Movie ads in the Enterprise, 1978

I am so lucky to have kept such meticulous files over the years. So I decided to take today’s newsy column from a treasured 43-year-old Enterprise from June 19, 1978 — see today’s date June 19, 2021. Pretty cool, huh?

Actually, I opened a cabinet stuffed with old copies of the Enterprise, and that copy, with others, fell on to the floor … There, with full transparency, you fact-checkers can go eat cake.

There was this depressing, to me, news on page 1 … Mel Chambers, a senior race official, “warned that this year may be the final year for guideboat competition in the Willard Hanmer Memorial Boat Races.”

However, the races managed to continue even with a big decrease in the guideboat competition. In the early days of the competition there would be at least a dozen guideboat teams entered, but Chambers said only three teams had entered the 1972 races. The races managed to hang on for the 50th anniversary of the event in 2012.

There were dozens and dozens of canoe teams each year, and with my pal Mickey Luce, we raced every year in the ’60s, starting with the first race.

***

In my opinion, it was the soul of small-town newspapers when they carried “news” from even smaller towns. The correspondents were paid 10 cents an inch, maybe encouraging them to write longer pieces, and my favorite was Dorothy White of Bloomingdale. Her son Dexter was a high school classmate of mine. Here is a bit of news from Dorothy in 1978.

“On Saturday afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Morford were the surprised guests of honor at a party to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, hosted by their children, Mrs. Frank McCloskey of Albany, Miss Diane Morford and Harold John Morford, Jr., at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Morford. [My sisters Rita Littlefield and Marguerite Ellithorpe were friends of Rita and Theresa Morford.]

“Recent callers at the home of Mrs. Martin H. Emmons were Mr. and Mrs. ‘Skip’ Brown of Gongales, Tex., Mr. and Mrs. Gary Brown and son, Matthew of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Michael and Allison Brown of Plattsburgh, and Mr. and Mrs. Bruce C. Hawthorne of Hanover, Mass.

“A number of Boy Scouts of Troop 19, including leaders Sandy Hayes and Harold Morford, Jr., took part in the annual service commemorating the Birth of the American Flag conducted by the Saranac Lake Lodge of Elks on Sunday afternoon. This is a colorful and stirring ceremony using the many flags that have flown over our country since its beginning.”

***

“The eleventh commencement of Head Start was held on Friday before an audience that overflowed the little schoolhouse in William Morris Park.

“Seventeen cap-and-gowned regular pupils and five rotating daily visitors received their diplomas from John Wojewadjic, regional Head Start director.

“This year’s awarding of Winnie-the-Poohs, made by senior citizens Mrs. Margaret Burman, Mrs. Clara Cole, Mrs. Stanley Tokarski and Mrs. Marie Recor, was highly prized.

“Head Start teacher Mrs. Ruth Seidenstein directed the graduation exercises with the full staff in attendance: Margaret Partridge, nurse; Diane Boyer, teacher aide; Mary Murray, general assistance and bus driver; Mrs. Grace Whitelaw, cook who supervised the serving of the anniversary cake that followed the ceremony.

“Official acknowledgements were paid to many friends who helped make Head Start a vigorous and thriving year: Roland Branch, for contributing needed repairs to the kitchen and others for volunteering daily service to Head Start; Grace Masin, Catherine Moody, Ethel LaVallee, Anne Munn, Karen Conor, Mrs. Larry Euber, Maxine Drutz, Marie Pratt, Ethel Dyer, Frances Bunker, Emily Hauck and Wilhelmina Rawdon.

“Diplomas were awarded to Elizabeth Aubin, Erika Bova, Melanie Branch, Michael Coffey, Krista Colby, Jodi Connor, Larry Euber, Teresa LaPierre, Sean Lavigne, Peter Longley, Brandon Munn, Barbara Rawdon, Armand Smith, Shelly Struss, Scott VanCour, John White, Vincent Wilcox, Joshua Clement, Amy Law, Katrena Swinyer, MarkLeClair and Jason Wamsganz.”

***

“Expansion plans for the Newman Opera House [now Lisa G’s, 444 Main Street, Lake Placid] were dealt a blow Friday afternoon when Village Attorney Roland Briggs, in an Adirondack Park Agency hearing at the Olympic Arena, relayed the village’s opposition to the proposed deck on the wooden-frame structure.

“High Peaks Traders Ltd., owners of the Opera House, are applying to the APA for a shoreline variance which must be granted before they are allowed to build the proposed deck. The 15 foot patio will jut from the structure over the Chubb River.

“Terry Huse and Jim McKenna voiced objection to the village document being entered into the testimony, saying they were not aware of the opposition and had not been informed by the village of their reason for opposing their plans.

“Huse said the patio is necessary to increase daytime business, which he said is nil at the time and to compete with the more than 30 liquor establishments in Lake Placid.

“If the APA does grant the approval the Opera House will then have to seek approval from the village Zoning Board of Appeals. The village based its opposition to the plan based on present zoning ordinances.”

Remember this: Across the street from the Opera House was the Chubb River Tavern, and on the opposite corner was the Handlebar Bar and Restaurant. During the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, the site became known as “The Barmuda Triangle,” because some wag came up with this story — two British bobsledders went into the Opera House to have a beer and were never seen again.