I f COURIER FREEMAN, POTSDAM, N.T., THURSDAY, 'JAN. 10, 1963
ENTERTAINMENT:
I've Always Tried To Do My Best' Gunsmith Bill Clark Enjoys Life At 91 Hermon To Host
Art — Books — Features — Motion Pictures
Music — Radio — Stage — Television — Travel
By Evelyn Riehl
"When I was 15 years
old I fixed an old doublebarrelled shotgun of my
Father's, and from then on
I guess I figured there was
not a gun I couldn't take
care of." So spoke Bill
Clark of his first try at the
trade he has enjoyed during his long and eventful
life.
Oratorical Contest
Hermon — The Annual Ora- to the winner of the County
torical Contest sponsored by the Contest. Medals will be given
St. Lawrence County American to the second and third place
__j also.
Legion, will be held at the Hermon-DeKalb Central School au- The winner of the County
Final will go on to represent
ditorium on Friday, Jan. 18
St. Lawrence County at the Disbeginning at 1 p.m.
this contest is open to onetrict contest to be held at Hadcontestant from each of the ley-Luzerne Central School;
high schools in the county. Lake Luzerne, N. Y.
Many schools have already had The St. Lawrence County
local elimination contests and American Legion Oratorical
have made arrangements to Committee is made up of the
send the winner to the county following persons: Walter Monteith, Canton; chairman, Harold
tfinals.
McCullough, Ogdensburg; Paul
All speeches are originals Wood, Heuvelton; Kenneth
prepared by the individual pupils with the guidance of an in-Campbell, Fine.
structor. All speeches are based In sporsoring this youth acon some phase of the Constitu- tivity, the American Legion is
able to better meet one of its
tion of the United States.
A gold medal will be awarded aims, namely: "to foster and
Celebrating his iHst birthday yesterday, Bill, with his
blue eyes sparkling behind
brown-rimmed glasses, recalled
for the Courier-Freeman some
of the high points of those nine
decades.
Born in Potsdam Jan. 11, 1S72
he spent his early years working the family farm. Perhaps
his ability as a machinist can
be explained by his having an
uncle who was an accomplished
machinist, but he said, "I think
it's natural for most, everybody
to find some work they enjoy."
At the time of the "first depression" he sold the farm, and
went to work in a Parishville
saw-mill and then to the lumber
woods." I've done everything
but drive team and cook," he
said, hut he was primarily a
saw filer.
Camps Competed
Camps throughout the woods
competed for his services since
the camp where he was employed always produced the most
He recalls turning one ton
log's per man hour.
As his reputation grew he uf lead intu Imllets in a single
earned more money, and said, year.
"Oval Wood Dish paid me $4 a
Good Eyes
day plus every other weekend When asked about his eyes
off with pay — that was good he smiled and sairl "Yes, a man
money in the early 1900's."
needed goud eyes tn do my kind
During these years his in-of work." The only trouble he
terest, in guns was kept alive ever had was when saw-filings
by membership in many pun injured them at about 45 when ^
clubs, among them the Potsdam he began tu wear glasses.
Gun Club which he joined as a
A quietly jovial man, he said
27 Elm S
rof. Gambling
Art On Exhibit
At State Capital
Thirty paintings by Professor
illiam T. Gambling of the art
partment at The State Unirsity College at Potsdam are
ing exhibited this month in
e State Capital at Albany,
howing of Professor Gamb.
ng's work was arranged at tha'**
•quest of Assemblyman Verir M. Ingrain, Potsdam.
Professor Gambling has been
member of the art department
culty at Potsdam since 1950,
native of Boise,' Idaho, ha
ilds a bachelor of fine arts de•ee from Pratt Institute and
masters degree from Columa University. Before coming
Potsdam, Mr. Gambling was
nployed as a commercial arist in Idaho and New York
ity.
Winner of first prize in water
(Ruth Dygert is spending two years as a Peace Corps lor at the Idaho State ex*
worker in Tanganyika, Africa. Here is another of her periodi- bition in 1955, Professor
cal reports of her life and impressions of this interesting Gambling has had one map.
country — this time around the Christmas season. — Editor) IOWS in San Francisco, Sacra-V
In some ways it still seemed as far away from ento and Boise.
In Tanganyika
African Christmas
Only Needs Snow
Christmas as it could possibly be here in Tanganyika.
However, the spirit was in full swing around our|
happy little family.
