That is a story that must be covered in detail at a later date. Some misinformation has been out there recently claiming the reconstruction was in preparation for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid. The Olympic Games had nothing to do with that reconstruction.

The planning for that job started in the mid-1960s when I, as mayor, and Deputy Mayor Myron Skeels met with state and federal officials in New York City. So my regret about the beach and the reconstruction goes much deeper than for most.

There have been many efforts by local groups, over the years, to return the beach from Lake Colby to Lake Flower. Mayor Tim Jock said to me, as village manager in 1997, “Whatever else you do, I want that beach returned to Lake Flower.” I can’t tell you the immense time and effort that my hand-picked committee spent on that project. I said later that I probably should not have named them the “Sons of the Beach” committee.

Now we have found the story about the purchase and construction of that beach and bathhouse in 1929 carried in a July 6, 1960, copy of the Enterprise. I have never previously run across this piece of history that was such an important undertaking for Saranac Lake.

He was really Lt. Al (Albert H.) Homburger, a WWII veteran. He was our company commander when I served in the National Guard from 1947 to 1956. We were then a Headquarters Company, Second Battalion of the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, changed to an artillery unit a couple of years before I left. His dad, Albert G. Homburger, also a WWII veteran, was our first sergeant. Later, another WWII veteran, Charles M. Sayles, became first sergeant.

It made me sad about the whole thing when I read the following: “The new Prescott Beach Bath House now open to the public recalls the part the American Legion Post 447 played in the original and subsequent plan for better bathing facilities.

“During the year 1929 Post 447 began discussing the need for a supervised bathing area. There were no established public bathing facilities at the time and plans made to acquire the present location.

“Surveys of Moody Pond, Ampersand, Lower Saranac and other available spots failed to produce the proper physical properties necessary.

“The spot selected on Lake Flower was occupied by a two-story General Grocery store operated by Dave reader. The building and land was purchased by cash and mortgage. In addition the shore line and water rights were purchased from Capt. Harold Thomas for $300. (The Thomas family had a boat rental and tour boat facility directly across from St. Bernard’s School.) “The building was completely demolished and the bath house constructed by members of the Legion Post under the supervision of the members of the Legion and Village Manager Wayne Timmerman who combined to clear out submerged stumps and debris. (It must have been Mr. Timmerman’s first big job as Manager because that position was created in 1929 and he was the first manager, an engineer from Massena.) The land was then filled with tons of clean sand much of which was donated by the late George Paye.

“The beach was open to the public in 1930. The burning of the mortgage took place in 1932 when Ray Bell was Post Commander. At this time the building and property were donated to the Village of Saranac Lake free of charge, providing a long needed recreation area for the citizens and visitors down through the years.

“Later the Village Improvement Society donated additional land and water rights to extend the bathing beach. The new bath house is a fitting memorial to the Legion and to its members who participated in the long range program for better civic facilities.”

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Chamber reports big mail campaign

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“The Saranac Lake Chamber Board of Directors has reported the summer inquiry mailing just completed by the chamber office to be the largest such mailing campaign in chamber history.

“The mailing was the result of the highly successful cooperative summer advertising campaign which saw Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Lake Placid and the Adirondack Attractions group ‘selling’ the area under a large ‘Fun in the Adirondacks’ banner in the resort sections of the New York Times, the New York Herald Tribune and other large metropolitan newspapers.

“Following the insertion of the ads, the various chamber of commerce offices and the Attractions office were literally swamped with inquiries regarding the facilities in the area. The campaign was under the direction of Rod Bucklin and included booth displays in a number of sport shows in the northeast.

“The chamber executives, meeting at the Northbrook Lodge in Paul Smith’s, as guests of owner William Schwartau, who is also a chamber director, were told that the chamber office had also mailed out 20,000 new, summer brochures to various chambers across the nation, travel agencies, bas terminals, newspapers, automobile clubs, and Canadian outlets.

“The new tourist listing for 1960 was also revised and more than 10,000 mailed, or used in a profitable manner. More than 10,000 Stevenson cottage folders will also be distributed this week.

“The board approved the holding of a water show to be staged on July 31. The show will include 19 acts by the popular Auqua-Batic ski team and will be held on Lake Flower and will supplement other big events such as the antique show, the regatta and the Adirondack Skeet Shoot to be held here at the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club.”