(This makes the 2016 hotel controversy pretty small potatoes.)

I told my dear readers last week that my copy of the Oct. 4, 1938 Enterprise was brimming with local news now this how would you like to be in the shoes of Mayor Thomas P. Ward facing trying to solve this big problem?

“To Save a Lily Pond – It all happened this way. Leonard Houghton [I went to school with his daughter, Joyce, and I believe that he is somehow related to the Rodel family, owners of the Hotel Saranac] of 941/2 Riverside Drive has cultivated several varieties of lilies during recent years in an artificial pond on the edge of the lake near his residence. He has also, he says, nursed an untold number of tadpoles, pollywogs and assorted frogs in his pond. In fact two of the larger frogs have become pets returning to his pond year after year.

“All was well with Mr. Houghton’s lilies and frogs until the new Main Street dam was constructed. Then things began to happen. First the new dam raised the water level of Lake Flower several inches. Then the heavy rains of the past weeks raised it several inches more. All this wrought untold havoc with Mr. Houghton’s lilies and even his pet frogs have left him, he says.

“Other village business marked time while the board weighed Mr. Houghton’s problem. His efforts were not to be in vain, however.

“Mayor Thomas P. Ward instructed Village Manager Millar Johnson to lower the water level of the lake by opening the dam. Meanwhile, the village board prayed for less rain.”

–

Other board business

–

“The Village Board granted permission to Charles Olyer of 6 Terrace Street to operate a taxi stand at 9 Bloomingdale Avenue and to Herman Bova, of the same address, to operate a taxi stand at 80 Broadway. The board denied the application of the Study and Craft Guild for a reduction in water rates.’

[Mr. Houghton was a CPA. Not named in the Enterprise story were the other Village Trustees in 1938: Jay T. Stickney, Louis Kendall, Sol Drutz and Alfred Currier.]

–

Harrietstown/Brighton Grange meets

–

“Dean C. Whittemore of St. Lawrence University was the guest speaker at the booster night program of the Brighton and Harrietstown Grange which was held in Gabriels.

[The Grange Hall in Gabriels is now owned by Holly Huggins who operates the big hall as an Antiques Shop just full of “stuff” even covering the stage.]

“The officers’ march opened the program and the presentation of the flag to the Grange was made. An address of welcome was given by Master Lawrence Rogers to more than 70 members and friends who attended the meeting.

“Thomas McDonald, accompanied by his mother, Mrs. John McDonald sang ‘Beside an Open Fireplace’ and eight children from the Lake Colby School sang Grange nursery rhymes under the direction of Lecturer Esther McMaster. The children were Marion Trimm, Irene MacDonald, Eunice MacDonald, Leona and Ruth Vaughn, Peggy Martell and Ralph and Harold James.”

–

Essex GOP chairman re-elected

–

“Mortimer Y. Ferris of Ticonderoga was re-elected chairman of the Essex County Republican Committee at the organizational meeting at Elizabethtown attended by 79 delegates or their proxies.

“Mr. Ferris was opposed by Thomas A. Leahy of this village, winning 41 to 37.

“Mr. Leahy and S. W. Barnard of Bloomingdale have been named to the congressional committee. On the judicial committee are Sheldon F. Wickes of Ticonderoga and Robert B. Dudley of Elizabethtown.”

–

Local persons on jury duty

–

“Jurors to serve at the term of Supreme Court which will open here October 17 before Justice O. Byron Brewster were drawn on Saturday. [Edited to area residents.]

“Faust, W.J. Sparks; Paul Smiths, Seth Lyons; Saranac Lake, James Carroll, James White, E.E. Bellows, Burt Nichols, Walter Atwood; Tupper Lake, Floyd Hutchins, Leslie King, Max Grabenstein and John Goff.

“Petit jurors: Gabriels, Phil Beaney; Saranac Lake, Joe Vuzzi; Tupper Lake, Anna Pimstein.

–

Merit badge for dog care (I like this one)

–

“A. I. Marshall of Malone, Chairman of the Adirondack Council Court of Honor Committee has announced a new merit badge, in dog care, open to Scouts of the Council.

“This makes a total of 106 badges covering a large variety of topics.

“Felix Leser, of Kiwassa Road, has consented to act as the examiner for Scouts wishing to secure this new badge in Saranac Lake. Other merit badge counselors in the five districts will soon be appointed.

“In the merit badge pamphlet, which is a booklet giving full and complete information on the knowledge necessary to meet the merit badge requirements, a picture of Mr. Leser and his ten Eskimo huskies is to be found. [I believe his place was known as the “Howling Dog Farm.]

“Mr. Marshall feels that this merit badge will be of interest to many scouts as a large number of them have dogs. The badge includes a knowledge of the proper care, kind of food, training, grooming and exercise required in the caring for the dog’s health. A knowledge of state, and county and town ordinances is also necessary.”

–

Harrietstown tax assessment

–

“A school tax assessment of $16,500 was placed on the Rumsey Estate property by members of the Harrietstown School District No. 1 at their meeting yesterday. The property is owned by the Saranac Lake Society for the Control of Tuberculosis.

“The board also granted the Study and Craft Guild permission to use the high school auditorium Friday evening to present the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Pirates of Penzance.”

–

Real estate for rent

–

“10 Terrace Street -?3 furnished rooms, porch. Hot water, lights. Centrally located. $12.00 per month. Phone 1194-w.”

“Lakeside Apartments, 65-67 River Street, one and two room apartments. Heat, hotplate, lights, hot water. $16 to $20 a month. Phone 302-J.”

“4 room apartment, furnished, heated, southern exposure porch. Heated garage. $40 monthly. Phone 879.”

“Unfurnished house 6 rooms, bath, $25.00 per month. 23 Charles street. Inquire Saranac Lake Savings and Loan Association, 40 Main Street.”

–

Panther seen in town of Franklin

–

“From the Alderbrook section in the Town of Franklin come reports of seeing a large panther, a species of animal supposedly extinct in this region for 40 years or more.

“Panther, or catamount, formerly roamed the country hereabouts in large numbers, so great that a mountain in this vicinity where they had their lairs was named for these big members of the cat family.

“Many old residents of the Adirondacks who used to live in isolated areas, can recall having heard in their homes the nearby unearthly calls of the creatures.

“Predatory by nature, they destroyed much wild life and a bounty was placed upon them as one of the state’s first efforts towards the conservation of other game.

“Many were killed and those left withdrew further into the wilderness untraveled by hunters. For a number of years no one had reported seeing any trace of these animals.

“Frank Mose told first of seeing the big cat. Mr. Mose who lives on a farm near Riverview stated that he came upon what he at first supposed was a fox in the woods near his farm. As he approached, he said, a long, tawny shape slid off the ledge in front of him and disappeared into the underbrush.

“Bert Corum, an employee at the Mose Farm, also reported having seen the creature.”