Considering the trove of favorable e-mails I have received (hey, there was at least three) concerning the columns from my 1921 Enterprise … and to appease me and my happy readers, the following is the last of those great stories, large and small, about everyday life more than 100 years ago.

“Mountain Climbers Are Few This Year — Hermit of Ampersand Says Records Show Drop in the Number of Scalers” (A ‘scientific study’ from one mountain made Page One. I have probably climbed Mt. Ampersand nearly as many times as I have climbed Mt. Baker)

“There are not so many mountain climbers this year in the Adirondacks, as formerly, according to the Ampersand hermit, Walter Rice, who came down from his mountain look-out this week to take a look at the bright lights of Saranac Lake. Mr. Rice said that up to Monday his records showed an even 100 less people had climbed Ampersand Mountain this year than was shown by last year’s figures.

“‘We have had a good lift of fog, with many days that have not been clear,’ said Mr. Rice, ‘and this may have had something to do with the decrease in the number of mountain climbers this year. There were some wonderful days, however, and on these the views are glorious.’

“Mr. Rice equaled his former record in the number of forest fires reported this year. He has so far reported twenty-one fires, but thinks there will be no more, as the ground is now well dampened by recent rains. Once before, seven years ago, Mr. Rice reported an equal number of fires during the entire summer.

“The new steel tower now being built on Ampersand will be completed within the week, said Mr. Rice, and he hopes that this added attraction will bring him more visitors in his mountain retreat.

“‘It’s a bit lonely up there,’ he said, ‘and when people stop coming, I miss them.'”

(The “fire watchers” or “observers” were state employees who lived in small cabins at the foot of the fire tower or went to the job each day from their village. At one time there were more than 129 fire towers in the Adirondacks.)

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Lower Saranac Lake Association formed

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“The Lower Saranac Lake Association was organized Monday night by the property owners in the section of the village near the Lower Lake. Henry P. Leis (whose family owned a music store on Bloomingdale Avenue) was named the temporary chairman and Walter J. Weir, as temporary secretary. (I heard a rumor that Lower Lake resident, Penny Curran, was named a member of the new association.) Thirteen members make up the organization, but within a few weeks, it is expected that at least fifty property owners in that part of the village will become affiliated with the organization.

“The association was formed to further the interest and development of that part of the village. It will cooperate in every way possible with the Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce, and will in no way antagonize the activities of the latter organization. On the other hand, it will endeavor to assist in every undertaking.

“There are several members of the organization who have yet enrolled with the latter organization. On the other hand, it will endeavor to assist in every undertaking. The several members of the association who have not yet enrolled with the Chamber were urged to do so at the meeting Monday and all expressed a desire to enroll as soon as possible.

“One of the first acts of the association was to appoint a committee consisting of Mathew Davis and Fred Rice, who will aid the Saranac lake Boat and Waterways Club in its next regatta which takes place on the Lower Lake next Saturday, August 13.”

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Village board studies damage claim

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The Enterprise page layout was so different in 1921. This page one story carried four different size headlines at the top of story:

“Mrs. Nokes Make Compromise Offer — No Action Taken”

“Agrees to Withdraw Claim for $500 if Village Makes the Repairs” – “Board to Investigate” – “Two Applications Are Granted; Little Business Transacted at the Meeting”

“No action was taken by the Village Board of Trustees at the regular meeting last night on the compromise offer made by Mrs. Susan Nokes, in her claim against the village for $500 damages. The offer was presented in writing through her attorney, F. B. Cantwell. The matter was tabled pending the presence of the full board at a meeting. Trustee D. S. Foster, was absent from the meeting last night and the other Trustees refrained from acting on the offer until the entire board was on hand.

“The claim made by Mrs. Nokes arose over the cutting down of three large trees on her property at 6 Elm Street, while the village engineer and his workmen were constructing a sidewalk there. The Trustees take the stand that the Trees were cut at the request of Mrs. Nokes.

“At a recent meeting of the Board, Attorney Cantwell presented the claim, saying $500 was a small amount in comparison to the damage done. Mrs. Nokes asked that sum to recompense her for the loss of the trees, the damage to a stone wall.

“Mrs. Nokes also asked that the village release any claim they have to the land under the wall and the edge of the sidewalk if the believe any of it belongs to the village.

“In other business the Board granted permission to W. Frank Tagliabue to dig across Clinton Avenue for the purpose of laying a sewer line to the property of M. J. Flynn.

“The Board also instructed the village clerk to secure bids for a carload of soft coal for the incinerator plant.”