Adirondack Daily Enterprise, July 17, 1952
Born:
Died:
Married:
Children: E.S. Dyer, Jr.
Ed Seon Dyer, Sr. was a "public stenographer." He worked at the St. Regis Hotel, and lived at 55 Broadway.
June 8, 1957, Adirondack Daily Enterprise,
Stenographer A Landmark;
E. S. Dyer Leaves Saranc Lake
At 10:41 a.m. Friday, E. S. Dyer, Saranac Lake's best known public stenographer since 1919 stepped on a Texas bound train. Thus did one of the "personal landmarks" of the village ride into the midst of retirement.
The desk he occupied at the St. Regis Hotel is all that remains of nearly a half century's service to Saranac Lake both as a health center and as a resort rendezvous for the great names of finance, sports and literature.
Ed, as he was known by young and old alike, did much of the personal and business correspondence for Morris Hillquit, Socialist candidate for Governor of New York, Senator Napoleon Belcourt of the Quebec Senate, Sidney Mudd, congressman from Maryland, Vernon Rood, copper tycoon of Utah and Bill Morris Sr.
An avid reader of travel and mystery, his great regret was not being able to talk with Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame when the noted author spent the summer at Loon Lake.
He worked with every known doctor in Saranac Lakes' earlier medical history including Lawrason Brown, Hugh Kinghorn, J. Woods Price and Edward R. Baldwin.
Ed's keen memory was one of the community's natural resources and his knowledge of sports, particularly baseball, confounded many whose lives were closely connected with the game.
From the years 1945 to 1950 his column "Here and There" was featured in the Lake Placid News and he appeared as a regular on WNBZ's popular Sunday Quiz show for many years.
Ed always referred to the high spot in his life as the time (Nov. 20, 1920) that he stepped off the high curb in front of Leonard's store and stumbled over a large Russia leather purse which upon examination was found to contain $18,000 worth of jewels and considerable cash. He was given $1000 reward by the grateful owners.
His fondness for the theatre was second only to his love of sports and reading. Quoting from a few of his notes lent for our story . . .
"We in the 20's used to get quite a kick out of the "tent theatre", located on the flat, back of the bank. Among the players were Jerry Cowan, Rosalind Russell, Eloise Taylor (Mrs. Pat O'Brien), Mildred Hubbard (currently appearing in TV's "Masters of Mystery" series,) Ralph Dorr ... Casey, the proprietor of the theatre and his wife Eleanor Andrus.
"They were here two or three summers changing shows twice weekly and I don't think I missed a show."
He knew of the eccentricities of many including Colonel Cannon of the Cannon Towel dynasty though the confidential nature of his work instilled a barrier of discreet silence in most cases where additional information was desired.
Ed Dyer's last two years here were not the happiest — with sickness plaguing him and the natural decline of business adding more worry, but treasured years are ahead as he rejoins his son and grandchildren in San Antonio, Texas to enjoy his library of memories just taking things easy.
At the bottom of his notes is a key to the real Ed Dyer . . . in parenthesis and in capitals is written . . . (NOT TOO FLAMBOYANT BILL) and signed in his peculiar scrawl — E.S.D.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 20, 1952
Our Town By EDDIE VOGT
Ed Dyer writes:
"Mainly with regard to the period of time covered, the following may be of interest to some who can check back as far as I can. I was a bit startled the other day to realize that it was 33 years ago. February 24, 1919, that I started hammering my typewriter in the Hotel St. Regis. Just a third of a century ago! What impresses me, on searching my memory, is that there are, after 33 years, three people — just three — employed in the same lines of business in the block from the St. Regis down to the River — on both sides of the street.
"Those three businesses are St. Regis, Fortune's and myself. And the only individual in the St. Regis aside from myself, is John English — all the rest have long since passed on. Bob Maurer's barbershop was where Rock's jewelry store is now; the bar was run by Matty Shinner and Dave O'Brien; a year later, when prohibition descended on us, the barber shop moved to the former (and current) barroom."
(Mr. Dyer has made a very interesting survey of the block he has worked on for 33 years, and I will bring you more of it from time to time.)
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 23, 1952
Continued
Durgans had a general store where the Oxford Market is; then, before you came to Fortune's, Patsy Daley had a lunch cart; then, Fortune's (A and P was not built) its present site was an open yard with the Ling house in back, and partly to the rear.
"There was Wolferman's (I think the present Town and Country shop) then run by a Mr. Ahlborn, I believe. Then the Colonial Theatre (now Saranac Supply). Next George Downing's restaurant (now City restaurant), and—someone will likely challenge this — the other half of Dickie's (City Restaurant) was Eugene Keet's Harness and Leather Goods Repair Shop. My best recollection is that Bosworth's Novelty and Record shop was where Pedroni is. Next was Miss Del Perkett (now Everett's), then where King's Sport Shop and Simmons' drug store is, Bill Straight had a grocery and meat market, with the entrance dropped about 2 steps from the street level. Next Clint Fortune had a barber shop — part of the year — and Ed Start operated it in the summertime, I believe. Finally, right by the river, was The Fair Store."
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 25, 1952
Continued...
"Coming back on the other street (B'way — from the river to Bloomingdale avenue) Larry Quigley ran a lunch wagon; I think at first for Manny Florsheim, then later on his own. Then across Dorsey Street was Vincent's Drug store. Next was (and some older-timer than I may correct me) a meat market. I can't recall the proprietor, but Donahue who later was at Becker's market, was employed there. The next store was Bowen's shoe store. Lyman Wright was a partner, I think. Then came their residence and office of Dr. Wicker, house bordered by a hedge — the site now of the Thompson Building. Western Auto and Town Tavern; and from the end of Wickers lot to Olive street was an empty lot, now the Post Office site. Masonic Temple was as now, on upper side of Olive. On the ground floor Will Vosburgh had an auto agency; I think, and the Hushion sisters cigars and newspapers, who in fact were there up until 5 years ago. Then where the barber shop and the Dog House are was Pearson's Real Estate and Employment Agency. Later Burrell's Bakery used the right-hand side. The current Nick Tartaris' radio store was then an empty lot. Back about 25 feet was the house owned by Mrs. Effinger, and when I opened my desk, the lower floor was occupied by a women's wear dealer, a man from AuSable Forks named Stern. Then we close the "across-the street" side of the block with Phil Adler's grocery and meat market, now occupied by French's Secondhand Store.
See also: Baseball in 1917
