Oct. 31 marks the 122nd birthday of Ditta Pásztory-Bartók, Hungarian pianist and the second wife of Béla Bartók. Ditta came to Saranac Lake with her husband as he sought relief from his illness. The couple spent the summers of 1943-1945 in Saranac Lake; at the time they were living in exile in New York City after fleeing the advancing Nazi troops. Ditta was an accomplished pianist and played at least two concerts while in Saranac Lake. She practiced on a neighbor’s piano, and this piano is part of Historic Saranac Lake’s collection today. (Photo provided — Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2022.4.42. Gift of Peter Bartók.)