A unique, maybe I could say, clever format would fit the description of a small (5-inch by 6-inch) publication that contained every single fact and figure that anyone would ever want to know about Saranac Lake.

Meet the Town was first published in 1927 by Thomas W. Sheridan with a circulation of 12,500.

Meet the Town, 1971, was then published and copyrighted by Galas Unlimited, which was owned and produced by Jeanne and Jacques De Mattos, who owned and operated WNBZ Radio.

Until a few years ago, Meet the Town was published by Fred Finn. Then, for a free advertisement in the publication, it was distributed by my son, Kean, of Riley’s Rock Shop.

The tiny 88-page magazine was loaded with advertising, it was free, and listed in detail an incredible amount of information under 18 categories. Here are a few: Accommodations, Religion, Institutions, Recreation, Attractions, Farming, Organizations, Communications, State Agencies, Transportation, Maps and Emergencies.

EMERGENCIES: On the last page listed Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department alarm signals. When the whistle would blow during the work day, everyone stopped in their tracks to count the signals. It was easy to wait and hear if the fire was in your home area, say Payeville #12. One short blast — pause — two short blasts. However, if one lived in the Petrova Avenue area, as we did, we had to wait a bit longer as the whistle gave four short blasts — pause — two short blasts — pause — one short blast — #421.

The signal for out of town calls was 126; General Hospital, 55; Petrova School, 44; Parochial School 18, etc. — 52 signal numbers covered the entire village.

Usually, as the whistle was still blowing, the radio station would carry a fire insurance ad presented by one of the local insurance agents.

EDUCATION: Saranac Lake Central schools; St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic School; St. Pius X High School; Paul Smith’s College; North Country Community College; the Saranac Lake Center of the American Management Association; the Algonquin School; the Presbyterian Nursery School; the Tot Lot School, an organized play group from ages 1-and-a-half to 3-and-a-half year olds surprised by mothers in Gurley Hall; The La Leche (lay-chay) League is a non-profit, non-sectarian international organization dedicated to the belief that breast-feeding of infants provides early nutritional and psychological benefits and leads to emotional security in later life; the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, established by the State University of New York. The lectures (Tuesday evenings in July and August) are held at the Marble Mt. Lodge of the Whiteface Mt. Field Station just off the Whiteface Mt. Memorial Highway.

EVENTS: Winter Carnival — Crowning of King and Queen at the Pontiac Theatre sponsored by the Rotary Club; Carnival Ball sponsored by the Women’s Civic Chamber; Willard Hanmer Boat Race; Bazaar Boutique and the Annual Antiques Show and Sale, both sponsored by the Hospital Auxiliary; Come to the Fair, sponsored by the Friends of the Library; Paint and Palette Festival; The Festival is produced every August by a group of local Artists; annual Horse Show started in September, 1966 by the Saranac Lake Rotary Club in association with the Saranac Lake Stampeder 4-H Horse Club; held at the Hyde Farm on Route 3 on the Bloomingdale Road. [In the general area now of the BOCES school, but formerly a horse racing track in the background where amusement carnivals were held in the summer months.] Since 1946 the Bloomingdale Field Day has been synonymous with Labor Day because of the annual celebration staged by and for the benefit of the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department.

WELCOME: Just a short piece from the “different” opening statement written by Jeanne and Jacques: “Long before Saranac Lake was incorporated as a village in 1892, it had become famous for its Adirondack guides who were founts of information for visitors to this region. These colorful, lusty woodsmen knew (and were never loath to say) in which streams the trout were jumping, under which logs the biggest bass lurked, and over what hills the fleetest deer could be sighted. [And I might add, among other tall tales.]

“Because the guides are now a vanishing breed, we hope in their place to perpetuate this booklet — continuing in the tradition established by the original publisher, Tom Sheridan — as a capsule of information on every aspect of life in which the modern visitor may take interest.”

After reading through the entire booklet, it appears to me that they have fulfilled that mission.