Newspaper Nugget - December 7, 1942

From the pages the Plattsburgh Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, New York, Monday, December 7, 1942

AN END-AND A BEGINNING are marked by this first anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  One year of war has passed-a year in which the United States met many reverses, achieved a few major victories.  Above all else, the anniversary sees the tide turning, the United States and her allies taking the offensive, the Nazi might on the wane.  Ahead lie long months of war, with its .... heartbreak, deprivations and misery.  But ahead, too, lies certain victory.

World War I - Letter from Uncle Tom

Corporal "Tom" Willis Depicts Life on the Western Front

John Murphy of Au Sable Forks, boss machine tender for the J. & J. Rogers Company, is in receipt of the following letters from Corporal Thomas Willis, who has been on the western front for a considerable spell:

Co. F, 303d Inf

A.P.O. 773, A.E.F.

Dear Friend Jack:

Just a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope this letter finds you the same.  Well, Jack, I was certainly glad to hear from you also to get the address of the boys.  I probably won't ever have the luck to run across Wilfred but I wrote him just the same.  I like it over here all right.  Of course I am not a very good Frenchman but as long as a fellow has the money he is all right.  We are in a good part of France at present; the climate is pretty warm and for the last few weeks it has rained a lot.  We do not have nice large barracks and nice spring cots over here.  We sleep in what they call billets.  The billet I sleep in is pretty comfortable.  We sleep in one side of the barn and a few rabbits and chickens and a nice little mule in the other side.  About time to get up in the morning the mule will start braying and there is no more sleep.  I have seen quite a bit of England and quite a bit of France and if Germany does not throw up her hands pretty soon I will probably see what there is left of Germany.  There is lots I would like to tell you about my trip but will wait and next summer I will be back and while we are waiting to turn a reel of muisc {sic} paper I will tell you all about it.  I will in the army one year the 22d of this month, and in that time I have had one hell of a good time and I wouldn't have missed what I have seen for anything.  There is only one trouble over here:  if you want to visit a nearby town you have to walk, but we do not mind that now.  Well Jack, how are all the fellows in the mill, and what is old "Smut" doing? I suppose he is fooling with the speed wheel every time the machine is running good.  I wish he was over here.  I would like to see him in uniform carrying a rifle and a pack.  Tell him to write to me as he owes me a letter.  I guess I will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon.  I remain,

Your friend,

Tom

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Eugene Duprey - Death Notice

AUSABLE FORKS MAN, 85, DROPS DEAD IN WOODS

Eugene Duprey, 85, of AuSable Forks, dropped dead at a woodlot in Swastika yesterday shortly after noon.

State police of the Keeseville substation said that death had been attributed to a heart attack.

The elderly man had accompanied a son, George, to the woodlot, state police said.

Troopers assisted in removing the body to the Quirk Brothers Funeral Home.

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Published in the Plattsburgh Press-Republican on Wednesday, November 6, 1946.

Eugene is my maternal great grandfather.

I am sure there is an obituary out there; however, the newspaper I believe it would be in, The Adirondack News-Elizabethtown Post, does not have 1946 microfilmed.  (Very sad about that~~but that's a topic for another post!!)

I am still hopeful that a cousin out there may have it.  So Cousin at least once removed, if you do have the obituary, please contact me!! Thanks :)

Prosper Senecal - Obituary

SENECAL DIES OF INJURIES RECEIVED IN CAR ACCIDENT

Prosper Senecal, 46, of Keeseville, died late Wednesday night of last week [sic] of injuries received in a car-truck collision Tuesday, October 17.

Death occurred at the Champlain Valley Hospital in Plattsburgh, where little hope for Mr. Senecal’s recovery had been entertained.

Mr. Senecal suffered internal injuries when his light truck collided with a sedan operated by Mrs. Thomas E. (Gladys) Bombard, 36, also of Keeseville.

The collision occurred at the junction of the Port Douglas and Mace Chasm Roads.

Mrs. Bombard, also injured in the accident, is confined at the Champlain Valley Hospital. Her major injuries are a knee fracture and arm lacerations.

Mr. Senecal, a native of the Town of Black Brook was born on March 19, 1912, a son of Henry and Ida (Santor) Senecal.

He is survived by his widow, the former May Rushia; one son Gary; two grandchildren, all of Keeseville.  Also surviving is one sister, Mrs. Verla Raby of Plattsburgh.

