Vondilee Pike Dies; Had Trailer Park, Diner
(date penciled in: March 27, 1989)

GOUVERNEUR -- Vondilee Durham Pike, 85, former owner of Cedars Trailer Park and Diner on the Somerville Road, died at 9:05 p.m. Monday in Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, where she had been a patient for several weeks. Mrs. Pike had been a resident of United Helpers Nursing Home in Canton for the past three years.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Green Funeral Home. Spring burial will be in East Riverside Cemetery.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Surviving are a son, Roland, Gouverneur; a daughter, Mrs. Harold (Eila) Gill, Plessis; four grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Blanche Fifield, Ogdensburg.

Three brothers and seven sisters died previously.

Born in the Town of Pitcairn on Aug. 23, 1903, a daughter of William and Hattie Daily Durham, she attended Pitcairn schools.

She married Arthur �Pete� Matthews in 1920 in Antwerp. Mr. Matthews, a veteran of World War I< died in July 1945. He was 57.

She later married Albert Pike in Watertown.

Mr. and Mrs. Pike moved from Talcville to Gouverneur in 1937. Mrs. Pike was employed at the former Rushmore Paper Co. for 10 years. In 1947, the couple built the Cedars Trailer Park and Cedars Diner on Somerville Road, south of Gouverneur, which they operated until 1961. Owing to poor health, they leased the diner to Franklyn Reed, and later to their son, Roland, and his wife.

Mr. Pike, a native of Brasher and a retired employe of the W. H. Loomis Talc Co., died Dec. 5, 1963, at the age of 60.

Following Mr. Pike�s death, the diner and trailer park were sold to Roland Pike. Mrs. Pike had lived at Cedars Trailer Park before entering the nursing home.

She was a member of the Past Noble Grand Association of Northern New York, and a past president of the Past Noble Grand Club of Antwerp. She was a former district deputy of Una Rebekah Lodge 16, and past matron of Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 291, Richville.

Mrs. Pike served five years as president of the Indian River Senior Citizens Club, Philadelphia, and was a former member of the Gouverneur Senior Citizens. She was also a past member of the Antwerp American Legion Auxiliary.

Miss Cora Parker, 77 Dies;
Was Plessis Native
(November 2, 1948)

Plessis, Nov. 2. -- Miss Cora Parker, 77, a life-long resident of Plessis, died at the Hunt Nursing home, Alexandria Bay, yesterday. She had been in ill health for two years and a patient in the home for two weeks.

Funeral services will be conducted in the Plessis Methodist church Wednesday afternoon at 2, Rev. Myron Van Ornam, officiating. Burial will be in Plessis Brookside cemetery. Friends may call at the Quincer Funeral home in Redwood anytime today after 3.

Miss Parker was born in Redwood, Feb. 15, 1871, the daughter of Edson and Betsie Smith Parker. When she was 13 the family moved to a farm outside of Plessis where she lived until 1940. After their death she moved into the village.

She was a member of the W. S. C. S. of the Methodist church and of the Companion club until it disbanded.

She has no close relatives surviving her. Bearers at the funeral will be six brothers, Oscar, Lawrence, and Frank Schneider of Plessis, Bert Schneider, Redwood, Walter and Arthur Schneider, of Watertown.

BRIER HILL -- A funeral service for Frank P. Perretta, 56, was held at Our Lady of Grace church, here, Friday morning before the body was removed to the Eannace funeral home, 907 Third Ave., Utica. The funeral mass was said at 9 a.m. Monday in St. Mary of Mount Carmel church, Utica, with burial following in Calvary cemetery, there. Bearers for the rites, here, were: Wendall Barr, Louis Cutway, Thorton Perrault, Ellis Lennox, Maurice Mace and Clifford Burrell.

Mr. Perretta died early Wednesday morning in Syracuse Memorial hospital, where he had underwent (sic) major lung surgery Dec. 2. Although he had been active as usual in the operation of the Perretta Packing company, here, which he founded and carried on in partnership with his sons, he had not been in good health for some time.

