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Listen to the backtalk

OK, kind readers, I have to set this up for you. I wrote a column July 31, “A Cluster of Hotels,” then Aug. 7 about the private Baldwin School on Pine Street founded by Ernest Hickok Baldwin and on Aug. 14 about businesses Strolling Down Broadway.

Let’s begin with the Baldwin School, feedback from Carol Poole:

“Just read your Aug. 7 article about the Baldwin School and it intrigued me.”

So here are excerpts from her research on Mr. Baldwin.

“Ernest Hickok Baldwin was born to Elijah C. Baldwin and Fannie Hutchinson Baldwin in Bradford, CT, on May 19, 1869. Elijah was a minister. The family moved to New Haven, CT, by 1880, and in 1891 Ernest earned his BA degree from Yale University. He went on for his Master’s which he on obtained in 1897, again from Yale.

“He was married in 1895 to Harriet Beach who passed away two years later.

“When the 1900 census was recorded, Ernest was teaching in New Haven and was a widower living in a boarding house there. On July 29, 1904, he married Annie M. Leonard in Taunton, MA. By 1910 they had moved to Saranac Lake and were living on Pine Street. He and his wife’s sister, Florence Leonard, were teaching at a private school, undoubtedly, The Baldwin School. You know the rest.” (And yes, Carol Ernst did come to Saranac Lake with TB.)

Carol, an author whose most recent book is “Len’s Boys,” documents more than 100 men from Tupper Lake who served in World War II writing letters to their beloved high school mentors, Coach Len Perry, Principal Lawrence Quinn and Father Edmund Dumas. And Carol gave a “book talk” last Wednesday at the Goff-Nelson Memorial Library in Tupper Lake.

Her book is available at Tupper Arts, as is Volume II of my book. Tupper Arts is beautiful, with big rooms and great art work. Staffed by volunteers, it is worth a visit.

Also, a note from Susan Edelberg Donnelly.

“My brother, John, and I attended Nursery School at the Baldwin House on Pine Street, maybe 1952-1954.”

Bars and St. Regis Hotel

Maybe I should mention, in addition to the six bars around “The St. Regis Corner,” and just a stone’s throw up Broadway was Earl’s Village Tavern, owned and operated by Earl Catillaz, none other than uncle to Tom Catillaz. Tom has been mayor and on the village board for about a 100 years. Then the Vet’s Club, probably one of the busiest bars in town for years following WWII. Red Stearns invited me to join the Veteran’s Drum & Bugle Corps in the summer of 1949. It was a talented group, sharp uniforms and man, was it was a blast when we participated in parades in other villages.

Now don’t read the following if you have not lived here for at least 50 years because it will just add to the confusion about all the bars and, anyhow, most of you could care less. … So Bud Duffy, who has been here longer than I have, has contributed the following:

“Adirondack Daily Enterprise, March 18, 1948. Two Local Men Buy Business on Broadway.

“Announcement has been made of the sale of Jerry’s Lounge (we are still talking about what is today the site of The Rusty Nail) at 90 Broadway to Frances Trombley and Donald Stone. The building and business was purchased from Gerald Olyer.

“Mr. Trombley operates the Rainbow Bar & Grill on Bloomingdale Avenue and Mr. Stone operates the Melody Bar & Grill on Woodruff Street.” Bud then adds, “Howard, does this shine any more light on the subject?” Bud, way too much light … thanks anyway!

Karen and St. Regis Hotel

I received a third letter about recent columns also actually written in long-hand from Karen McLaughlin telling about her experiences at the St. Regis.

She is Hugh’s McLaughlin’s daughter, niece to Bill McLaughlin. Hugh was a tall, handsome guy, as was Bill. Hugh was a combat veteran of WWII.

Karen talks about her family ties to the John English family who owned the hotel at that time. Karen now lives in Tupper Lake.

Here is an excerpt from Karen’s letter.

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