Page One — “New York, May 1 (AP) — New York’s $160,000,000 World’s Fair which took three years to build, is here at last.

“The greatest international exposition in history — two square miles of Long Island embracing 300 gleaming buildings, 50 miles of roads and 35,000 employees — opened its gates yesterday to several hundred thousand visitors.

“President Roosevelt headed a kaleidoscopic program on inaugural ceremonies, coming down from Hyde Park to proclaim the fair a token of America’s spirit of friendship and peace toward all the world.

“Following the President’s address there was a parade down the Mall with 25,000 announced participants — army, navy, marines, police, fair workers and foreign groups in variegated costumes.”

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Blooimgdale news

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“Mrs. Louis Pelky and Miss Geraldine Lagoy were hostesses at a dinner party Friday evening in honor of Mrs. John Greer and Miss Olga Knapp to observe their birthday anniversaries.

“The dinner was held at the Pelky home and the other guests were Mr. and Mrs. Donald Eldrett and son Bobby, Mrs. Gerald Phillips, and son Jack of Waverly and Louis Pelky and John Greer.

“Later in the evening a card party was held as a surprise for Miss Knapp. High score prizes went to Miss Aloha Matson and Jack Hewitt and consolation prizes to John Greer and Miss Harriet Stephenson.

“In addition to the guests present at the dinner and the prize winners, guests who played cards were Miss Annie Hewitt, Elmer and John Brewster, John A. Sprague, Elson Matson, Billie Hewitt and John Hayes.”

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“Mrs. Clayton Brown entertained with a card party Thursday at her home here for the benefit of the Ladies Guild of the Episcopal Church.

“Bridge and pinochle were played and refreshments were served after the games.

“The guests were Mrs. Paul Parsons, Mrs. F. Folsom, Mrs. Harry Weston, Mrs. Parrish, Mrs. Noyes, Mrs. Dorothy White, Mrs. Leonard, Mrs. Ortloff, Mrs. Lawrence, Mrs. R. H. Ling, Mrs. Rufus Weston, Mrs. M. Simpson, Mrs. B. Byer, Mrs. Mae Martin, Mrs. H. Boardway, Mrs. B. Brown, Mrs. N. D. Barnard and Miss Ann Carr.

“Also Mrs. L. A. Rand, Mrs. Edward Daigneau, Mrs. H. Hewitt, Mrs. John Sprague, Mrs. Muncil, Mrs. J. O’Malley, (John O’Malley was the Town Clerk in the Town of Franklin at that time), Mrs. M. Preston, Mrs. John Peterson and Mrs. L. W. Gillespie.”

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Lake Placid news

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“Rebuilding the high school baseball team will be no easy task for Howie Page in his first year as diamond mentor. What page had planned as the backbone of his team suddenly disappeared and now he is left but with two veterans of the championship 1938 squad.

“Bernard Farley, first string catcher for the past three years started the ball rolling down when he was declared ineligible. Bud Colby, fireball southpaw and one of the best ever developed in this region, has left the school to work until he leaves for Canisius College in August. ‘Butch’ Reid who was removed from the gridiron team last fall because of a hernia, was operated on for same just two weeks ago and will be out for the rest of the year.

“To top all of this, husky Jim LaHart, heavy hitting left fielder and also enrolled at Canisius next fall decided to do the same as Colby.

“So with the opening game just two weeks away and only three days of outdoor work under their belts the chances of the blue repeating their championship seem very slight. The only regulars now remaining are Art (Gypy) Adams in the outfield and peppery utility man Billy Hughes. Just who will do the hurling is Page’s biggest problem at present and he is trying to build up Dick Pelkey, Eddie Doyle, and Billy Hughes as a possible mound corps, but none have had any experience. In the outfield a tentative line-up of Martin at first, Hughes at second, Strack at short, [gee, I didn’t know Jerry was playing high school baseball in 1939], and Beaney at third and Johnny Fell behind the plate, has been tried, with Adams, Cook and Bob LaHart in the garden. (Not familiar with the ‘garden’?)

“The Blue will play their first practice game of the season on Wednesday, meeting an experienced Northwood nine on the prep school diamond.”

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“A 10-week skating season – the most extensive summer ice period ever planned at the arena – has been announced by officials of the North Elba Park District. Ice will be put down on June 24 and will remain to lure hot weather skaters until September 4.

“In announcing a season three weeks longer than last year, officials explained that since 1932, when the first ice period of two weeks only, was tried out, the idea has grown rapidly in popularity.

“Marking the 1939 season will be ice hockey matches; a judge’s school, conducted by the United States Figure Skating Association; two ice dance periods and a series of dance tests; and the eighth annual figure-skating operetta, will be held this year on August 3, 4, and 5.

“Already here to remain with her family until late September, is Miss Hazel Franklin, 13-year-old English skating star who headed skating carnival casts throughout the country last winter. Coming from skating centers of the United States and many foreign countries, this year’s gathering of summer ice enthusiasts is expected to be the largest ever entertained here.”

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“Lake Placid high’s well balanced tennis team gained their initial win of the 1939 season Saturday afternoon when they turned back a strong Northwood School net team 5 to 3 on the prep school courts.

“One upset was registered as Demarest, Northwood’s number one player soundly whipped Abe Sadove, ace of the town school, 6-3, 6-2.

“Billy Meyer [Judge Rick Meyer’s dad] and Bob Pendleton, the high school’s number two and three men, turned in the best performances of the day with Meyer polishing off Callan with ease, 6-2, 6-2 and Pendleton showing much class in beating Taylor 8-6, 0-6, 6-2.”

Combe back next week for more big news from 1939.