Mr. Perretta was born in Utica, October 18, 1904, a son of John and Anna DeSopia Perretta. He attended school there and as a boy worked in his father�s grocery store.

He married Miss Frances Leone, also of Utica, on Dec. 16, 1921. In 1937 the family moved to this place, where he purchased the former Dairymen�s League milk plant and established the meat packing firm. It was the first abattoir to be operated under U. S. government inspection in northern New York and it products have been shipped all over the world. Mr. Perretta had been a cattle dealer for the past 35 years.

He was a member of Our Lady of Grace church and of the Ogdensburg Lodge of Elks, No. 772.

Surviving are his wife, his mother, two sons, John and Victor; 14 grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Josephine Benincasa, Canton; Miss Molly Perretta, Utica; Mrs. Joseph (Eleanor) Mariano, Norwood; and a brother, Victor, Malone. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

Alexandria Bay, Feb. 27. -- Mrs. Hannah Bates Peckham, 76, wife of Dr. Floyd F. Peckham, Alexandria Bay osteopath, died at the House of the Good Samaritan, Watertown, on Sunday at 8:15 a.m., where she had been a patient since last Dec. 18.

The funeral will be held at the Giltz funeral home Tuesday at 2 p.m. Rev. Gayle B. Ruoff, pastor of the Alexandria Bay Methodist church, will officiate. The body will be placed in the Highland Park cemetery vault to await burial in the spring.

Friends may call at the funeral home this afternoon and evening.

Surviving, besides her husband, are a daughter, Mrs. Emil Todaro, Miami, Fla.; two brothers, Dr. Charles A. Bates, Schoolcroft, Mich., and Gordon Bates, Easton�s Corners, Ont.; two sisters, Mrs. Earl Frisberg, Park Ridge, Ill., and Mrs. Lillian McElligott, Ottawa, Ont.

Mrs. Peckham was born in L�lorigna, Canada, between Ottawa, Ont., and Montreal, Que., Sept. 23, 1884, daughter of Nathaniel and Myria Lighthall Bates.

She received her early education in Canada and went to Watertown to study nursing at the House of the Good Samaritan. She was graduated a registered nurse in 1908.

She was married to Dr. Floyd F. Peckham, in Watertown on July 2, 1921. The couple lived in Chicago, Ill., 30 years where Dr. Peckham practiced osteopathy.

While in Chicago, Mrs. Peckham was active in the Bryn Mawr Community church and president of the Chicago Osteopathic hospital auxiliary. She was a member and president of Bryn Mawr Women�s club and was active in community projects.

Dr. and Mrs. Peckham moved to Alexandria Bay in 1952 and had since lived at their home, �The Breakers,� on Mill Point.

Since living in Alexandria Bay, she had been a member of the Alexandria Bay Methodist church and its W. S. C. S., the Mary Nunn Nurses club and served as chairman of the third district of the Northern New York Federation of Women�s Clubs for one year.

Frank �Matt� Pierce
Retired Teacher

ADAMS -- Frank M. �Matt� Pierce, 77, of 17521 Maxon Lane, died this morning at his home, after a long illness.

Mr. Pierce taught industrial arts and electronics at Case Junior High School, Watertown, retiring in 1979 because of ill health.

Born April 24, 1920, in Dolgeville, son of Francis and Myrtle Snider Pierce, he graduated from Adams High School and from Oswego State Teachers College in 1950. He served in the Army in France during World War II.

He married Betty Ruttan of Dexter on Jan. 11, 1947, in All Saints Church, Chaumont. The couple lived in Watertown for two years before moving to Adams.

Surviving besides his wife are three sons, Frank, Jr., Syracuse, and James W. and John D., both of Adams; a daughter, Mrs. Sheila Coleman, Columbia, S. C.; a sister, Mary Eilane Niver, Selkirk; four grandchildren, four great-granddaughters and several nieces and nephews.

