This photo was taken in July, 1926 at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake. The gentleman in the center is New York Governor Alfred E. Smith with Mrs. Smith, the former Catherine Ann Dunn — I would guess the governor may be sharing an Irish joke with Father Joseph Creedon by the looks of all the smiling faces in the crowd. It is believed that the gentleman next to Father Creedon is the actor Eddie Cantor. Governor Smith’s mother was Irish and his father was Italian. By the way, I have Irish Alzheimer’s — we forget everything except a grudge. (Photo from the 1995 calendar published by the Saranac Lake Free Library, the 10th in a limited series of historical calendar)

This nearly 100-year-old copy of the Enterprise has only sports stories and social notes — the reason for that — I have only four pages of the newspaper, not page one with all the local news.

The big event of the week, the horse races on Ampersand Bay, looked like they may have to be canceled, but the Horse Club officials say, “Never!”

“‘Never Say Die’ is the slogan of the Adirondack Driving Club, officials of which still plan to continue the races on the Ampersand track on Lower Saranac as soon as the mountains of snow can be removed.

Just when that will be done, none of them were able to predict this afternoon.

“The huge snow storm has prevented the out-of-town trainers, owners and buyers from leaving town today so they are enjoying a quiet sojourn pending a decision on the postponement. Many trains have been delayed or canceled because of the snow. The hotels are doing a great business hosting the racing fans.

“Club officials now say that the huge task of unburying the track will begin in the morning.

“Among those who are here this week in connection with the horse races and also waiting for the track to be cleared of snow are E. G. Mason and E. Humphrey and Harry Bachelor all of Malone, stopping at the Riverside Inn; Willard Boyce, A. Keese and Charles Amlott of Saranac Inn; Paul Stevens of Lake Placid; John Dillon and W. J. Dilling of New Haven, Conn., at the St. Regis Hotel; J. Pendergast of Utica, G. Timmons, Ed Disotith, W. Skiff, V. M. Orton, Fred Tatra, all of Malone at the St. Regis; Norman Murphy of Lake Placid; Frank E. Denet and H. H. Halie of Tupper Lake; Ben Peabody and Henry Brisett of Keeseville; A. B. Hickok of Bloomingdale, Isaac Sterns of Gabriels, Frank Peck of Ticonderoga; A. Willard, W. M. Marlotte and J. Davidson of Utica stopping at the Grand Union Hotel.”

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LP-SL hoopsters meet

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“Lake Placid, Saranac Lake meet tonight at the Boys Club with first place in the high school Adirondack Basketball League at stake.

(The Boys Club contained bowling alleys, an indoor running track in the balcony above the gym, a recreation room and huge offices above the front entrance. I am very familiar with the building, spending many hours there as it later was the New York State Armory. It housed the Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27 Division National Guard when I joined the Guard with many of my high school classmates in 1947. I served for nine years.)

“Saranac Lake now heads the league with Placid trailing, but the latter team has been progressing rapidly under the tutelage of Coach McCutcheon and now appears a dangerous threat.

“Practice for the local quint this week has been hot and heavy, and the starting lineup has not been revealed by Saranac Lake Coach Sackett, who has been shifting his men around all week to determine the best combination.

“However, the team will probably take the floor with Morgan in right forward, Dewey or Donohue left forward, Daunais center, Mulfur right guard and Herron left guard.

“In Leland Lyons, Lake Placid has one of the most dangerous basketball stars in the league, and he has a fast, supporting team in Wilson, R. Lyons, Bruce, Shields and Winch. Wilson is a tall, rangy center hard to out-jump.”

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Curling teams on the road

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“Practice games will be held Friday and Saturday before the teams leave for five days of curling at Schenectady, Utica and Montreal next week.

“Last night the team that goes to Schenectady defeated the Boston team 228 to 6. (?) The winning team was made up of W. G. Distin, W. F. Duquette, R. B. Leonard, S. J. Appleyard, skip, while the losers were A. H. Denny, H. Danforth, L. Kernochan and C. C. Trombley, skip.

“Tonight the Montreal first team skipped by T. P. Smith will play the Paterson Memorial second team skipped by S. J. Appleyard.

“On the other sheet of ice the finals in this week’s second division elimination tourney will take place. Last night Robert Smith’s team defeated H. B. Brown’s team 11 to 10 in one of the closest matches this year. Smith’s team will meet H. R. Leggett’s team in the finals.

“Invitations have been received by the local club for the Sno-Bird club tournament at the Lake Placid Club on Tuesday, February 10.”

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Tracks of the big cat

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“The tracks of the Canadian lynx that has for years been making its home in the Elizabethtown section, have again been seen this winter.

“For years the tracks of the big cat have been noted in the snow between the Kilkenny cottages and Old Cobble Mountain after heavy snow storms.

“Recently the tracks were seen by men chopping wood in that section. How the lynx manages to escape traps and hunters year after year is a mystery. Those wise in the ways of the woods say there is no doubt that it is the same animal that has been ranging that country for a number of years.

“It appears the only way the lynx will ever be run down and killed is by the use of dogs, as it ignores traps and avoids hunters with an uncanny skill.”

(Gee, maybe they all should just leave it alone and let it live since it has outsmarted so many for so long.)

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Sudden death in Pioneer family

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The Keet family is familiar in Saranac Lake today because of the community service and contributions made by Mr. and Mrs., Lee and Nancy Keet of Lake Colby.”

Back in 1925, the Keet family of doctors and judges had a sudden death in the family.

“Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Keet, of McComb Street, are expecting to leave tomorrow morning for Schuyler Falls, having been called there by the death of Mr. Keet’s brother, Elmer E. Keet, who died at his home there suddenly yesterday morning. Death was said to be due to heart trouble. Mr. and Mrs. Keet attempted to leave Saranac Lake this morning but were unable to on account of the delayed train service following the snow storm.”

The Keet family is familiar in Saranac Lake today because of the community service and contributions made by Lee and Nancy Keet of Lake Colby.

“Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Keet, of McComb Street, are expecting to leave tomorrow morning for Schuyler Falls, having been called there by the death of Mr. Keet’s brother, Elmer E. Keet, who died at his home there suddenly yesterday morning. Death was said to be due to heart trouble. Mr. and Mrs. Keet attempted to leave Saranac Lake this morning but were unable to on account of the delayed train service following the snow storm.”