Plessis, May 28. -- Sidney Sweet of Theresa said today that to his knowledge the four men who secured the wood for the poles almost 50 years ago are still alive. They are Fred and Allie Wilcox, Charles Bauter and Sidney Sweet, all of Theresa.

"When the flag was raised on a Saturday afternoon," said Mr. Sweet today, "there were two bands to play. Alexandria Bay sent their band and a large delegation of towns-people. Those were horse and wagon days. Redwood's band came in from the other road with a crowd of people and struck up playing. Another rig came bearing the Hammond Glee Club to sing campaign songs. Colonel Albert Shaw was the speaker and the papers of that day reported that over 1,000 people stood in the streets to hear him.

"We cut the top pole from Ben Van Allen's woods (Hyde Lake flats) and the lower staff from Henry Cudwith. Claude Makepeace, the merchant now of Plessis, was a boy who came along with us.

"I framed the poles and got them ready to raise on the corner, but Fred Ahles had just purchased that corner. He was a Democrat and he said, 'Vel, I don't dink so,' and we went over to the other corner. (Fred Ahles owned the present Makepeace store corner, the pole was put up across the street on the Agway feed mill corner).

" 'Tinker' Bill Thompson made the huge ball on top of the pole, and Mark Parker tinned the weather vane. We raised the double poles side by side and raised the second section up after the poles were upright. Fannie Makepeace pulled the rope to raise the flag, the Stars and Stripes, with the Republican banner, 35 feel long, under it.

"The pole was 120 feet high. I don't think there are over four voters in Plessis who were voters when that flag was raised. Solomon Makepeace called that big meeting to order. William Thompson was elected chairman, and introduced Colonel Shaw. That was a great day for Plessis."

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