A brother, James, died in 1986.

A private memorial service will be at the Piddock Funeral Home with the Rev. Donald Easton, pastor of the Adams United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Watertown.

Donations may be made to Dialysis United at Genesis HealthCare of New York or to Hospice of Jefferson County.

Plessis -- Mrs. Leta Penn who celebrated her 83rd birthday on Saturday, March 10 was given an afternoon party by Mrs. Laurel Schneider at whose home she resides.

Guests included Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bretsch, Mr. and Mrs. Robert McMane, Mrs. Laura Simpson, Mrs. Leila Schneider, Mrs. Maryanne Robinson, Mrs. Gladys Delosh, Myrtle Fisher, Mrs. Mary Shultz, Mrs. Muriel Getman, Mrs. Rena Putnam, Mrs. Virginia Hepfer, Mrs. Louella VanHorne, Mrs. Dorothy Reynolds, Mrs. Wilma Makepeace, Mrs. Barbara Hunter with Mrs. Laurel Schneider, hostess and her granddaughter, Miss Lori Schwandner, assisting her.

A decorated cake made by Mrs. Schneider�s daughters, Mrs. Roger Schwandner was served with tea and punch. Mrs. Penn received many cards and gifts.

On Friday previous to the celebration Mrs. Penn�s cousin, Mrs. Ruth Lewis of Watertown spent the day with her. Sunday morning her niece, Mrs. Shirley VanHorne and a son, Jeff called.

On Sunday Mrs. Penn and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bretsch were dinner guests of Miss Marion Bretsch at Great Bend. Miss Bretsch is a niece of Mrs. Penn and Mr. Bretsch.

Unknown newspaper
(penciled in: 1940)

Man 79 Years Old Dies Tuesday Afternoon
Following Heart Attack. -- Funeral to be
Held Friday

Plessis--Elmer Parker, aged 78 (sic) years, died suddenly at his home in this village from a heart attack on Tuesday afternoon, July 23rd.

Mr. Parker was born October 4, 1861 in Redwood the son of Edson and Betsy Smith Parker. He had lived on the farm on which he died for the past 50 years.

He is survived by one brother, Reuben Parker, who at present is a patient in the Good Samaritan hospital; one sister, Miss Cora Parker; two cousins, Frank Parker of Jewetts Corners and Mrs. Grace Bulson of Theresa.

The funeral will be held from his late home on Friday afternoon at 1:30 o�clock, Rev. Kenneth Jones of the Plessis Methodist church officiating. Burial will be made in Brookside cemetery, Plessis.

Unknown newspaper
(penciled date: 1/7/97)

Genevieve D. Paige
Retired Accountant

ALEXANDRIA BAY -- Genevieve Davis Paige, 80, formerly of Alexandria Bay, widow of Reginald Paige, died Saturday at Genesis HealthCare, Watertown.

Mrs. Paige retired in 1971 as senior accountant at General Dynamics, Rochester, after 18 years.

Born Feb. 12, 1916, in Rochester, daughter of William and Genevieve Beldue Davis, she studied accounting at Rochester Institute of Technology while working at General Dynamics.

She married Reginald Paige on Sept. 12, 1970. The couple resided in Webster until 1971, when they moved to Alexandria Bay. Mr. Paige died in 1977.

Mrs. Paige was a life member of the Edward John Noble Hospital Auxiliary, Thousand Island Calumet Chapter 130, Order of the Eastern Star, and Alexandria Bay Senior Citizens group.

In Webster, Mrs. Paige was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and was active in its fellowship group. During the summer months, she attended St. Paul�s Lutheran Church, Redwood.

While working at General Dynamics, she bowled and golfed in industrial leagues. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, crocheting, boating and fishing.

