The great local history stories come mostly from the pages of old copies of the Enterprise. Even shallow digs into history; local, national or world, one soon finds how much of it is not accurate. I love this quote I ran across in the forward of a book by Colum McCann:

“No history is mute. No matter how much they own it, break it, and lie about it, human history refuses to shut its mouth. Despite deafness and ignorance, the time that was continues to tick inside the time that is” — Eduardo Galeano

So, now to the bear in the stump story from an April 15, 1948 Enterprise. Dick Emperor and Paul Benoit were New York State Conservation Department Game Protectors back in the 1940’s and 50’s. These guys were very visible back then because there were more hunters, more game violators and more stories of wild animals. But a lot less hikers, a lot less lost in the woods hikers and a lot less publicity on these events.

My colleague at the Enterprise, Bill McLaughlin, covered the adventures of these two guys with great stories and pictures. They were always in proper uniform, including the over-the-shoulder lanyard attached to their revolver and magazines. The purpose of the lanyard was so they could not get dropped when wrestling a bear; or more accurately not get dropped when they all rode horses on patrol.

I am trying to get to the point here…after exhaustive research on my part I could not find a photo of Dick or Paul except for some washed out images in McLaughlin’s page one stories. Finally, here is the bear story:

“A rare sight of a she-bear in hibernation and her three newly-born cubs was experienced recently by members of the district office of the Conservation Department who were called to the farm of George Duprey in Swastika.

“The two Game Protectors, Richard Emperor and Paul Benoit, were notified by Mr. Duprey that he had discovered the bear and her cubs while out hunting rabbits with his dog. He said that the dog had stumbled on the bear’s hide-away and with violent barkings had attracted him to the scene.

“The protectors went to the farm near Silver Lake [in Essex County] to take a look and reported it one of the most interesting sights seen by either one in their experiences in the Adirondack forests.

“The mother bear had denned up for the winter in a huge tree stump about five feet high and six feet wide. Here she had given birth to her three cubs, a rare event insofar as bears rarely have more than a litter of two cubs.

“The she-bear was lying on her back in several inches of water too lethargic to be disturbed by the presence of man. The little cubs, each about the size of a squirrel and with their eyes not yet opened, were curled safe and dry on their mother’s chest.

“Photographers from the Albany office of the department were called to the sight and last month were taken to the scene to make moving pictures and still pictures.

“The mother bear, coming out of her hibernation, growled at the men but would only stick her head out.

“According to the game protectors the she-bear, although thin after the winter’s hibernation, would probably weigh about 400 pounds. Armed with guns, the men were careful in prodding the bear but as the season was still early, she refused to come out of hibernation with her babies.

“She would only stick her head out of her winter’s home to peer around. The three cubs, grown in size, were of a deep black coloring, and their capers furnished ample material for the photographers.”

Auto theft reported in Tupper Lake

A fellow took a new Nash out for a spin from a dealer in Tupper Lake and never came back. At least that was the story as published in the Enterprise of March 10, 1930.

“Earl Woodard of Rochester, former North Country dance promoter and manager of the Lakeside roller rink, was apprehended by Buffalo police in that city Saturday night on information received by Tupper Lake Chief of Police Frank Sheldon.

“Woodward had been sought by local police since the latter part of December and has led police officers in Quebec, Montreal, Boston and Providence a merry chase.

“Chief Sheldon received information that he was in Boston Friday and immediately telegraphed the police of that city to hold him. However, before he could be apprehended he departed for Buffalo where he was arrested.

“According to Chief Sheldon,on Dec. 16, Woodward obtained a new Nash sedan from Leon Sabard of Tupper Lake, who is an agent for Leon Tarelton, Nash salesman. Tarelton, who was in Saranac Lake that day on business returned that night to find the car gone. It had been on display in Lane’s garage. On questioning Sabard as to the whereabouts of the car, Sabard told Tarelton that Woodward had taken the car, saying he had permission from Tarelton to do so. Tarelton notified the police and a warrant was sworn for the arrest of Woodward.

“The car was recovered three weeks later in a Saranac Lake garage. It was said to have been badly damaged and driven a great deal.

“Sergeant Joseph Carroll of the New York State Police and Chief Sheldon left for Buffalo to bring the prisoner to this village. Woodward will be charged with first degree larceny and will be arraigned before the grand jury in Malone Wednesday.

The backstory in Woodward

“Woodward will be remembered in Saranac Lake as the manager of the Negro dance orchestra that failed to reach here for the Armistice Day dance here last November, occasioning a disappointment to a crowd assembled at the Town Hall. An automobile accident near Watertown prevented the orchestra’s arrival.

“Later another Negro orchestra managed by Woodward was brought here, and the local Veterans organizations sponsoring the entertainment staged the second dance at a nominal fee as a recompense to those who were disappointed at the first.

“Woodward is also known as a roller skating expert, having appeared in big time vaudeville in a fancy and acrobatic skating act.”