The ‘Seaway’ [outside of Massena] construction was considered “one of the greatest engineering challenges in history.” It was a joint effort between Canada and the United States with construction beginning in 1954 and completed in 1959.

It required the construction of 15 locks and employed 20,000 workers.

If one doesn’t believe it was a big deal, the ceremony in 1959, to dedicate the locks, was presided over by Queen Elizabeth and President Eisenhower. A great story fro another day.

So read on about the Board of Health …

I don’t know the ‘Nu-Gripped’ method offered by Dewey’s Garage in 1940. I know that by 1950 we “tractionized” tires and then we would demonstrate, by being easy on the gas pedal that the tire would grip so well on ice that the car wouldn’t spin. A very heavy round, steel cylinder, covered with small, sharp, steel spikes was placed under the rear car tire, one at a time, as the car, raised slightly on the lift was lowered onto the cylinder; then starting the car and running it slowly until the surface of the rubber tire was chewed up, but not too deep. Of course, old tires were used because there was no speeding down the Northway; oh, that’s right, there was no Northway. You what else I don’t get? There were 5 garages/gas stations on River Street back in the fifties and half as many cars?

“The Saranac Lake District Office of the New York state Department of Health, one of fifteen throughout the state, will expand its jurisdiction February 1, to include St. Lawrence County, it was announced today by Dr. Clayton M. Steward, District Health Officer.

“Since the establishment of the local office in the Paul Smith building in 1936, the office has supervised public health issues in the counties of Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton. On January 1, 1954, supervision of Clinton County was discontinued when the Clinton County Health Department was created.

“With the addition of St. Lawrence County, the Saranac Lake District ranks first in the state in land area with 8,030 square miles and a population of 182, 918.

“Dr. Steward stated that service in all areas will be administered by the present district office. Environmental sanitation will be directed by Warren Schlickenrieder, [I think Warren was a great, local baseball player, but I’m not sure, so ask Bud Duffy] District Sanitation Engineer and the milk contract program will be continued under Wade Alexander. The Public Health Nursing Program will be directed by Norma Morrill, District Supervising Nurse, Mrs. Kathy Richard Assistant District Supervising Nurse and Mrs. Edith Nichols, Supervising Physical Therapist.

“In view of the Seaway and Power Authority developments in the northern district of St. Lawrence County, Dr. Steward feels certain aspects of public health work will have to be increased in that county.”

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Dew Drop and the Jaycees

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Now I know that Forrest ‘Dew Drop’ Morgan and his wife, the beautiful Shelia O’Reilly, who he smuggled down from Montreal, were a dynamic duo who presided over many activities; Mr. and Mrs. Morgan and their large family infused life into so many areas in the North Country; US military, civic activities, public relations, teaching, sports, social and business. Oh, yea, the large family; I lost count at number 11.

But the following story is a Dew Drop activity I was not aware of.

“A strong bid for the New York State Chamber of Commerce to hold its Youth Activities meeting in Saranac Lake this summer has been made by the recently organized Saranac Lake Junior Chamber of Commerce.

“Jaycee president Ed Hoffman and Board of Directors member Forrest Morgan, attending a directors meeting here last night, reported they had been in Syracuse over the past weekend to present the invitation.

“The bid was supported by the senior Saranac Lake Chamber, including a personal invitation from Mayor Alton B. Anderson, and was presented to the State Jaycee Directors. Mr. Hoffman stated that Albany, Batavia, Utica and Poughkeepsie all dropped out in favor of Saranac Lake.

“Mr. Morgan reported also that they had met last night with the senior Chamber and that they continued to confer with attorney James LaPan on the Jaycee constitution and by-laws.

“Bruce Elmore and Rene Gendron were appointed to meet with the Saranac Lake Parent-Teacher Association giving Jaycee support for the P-TA plan to provide a safe sliding and sledding area in the village.

“Lyman Lawrence and Mr. Morgan were appointed co-chairmen for the Jaycees’ Charter Banquet to be held in March. Plans were also discussed for a fund-raising Gay Nineties Revue scheduled for April.

“Young men between the ages of 21 through 35 years are invited to attend Thursday’s meeting and join the organization. Others below or beyond the age brackets will be welcomed as active associate members, Mr. Hoffman said.”

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“Mystery” Money Box at Enterprise

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“A group of young people some months ago left a box containing pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and half-dollars at The Enterprise office.

“Is it yours? You may obtain same by stopping at the business office, identifying the box and giving the approximate amount of the contents. The money apparently was collected during a fund drive for some project in Saranac Lake.”

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Congress pay boost

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“Washington (AP) — A 50 per cent pay raise for members of Congress was recommended today by the Senate Judiciary Committee along with substantial hikes for federal judges.”

The annual pay for members of Congress in 1955 was $12,500; the recommendation passed and the salary was raised to $22,500, the first increase since 1946. Members of Congress today are paid $174,000 but I believe last year they were granted a travel, cost of living increase, etc., which brings their salaries to more than $200,000.