Surviving are a son, William Eggert, Alexandria Bay; a sister, Laura Hewlett, Webster; three grandsons; five great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

A brother, George Davis, died before her.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church with the Rev. John F. Begg officiating. Burial will bei

n Webster Rural Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Willard H. Scott Funeral Home, Webtser.

Donations may be made to St. Paul�s Lutheran Church.

(date of Clipping - March 14, 1949)

Mrs. Celia Whitney Parker, 97
Former Theresa Resident Dies

Theresa, March 14. -- Mrs. Celia Whitney Parker, 97, died in San Francisco, Calif., on March 5, and the funeral services were held last Tuesday, according to word received in Theresa Saturday by Mrs. Sidney Sweet, long a close friend of Mrs. Parker.

Born in Theresa, June 25, 1851, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Richardson. Mrs. Parker was actively associated in different phases of community work and was the first librarian of the Theresa Free library when the institution opened on Jan. 1, 1901. Her father was postmaster of the Theresa office and she assisted in the office at that time and later helped in the office under other postmasters. In the early days of the Theresa Eastern Star she was a member and held the office of Warder and Electa.

Those who knew her best recalled that she was an authority of the history of the town and people from the late 1850�s on until she left here for the west, resigning as librarian on Sept. 1, 1917, to take up her residence the wife of the late Jay Parker.

She attended the famed Goodnough school of Theresa, as a guest. She knew when many of the important homes in this village were erected and she eagerly questioned visitors to the west from Theresa to note the changes. Among those from here to visit her were Dessie M. Cook, Mrs. May Vock, Frank Haskin and later Water Smith who went from here to live in San Francisco. Mr. Smith sent the word of her death to Theresa.

During her life in California she gathered many clippings of Theresa which she recently sent east as a contribution to the library here and they are to be placed in a scrap book as a memorial to her. She also sent some historical accounts of the village as she knew it to Ernest G. Cook and he expects to go through these for an article for The Times, having held them, as her suggestion, until after her death.

She was twice married, first to a Mr. Whitney and after his death she continued to make a home for her father, the Richardson place being near the present Methodist parsonage, now owned by Rev. Allan Moore. Her marriage to Jay Parker followed upon her going west and after his death she entered a home for elderly people in San Francisco and there she has resided for a period of years, keeping a clear and keen mind to the very last. She was a real humorist and often stated that one must exercise this trait to be in top condition and good health.

Often times when there was a doubt about certain facts about early Theresa a letter would be sent to her and back would come the answer from one who could recall the event or knew of its happening from another living at an earlier date.

Date penciled in: 1997

Pierce, Fournier, Clement, Schell, Ward, St. Croix, Eckert, Schoen

Theresa -- Walter T. Pierce, 77, 36324 Schell Road, died Feb. 24 at his home. He had been in failing health for the past year and a half.

There will be a memorial service on Sunday, March 2 at 1 p.m. at the Theresa Presbyterian Church. There will be no calling hours. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Theresa in the spring. Arrangements are with the Frederick Brothers Funeral Home.

Donations may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Theresa or Jefferson County Hospice.

Born Aug. 28, 1919 in the Town of LeRay, son of Clarence and Florence Fournier Pierce, he moved as a small child with his family to the Syracuse area where he lived for 10 years. He then moved back to Theresa where he was educated between Evans Mills and Theresa high schools.

In March 1942 he entered the U. S. Army and served in the European Theatre of War. He was discharged Oct. 13, 1945, receiving the Bronze Star medal. He was married on March 14, 1944, to Mirette Clement, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Clement. She died Dec. 5, 1985. On Sept. 10, 1988 he married Patricia Schell. He ran a farm and was employed for 13 years by Hinnman and Young Hardware Store.