Funeral services were held Saturday morning in St. Augustine’s Church in Peru.

The Rev. William Laballee, assistant pastor, was celebrant of a High Mass of Requiem.

Bearers were Francis Norman, James Rushia, Ernest Senecal, John Douglas, Roger Senecal and Hector Rushia.

  Burial was in the church cemetery.

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Prosper was my first cousin twice removed.  My maternal grandfather, Ernest Senecal, was a pall bearer.

Article was on the first page of the October 26, 1961 edition of The Adirondack Record-Elizabethtown  Post.

Happy Columbus Day 2012

While looking for a Newspaper Nugget regarding Columbus Day, I came across the following in the

October 7, 1971

local news (aka GOSSIP) section of The Adirondack Record-Elizabethtown Post, written by my step-paternal grandmother, Helen Torrance Coughlin:

My first thought was Grandma C must have gotten her dates mixed up and it got published incorrectly.  Then I went to the trusty Google search and found out she wasn't wrong (I know~never doubt a grandmother!!).  It was in 1971, at the height of the Vietnam War, that the government decided to make as many federal holidays as possible on Monday (so glad to see where priorities where).  Public pressure changed Veterans's Day back to November 11th in 1978.

So now that we have had a history lesson today (one of the federal holidays I actually get off!!), time to go research, research and find clean clothes for work tomorrow!!

Happy Columbus Day!!!

Pets & Families

Today is the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi and World Animal Day.  I have been accused (and rightly so) of  taking more photos of animals than people.  Going through old family photos, I found that taking photos of animals runs in the family!!

Here's what I found:

My grandfather, Ernest Senecal, with Polly the dog

My grandfather, Ernest Senecal, with Blondie

My mother, Sharyn Senecal Coughlin's cat Fatso est 1950's

And one of my favorites, me and Bippy the cat.  My father found Bippy outside a bar shortly after I was born and brought him home.  Since Bippy and I grew up together, I could do ANYTHING to him per my parents and he would let me. Loyalty and trust.  I think more humans should adopt that attitude these days!!

2012-Fourth Quarter Goals and Status

Well, today is the first day of the fourth quarter of 2012. This year has gone by FAST!! Time to review my 2012 goals and see where I stand.

At the beginning of the Year of KISS (2012 Goals Hopes Reality), I had a few items I wanted to work on:

BLOG:  Try to blog at least 2-3 times a month. 

Didn't get to do this as I had hoped BUT have blogged more than I did the year before :)

BLOG:  Fine tune it the way I want.  

Still working on that but have started.

ORGANIZATION:  I have been in the "gathering" mood for years now.  Time to take stock of what I have and I still need to get. THIS WILL BE MY MAJOR FOCUS THIS YEAR!!

Well still the MAJOR FOCUS but have not made the headway that I had hoped to by this point.  It's amazing how the "real world" can interfere with the pursuit of genealogy!!!

SCANNING:  I really want to step up on this goal in this KISS year.  

I have made process here.  I have also attended Scanfest (hosted by AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors) in August and September.  This has really made me focus on this task if only for one Sunday afternoon a month!! Thank you Miriam for hosting!!!

SOCIETIES:  I belong to 2 local societies and 1 mail away society as well as NGS.  I plan to attend as many of the remaining meetings as possible.  Even though the local meetings are local focused topics for the most part, I am enjoying the fellowship of fellow genealogy addicts lovers and picking up a tip or two on my research areas.

I did make most of the Frederick County Genealogical Society meetings.  I really enjoy this group as they are so friendly and nice and helpful.  Trust me, I don't make the 30 mile journey just for anyone :)

CEMETERY PHOTOS: I have taken quite a few local photos over the past year.  I need to continue posting to Find-A-Grave as well as few other sites I have just discovered.  None of my family is from this area so hopefully someone will be able to benefit from the postings.

I am still taking pictures and travelling to various cemeteries.  I have been able to fulfill some photo requests and create memorials that I have been able to transfer to family members.  I have also had some negative experiences with Find-A-Grave this year that doesn't make me want to go and immediately all my pictures online with them.  But they are still the best game in town.

So the way I see it, I have 3 months to get working on these items.  Especially since January 2013 already looks crazy at work and in my personal life (what little there is!!)

How's everyone else doing for 2012 goals??