Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 12, 1987
Remembering things past in Saranac Lake
Class of '25 at the Day Nursery. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 12, 1987 
The old footbridge was well-known to Saranac Lakers. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 12, 1987 'You forgot the whale!' 'How about the polar bear?' 'Remember the barrel rush?'
One of these articles appearing in the Daily Enterprise during the recent High School Class Reunion elicited quite a few remarks. Some said "You forgot to mention the whale," while others asked "how about that polar bear?" or "do you remember the barrel rush days?" Apparently a flood of memories had been released.
The famous whale arrived in a special railroad car which was placed on the siding next to the depot. As soon as the word got out a long line of children formed at the admission end of the car in order to file through, examine the monstrous mammal and exit at the far end. Although the huge carcass had been embalmed it still emitted a rather offensive aroma on a hot day. Intrepid boys reached out to touch the leathery skin while less venturesome girls made a more hasty inspection tour through the car while holding their noses. Still more sensitive adults claimed that they could smell the whale half way down Depot Street.
The reluctant polar bear had been ensconced in a pool of water at the miniature golf course located at the corner of Depot Street and Bloomingdale Avenue where the Stewart store now stands. Intended to serve as a public attraction this displaced denizen of the Arctic Circle seemed to be quite unhappy with Saranac Lake's summer climate. Many local residents felt sorry for the poor bear and perhaps this sentiment led to the sale of the animal to a zoo. Both the whale and the bear, we hope, moved on to cooler climates.
Barrel rush
The barrel rush is a little more difficult to explain. It began as a graduation time event which featured an all boy contest between seniors and juniors. Apparently the original intent was to allow the contestants to let off a little steam but the affair soon developed into a fracas approaching mayhem.
Long subdued animosity was apt to surface at this time and fisticuffs were not excluded from the agenda. The barrel was usually a nail keg, painted red and white, which was handed to the seniors on a given day. Their task was to keep possession of the trophy until the following day. They were given a time limit start to hide the barrel and then the juniors were turned loose to take up the chase. Whenever roving bands from opposite sides met there was a physical encounter with the losers being thrown into Lake Flower, getting a quick haircut, or being daubed with paint or axle grease.
Truckloads of contestants prowled the village streets in search of members of the enemy class and any such encounter ended in a brawl.
The Seniors usually found some secluded spot to secrete the barrel overnight with guards in place.
The class of '35 for example, with the aid of Charlie Keough's boat, hid the keg on Eagle Island. By 1 p.m. on the following day the barrel had to be returned to a circle marked out on the campus in front of the high school. If the juniors had not located the trophy by this time they gathered in force around the circle and awaited the arrival of the seniors. Whichever side had possession of the barrel within the circle at the closing time won the rush. As you can imagine this final melee was hotly contended and the winning team smashed the barrel to bits handing out the pieces for souvenirs.
Somewhere along the line the Board of Education decided to put a stop to this annual event to prevent serious injury to over-zealous contenders. So ended the glorious barrel rushes.
A somewhat more gentle form of entertainment was the Friday afternoon tea dances held in the high school gym. Some of the reunion members recalled dancing at Chance's Grill or at the Hotel Saranac where Bryce Lavigne held forth nightly with his band. Others, who could come by a set of wheels, were off to the Fawn Club or the Stevens House at Lake Placid with their favorite dates. More venturesome couples would visit the local night clubs. Florence Riddle's, the Floridel, featured Pauline Russell as the "Personality Girl" over on Stevenson Lane. On Moody Pond was the Mount Baker Club owned by Al Weidner with Russ Kelley serving as both manager and entertainer. Out on the Ray Brook road The Overlook offered dining and dancing, complete with floor show, at no cover charge.
Another popular night spot became the unintentional center of a tempestuous controversy. Following the senior play of 1934 the cast and three faculty members adjourned to Birk's Swiss Chalet on the Bloomingdale Road. The owner's son was a member of the cast so the father offered the group a touch of hospitality in the form of wine. It seems a few of the students over indulged, and the parent of one of the miscreants issued a violent protest to the Board of Education on the following day. The board reacted immediately by suspending the three teachers without so much as a hearing. The student body erupted in protest against what they considered to be an unjust action. A strike was threatened unless the three popular teachers were returned to their status. The board asked the students to return to their classes and promised a full hearing into the matter as soon as an absent member returned from our of town. After both sides of the story were heard the teachers were absolved from blame and peace was restored.
These and many other "do you remember" subjects were bantered about in diverse groups during the recent class reunion and perhaps can be more easily covered in a question and answer format such as:
Q. Wasn't Pat Hickey a member of the 1935 football team? Why wasn't he in the picture?
A. Pat was captain of the team but at the time the picture was taken he was hospitalized from an injury received in the Plattsburgh game.
Q. What was the name of the theater that was called the "Itch"?
A. The real name was the "New Theater." It was located on Bloomingdale Ave. and owned by L. N. Sanschagrin.
Q. Do you remember the Day Nursery?
A. Oh yes, it was located at the corner of Depot Street and Bloomingdale Avenue (across from Stewart's) where William Morris sponsored a day care center for the children of working parents.
Q. I remember most of the old hotels mentioned but where was the Von Dorrien?
A. This five story cupola domed building stood at the present entrance to St. Bernard's Cemetery on Ampersand Avenue. It was originally call the Del Monte.
Q. What year was the footbridge torn down?
A. The old foot bridge spanned the river from the Town Hall to the Villa Dorsey and met its demise in 1926 or thereabouts.
Q. Wasn't the Post Office once located on Main Street?
A. Yes it was, not once but twice. First it was in the Harding Block where Dr. Neill's dental office is now and later it was located in the building now occupied by Meyer's Drug Store.
Q. I don't remember the cigar store called The Humidor. Do you have .. picture of it?
Yes, and it accompanies this article.
