What a history it was, as laid out in a great story by Bill McLaughlin. The building was still there when I graduated from High School in 1948. I turned age 18 shortly after, got a chauffeur’s license and started driving cab for John Brewster’s 822 taxi located in the alley next to the building.

Following are edited versions of Bill’s Story:

“Saranac Lake’s oldest brick business block, the cradle of a dozen local organizations and many business ventures of more than a half century ago, will be torn down after March 1 and replaced by a modern service station.

“This announcement was made today by Al Shortt (funny thing; I knew Mr. Shortt, he was well over 6 feet tall) owner of the old Spalding Block which now houses Walsh’s Cigar Store and the Riverside Grill.”

It was a really nice gas station with a set of three gas pumps on Main Street and three pumps on River Street, office space and three lube bays. It was leased to, and operated by Ken Lawless, grandfather to the well-known Lawless family of Saranac Lake and Lake Placid.

I worked the night shift for Mr. Lawless, a nice man and a World War II Navy veteran.

We then stayed open to 11 p.m. and the rough nights were in the winter when it would begin to snow and a lot of drivers would be pulling in to have their tire chains put on.

“John F. Walsh, who has occupied a store in the building for the last 30 years, will move to a new location at 44 Main Street. Mr. Walsh entered business here on December 24, 1915.

“The Riverside Grill which has been operated by Richard DeSantis for the last 13 years will close on February 13 with no firm plans for the future.”

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Building built in 1885

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“The Spalding Block was built in 1885 by Titus N. Spalding and preceded the first railroad, the Delaware & Hudson, into Saranac Lake. Materials for the construction, including the bricks, were brought over mountain roads from AuSable Forks by wagons and teams of horses.

“The grill originally was known as Lefty’s, later operated by Al Chapple and then taken over by Dick DeSantis.

“The second and third floors of the building, designed for rooms and apartments, have been unoccupied for many years.

“The three-story structure had a freight elevator which ran from the cellar to the third floor. A steam furnace was installed, although wood was used for operation as there was no way to bring in coal.

“Mr. Spalding operated a general store which carried hardware, tools, guns, ammunition, clothing, tobacco and most anything else people of the day needed.

“Across the front of the third floor was a large hall which was used for dances, social gatherings and meetings.

“The first regular Roman Catholic Church services celebrated in Saranac Lake were held in that block. It was in that building that the Rev. John Waters, as a young priest, conducted services that soon grew into a flourishing parish. Mrs. J. C. Russell was organist.

“The Lodge of Odd Fellows formed in the Spalding Hall and for many years held its meetings there. Other organizations which were popular there have since gone out of existence here, such as the Order of Foresters, the Maccabees, the Red Men and the Independent Order of Good Temperance.

“For many years the Spalding Block was the largest business block in this part of the state.

“In the spring of 1892, Mr. Spalding failed in business. He had been financed by Orlando Blood, one of the owners of the Saranac Lake Light, Keep and Power Company and Blood foreclosed.

“On May 1, 1892, Arthur W. Utting rented the quarters for a store. He had use of the entire building and moved his family in to occupy the second floor and two rooms on the third floor.

“A small section of the main street level was occupied by Ferdinand C. Lamy, who ran a jewelry store. In the rear of the jewelry store was the Western Union Telegraph office. Mr. Spalding managed the office, his sister-in-law, Elsie Brown, was the operator.”

There were many more businesses occupied the big block over the years and its ownership also changed hands many times. The A&P, managed by Bill Horrigan; there was once a bank there that became the Adirondack National Bank; John H. Brogan had a plumbing shop there and Bill Duquette had operated an electrical shop there.

“Mr. Shortt bought the building in September 1942.”

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Clarification

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Last week’s column carried a photo of George A. Woods, formerly of Lake Placid and a graduate of Lake Placid High School, correctly identifying him as children’s editor of the New York Times Book Review. The caption and photo was from the Lake Placid News of Nov. 24, 1970.