Au Sable Forks Professional Basketball Team 1927-28

In honor of "March Madness", here is a photo of the Au Sable Forks Stars 1927-28 featuring my grandfather, Ernest "Red" Senecal.

I also found this write up on the beginning of the season:

Record-Post, November 2, 1927

TOWN BASKETBALL 5 WOULD JOIN LEAGUE

Think Ad’k Circuit Should Be Success—Maurice Votraw to Coach Again This Season

Believing that an Adirondack basketball league of professionals could be a success because it would naturally create a friendly spirit of rivalry and keenest interest between the several towns in the circuit, the professional basketball quintet of Au Sable Forks expressed itself favorably inclined to the movement at a recent meeting of the member and that it would willingly join a league embracing the following:  Plattsburg, Port Henry, Plattsburg Barracks, Lake Placid, Lyon Mountain and other nearby places.

Local basketball fans feel that Au Sable Forks has still a better chance this season than last for the team has the same line-up.  This means better team-work as each player is thoroughly familiar with one and the other’s manner of playing.  The quintet should move with the perfection and smoothness that come with years of playing together for all of them are former high school stars who have fought side by side, year after year, as professionals, ever since their high school days.

The local courtsters await with much interest what action, if any, promoters of professional basketball will take on the foregoing suggestion anent the formation of an Adirondack basketball league.  What say you?

Maurice Votraw was unanimously elected captain and coach at the aforesaid meeting, an indiction of the players’ confidence in Mr. Votraw’s abilities and their own determination to uphold the proud name of Au Sable Forks in Northern New York basketball circles, knowing that the coaching of Mr. Votraw, will be an asset not to be considered lightly while his leadership, they feel, will bring the team to heights of enviable success for the season of 1927-28.

The line-up is practically the same as last year, and is as follows:

James Murphy, center

“Red” Senecal, right guard

Ray Senecal, left guard

Albert “Nip” Votraw, left forward

Francis Pattno, right forward

The team has two new members, Howard Kemp and M.J. “Pete” Robert, who are modestly content to shine as substitutes.

Last year the town team won ten out of sixteen games played, a record to be proud of. Practice will begin shortly and the players expect to be in good condition for their first game probably the latter part of this month.

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I know Albert "Nip" Votraw is on the right, first row, kneeling and my paternal grandfather, Ernest "Red" Senecal is right back him.  Those are the only ones I can positively identify. (Hopeful others will be able to identify the rest!!)

I have seen "Maurice Votraw" also listed as "Morris Votraw" in some write-ups.  If it's "Morris Votraw" then he is the husband of my maternal grand aunt, Doris Senecal Votraw, sister of "Red" and Ray Senecal. 

David Coughlin - Birthday

Today is the birthday of my paternal grandfather, David Francis Coughlin (1909-1984).

I found this picture of the two of us taken when I was six months old.  It was taken at my grandparents' house in Jay, Essex County, New York.  I love this picture!!

So Happy Birthday Grandpa!!

Katherine Coughlin Update and MORE!

I cannot state my love for Northern New York Historical Newspapers enough.  I decided to check to see if there was any mention of my paternal great grand aunt (or 2nd great aunt if you prefer), Katherine "Katie" Coughlin's death in 1913.  I searched and found one line about her funeral.  But I had to laugh as there were also mentions for the my maternal grand aunt (Mamie Duprey Willis) and her husband (Thomas Willis)  and the second wife of my maternal great grand uncle (Mary Sawyer Duprey).

AUSABLE FORKS

--Mrs. V. K. Moore and Mrs. Flora Hinds visited in Plattsburgh Wednesday.

--L. J. Farland spend a few days in Montreal, P.Q., the guest of his sister Mrs. Chas. Fortier, recently.

--The funeral of Miss Catherine Coughlin was held from the Holy Name church on Wednesday.

--Miss Florence Leclair has return from Montreal, P.Q.

--The many friend of Mrs. Elmer Duprey were grieved to hear of her death Sunday morning.  She leaves a husband and six children beside a host of friends to mourn her loss.  Funeral services were held from St. Mathews church, Black Brook, Tuesday morning, Father Blaigner officiating.

--Miss Mamie Duprey, who has been employed as reporter for the Adirondack Record Company, Inc., has resigned and will leave shortly for Rutland, Vt. The vacancy is {filled} by Miss Catherine Harrigan.

--Jeddie Rock and Thomas Willis left Monday for Rumford, Me., where they will be employed.
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Irish Research & the Coughlin's

Courtesy of Twisted Twigs On Gnarled Branches Genealogy

I think quite a few of us with Irish roots can relate to this picture!! When I saw this I had to laugh because in the spirit of Saint Patrick's Day I picked up my Coughlin line research again and took a break and saw this on Facebook.  I laughed so hard :)  If you have not checked out Twisted Twigs On Gnarled Branches Genealogy on Facebook, please do so.  Always fun!!

My Irish immigrant is my great great grandfather, Daniel "Dan" Coughlin (about 1835 - between 1910-1915).  Don't know definitely where from yet.  Family lore says County Cork.  But an obituary from his brother, Thomas Coughlin (1828-1918), states he came from County Tipperary.  Still haven't tackled passenger lists yet for the two of them.  Daniel was enumerated in the 1910 US Federal Census (Black Brook, Clinton County, New York) with his daughter, Katherine "Kate" Coughlin.  I found Kate in Headstone Inscriptions: Clinton County, New York, Volume II Revised complied by Clyde M. Rabideau (Heartnut Publishing Company, Plattsburgh, NY) and on Find-A-Grave showing she had died in 1913.  Of course I have not yet found an obituary for Kate or Dan or a list of others :)

So my goal for the rest of March is to further document the Coughlin line in my database (Legacy) and hope to find more records and more answers!!!

Thomas Coughlin - The Uncle

The Adirondack Record-Elizabethtown Post
Thursday, April 5, 1945, Page 1

PVT. THOS. COUGHLIN,

A FORMER RESIDENT,

IS KILLED IN ACTION

Pvt. Thomas Coughlin, former resident of Au Sable Forks, was reported killed in action in Germany March 15, according to a telegram received Thursday by his widow, Mrs. Constance Coughlin of Worcester, Mass., who notified his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Daniel Coughlin of Palmer Hill.  The Record was unable to obtain definite particulars concerning Pvt. Coughlin’s army career except that he was serving in the American Rangers, an organization similar to the British Commandos, and that he enlisted or was drafted about two years ago.  He was about 23 years old.

Pvt. Coughlin was born on Palmer Hill and attended Au Sable Forks high school.  He was well known and popular with all.  He left here about two years ago to work in Worcester, Mass., in a defense plant and was married in that city about a year ago.  He served in this country about a year before being shipped overseas.

Besides his widow and parents, he is survived by three brothers, Bernard, David and Daniel Coughlin, Jr., of Worcester, Mass., and two sisters, Miss Elizabeth Coughlin of Au Sable Forks and Mrs. Gerald Thompson of Troy and also by several nephews and nieces.

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This Thomas Coughlin is my paternal grand uncle and my father's namesake.  There is supposed to be a memorial in the town of Au Sable Forks, New York with the names of the war dead on it.  My dad said it was always funny to pass it and see "his" name on it!  

I do not know what happened to his wife, Constance Fleming Coughlin. I found a few leads but nothing concrete.....yet.

I do know he was living in Worcester, Massachusetts when he joined the Army.  And from the American Battle Monuments Commission I know he is buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, St Avold, France, Plot F, Row 10, Grave 8.  If you have not had the chance to check out the American Battle Monuments Commission website for overseas internments, I highly recommend it.