Peter (one of the members of thing like that which — maybe
the Peace Corps working as a — will last longer. We gave
surveyor out of Tanga) got usthem to the children on Christ'
a Christmas tree from the Lu-mas morning.
theran Mission up in the Usambara Mountains. Although I If only we had had a little
thought it looked like a juniper, snow everything would have
it was an evergreen and looked been beautiful, but I guess there
was no chance of that. We just
as a Christmas tree should.
looked at the cotton batten on
One night we had a tree- the tree and pretended.
trimming party. We had no decorations and planned to use
pop-corn strings. But the fellows who are visiting here for
the holidays %vent and bought
three boxes of bulbs. I made an
angel for the top of the tree. I
used a balloon as afoundation
and with some tin loll, our angel
really looked surprisingly good.
THE FINEST THEATRE
IN THE
NORTH COUNTRY
ROXY
Is used ui ,,
.
club members using Black Rifle ' !" • sure ll)CMV , a ' \ m a n y .m™
powder that he ordered f r o m "'ho remember the happy times
Tonight and Friday
shun wlth
the Dupont Company for $11 a "''f!1* *?, ""f,1".
Two Days Only
keg, primers and the bullets he o l d b U 1 l a l ! '
molded himself from "all man- Some of his friends still stop
ner of lead" that he acquiredjt" chat, with him. Guy Planty
for nothing.
lot" 1'arishviile and Charlie BerJoined NRA
;iy. now a retired Colton resiAt 18 he joined the National:dent, who vacationed here from
Rifle Association and has con-!Rochester i'1 the 20's, were retinued his membership to this cent visitors.
day. That must be some kind One business transaction Bill
of record!
likes to recall was an odd one
In 191)1. visiting his parents — but typical. It was a request
and sisters who were working for shells from an army ordiAfter that a few of us made
in Boston, he had the opportun- nance testing team stationed at
a wreath from a few branches. Music by Dr. Arthur R.
ity to meet his friend Herli William Henry Bay, Alaska,
We sat up until 2 a.m. working Frackenpohl will be featured at
Phillips, son of J. A. Phillips of | where uily two ships a year
so that we could surprise the a combined concert of the Crane
Norwood, the medicine manu- marie port.
Collegiate Band and the Choraphoto at top Bill (left) is seen with his son, others.
LIKE
BEGINS
AT
91
—
For
Bill
Clark
of
facturer, and tour the United Bill noticed that the letter
laires, Friday, at The State
Lewis, in their gun shop. Lewis has learned I
States Army Arsenal at Water- ordering the material was Colton, nationally-known gunsmith, life at
Sang Carols
University College at Potsdam,
well his Father's trade. The photo was taken
town, Mass., where Phillips con- written on a typewriter ob- 91 is just as exciting as it was when he used
We sang carols several times The program will be held at Saturday, Sunday, Monday
ducted experiments and photo-fviously needing a new rihbon •—• to be one of the most soughl-aftcr lumbermen some years ago. The bottom photo shows Bill nd I was able to get Christmas 8:30 p.m. in the College Theatre,
and Tuesday
graphed the results.
I so, unbidden, he sent two newin the North County at the start of the cen- as he worked on his guns last Monday in iusic on the radio. It seemed Crane Collegiate Band, under
Jan. 12, 13, 11, 15
tury. Bill celebrated his 91st birthday yester- their shop.
His friendship with Phillips ribbons with llie order.
itrange to think that one year the direction of Professor GorGreat Family Show
l d in
i the
h portrait of faday and received the well-wishes of hundreds
resulted
Cooperated With Police
tgo we were singing Christmas don W. Mathie, will play "Alther and son included here, plus Cooperation with law-euforce- of friends and admirers in the area. In the
(bottom photo by James Currier) arols in Plattsburgh.
legro Giocose" by Dr. Francmany happy hours of "shoot- jment 1officers has always been
Last month for the first time kenpohl of the college's Crane
- - - - -i * i-; j - | L , j l a s k n O W n
ing for the score" at target {an• interest
went swimming in the ocean, department of music. The
ranges.
;many of them well, loading
went skindiving, too — notChoralaires will sing "A Thing
Bill and his wife Lettie lived shells for them ami helping
vith an aqualung, but just by of Beauty," also by the Potsdam
in Potsdam at the time of thethem where he could in proofolding my breath. It was great|composer.
