The 1974 caption read: “The future site of the Saranac Lake branch of Farmer’s National Bank” at 46 Broadway, now Community Bank. There was a small house in the vacant lot that is now a piece of the bank’s parking lot that was the office for Floyd Greene’s Insurance and Real Office business. The big building was the Saranac Lake Supply, a grocery store owned by brothers Richard and Bernard Mullen. Next was the “One Minute Lunch” where we, as teenagers, hung out all the time. It was owned by Leith Dickie and his Dad and next door was a jewelry store owned by the Pedroni family. Next building in that row that was “Everett’s Men’s and Boy’s Clothing Store,” now housing a second-hand store full of collectibles; next is Anne’s Crepe’s (delicious) and then Riley’s Rock Shop. (Photo from February 1974 Enterprise)

Entire page 9 in the Enterprise of Feb. 1, 1974 proclaimed with this six column headline: “Making A Time Capsule for 2023.”

Although there is no mention of how and where — or if the information was actually buried in an environmentally sealed container — the research and notes made by the eighth grade students were preserved in this copy of the Enterprise.

“Fifty years from now some eighth grade students may wonder what life was like ‘way back in 1973’ and in those other ‘olden days.’

“The following are just some excerpts from various essays telling of our childhood. Since these are in print, perhaps our grandchildren may read them.”

Mindy Bell: “When I moved here from Miami, I had never seen snow before. I was in the fourth grade at the time. I missed the bus on the first day of school and got a ride from a policeman.”

Dale Lewis: “Each school day goes by fast. Everyday seems the same. You get up in the morning, eat breakfast, get dressed, catch the bus, go to school, go home, go to bed. The only thing you notice is the weather.”

Bernie LaGasse: “The lawns had to be worked. My oldest brother and I had that job. We pulled weeds, took out needle bushes and raked grass. All those crazy jobs went to us.”

Joan Lezak: “It was always fun at Christmas time to see what everybody got. I was very cheerful putting up the tree and decorating it with the rest of the family. Everybody loves Christmas time in our family because it brings us closer together each year.”

Larry Amell: “Why back when we first got our new color television, we rose to watch it, invited friends over to see it and stayed up late at night to watch it. After a while it wasn’t so exciting to watch.”

Sue Winester: “When we first come to Saranac Lake from Camilus, N.Y., it was night and we could see the reflection of all the lights in the clear lake.”

Hawley Snyder: “I remember going on a raft trip with my Scout Troop. It was a 20-mile trip and the water was quite cold. Steve and I went back in the woods and saw a black bear.”

Cathy Fisher: “My best friend lived across the road. No matter what kind of day it was, we always did something together, whether it was skating, hiking, bicycling, swimming, or going on a picnic. Everything seemed so simple when I was little with no major problems such as Watergate, the fuel shortage, and the energy crisis.”

Pete Camelo: “It seems like only yesterday that I was in Little League baseball. The next thing I knew I was out of that and into the Larry Doyle League. I pitched as a rookie and we beat a team that had not lost a game in more than a year.”

Calvin Paige: “Saranac Lake is a fine place to live. You can ski, skate, play hockey, figure skate, or go snowmobile riding in the winter. In the summer you can enjoy water sports like swimming, water skiing and play baseball and basketball. In this town there are odd jobs to be done like shoveling snow, babysitting and working in stores.”

Ann Mandigo: “When I was about four, I broke my leg falling down the stairs that led to the cellar. It was about Christmas time and I couldn’t go down to Newberry’s to see Santa and tell him what I wanted for Christmas and get my lollipop!”

Pat Keough: “When I was in Kindergarten I heard some of the other kids talk about ‘dish washers.’ From the way they described it, I thought it was big box that would open its mouth and spit all over the dishes. When we got one, I loved it at first, now it seems like a pain to just unload it.”

Rex Bigg: “I believe that my mother, Mrs. Beatrice L. Bigg was the first woman taxi driver in Saranac Lake (1940-43). The stand was located across from the Harrietstown Town Hall — between the Saranac Lake Hardware building and the old hotel which was torn down to make room for the Texaco Station.”

Terry Ryan: “As early as 1838 Saranac Lake had its first school. This was located near ‘The Pines’ on the Old Military Road [the road today is an extension of Pine Street that skirts the cemetery].

“The teacher was Mary Miller, Pliny Miller’s granddaughter. A second school was built in 1843 near the Berkeley Hotel. The teacher was Mary McClelland. In 1854, the school moved to Algonquin Avenue. In 1870 the two schools were united and centrally located on Main Street where the hotel Saranac now stands. When it became a high school, President Benjamin Harrison dedicated the building in September of 1892.”

Frinda (or Frieda?) Smith: “There have been many exciting and noisy days in our town. One Sunday in 1927, the President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge (Republican) was attending Sunday services at the Presbyterian Church. Just around the corner Al Smith, (Democrat), Governor of New York State was kneeling in prayer at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. Republicans and Democrats and other interested spectators jammed the streets to see the politicians, presidential guards and troopers. Flashbulbs were popping as the Secret Service herded the important personages through the thrilled crowd.”

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1974 headlines seem familiar

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“Inflation and Unemployment to Worsen in ’74”

“92 Are Killed in Plane Crash at Pago Pago, American Samoa”

“Quake Rocks Turkish City”

“Egypt Wants Israel to Guarantee ‘National Rights’ of Refugees”

“House Has Power to Call Nixon” and locally:

“Winter Returns to New York”

“More Wind, Work for Power Crews.”