As most readers know, this community in 1899 was the scene of one of the most devastating fires in Northern New York history. Old photographs show a flatbed of smoking embers extending from High to Lake streets and from Wawbeek Avenue to where Luke’s Mobil now stands. Only two buildings remained on what today we call Park Street.
One of those was the building which today houses the village offices.
A plaque atop this building’s brick front carries the date 1903. That date merely marks the year that the building was “dolled up” with brick exterior. It was actually constructed in the early 1890s, according to Louis Simmons, former Tupper Lake historian. Most old timers of my generation will remember that when we were growing up it was a funeral parlor and a furniture store. A combination I don’t remember being regarded out of the ordinary.
The building was owned by a man named A.J. DeShaw (Dish-Shaw).
Mr. DeShaw had a funeral parlor in the rear of the store and furniture store in the front of the store. Large plate-glass windows in the front allowed A.J., as he was known, to prominently display the latest furniture.
Let me tell you a little about A.J.: He was physically a big man of heavy girth. He was always neatly dressed in a great coat and tie and bore a commanding presence. He was a member of the village board for many years. In 1937 he made a bid for mayor as the Republican nominee against Democrat Frank. J. McCarthy.
That contest ended ina dead heat — 98.6 votes for each candidate. Somewhat reminiscent of the recent Supervisor’s race here, legal opinion was sought and, on legal advice by attorney Howard Main of Malone, two ballots, one marked with the name of each candidate, were placed in a box. The ballot drawn from the box bore the name Frank McCarthy, giving Tupper two more years of Democratic rule. Now accuse me of wandering, if you wish, but I must tell you something also about Frank McCarthy. I found the following entirely be accident as I was looking through the Tupper Lake High School senior year book of 1919, located in the Free Press collection a few weeks ago. According to the year book, in a Tri-Lake track meet Francis McCarthy as captain of the Tupper Lake team scored more points than any other man entered in the meet. In what events did he score those points? Get this! The quarter mile, first place, no time given. The half mile, first place, 2 minutes 26 1/2 seconds. The mile, first place, 5 minutes 53 seconds. How about that! Incidentally, in the same race Larry Cherverette, who was a sophomore, won the 100-yard dash. Time: 10.4!
The DeShaw building was erected by a man named Dick Donovan, an early Justice of the Peace, as a theater or Op’ry House. Stock companies filled week-long engagements there, putting on a different show each night. That stage, where thespians displayed their talents, was the last I knew still standing in place at the rear of the building. It has been awhile since I appeared there, but I think the police justice desk sat on that platform and with its extra height it gave the judge a somewhat intimidating position.
The village bought the building in 1954 and paid $18,000 for it, plus the remodeling costs which were subject to a permissive referendum. Today the building is now the subject of a concern that more space is needed to conduct the growing business of running the village.
Whatever the outcome of that concern, the building remains as one of the few architectural links with village’s earliest days.
Take a second look when you go by. There is a powerful lot of history in that old timer, and what stories it could tell, if only it could talk!