The float, a 1956 Jeep Commando with elegant, permanent lettering on the doors reading “Adirondack Daily Enterprise” was parading Enterprise Columnist Eddie Vogt and his beloved dog Clarabelle.

In an Enterprise reader’s survey in 1953, Eddie’s column, “Our Town,” was voted first in all categories. He came to “take the cure” for tuberculosis at Will Rogers Hospital, a former vaudeville and silent movie actor very popular man about town … always with a cigar and his beloved Clarabelle.

Jim Loeb and Roger Tubby were the owners and publishers of the Enterprise in 1957. They purchased the newspaper in 1953.

I believe the driver and maybe the owner of the Jeep was Advertising Manager Dave Riotto.

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The big Carnival story

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The Carnival story is from 1947/48 as the Carnival ran from December 1947 through Jan. 4, 1948.

The Carnival Committee reached out to our Saranac Lake High School graduating class of 1948 to pick the king and queen and we voted for my cousin Bob Sullivan for king and my friend Jean Keating for queen.

Bob Sullivan, '48 Carnival King (Photo courtesy of the 1948 Saranac Lake High School year )

The following Carnival news is from the Enterprise of Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1947, outlining plans for the celebration.

“Fullest cooperation of village businessmen, service and civic organizations and village officials has been pledged to the winter sports committee of the Chamber of Commerce in their plan for a large winter carnival to be held in Saranac Lake from December 30 through January 4th.

“Various local organizations have accepted responsibility for one or more divisions of the proposed program. Final plans are now in the making and Joseph M. Munn, (I believe Joe was then executive director of the Chamber of Commerce) general chairman of the arrangements, has named service group representatives to assist him.

“A huge carnival parade will open the five-day event and the Saranac Lake Elks Club with Joseph Drutz as chairman was assigned to take charge. The Rotary Club will handle the publicity for the event with Benton C. Ressler as chairman.

“All skating events will be handled by the Saranac Lake Skating Club under the direction of Francis Walsh and the local ski club will make arrangements for the skiing competitions with Robert Demerse in charge.

Jean Keating, '48 Carnival Queen (Photo courtesy of the 1948 Saranac Lake High School year )

“Other chairman will include Robert Roberts in charge of basketball games; Alfredo Gonzalez of the Saranac Lake Study and Craft Guild, is the carnival ball chairman, assisted by other Guild members.

“The Knights of Columbus will take the responsibility for the choice of the King and Queen of winter, a highlight of the carnival. Five boys and five girls have been selected by ballot by students of the senior class of the local high school and final vote will be taken at the Carnival to select the winner.

“Candidates for the Queen are the Misses Gloria Sweet, Margaret Buckley, Jean Keating, Hilda Castellon and Natalie Bombard; for King are Arthur Levy, Francis Hale, Louis Trudeau, George Clark and Robert Sullivan.

Decorations will be under direction of Leo Jette of the Lions Club and the Junior Sled Derby will be run off by the American Legion Post with John Beardsley in charge. The Parent-Teachers Association will be in charge of the snow sculpturing with Thomas Hand in charge.

“A costume skating party for children will be held at the municipal skating rink and arrangements will be made by Frances Walsh with Mr. Hand. Walter C. Emmons is in charge of the program and a trouble shooting committee includes Joe Perry, Curt Wamsganz, Mr. Beardsley and Ken Bailey.

Howard Riley, '81 Carnival Chamberlain. So I had to wait 33 years! (Photo courtesy of the 1948 Saranac Lake High School year )

“The Carnival will open December 30th with a proclamation by the Mayor and greetings of the Chamber of Commerce president, E. H. Worthington, Jr., and the judging of snow figures in Riverside Park.

“On December 31st at 11:30 a.m. a parade with floats will take place starting at the Veteran’s Memorial Club followed by a display of the snow sculpture. At 2 p.m. on January 1 the sled derby will be held in the rear of the high school and at 7:30 p.m. winter sports movies will be shown at the high school.

“At 12:30 p.m. on January 2 the N.Y. State Invitational Men’s Slalom race will be held at Mount Pisgah and in the evening a basketball game is scheduled. On January 3 at 1 p.m. the Northeastern Outdoor Speed Skating Championship races will take place at the municipal rink with the carnival ball and the crowing of the King and Queen in the evening.

“On January 4 the finals of the skating races will be held and in the evening a costume skating party for children will be held.”