayne Dragoon. “He was in a lot of pain,” Dragoon said. “It happened quickly.” Hapgood was taken to CVPH Medical Center and underwent surgery Thursday morning. He was listed in stable condition. A cinder block also dropped onto the leg of Ellenburg Depot firefighter Russell Bilow as he tried to help Hapgood. He was taken to CVPH later in the morning, treated, and released.
• State Conservation officials are studying a plan to reduce riverbank erosion along the Salmon River as it cuts through Plattsburgh Air Force Base property. The Salmon River meanders peacefully on its path from the foothills of AuSable to Lake Champlain. It’s a clean river that provides good habitat for a variety of fish and other wildlife. But biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are concerned about a specific spot near the Air Base runway, where a sandbank is eroding into the river. “It’s premature to say what will happen now, but we’re looking at ways to prevent the sandbank from continuing to collapse into the river,” said Eric Derleth from the Fish and Wildlife Regional Office in Vermont. “There is no vegetation growing along the riverbank where the runway comes out. We’re looking at the possibility of planting willows, shrubs, or trees along the river to reduce erosion and provide shading to the river.”
50 YEARS AGO — 1975
• Torn between a skyrocketing tax rate and the shriveling away of services that have been taken for granted for years, the Plattsburgh Common Council has indicated it will approve 21 layoffs, the institution of curbside garbage pickup, elimination of the municipal garage, and the phase-out of most recreation programs. It was a somber group of aldermen who filed out of City Hall late Thursday night, realizing they will have to vote Wednesday on what most constituents will consider drastic measures. Four aldermen indicated they are reluctantly prepared to approve the budget that will call for a tax rate of $10.38 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Michael Haley of Ward 2 was the most vocal holdout. He wants a higher tax rate and restoration of some services.
• The state plans to sift through bids for construction of the new Smith Weed Bridge late next summer so it will be built by 1977. William Hennessy, assistant commissioner for transportation operations for the state Department of Transportation, said from Albany this week that the bridge project is right on schedule. The bridge will span the grade crossing that was built last summer to replace the original Smith-Weed Bridge that the Delaware & Hudson Railway Co. tore down in July. DOT is overseeing the project. In fact, it drew up the plans currently being considered for the construction of the new bridge. There has been talk recently that perhaps a bridge isn’t necessary, that the grade crossing is working out fine, especially in view of current cost estimates for the bridge, which have doubled in the past few years to about $1 million.
75 YEARS AGO — 1950
• New York State farmers are on their way to becoming the “talkingest” people in the country on the basis of a survey recently completed by the New York Telephone Company and made public by R. S. Fox, manager. The study shows that, as of October 1, 1949, four out of every five habitable dwellings in rural territory in New York State had telephones. The survey was based on the number of habitable dwellings, whether lived in or not, rather than on the places actually occupied. If the latter figure was used, the percentage would be somewhat higher, Fox pointed out. Much of this gain has come in the last four years, Fox said. On January 1, 1946, slightly less than half of the places had telephones. At that time, 110,653 people in rural New York State had telephone service. On October 1, 1949, there was a total of 171,904 rural customers, a gain of 61,390 or 55.5 percent.
• WIRY, a new radio station that soon will inaugurate broadcasting operations from Plattsburgh, will be an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System, Inc., it was announced yesterday by Joel H. Scheier, president and general manager. Preparatory to the start of operations, which is expected in a short time, the station staff is being assembled. Betty Kraus of Plattsburgh, long affiliated with WMEF, will be program director. John M. Nazak will be chief engineer and technician. Both are highly experienced in their respective fields. Nazak has been a radio engineer for 15 years and, during the war, taught radio and radar classes at PSTC. Later he was in the technical service of the U.S. Navy.
100 YEARS AGO — 1925
• Construction of permanent bridges for vehicles across Lake Champlain at three points was recommended to the Vermont legislature Thursday in a message from Governor Proctor, embodying the report of the commission appointed in 1923 to investigate the possibilities. The bridges would connect West Swanton and East Alburg, Windmill Point in the town of Alburg and Rouses Point, and Shoreham, Vt., and Ticonderoga. They would be built through the cooperation of the states of Vermont and New York with the Rutland, Central Vermont, and Canadian National Railways. The report points out the railroads are now maintaining, at large expense, separate but not permanent bridges at each of the points mentioned. The plan suggested is for the railroads to build permanent bridges to accommodate themselves and the public. The money would be advanced by the states of Vermont and New York through bond issues.
• Newall W. Banks of Detroit, National Checker Champion, played several of the best checker players in Clinton County in the Y.M.C.A. gym at night before a crowd that filled the gallery. He played the entire group at one time, going from board to board in quick succession. All were beaten except Christy Mathewson, who won, and E.L. Abare, who got a draw. There was a round of applause when Mathewson won, and Mr. Banks reached over the board and shook his hand. At the conclusion of the simultaneous play, Mr. Banks asked the committee to select any six players to play him in blindfold play. The exhibition was a marvelous one, and everyone present marveled that such a feat was possible. Mr. Banks made a host of friends by his visit, and all hope he can come again.
— Compiled by Night Editor Ben Rowe