Century-old Ti — K of C cornerstone laid

Walter A. Lynch of New York City would be glad that his admonition a century ago to use the new Ticonderoga Knights of Columbus hall as a community gathering place has been followed.

“The home should not be regarded by Knights or by the people generally as a place to be used solely by members of the order,” he said, speaking at the cornerstone laying ceremony on Columbus Day 1921.”It should have a broader purpose. It should be a place where all may congregate and ever find a warm welcome.”

A crowd turned out despite inclement weather.

“Notwithstanding that lowering skies threatened rain and a cold, raw wind, at two o’clock, the hour of the convergence, found a large gathering of Knights and townspeople in front of the temporary speakers’ stand that had been erected on the east side of the building, eager to take part, even if only as a listener, to the exercises,” the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on Oct.13,1921.

Other speakers were the Rev. Cyril Stevens, pastor of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, and past District Deputy Grand Knight P.J. Tierney of Plattsburgh.

Grand Knight Francis Malaney placed the cornerstone into position.

The Ticonderoga Community Band played “Star Spangled Banner.”

In other Oct.13, 1921 Ticonderoga Sentinel news:

• Route 22: Fred E. Ellis of Melrose, Mass. the lowest of 14 bidders, was awarded the contract to construct the 3.53-mile section of state Route 22 between Ticonderoga and Montcalm Landing in Putnam at a price of $144,171.50 — the equivalent of $2.34 million in 2022 dollars — more than $17,000 less than the engineer’s estimate.

“This is among the most efficient and experienced of road builders, having built over a million miles of road in the state during the past years.”

• Cigar makers: Brothers Walter and Samuel Varney, who had established a cigar-manufacturing business at their home in September, now offered three brands in the local marketplace — the Elverno, which sold for 8 cents; the Adirondack Special, which sold for 10 cents; and the Tottle, which sold for 13 cents.

“The cigars are being highly praised, both for flavor and workmanship, by the discriminating smokers.”

• Sports: “Playing in a drizzling rain on a ground that was a sticky, slippery mud, the Ticonderoga high school football team took a 31 to 0 defeat at the hands of the Whitehall school boys at Whitehall last Saturday.”

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