I missed the St. Patrick’s deadline by a couple of days but I could not resist using the above March 17 issue of the Adirondack Record published a short 105 years ago. Editor was L. E. Shattuck and the Business Manager was R. P. McKee. There was not much in that issue about St. Patrick but there was other good “stuff”.

The first celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, the patron saint of Ireland, was held in Boston on March 17, 1737. That’s no wonder it was in Boston … we were meeting with the purchasing agent, a Ms. Riley, at the Harvard Club in Boston a short time ago. Her family was from the same county in Ireland, Westmeath, as the Riley family. My mother’s family, the Keegan’s, were from Cork, and that evening we met a young waitress, a Ms. Keegan from Cork who had just landed in Boston. Nearly every time we go to Boston I meet someone who must be at least my 38th cousin.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City on March 17, 1762. The celebration became widespread after that with the dramatic increase in Irish immigrants.

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Page one – March 17, 1911

“The Lake Placid News announced that Hon. Edward T. Stokes of Port Henry, Essex County Judge, will be delivering an address at a St. Patrick’s night entertainment in Lake Placid.”

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“In an article written by E. J. Edwards for the Troy Budget of last Sunday, entitled ‘Some Noted Sons of Old Erin’, appears the following concerning Edward C. O’Brien, formerly of Plattsburgh and a brother of Hon. John F. O’Brien Edward C. O’Brien who has had a distinguished public career, and who is well known as a diplomatist, is the son of Irish parents. He has held the title of Commissioner of Docks in New York City and he was appointed Envoy Extraordinary to Paraguay and Uraguay by President Roosevelt.”

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Mayor Rabideau please note

A precedent has been set for the Governor of New York to take part in the World Snowshoe Races in Saranac Lake next yearand I am sure, at your invitation, that Governor Cuomo will take part 1911, to wit:

“When Governor Dix wanted rest from the worry of affairs at the Capitol he took his snowshoes and hit the trail for the Adirondacks. It is the good fortune of Northern New York that there is in the executive Chamber at Albany, a man fully aware to take the advantages of this great playground of the people.”

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Where was Jim Mckenna when they needed him?

Remember It is 1911:

“It has been said of the Adirondack Mountains that they are their own best advertisement. In a measure that is true and yet in many ways it falls short of adequate provision for present day conditions.

“Years ago in the days which, from the standpoint of the summer tourist, were pioneer days in the Adirondacks, this region stood practically without a rival in this part of the country. It was a virgin territory and from far and near people flocked to it. The available accommodations were exceeded by the numbers that came. There was no need to advertise its attractions.

“Now conditions have changed. While accommodations for tourists and all-season visitors in the Adirondacks have increased within a comparatively few years, fully 70 per cent, other resort regions have not been idle and there are now many sections of the country in direct competition with the Adirondacks as a health and pleasure resorts. The time has come that the Adirondacks must be advertised”

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The Adirondack Record, June 27, 1919

So, we jump forward with bits of news from 97 years ago. Now try running an ad today like the following:

“WANTED – At Stevens House, Lake Placid, N.Y. Girls for work on dish table. Wages $6.00 per week, board and room. State age and weight when writing.”

But not so long ago when our son, Kelby, was a soloist in Ice Capades, the girls skating in the “chorus” were required to be weighed periodically.

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Daylight law is doomed

“The doom of the daylight saving law, inaugurated as a war measure, was pronounced last week by Congress, both house and senate adopting by overwhelming votes the measure to terminate the operation of the law, when the period of summer time ends next October 26th.”

Jack LaPan burned

“John H. LaPan of Saranac Lake, who is connected with the Conservation Commission, was in the Keeler Hotel fire at Albany last week and was severely burned about the face, neck and back. He was asleep on the fourth floor when he awoke half suffocated. He succeeded in getting out on a fire escape.”

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North Elba news

“Naomi Valentine of Lake Placid high school is home for the summerHarry Valentine and Harold Ormsby are working on the golf linksRoy Trombley and Alfred Barney are working at the boat house landing in Lake PlacidEverybody in this section are busy picking strawberriesMr. and Mrs. Robert Welch of Bolderwood Farm visited friends in Wilmington on SundayJohn McManus of Bolderwood farm sprained his ankle Sundayalso

“As Will Wood and a lady were returning from Lake Placid Saturday, in trying to climb River Hill Mr. Wood’s car refused to go and the brakes refused to hold. The car began backing and went down over the bank. Had it not been for the rocks and trees the occupants of the car would have been killed. The car kept right side up until it stopped. It took six men and two horses to get the car out. They had to cut the trees about five rods and drew the car around to the clearing.”