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Santa paid a visit to children attending a party held in Peru's town library. The jolly man stopped in and passed out treats to the nearly 50 youngsters at the annual party, where the children enjoyed snacks, games, and a variety of holiday fare. (1986) Press-Republican Archives

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December 12, 2011

Anonymous Press-Republican The Press Republican Mon Dec 12, 2011, 02:28 AM EST

25 YEARS AGO — 1986

▶ One of America's most popular folk singers, Bill Staines, will be performing — for free — at the Cubley Library of Paul Smith's College. The concert is open to the public. Staines has been performing across the country for 15 years, a total of 11 albums under his belt.

▶ The State Department of Correctional Services has proposed that a 200-bed minimum security prison be built in Moriah. "At this time it's just a proposal." Moriah Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava stressed, saying that state correctional officials will be contacting the town leaders to discuss the proposal. The department also proposed that a 500-bed facility be built in Malone, neighboring the current 700-bed facility on Bear Hill Road.

▶ The third-graders of Oak Street Elementary School in Plattsburgh have proven to be pretty savvy about the meaning of Christmas. "Christmas means joy, happiness, sharing and loving," said Michael Pedersen. Asked what they would give the would give the world for Christmas, Jason Carron said "Peace, no more wars."

▶ For the first time in several years, Lake Placid's Mirror Lake will become an official winter skating rink. The rink will be installed as soon as the lake is safe, located near the Lake Placid Municipal Beach. The experimental project will be overseen by the Town of North Elba and the Village of Lake Placid.

50 YEARS AGO — 1961

▶ The Plattsburgh State College girls dormitory, Macomb Hall, the home of 40 diligent students, received a Christmas makeover from the eager first-floor residents. The nine windows of the first floor were decorated with different international holiday scenes. The themes were chosen by a student-made committee and included Czechoslovakia, England, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United States.

▶ Pease Air Force Base's Air Force investigation team is finally returning to its New Hampshire home base after completing its on-site investigation on the Nov. 27 B47 bomber crash at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base. The plane had crashed while attempting an emergency landing, killing three men and leaving Capt. William L. Markey the lone survivor. Markey has also returned to the Pease after spending two weeks at the Plattsburgh Base Hospital.

▶ Marshal A. Wilcox of Burke was killed by a falling piece of ore in the Republic Steel Corp. mine at Lyon Mountain. Wilcox had 19 years of experience and was operating a jackhammer on a slope when the ore chunk — with an estimated weight of one ton — fell about 30 feet and struck him.

▶ Construction on the Astronautics Properties motel on Margaret Street in Plattsburgh is delayed for a day after the on-site construction machines were vandalized. Though the damages totaled $5,400, Frank L. Richards — who is building the motel — said he's more concerned about getting supplies in time. The motel opens on the first of February for employees of General Dynamics Astronautic, the prime contractors for installation of Atlas missiles at the 12 missile sites in the area.

75 YEARS AGO — 1936

▶ A total 293 freight cars loaded with a half-million spruce and balsam Christmas trees make their way through Rouses Point. The Canadian cars will be stopping at cities across the East Coast. It's expected that another half a million trees will be imported from our northern neighbors before the end of the holiday season.

▶ The last will of Herbert Jackson of Saranac and Malone — involving about $100,000 — is being contested by County Surrogate Andrew B. Cooney. Objections were made against the will's legitimacy, charging there was undue influence on Jackson when he wrote the will and that he was incompetent.

▶ P. K. Elisworth of Margaret Street in Plattsburgh was the first man in Clinton County to receive a hunting and fishing license for 1937, paying a total of $2.25 at the county clerk's office.

100 YEARS AGO — 1911

▶ Supervisor Myers has suggested a solution to the issue of securing evidence against those guilty of the string of mysterious fires in the area, authorizing the Plattsburgh Board of Supervisors to offer $500 for the arrest and conviction of the fiends.

▶ Clare Carpenter and Claude Hall, young wireless operators in Gouverneur, are finding amusement in the newly installed instruments of their job. With the new equipment they are able to send messages more than 200 miles and receive messages from all parts of the country.

▶ One of the largest timber deals ever made in the area has just been contracted by the Dock & Coal company. The company acquired 12,000 acres of virgin forest near Montpelier, Vt. Dock & Coal is known for its waterfront business in Plattsburgh which now houses Plattsburgh Boat Basin.

—Compiled by Contributing Writer Kaitlyn Wait