The following news is from the Feb. 17, 1940 edition of the Enterprise.

“Interest in the proposed development of a Whiteface Mountain ski center to serve the entire Northern Adirondack region was evinced by representatives of several towns and villages [names, names, names?] who attended a meeting at the town hall in Lake Placid Thursday evening.

“The conference was called by the Lake Placid Ski Council to discuss the report made at the recent annual meeting of the Adirondack Mountain Club on a survey of skiing facilities in this section, particularly of the areas with an altitude over 1,500 feet.”

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Several speakers

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“Speakers included Hal P. Burton of New York City, chairman of the committee on camps, trails and shelters of the Adirondack Mountain Club, who, at the annual meeting, presented the recommendations that plans for the Whiteface project be forwarded to the New York State Conservation Department.

“Views on the proposed undertaking were also presented by H. W. Hicks and S. H. Packer of the Lake Placid Club and by Otto Schniebs of the American Ski School.

“The report given at the New York meeting was considered as a significant review of the possibilities of adding additional winter recreational facilities on Whiteface Mountain, believed by the ski council members here to be of far reaching importance to the entire state and particularly to the communities of Essex, Franklin and Clinton counties.”

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Want system of trails

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“The Whiteface Mountain proposal, as recommended to the state conservation department, would provide for a system of trails to be serviced by the motor road now leading to the summit. In view of the increased demand for facilities, particularly the type where all skiing is downhill, the committee felt sure that the conservation department would give careful consideration to the proposed development.

“The report further pointed out that Whiteface is no longer a wilderness mountain. It was emphasized that trails would be concentrated on the north, northeast and eastern slopes, out of sight of Lake Placid. The high summit altitude of 4,872 feet insures good snow, and since all projected trails except one would end at 1,900 feet, a long skiing season could be anticipated, officials said.”

[The following information came through the grapevine — Lake Placid Attorney Bill Kissel stood up at the conclusion of the meeting and said, “maybe if we do this right, we can host the Olympic Winter Games in 1980.”]

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Keough injured on bobrun

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“Charles Keough, Saranac Lake bobsled driver, suffered a gash below the left eye and several bruises when his sled flipped end for end as he was approaching the finish curve at the Mt. Van Hoevenberg run on Thursday.

“The sled first hit the sidewall and then turned over, the cowling hitting Keough’s goggles and driving the metal rim through the rubber pad and into the flesh. Paul Dupree riding as brakeman, escaped with a bruised ankle.” [Paul was later a North Elba Town Justice.]

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High school skiers compete

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“Ski teams are competing this weekend from the Lake Placid High School in out-of-town meets which were approved Wednesday by the board of education.

“The a team is in Woodstock, Vt., for a two-day met in the Eastern Interscholastic loop, with the b team in North Creek, looking for a second leg on the New York State students’ trophy and defending the title they won last year.

“Jay Rand and Art Devlin are competing at Woodstock in the combined jump and cross country event. Jack Wilkins, Dean Anson, John O’Shea and Robert Rand make up the rest of the team, which was accompanied by Otto Schniebs, coach.

“On the B team, accompanied by Howard Page of the high school faculty are Edward Doyle, George Connors, Walter Dashnaw, Fred Fortune, Jack Nixon and Harvey Alford.”

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Paul Smith’s news

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“Miss Lenore Newell, who is a student at Plattsburg Normal School, spent last weekend with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Newell at their home here.

“Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Martin were callers in Saranac Lake on Monday.

“Miss Frances Otis, who is a student Nurse in Watertown, spent the weekend with her grandmother, Mrs. Jennie Otis, at her home here.

“Mr. and Mrs. Mack Swinyer and three children of Vermontville were recent visitors at the home of his sister, Mrs. Ola Gallagher.

“Miss Sadie McPhail of Saranac Lake spent last weekend as the guest of Miss Tharon Tyler.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hollis Parsons of New York City were weekend guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Justin Quarters.”

Party at curling club

“A fancy dress skating soiree will be held on the evening of Washington’s birthday, February 22 at the Curling Rink on River Street under the sponsorship of the hockey club of the Saranac Lake High School.

“The public is invited to enter the celebration by coming in costume and skating in the grand procession. Several judges will be present to award prizes for the most beautiful, the most original and the funniest costumes.

“During the evening there will be fancy skating exhibits and other entertainment features. The latter part of the evening will be devoted to public skating with musical accompaniment.

“Dr. E. R. Baldwin is honorary chairman of the soiree and Miss Priscilla Steenken, physical training instructor at the high School, is the acting chairman.”