Lookback: April 21, 2008

April 21, 2008 04:00 am

— 25 YEARS AGO -- 1983
Inmate Lemuel Smith is convicted of killing prison guard Donna Payant May 15, 1981, at Green Haven Correctional Facility and faces death in the electric chair unless appeals are successful. Mrs. Payant, 31, was from Dannemora and is the first woman prison guard ever killed on duty in New York state.
Key Bank of Northern New York files notice it will foreclose on a $4.25 million mortgage by Lake Placid Club Resort owner John Swaim -- a move that will place the management of the club's hotel complex into the hands of the Watertown-based financial institution.
Speeding and alcohol were the two major causes of accidents in Essex County in 1982, according to statistics compiled by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Speeding was listed as a factor in two deaths and 143 injuries. Alcohol was listed as a factor in one death and 75 injuries.
Lake Placid has been selected as the host for the first National Winter Sports Festival and National Masters Sports Festival.
50 YEARS AGO -- 1958
The Clinton County Board of Supervisors tables the sales-tax issue indefinitely without discussion or indication that they mean to bring the proposal up for a vote at a later date. They unanimously passed a bipartisan tabling resolution.
A fire destroys the Altona Town Hall. The damage was estimated at $20,000. However, valuable records are believed to be safe inside a safe.
The Clinton County Board of Supervisors is making a final effort to build a new jail for $200,000 instead of the lowest contractor's bid of $608,638. They have given themselves until May 12 to make a final decision.
Firemen battle a blaze at the Connor's Pharmacy building at Cornelia and Margaret streets, Plattsburgh. All occupants of the upstairs apartments are evacuated.
75 YEARS AGO -- 1933
Ending a deadlock which began early in January, the Essex County Board of Supervisors elects former Sheriff James B. Wolfe of Wilmington as chairman.
It is now felt certain that steamboat service on Lake George will be resumed this year. It is planned to lease three boats of the Lake George Steamboat Co. to a new firm headed by former State Sen. Frederick Kavanagh of Waterford.
The Stevens Hotel Co. of Lake Placid, operator of one of the largest and best known resorts in the north woods, puts its affairs into the hands of a banking committee because of financial difficulties.
The last of the ice disappears from Mirror Lake. Heavy winds clear the last of it. Last year the lake did not open until May 2.
100 YEARS AGO -- 1908
The contract for the erection of the new YMCA building is signed by the Building Committee of the association and Pennington and Butler. The contract price of the building is $72,873.
Walter Johns of Plumb Brook puts a stick of dynamite in the oven to "thaw it out." As a result, the stove is blown all to pieces, one end of the house blown out and his wife and child were seriously injured.
The old County Home in Beekmantown which for years has been an eyesore to people living there is destroyed by fire, the fire probably being set by tramps who occupied it the night before.
W.H. Miner, the wealthy Chicagoian and former resident of Chazy, is stocking a primate park on his farm in Chazy with big game including buffalo, antelope and elk.

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