Potsdam
birth of their daughter Mary of-ownerhsip cases. However,
:un and I hope I can do it some Four marches by Cacavas,
Etta (now Mrs. Bellinger of he never hesitated to disagree Fri., Jan. 11
CONCERT, Crane Band and Choir
"Oriental Sleigh Ride" will
Hoist, Walton and Moore and
Johnstown), and in Parishville with them when he felt that a
be the theme for the 1963 Clark- The temperature was 93 de-symphony by Erickson also wil
8:30 p.m., SUCP College Theatre
when son Lewis was born. Mrs. "red-tape" regulation worked
son Tech-State University Col- grees the day before Christmas. be performed by Collegiatr
Clark died in 1914.
ito the disadvantage of mark; Sat., Jan. 12
OPERETTAS, Opera Workshop Repeat
lege at Potsdam ice carnival Christmas Eve another Peace jBand.
Moved To Colton
I men.
Performance
which will be held here Feb. 8- torps representative from Ohio
Choralaires, directed by Pro
The move to Colton was ac-| Bill recalls with a twinkle in
"Amelia Goes To the Ball" & "The Telephone" 10.
nd I went to the carol service fessor C. Robert Reinert, also
complished in 1916, while he his eye of the days "during the
8:15
p.m.,
SUCP
College
Theatre
it
the
Anglican
Church.
It
was
Miss
Carole
Cunningham
of
^vill
sing works by HandeL
was still working in the woods,l!Sth amendment" when troopers
Williamson, a junior at Pots- ice and we enjoyed it. Parts of Schumann, Poulenc and Jean
using his spare hours to work would chat in his shop with Sun., Jan. 18 VOCAL RECITAL, Prof. Robert Holland
dam State, suggested this piize- t were familiar, but only about Berger. Accompanist will be
with the guns sent to him for him, one eye out the window
'•i p.m. SUCP Crane Hall
repair, and in loading shells looking for 'shipments' to drive
winning theme in a contest held ;hree carols were sung to theLinda Pain, Centerport.
for marksmen all over the by on the road.
by the ice carnival committee, ;unes we know and use.
Tues., Jan. 15 STUDENT RECITAL, Crane Department
country.
JThe prizes she received will be
Living with his .son Lewis, ini
4 p.m., SUCP Crane Hall
Went Caroling
two tickets to the ice carnival
Close to the end of World an apartment over the shop,]
_
Afterward we came baek here
in PANAVISION'5'and METROCOIOR
War I he received a request for Bill was enjoying the company Wed., Jan. 16 MOVIE OPERETTA, Golden Operetta Series ball and dinner for two at theand a group of us sang and had
"Maytime" by Sigmund Romberg
See this Great Picture On
Town House Restaurant in
a 22 calibre rifle from London, of his five grandchildren; Elva,
WPDM—1471)
kc.
a few pantomines until almost
Roxy Theatre, 7 and 9 p.m. only
Potsdam.
Our Big Screen in Color
where an American soldier had William, Betty and Grace, Mrs.
Sign on; Portals of Prayer
midnight. During the course of 5:55
and Scope
Morning Show
recommended Bill as a man who Kverett Caller, and her three
;he evening we decided to go 6:05
8:45
Con
Elliott's
Sports
knew guns. So his reputation children the afternoon he was
Christmas caroling in the hos- 10:05 Con Elliott Show
grew as a gunsmith.
interviewed. Alert, full of
pital the next night. We had to 10:14 Movie Billboard
Wed., Jan. 16—1 Nite Only
Finally in 1922 the W. A.stories, he summed up a good
;ype some copies of the carols. 10:40 Social Security rips
The 2nd in Our Series of
Clark and Hon Gunsmith Shop life by saying, "In everything
2:05
Ralph
Howard
Show
We
really
had
quite
a
pile
of
6 Golden Operettas
opened its doors at its present! I've e v e r undertaken to do, I've
5:00
Con
Elliott's
Sports
;oys
for
the
children.
Each
of
location, and Bill, at 50 years of trietl ti, be fair anil do my best,1'
6:00 Sign off: Portals of Prayer.
us
got
several
things
and
wrapOther Programs:
age, when most men were be- Happy Birthday, Bill Clark,
ped them. For 10 shilling's (a- World News: On the hour
ginning to .slow down, made his
Two comic operas, "Amelia bout $1.40) I bought five small Headlines: Every Half Hour
part time hobby a full time
Goes to the Ball," and "Theioys, (three plastic cats, an Local News: 7:30 8:05 A M. 12:30
career. Included on the premises
3:30 P M.
Telephone," will be repeated ai elephant and a cow). Two ofCommunity
Calendar: Every hour a'
were a machine shop, target
the State University College a' them were plastic vinyl. I 45 minutes past the hour.
range and the store itself.