Surviving besides his wife, Patricia, are a sister, Mrs. Robert (Alice) Ward, Theresa; three step-daughters, Mrs. John (Sherry) St. Croix, Sodus, Mrs. Donald (Lorrie) Eckert Sr., LaFargeville, and Mrs. Scott (Diane) Schoen, Brownville; two step-sons, Bradley Schell, Syracuse, and Daniel Schell, Sodus; 12 Step-grandchildren, one step-great-grandson, several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Marion Piper, 37
Struck by Car, Killed Instantly

August 28, 1952

Mrs. Marion Piper, 37 widow of Martin Piper, Theresa, was instantly killed when she was struck by a northbound car while crossing the four-lane Watertown-Adams Center highway in front of the New Parrot restaurant at 9:50 Friday night.

Mrs. Piper, nurse for Dr. E. J. Kelsey, Theresa, received a fractured skull, fractured legs and numerous other injuries as she was thrown about 90 feet after being struck by the left front of a car driven by Albert Bailey, 56, of Rosella Park, N. J.

Officials of the sheriff�s office said the woman was struck in the east lane. Her body came to rest in the west lane.

Mrs. Piper was crossing the road behind her mother, Mrs. Fred Haynes, to go to the De Vito refreshment stand off the west side of the highway when the fatal accident occurred. Mrs. Haynes was not struck.

The tragedy occurred as the victim�s brother in law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Hudson, residents of the Theresa-Antwerp road, looked on from their car, parked off the east side of the busy highway.

Bailey, who said he was en route to Belleville, Ont., where his wife has been vacationing, told Sheriff Brayton E. Peck and Deputy Sheriff Albert Neville, who investigated, that he did not see the woman in time to avoid the accident.

Dr. William J. Grace, Gotham street road, told the officers that he came from the restaurant just after the accident had taken place. He was appointed coroner�s physician in the case by District Attorney Milton A. Wiltse.

Mrs. Piper, her mother and her brother-in-law and sister were on their way home from Syracuse where they had spent Friday. Officials said they decided to stop at the refreshment stand and that Mrs. Haynes preceded her daughter from the car and started crossing the road where cars were passing in both directions.

Apparently, the victim was a few steps behind her mother, trying to catch up with her, when the left front of the car hit her, officials said.

After the accident, Dr. Grace authorized removal of the body to the Frederick funeral home, Theresa.

Officials of the sheriff�s office said that the left headlight of the car had been damaged in the accident, along with a dent in the front left fender.

Mrs. Marion Piper was born at Orleans, Oct. 18, 1914, a daughter of Mrs. Ina Haines, Theresa, and the late Fred Haines who died on Oct. 17, 1951. She attended the Theresa schools and was graduated in 1934 from Theresa High school.

On Feb. &, 1938, she married Martin Piper in Philadelphia. He died on Aug. 20, 1939. For the past four years, Mrs. Piper had been a dental assistant in the office of Dr. Kelsey.

Surviving Mrs. Piper are her mother, a son, Francis M., 13, and two sisters, Mrs. Ivan Hale, Philadelphia, and Mrs. Gerald Hudson, Theresa.

Funeral services were held from the family home on Main street, Theresa, at 2 p.m. Monday. Burial was made in Oakwood cemetery, Theresa.

H. L. PHILLIPS
DEAD, AGED 73
(1963 - penned in)

Hammond, Jan. 21. -- Herbert L. Phillips, 73, retired rural mail carrier and World War I veteran, died Sunday at the home of his son, Richard M. Phillips, Poughkeepsie, where he and Mrs. Phillips were spending the winter. Mr. Phillips had suffered a heart ailment.

The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the family home in South Hammond, with Rev. J. Vincent Crawford, pastor of the Hammond First Presbyterian church, officiating. Burial will be in Rarick cemetery, South Hammond, in the spring.

The family has requested flowers be omitted. Friends may call at the family home Tuesday.

Besides his wife, Mrs. Margaret McHugh Phillips, he is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Edward (Margaret) Schnittger, Islip Terrace, L. I.; three sons, Thomas J. Phillips, Syracuse; Richard M. Phillips, Poughkeepsie, and H. Dyer Phillips, Carthage; ten grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Mark (Nellie) Hanna, Lisbon, Miss Ethel Phillips, New York city; two brothers, Leonard Phillips, Morristown, and Edwin Phillips, Fla.

