From the front page of The Adirondack Arrow on January 21, 1932:

FILE PETITION

Automobile Clubs all over the State are active in circulating petitions against the proposal of an increased tax on gasoline. E. J. Malley, Secretary of the Automobile Club of Utica, has sent the Arrow office petitions against any increase in tax on gasoline or fees for registering or operating a passenger car in the State of New York and anyone wishing to protest against such an increased taxation can call at the office and affix his signature to one of the petitions. The heading of the petition reads as follows: To Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt: The motorists of the State of New York are already paying in excess of $70,000,000 a year to the State in the form of gasoline tax and registration and other fees and this amounts to an average tax including operator’s and chauffeurs’ licenses of $30 per car. To increase this burden on passenger car owners in these times of depression would cause unwarranted hardship and would be an unfair discrimination against automobiles. The automobile is no longer a luxury but vital to the daily life of every community and therefore an economic necessity. Any added taxation either of the automobile or of motor fuel, would be confiscatory and would bring about decrease in the use of passenger cars and a consequent demoralization of business in general, thereby adding to the unemployment problems of the State and its various component communities. As resident motorists and taxpayers of New York State, the undersigned wish to record with Franklin D. Roosevelt their opposition to any increase in the tax on gasoline or fees for registering or operating a passenger car in this State and to any new form of taxation on passenger cars or their accessories.

CHURCH CLUB

Some 30 men gathered at Niccolls Memorial Church on last Friday evening at the call of the pastor, Frank A. Reed. The first order of business was the disposal of a sumptuous dinner, prepared and served by the men. This was followed by community singing, led by Harold Hollister and then by talks relative to the feasibility of forming a Club for the church where the men would gather for special feeds, get better acquainted and discuss the activities of the church. It seemed to be the unanimous opinion of the men present that such an organization would be worthwhile and Thomas Wallace, H. L. Allen and W. I. Deans were appointed a committee to arrange for a meeting sometime in February, date to be announced later and at that time propose the names to officer the new club. William MacDonald favored with a Scotch song and Dr. R. N. Lindsay showed several reels of motion pictures, all of which was duly appreciated.

HOTEL OPENING

On next Saturday evening, January 23rd, the Neodak will hold its official winter opening. The hotel is most well and favorably known as a summer hotel, but this is the first winter it has been open for guests and the dinner-dance on Saturday evening from ten until two o’clock will be the official opening and this promises to be the outstanding event of the social season in the Central Adirondacks. The Central Adirondack Night Hawks have been secured to furnish the music and the dining room will be the center of attraction for the diners and dancers as well as those who enjoy good music and watching others have a good time. Reservations have been made by parties from Syracuse, Lowville and Utica and the present indications are that the opening will be largely attended by both localities and those from the outside.

FISH APPLICATIONS

The Arrow office has its regular consignment of blanks for the planting of fish. The more fish that are planted the more sportsmen we are going to attract to this region and it is hoped that a large number will send in applications.

O. E. S. INSTALL

A most impressive, entertaining and interesting ceremony was carried out by Old Forge Chapter Order of the Eastern Star E. on last Thursday evening at their installation service for the 1932 officers. While the serious illness of Harriett Lee, outgoing Matron, prohibited her from being present, her absence was acknowledge by the many kind things said of her past year’s work and as far as possible her plans for the initiatory service were carried out by her Associate Matron. R. W. Stuart W. Nelson acted as Worthy Patron in installing the officers elected and appointed. Mrs. Grace Risley was duly installed as Worthy Matron, Joseph F. Grady was Worthy Patron; Associate Matron, Miss Sadie Goodspeed; Treasurer, Mrs. Anna Fraula; Secretary, Mrs. Maude Winterbotham; Conductress, Mrs. Wilhemina Gebhardt; Associate Conductress, Mrs. Pauline Rose; Chaplain, Mrs. Helen Puffer; Historian, Mrs. Minnie Youmans; Pianist, Mrs. Trilby Perry; Warder, Mrs. Elizabeth Sears; Sentinel, Mrs. Carrie Risley. The Marshal and Trustee were absent.

Ray Carr of Old Forge kept a bundle of issues of Old Forge’s first

newspaper, The Adirondack Arrow (a weekly), that he found in the attic

of a house he bought on Main Street Old Forge 48 years ago. The papers

date from the 1930s when the economic climate was not unlike today. He

had this idea to share them with readers of the Adirondack Express

through this History & Heritage column, defined his concept,

organized the old issues and pinpointed articles he thought would be of

special interest to readers. So in the weeks ahead, thanks to Ray Carr,

readers will go back in time and see what was news some 80 years ago on

the Fulton Chain of Lakes during The Great Depression.