Born: c. 1896
Died: August 8, 1976
Married: Bertha Utting
Children: Sydney E. Smith, Don Smith
Earl J. Smith was a co-founder with William Mace of WNBZ, Saranac Lake's local radio station in 1927. He was a World War I Veteran.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 26, 1971
Earl Smiths Married 50 Years
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Smith will be honored for their fiftieth wedding anniversary on Saturday. Aug. 28. An open house will be held from 4 p. m. until 8 p. m. at the home of their son and daughter-in-law, Sidney and Merel Smith of 6 William St., Saranac Lake.
Their children, Sidney and Don, both of Saranac Lake, Virginia Petraitis of Seminole, Fit., and Martha Burnham of Fa1mouth, Mass. wilt be present. Their five grandchildren, Peter and Patricia Burnham, Barbara and Robert Smith, and Sally Petraitis will also attend.
Mrs. Smith is the former Bertha Utting. She is a member of the Eastern Star, the Order of Amaranth, and the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Smith is a member of the Masons, and the Order of Amaranth. On Sept. 11, 1927, he started radio station WNBZ. He sold the station in 1939.
On Sept. 11, 1921, the Smiths were married at the Presbyterian Parsonage with Rev. George Newell officiating. The celebration is being held early so that their family can attend.
All friends of Smiths are cordially invited to attend the open house.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 9, 1976
Earl Smith dies at 80
SARANAC LAKE — The founder of radio station WNBZ, Earl. J. Smith, died at the age of 80 at Saranac Lake General Hospital yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Smith was born in Hinsdale, Mass. and was the son of Henry J. and Maryann Johnson Smith.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, the former Bertha Utting whom he married Sept. 11, 1921. He is also survived by two sons, Sidney and Donald Smith of Saranac Lake; two daughters, Virginia Petraitis of Seminole, Fla. and Martha Burnham of Falmouth, Mass.; two sisters, Myrtle Potter of Woodstock, Vt. and Marjorie Beier of Cambridge, N.Y.; two grandsons and three granddaughters.
Mr. Smith was a Veteran of World War I, with service in France. After the war, he moved to Saranac Lake where he operated a cure chair business. He built, rented, and sold the chaise-lounge type chair used by invalids, at sanatoria in the area.
In 1927, Mr. Smith founded WNBZ which he sold in 1939.
He was a past commander of American Legion post 447, and the World War I Veterans. Mr. Smith was also a member of the White Mountain Lodge 789; Zenith Court 65, Order of Amaranth. He had been a deputy grand royal patron and assistant grand lecturer of the 10th District, Order of Amaranth.
Friends may call between 2 and 4. p.m. and 7 and 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Fortune Funeral Home. A veterans service will be held at 7:45 p.m. and wili be followed by Masonic service at 8. The fureral services will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday at the Fortune Funeral Home. the Rev. Philip Zebley.of the Saranac Lake Presbyterian Church will officiate. Internment will follow at Pine Ridge Cemetery. Friends who would like to remember Mr. Smith may give to the Saranac Lake Rescue Squad.
