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  • Julie Dowd, a docent at the Clinton County Historical Museum, installs a display on the Cold War in the lobby at Clinton County Government Center, as a teaser about the full exhibit at the museum. That one, which has been up for two years, will be replaced with a new installation in the near future. Staff Photo / Kelli Catana

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January 6, 2012

Temporary display recalls Cold War in Clinton County

JEFF MEYERS Press-Republican

PLATTSBURGH — The Cold War is expanding to downtown Plattsburgh.

Over the past two years, the Clinton County Historical Association has hosted a display dedicated to the height of the Cold War era at its museum on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base.

Designed by former Curator Carol Blakeslee-Collin, it features historic artifacts, photos, testimonials from Cold War veterans and other information, beginning with the formation of the Strategic Air Command in 1955-56.

However, the display is scheduled to come down in the next few weeks, as museum staff looks for new ideas for the rotating display area.

In the meantime, the museum is designing a satellite display on the Cold War in the main lobby of the Clinton County Government Center on Margaret Street.

CONTINUATION

"This is a continuation of the Carol Blakeslee-Collin exhibit," said Julie Dowd, a volunteer at the museum who spent several hours Tuesday setting up the temporary exhibit in the Government Center's large display case. "We thought it would be nice to show people what we have (on the Cold War), so they might go over and see the full exhibit (at the museum) before it comes down."

The Government Center exhibit features artifacts, photos and other memorabilia specific to Clinton County, including information on the Atlas missile system established across the county in the early 1960s.

"These are items we had in storage," Dowd said of the materials she used for the display. "We did not take anything from Carol's exhibit. That exhibit will remain intact."

MISSILES

One photo shows a stationary Atlas missile pointing toward the sky, and another shows a man kneeling next to a warhead used with the weapons.

There are also photos depicting what it was like in Clinton County when the area was flooded with workers taking part in the Atlas project.

"There were so many people that came to do construction that it flooded the housing market," Dowd said.

She held a picture of the Trade Winds Motor Hotel, which was built on Route 9 adjacent to Scomotion Creek to house many workers.

The building, more recently known as Lakeside Apartments, is now abandoned due to severe flooding from Lake Champlain that caused heavy damage last spring.

SQUADRON POSTER

There is also a poster of the Munitions Maintenance Squadron for the missile project that was donated by squadron member William Smith. The squadron originally designed a logo that included an image of Mickey Mouse, but the project commander suggested they remove the popular cartoon character from squadron vehicles.

There are also reminders of the culture of the 1960s, including lists of the top rock 'n' roll hits of the era and a photo of Bill Kennedy and the Twilighters while they played in Plattsburgh.

"It's a nice trip down memory lane, odds and ends we think people would like to see," Dowd said of the temporary display.

The full-blown Cold War exhibit is located in the museum's lower level at 98 Ohio Ave. It is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

Email Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com

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