Report, Jimmy Fldler:
Potsdam Saturday night, Jan, thought it better to get soine- Hollywood
Every hour at 15 minutes past
A meticulous man, Bill's rethe hour
12. The college's Opera Pro
cords have always been careduction Workshop performed
Advertisement.
fully kept. In the 85 years that
the two operas before audiences
guns were left in his shop for
totaling more than 8,000 on
If
you
liked
the good old
service, he noted the .serial
recent tour of New York State,
days . . . you'll love
numbers and owners names of
BETTY CARR
Thins., Jan. 17—1 Nite Onlv
10,300 guns. He explained that
The combined performance!
many more were
merely
will be presented in the College Vocal and instrument soloists
will
be
featured
in
an
afternoon
brought to him fur .sighting and
Theatre at 8:15 p. m. undo:
ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S
minor work. On these he kept
the staging and dil'ection of Dr, recital series to be held at The
MOTION PICTURE SUSPENSE
no records.
Harry I. Phillips of the Cram State University College at
CLASSIC..STARRING
Potsdam
Jan.
15.
The
program
department of music.
IAMES STEWART
will be at 4 p. m. in Crane Hall.
Opening the program will be
There will be no reserve*
"REAR W I N D O W
seats. All tickets will be soli a vocal solo by Ann Gatta,
'""> GRACE K t l l Y
at the box office starting at Schenectady, mezzo-soprano, acWENDHl COREY
companied
by
Rosalie
Cardona,
o'clock the night of the perTHELMA HITTER
Albany. Also participating will
formance.
TECHNICOLOR'
Professor Robert W. Holland |
"The Telephone" is the stor; be Sharryl Brewster, Williamj'imsuii
of The State University Collegei
•if a unique triangle involvini son, piano; Heather Place,
at Potsdam will present a voa man, a woman anil a tele Newfane, soprano, accompanied
cal recital Sunday, Jan. IS at
Stine, Ridgeway
phone. "Amelia Goes to till by Marjorie
.'i p.m. in Crane Hall. Professor
Ball" is the foible of a woma N. J. Carol Hampston, Poland
Holland, a tenor, will be acwho believes that dancing i oboe, accompanied by Frances
companied by Profes.Mir Helen
more important than virtue o: (loan, Yonkers; Alan Crabb
SOON AT THE ROXY.1. King, also of the Crane deBinKhamton, tenor, accompanied
love.
partment of music,
"The Castaways"
Cast in lead roles in the twiby Frank Berardi, Amsterdam,
and Henry Carpenter, Bombay,
Works to be presented in•tperas
will
be
Marsha
Hunter,
"Taras
Ilulba"
OI'ICIU WORKSHOP — Marsha Hunter.
dmu. Others are (from the left) Barbara
Nitely at 7:30 at the Fabuloui
clude "Go. Lovely Rose," by
Watertnwn, as Amelia; Bar trombone, accompanied by Wil- CROSSROADS,
"Child Is Waiting"
MOIRA. It:
Bunis, Donna Allen and Melody O'Connor. bara Burris, Binghamton; Don- liam Jones, Oswego.
Quilter and "Love in Her Eyes \\'alrrtnwn, (second Irnm right) will play the
"2 For the Seesaw"
Miff! Allen will have :i lead role also in the na Allen, Crown Point; Joh
Kits Playing," by Handel. Pro-' Ir-ad role in "Amelia (iocs to the Bail," one of
Recitalists are from the stu-Food won the Gourmet Awar
in the Alice in Won
"Gypsy"
second opera, "The Telephone."
fcMor Holland will sing Nr-hn- Iwo comic operas In In* presented /;i;urday
EricKon, Port Chester; Richar dios of Professors Robert Hol- —served
atmosphere of th:
matin's "Dichterliehe" and » night at Tile State I niversity College at Puts"Gigot"
Bunting, Potsdam; Allen Crab! land, James J. Ball. Herry I derland
magnificent dining - entertain
galaction from V«rdi's "I.uTiaBinghamton, and Robert Shies Phillips, Richard Griffith, and ment
Watch For These Mf Hits
spot
.
.
.
viat*."
Richard J. Fote.
ley, Waterford.
Crane Concert
To Feature Music
Of Frackenpohl
Cultural Calendar
1963 Ice Carnival
Theme Is Oriental
Area Radio
Opera Workshop Will Perform
Two Comedies At State Saturday
Student Recital
Slated Tuesday
Robert Holland
To Sing Sunday
1
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