That roar was the fire that was sweeping the upper floors of the huge Berkeley Hotel in Berkeley Square. It was New Year’s Day and The Enterprise of Friday, January 2nd, under the fire headline, carried this sub-head: “Losses of $60,000 Suffered by Owner and Store Tenants; Flames Believed to Have Started on Shingle Roof from Chimney Sparks.”

The Saranac Lake Volunteer Firemen, God Bless them, were the heroes of the fire fight that saved the nearby buildings. The Enterprise story had this to say about the Volunteer Firemen:

“Fought to a standstill by courageous Volunteer Firemen who battled in zero weather, the flames with their threat to the very heart of the business section were successfully darkened in the most spectacular exhibition of fire fighting that village ever saw.

“Guests and employees left the building without panic, and although the firemen risked their lives time and again on ice-sheated roofs and in smoke-filled rooms only one minor [?] injury was suffered by the fire fighters. Charles Duquette had the point of a fire axe buried in his hand.

Saranac Lake Fire Chief, E. W. Harrison, in thanking the Lake Placid Volunteer Firemen who responded said: “There is now a renewed demonstration of neighborly spirit between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid and definite indications of a need for more fire apparatus.

“Lake Placid responded in a record run of 15 minutes over the 10 mile road from lake Placid.”

“Walter Sagendorf who has owned the Berkeley since 1913, is now considering the problem of rebuilding. The damage was mostly was covered by insurance.”

Review of the year 1924

“During 1924 many things of importance to the future of the community as reported in the Enterprise during the course of the year…

“Jan. 1 – Odd fellows entertained 86 children at New year’s dinner in the town hall.’

“Jan. 2 — Nathan M Shelley and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Maude M. Shelley were killed in a coasting accident when the Lewisohn Camp toboggan slide collapses.”

“Jan. 18 – Annual mid-winter concert of the Saranac lake boys’ Band at the Pontiac Theater.”

“Jan. 25 – First Saranac Lake Real Estate Board organized at meeting of 13 local realtors, following a dinner at the Riverside Inn.”

“Jan. 26 – Northern New York inner scholastic speed skating meet at the Pontiac rink won by Lake Placid; Saranac Lake, second; Malone, third and Tupper Lake, Fourth.”

“Jan. 29 — Saranac Lake Curling team wins Gordon Cup at Schenectady in the first of the season’s national curling matches, playing through to victory over a field of eight teams.”

“Feb. 1 – Six day meet of horse racing begins at the Ampersand course on Lower Saranac Lake.”

“Feb. 12 – Revival [?] of Saranac Lake mid-winter Carnival with mammoth street parade as opening feature.”

“Feb. 21 — Saranac Lake Women’s club entertains national and state officers of the League of Women Voters at a luncheon at the Riverside Inn, attended by scores of local women and visitors from vicinity towns.”

Stormy weather

The weather report in the box above the Enterprise masthead read simply: “Probably heavy snow tonight” — In Tupper Lake — “The mercury is reported to have dropped to 35 below in Tupper Lake. It was the coldest morning of the season in the Adirondacks.”

Weather in the headlines from around the country:

“MARYLAND UNDER HEAVY SNOWFALL – A blizzard swept down on Maryland and Northern Virginia during the night and blanketed the entire region under eight inches of snow.

“Street car transportation here was a standstill and thousands are compelled to walk to work.”

“FIERCE GALE NOW SWEEPS BRITAIN — Fourth within Six Days Hits Southern England Crippling Shipping.”

“35-MILE STORM HITS NEW YORK – City locked in Severe Snow Storm Jamming Transportation – New York city awoke in the grip of a blizzard which hampered the city’s transportation system, tangled traffic in the harbors and sent a biting snow whipped by 35-mile-an-hour winds into the faces of pedestrians.”

Burned by scalding water

“Mrs. Frank E. Sheldon of 64 River Street, was severely burned on both feet and ankles when a big kettle of boiling water tipped off the stove of the town hall kitchen yesterday during preparation of the annual New Year’s dinner for the children.

“Mrs. Sheldon was assisting the ladies of the Rebekah Lodge and she stood directly in the path of the boiling water as it spilled from the overturned kettle.

“She was taken to her home and attended by Dr. C. C. Trembly, who found the burns so serious that Mrs. Sheldon will be unable to walk for several weeks.

“Three other women, Mrs. James Jackson, Mrs. James White and Mrs. John Hanchett were standing near the stovewhen the accident occurred and also sustained burns although not as serious as those suffered by Mrs. Sheldon.

“A pan full of potatoes that had been placed on top of the big kettle of water was being removed and caught on the edge of the kettle in such a way that it tipped from the stove.”

“Sold moonshine to soldiers”

“William Paro of Plattsburgh has been arrested charged with peddling white mule to members of the 26th Infantry at Plattsburgh Barracks. It was his second arrest on the same charge.”

“Bawled out troopers”

“Fred Seymour of Black Brook, was locked up for hours at AuSable Forks after he had bawled out a couple of state troopers who ejected him from a lunch room. He was released after he cooled off and sent home.”

“Port Henry men

caught with wine”

“Frank Anauo, Napoleon Anauo and Charles Anauo, all of Port Henry, were flagged with eight cases of Canadian wine. Lacking bail, the trio are spending the holidays in the Clinton County jail at Plattsburgh.” [Remember this was during prohibition which was not repealed until 1933.]

“Raids made at AuSable Forks”

“Several places in AuSable Forks were raided recently and four slot machines and three punch boards found. The alleged owners of the gambling devices were each fined twenty-five dollars.

“The slot machines were destroyed. The money in them was distributed to the poor of the town. The punch boards were also destroyed. At several places that were raided nothing of an illegal nature was found.”