Mr. Phillips was born in Hammond, Dec. 14, 1889, son of Daniel S. and Harriet B. Phillips. He was a World War I veteran and entered the employ of the postoffice as a rural carrier after discharge from the army. He retired Jan. 1, 1950, after 42 years service.

Alexandria Bay -- The funeral for Mrs. Elmira Davis Parker, 45, of 66 High street, widow of William E. Parker, who died Wednesday of last week in the House of the Good Samaritan, Watertown, was Saturday at the Giltz funeral home with Rev. Harold Pennock, pastor of the Alexandria Bay Methodist church officiating. Burial was in Barnes Settlement cemetery.

Surviving are two sons, William E., Richard L., both of Alexandria Bay; four sisters, Mrs. Hubert (Freda) Dodge, Clayton Center; Mrs. Spencer (Lillian) Banta, Chateaugay; Mrs. John (Audrey) Lawrence, De Kalb Junction; Mrs. Bert (Hattie) Tibbles, Alexandria Bay, three brothers; Alfred and Curtiss Davis, Redwood, Duncan Davis, Camp LeJeune, N. C., and five grandchildren.

Mrs. Parker was born Feb. 1, 1919, at Morristown, a daughter of the late Fred and Bertha McIntyre Davis. She attended Redwood High school.

WARD PETTIE
(penned in 3/2/1988)

Clayton -- Ward D. Pettit, 62, Heritage Heights, Clayton, a respected employe of the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority for more than 40 years, died March 2 at Mercy Hospital after suffering a heart attack while driving.

The funeral for Mr. Pettit was Saturday at Frederick Brothers Funeral Home, Theresa, with the Rev. Winifred Daughen, pastor, Alexandria Bay Methodist Church, officiating. Spring burial will be in North Watertown Cemetery.

Donations may be made to the Alexandria Bay Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Mr. Pettit is survived by his wife, Eleanor; a stepson, Gary Russell, Fort Smith, Ark.; a brother, Ralph, Watertown.

Born March 29, 1925, in Watertown, a son of Orville A. and Margaret Mooney Pettit, he moved to Collins Landing with his family when he was 10 years old. He was graduated from Alexandria Bay High School.

In March 1943, he entered the Navy, where he served until March 10, 1946, when he began full-time work for the bridge authority. At the time of his death, Mr. Pettit was chief of security.

He married Eleanor Russell in April 1958 at Alexandria Bay.

Mr. Pettit had been chief of security for the Thousand Islands Bridge for 10 years. Before that, he served as bridge superintendent for more than 20 years.

In respect of Mr. Pettit, all flags at the International Bridge were flown at half-staff until Midnight Saturday.

Mr. Pettit began part-time work for the authority while he was still in high school. In 1946, he began full-time employment with the authority as a toll collector.

In 1953, he was named assistant superintendent of the Thousand Islands International Bridge, under his father, Orville A. Pettit, who was superintendent. The elder Mr. Pettit died in 1956 as a result of an accident on the bridge and his son took over the reins of superintendent, overseeing all maintenance and field operations.

Mr. Pettit, an amateur photographer, also did a lot of photography work for the bridge authority, documenting bridge projects and accidents.

As traffic on the bridge increased and the operation of the authority grew in scope, security and maintenance duties had to be divided. So, about 10 years ago, Mr. Pettit was named chief of security.

As chief of security, it was his responsibility to make sure all vehicles crossing the bridge conformed to size and weight regulations. He was also involved in the toll operation.

He was a member of Masonic Lodge 197, Alexandria Bay, Colon-Couch American Legion Post of Clayton, and a former member of the Watertown Masonic Lodge and Medica Temple Shriners.