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SLPD blotter, November 1940

Here is a glimpse of what was happening here 76 years ago when Saranac Lake had more people, fewer cars and lots of dogs running loose … no mention of drugs in the blotter entries but a lot of calls about drunks causing trouble … and kids “raising hell” which was usually the description used by the police for an incident involving kids.

11-1-40, 8 p.m.: Investigated a complaint taken by Sgt. Duprey from Mrs. Dan Duffin of 7 Charles Street. Kids raising hell, annoying her and damaging property. She gave me the name of Hofstratter who lives further out on Charles Street. Went out and warned Mr. Hofstratter, who has eight kids, about the complaint. He said he would take care of them. Did not find any kids this trip. — Jones

11-3-40, 10 p.m.: Complaint taken by Officer Higgins. A lady at 58 Shepherd Avenue said she wanted to see a policeman. Investigated and found a prowler, one John Smith of Ray Brook in the back yard. The lady said that he had been looking in the windows and trying to get into the house. Arrested him for D.C. [Disorderly Conduct] — Chief

11-5-40, 1:45 p.m.: Charles Van Nortwick, 296 Broadway reports that while driving up Lake Street about 1 p.m. today, a boy by the name of Floyd Horsler, age 5 years ran from in back of three girls waiting for him to go by and ran into the left front fender of his car. Bruise over the left eye. Taken to Dr. Leroy Wardner.He painted the bruise with iodine. No other injuries. See accident file. — Brown

11-6-40, 8:30 a.m.: Mr. Slattery, postmaster at Trudeau San came into the police station and said he had a woman in the car that he had just picked up on the Bloomingdale Road that had been in an accident and was pretty badly hurt. He wanted an officer to go to the hospital with him. Went up with him and found the lady was Mrs. Rosalie Thompson age 40 years, wife of Oakley Thompson of Bloomingdale. She had collided with a school bus owned and operated by Archie McDonald of Gabriels.

[School buses were all owned and operated privately at that time. When we lived on our farm on Norman Ridge, Ralph Arnold owned and operated the school bus and when we lived at the Oseetah Farm Dairy in Ray Brook, the school bus, metallic blue in color, was owned and operated by Ray Duprey].

Mrs. Thompson’s left leg was badly mangled at the knee, and she had cuts about the head. Dr. Woodruff was called in on the case and told me he didn’t know if he could save he leg. Mrs. Thompson was driving alone and only one boy on the bus was hurt a little around the mouth. His front teeth being pushed back and his lip was cut. The boy was Derwin Paye of Gabriels, age 14 years. State police investigated and got other information. — Tyler

11-9-40, 5:30 p.m.: Officer wanted at Hotel Saranac bar. Investigated by Jones.Found one Arthur Riley of Malone at a table in the dining room some-what intoxicated. Had ordered three beers and drank them and had no money to pay for them. Arrested him and charged him with P.I. [Public Intoxication]. — Jones

[There were numerous reports about kids sliding on the village streets. The streets at that time were covered with packed snow and ice during the entire winter months. No salt was used but lots of sand. Commercial vehicles, coal trucks, taxi’s etc., and many private vehicles used tire chains all winter.]

11-13-40, 2 p.m.: Call that there was an accident on Ampersand Avenue. Investigated and found that one Joseph Pelletier of Ray Brook, driving a 1937 Ford Coach owned by Joseph Babbie of Ray Brook was traveling West on Ampersand Avenue when a kid on a sled slid out of Hope Street and the sled hit the rear wheel of the car. Pelletier applied the brakes and the car skidded around in the road and hit a pole breaking it off and damaging the fender and running board of the car. The kid jumped up and ran up Hope Street and yelled back that he was not hurt and wouldn’t stop. Not able to find out kids name. — Tyler & Ryan

11-14-40, 6:30 p.m.: Call that there was a dead dog on the lawn at 26 Lake Flower Avenue. Brought it to the dump. Black & White Spitz.1939 tag on harness. Dog owned by Mrs. Cullen. — Ryan

11-20-40, 10:45 p.m.: William Slater of Ray Brook came into the police station and complained about Howard Burton hitting him on the chin because he was dancing with Burton’s girl at the Fireman’s Ball here in the Town Hall. Burton also came into the police station at the same time and started calling Slater names and threatening him. When we told him to shut up he told us we were full of – – – -. Locked him up for D.C. — Brown & Tyler

11-24-40, 9 a.m.: Ray. D. Smith, 40 Baxter Street in Rutland, Vt., reports rounding the corner of Algonquin Avenue and Lake Street [remember, there was no LaPan Highway, main entrance to the village was down Lake Street] his car slewd and there were some children walking beside the road and not wanting to hit them he ran into the guard rail. The back of the car bumped into Shirley Lawrence, age 12, knocking her down. She was taken to the Petrova School and examined by Dr. Haskins who found she was just bruised. A fender and running board were damaged on the car. — Ryan

11-25-40, 9:30 p.m.: Electric Light Company reports kids shooting out street lights with B.B. guns mostly around River Street and Lake Flower Avenue vicinity. Would like police to be on the lookout for them. Chief

12-16-40, 4:20 a.m.: Fire at 166 Lake Flower Avenue. Eugene Keough cottage. Probably started from oil burner in basement. Nearest fire plug was frozen tight. Got water from corner of Crossfield Avenue. Considerable damage, mostly in basement. — Jones

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