The Hi-Y Club was a YMCA program aimed at high school-age boys; separate clubs for girls were added later. Nationally the clubs date to the 1890s, though in the Adirondacks they started in the 1930s.
Sources:
Lake Placid News, May 12, 1933
112 ATTEND Hl-Y RALLY AT PLATTSBURG
Lake Placid Girls' and Boys' Clubs Have Highest Representation in Two Counties—Prunier and Miss McCalvin Officers of New Council
The first annual get-together of the Hi-Y and Eclectic clubs of Clinton and Essex counties was held Saturday, in Plattsburg, and was sponsored and promoted by, the Y.M.C.A.s of Plattburgh and Essex county. The total number present for the luncheon meeting was 112. There were 27 registered delegates from three Clinton county communities; 18 from Plattsburg, 6 from Chazy, and 3 from Rouses Point. Four Essex county communities were represented by 74 delegates—34 from Lake Placid, 27 from Willsboro, 6 from Bloomingdale, and 7 from Westport. At the luncheon there were also 11 guests from Plattsburg present.
The recreation program was in charge of Harold Birchenough, boys' work secretary of the Plattsburg Y. M. C. A. Games started promptly at 10 a.m., including basket ball, volley ball, bowling, ping pong, billiards, checkers, chess, and swimming. The girls' "swim period" started about 10:30 with Mrs. Huntington in charge. The boys' "swim period" was held at 2 p.m. Luncheon was held at 12:30 p.m. with table service in charge of the Plattsburg Hi-Y club, under the direction of Mr. Birchenough.
Luncheon Speakers
After lunch, Norman Gero, of the Plattsburg Hi-Y club, introduced Mr. Freeborn, general secretary of the Y. M. C. A., who gave the address of welcome. Frank Gibson, secretary of the Essex County Y. M. C. A., was introduced and presided over the remainder of the program. The following club presidents were introduced and responded with brief reviews of work of their respective clubs: Pete Prunier of the Lake Placid boys Hi-Y club, Ida McCalvin of the Lake Placid Eclectic club for girls, Earl Talbot of the Willsboro boys' Hi-Y club, Chas. Boardman of the Rouses Point HiY club, Fred Van Horn of the Chazy Hi-Y club; Norman Gero of the Plattsburg Hi-Y club for boys, Helen Provost of the Willsboro Hi-Y club for girls, Nick Sullivan of the Westport Hi-Y club for boys.
Mr. Elmendorf, superintendent of Plattsburg schools, indicated his interest in the Hi-Y and Eclectic club ideals and purposes.
W. H. Burger of the New York State Y. M. C. A. gave a talk on scope and extent of Hi-Y, he also explained the purposes and advantages of the Hi-Y Council idea. After Mr. Burger's talk a vote was taken with respect to organizing a Hi-Y Council for the northem New York area. The vote was unanimous in favor of organization.
Each Hi-Y and Eclectic group elected two members as Council representatives. A special meeting was called, after the adjournment of the luncheon meeting, of Council representatives. Mr. Gibson served as chairman during the organization. Pete Prunier of Lake Placid was unanimously elected president of the Council. Earl Talbot of Willsboro and Ralph Steltzer of Plattsburg were nominated for vice-president. Earl Taibot withdrew in fovor of Ralph Steltzer, who was unanimously elected. Ida McCalvin of Lake Placid was unanimously elected secretary. President Prunier appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws for the approval of the Council. He appointed as chairman. Earl Talbot of Willsboro, Norman Gero of Plattsburg and Emerson La Duke of Lake Placid to serve with him. Secretaries Gibson and Birchenough were selected as advisors.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 9, 1952
Hi-Y OFFICERS PLAN SESSIONS
The annual Adirondack Hi-Y officers training conference will be held at Boy Scout Camp Bedford this coming week-end, September 12-14. All sixteen Clubs are represented in the seventy registrations received.
Members of the Saranac Lake Boys Hi-Y Club will help set up camp under the supervision of their adult advisor, Bert Dorsch. Marjorie Duell, of Plattsburg, president of the Adirondack Hi-Y Council, will preside at the sessions. Aiding, her will be David Smith, of Saranac Lake, vice president; Diane Lacy, of Elizabethtown, secretary; Claire Sayward, of Willsboro, treasurer, and Joan Briggs of Tahawus, chaplain.
Among the participants in the program will be Thomas Stainback, Executive Director of the Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce and former Hi-Y president; Robert Sayre, social studies teacher in Westport; Clarence Nye, principal at Elizabethtown; Anne Erickson, English teacher at Plattsburg, and Billy Burger, Hi- Y director of the Essex County Y. M. C. A.
The conference will concentrate upon training officers for effective service to their clubs and in discussions of how Hi-Y clubs may help members solve some of their personal problems. In addition a panel composed of young people and adults will consider ways by which high school students may learn to become better citizens.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, April 18, 1958
U. N. Assembly Meets In S.L: Hi-Y Version
Eleven Clubs Set To Debate Controversial International Questions
The United Nations General Assembly is meeting in the Saranac Lake High School tonight. At least, a plausible facsimile thereof.
Many of the most crucial and controversial questions facing the United Nations now. and like to face the organization in the future, will be argued tonight and tomorrow by the Hi-Y clubs of the North Country area and Canada in the local high school auditorium, under the sponsorship of the YMCA.
Some eleven clubs will participate, and the event will start off at 6:30 this evening at a supper for the delegates in the high school cafeteria. James Loeb, copublisher of The Enterprise, will be the dinner speaker.
All of the boys and girls from distant Hi-Y clubs are to be lodged with local families.
Jack Burger of Westport is director of the Hi-Y in the area. The adult advisors for the U. N. Assembly are two members of the Saranac Lake High School faculty, Jane Baber for the girls and Bertram Dorsch for the boys.
The president of the Hi-Y Council is Joanne Manning of Saranac Lake, and John O'Donnell of Newcomb will serve as Secretary General of the U. N. Assembly this weekend…
