This photo is from the 1931 “Leaves” the second yearbook ever published for Lake Placid High. There was no photo in that year book showing all the 29 graduates, only the individual photos with their bios. So we are running this picture of the Student Council. However, there are 17 people in the photo and only 13 names. Irving Epstein was President, David Tobin, Vice-President, Emerson LaDuke, Secretary and Ralph White, Treasurer. Others named were freshmen, sophomore and junior class officers; boys’ varsity club, manager of the skating team etc., but not in any order relating to the photo. Following are the others named: Frances Douglass, Stanley Pelkey, Orville Kennedy, Alice Fay, Edmund Shea, Edward Slater, Elsard Brandt, William Farrington and Louise Gaulin. So look around in your attic and see if you can find the first year book of 1930 — you will have a treasure ... and get a free oil change at the Central Garage. (Courtesy of the Lake Placid Public Library)

The headline on the graduation story read — “Record Graduating Class of 38 Given School’s Diplomas.”

Now, as it turns out, that record still stands, at least for the Lake Placid Central School graduating class of 2024.

Wondering how those 1930 numbers stacked up with 2024 numbers, I called my newfound friend in the guidance office at Lake Placid Central, none other than Amanda Cash.

I swear I could hear someone in the background humming, “I’ll Walk the Line” as I talked with Amanda. I told her that of the 38 graduates in 1930 there were 23 boys and 15 girls.

Now, I thought at first that Amanda was handing me some malarkey when she replied, “Mr. Riley, in the Lake Placid Central School graduating class of 2024 there are 37 students, 23 boys and 14 girls.”

Yikes, Holy Smokes, Knock Me Over with A Feather, I’ll Be Jitterbugged — talk about one in a million shot — I wish I could hit those odds at the Akwesasne casino.

There were no local pictures in the Enterprise of 1930, no bylines and in the graduation story not even a complete list of the graduates. Following is the story in its entirety.

“One of the largest steps in the pathway of life was reached by 38 boys and girls who comprised the June 1930 class at Lake Placid High School when they were presented diplomas at graduating classes last evening in the school auditorium.

“This was the largest class ever graduated from the local school, and its members include three sets of brothers and a brother and sister. The brothers are Howard Chellis Weaver and George C. Weaver, Eugene William Patrick Shea and John Amas (Jack) Shea, Justin Owen Wescott and Allen Rufus Wescott Jr.; the brother and sister, Dan Shea and Nora Shea.

“Loyal S. Wright of Chazy, a Chautauqua lecturer, delivered the address to the graduates, his subject being announced as ‘Habit.’

“Howard L. Weaver, president of the Board of Education, awarded the diplomas, following the presentation of the class by the supervising principal, Heth G. Coons.

“Announcement of the winner of the gold medal awards made annually at this time by the Lake Placid High School Alumni Association was given by William J. Hurley, President of the Association.

“These awards are for the boy and girls of the graduating class who have made the best record in scholarship, sportsmanship, strength of character, leadership and achievement during the past school year. (The story does not mention who received the awards.)

“Following the formal program here was a reception and dance in the school auditorium for graduates, parents, relatives and invited friends.

“Class day exercises, the final event on the commencement program before graduation night, were conducted Tuesday night at the school with the graduates in charge.

“Among those who took part were the following; Gene Shea, giving advice to the juniors; Claire White, reading class history; Jack Shea and Harold Thompson, reading class prophecy; Blanche Polsky, reading class will; Francis Douglas, junior response to the seniors’ advice. (How cool is that?)

“There are 23 boys and 15 girls in the June 1930 class.

“Officers of the graduating class are: president, Gertrude Elizabeth Coons; vice president, Daniel Michael Shea; secretary, Mary Caroline Landon; treasurer, Lillian Gertrude Kilburn.

“Lillian Kilburn and George McLaren Lattimer Jr., are the honor students of the class and participated in the graduation exercises as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.”

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First yearbook at Placid High

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“Lake Placid, June 26 — Distribution of ‘1930 Leaves,’ the first year book ever published by Lake Placid High School students, has been completed, and many fine compliments are being received on the neat appearance of the publication which was printed by George W. Lamoy of this village.

“The book is dedicated to Harold R. Thompson, member of the Lake Placid board of education. A full page photograph of Mr. Thompson is included in the book and on the page opposite are these words: ‘To Mr. Harold R. Thompson because of his sincere friendship, his untiring, earnest enthusiasm and the inspiration he gives to all of us, the class of 1930 Lake Placid High School affectionately dedicates this volume of 1930 Leaves.’

“The annual has 65 pages and is bound in blue semi-limp leatherette cover. The inside pages are of 80 pound India coated finish paper.

“Over 60 cuts (photos) of groups and individuals are in the mass of material complied in the publication. Among the many photographs are those of the board of education, the high school faculty, Mrs. Anna Wilbur Wilkins, senior class faculty advisor, 38 members of the graduating class, junior, sophomore and freshmen classes, Sportsmanship Brotherhood members, football, baseball, hockey, basketball squads, orchestra, glee club and various school clubs.

“The history of Lake Placid High School, which was opened in 1901 as the outgrowth of a district school started in Newman in 1895, is also given in the book.

“Eugene W. P. Shea is editor-in-chief of the 1930 Leaves, and Daniel M. Shea is business manager. The others on the publication’s staff are: Blanche Polsky, circulation manager; Sue D’Avignon, art editor; Mary Landon, Gertrude Coons, Roland Olyer and Edmund Shea, assistant editors; Lillian Kilburn, Howard Weaver, Johanna Berg, Sally Johnson, George Weaver, Peter Tobin, Margaret Lane, Helen O’Rourke and Helen R. Rand, assistant circulation managers; Nona Shea, Kent Terry, Maxwell Kennedy, Alan Eccleston and Martha Dashnaw, assistant business managers.”

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Bloomingdale High School graduation

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There were eight students in the graduating class of Bloomingdale High in 1930 — Patricia Parsons, Janet Sprague, Helen Kelly, Agnes Finnegan, Jeanette Ballard, John L. Rogers, William Atkinson and Rufus Weston.

Unfortunately, the story mostly covered entertainment by the kids in grade school but no names.

Others mentioned were Carl Shene and Everett Brown, Anita Wardner, Phyliss Norman, Paul Weston and Patricia Hall.

Then the story related that prizes were awarded to the following but not saying what the prizes were for Miss Mary Van Alstyne, Miss Ona Record, Miss Ruth Wardner and Miss Ellen Record.

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Michele Tucker, curator of the Adirondack Room at the Saranac Lake Free Library, always helps me finding stories in the old newspaper files.

Information about the Lake Placid High School yearbook and the accompanying photo was through the efforts of Bambi Pedu, Linda Blair and Madonna Barney at the Lake Placid Public Library.

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Last week’s column about the famous basketball game with the Red Heads and the SL Hot Shots — the game was played in November 1975.