Born: August 11, 1875 in Bloomingdale
Died: February 20, 1952
Married: Norma Wheeler September 21, 1904
Children: Mrs. Margaret Luna, Harold, Henry (died in infancy)
Henry C. Ricketson was a Plattsburgh businessman; he built the Alpine Hotel in 1926 and went bankrupt in 1932.
Plattsburgh Daily Press, November 2, 1933
RICKETSON'S TRIAL STARTS AT SYRACUSE
William H. Sullivan of This City Only Witness Called Yesterday
SYRACUSE. N. Y., Nov. 1. Trial of Henry C. Ricketson of Plattsburgh, former president the Plattsburgh Limestone Company, Inc., on charges of concealing assets of the concern after it went into bankruptcy in August, 1932, and failing to turn over certain records to the trustee in bankruptcy, was begun in federal court today before Judge Frederick H. Bryant.
Ricketson is alleged to have cashed checks totalling $15,123 made out to the company.
William H. Sullivan, former bookkeeper of the company, was questioned concerning the records. He said the office of the company was in a garage and was never locked. Sullivan will be cross-examined tomorrow.
Plattsburgh Republican, May 9, 1953
Discovery of Rich Estate Reopens Bankruptcy Case
Discovery of cash assets of more than a quarter million dollars in the estate of the late Henry C. Ricketson, formerly of Plattsburgh, resulted in the reopening yesterday of a 21 year-old bankruptcy proceeding in Federal District Court.
This was learned from the law firm of Feinberg, Jerry and Lewis, through Mr. Lewis, who stated that Charles M. Miller, president of the Merchants National Bank was appointed trustee in the new proceedings by Referee John J. Ryan at a hearing in Plattsburgh yesterday morning.
Attorney Lewis explained the continuity of the proceedings:—
On Sept. 19, 1932, Henry C. Ricketson was adjudicated a bankrupt.
Charles M. Miller was appointed trustee.
The Merchants National Bank and the Plattsburgh National Bank and Trust Co. are the largest creditors at the present time.
On October 7, 1948, the proceedings in the matter were terminated and Mr. Miller was discharged as trustee.
As of 1946, after final payment of dividends, there was a balance owed creditors in unpaid claims of $88,494.43.
Mr. Ricketson died in Vancouver, Washington, on February 20, 1952. Shortly after his death cash totaling $263,000 was discovered.
The Merchants National Bank petitioned Federal Court for an order reopening the estate. The petition was granted by District Judge James T. Foley on April 9, 1953.
It is the contention of the creditors in the reopened proceedings that approximately $250,000 of the sum reported found after Mr. Ricketson death, was part of assets at the time he was adjudicated bankrupt in 1932. Prior to his death had never been discharged in the bankruptcy proceedings. [sic]
An order also was issued by Referee Ryan, authorising the trustee to employ the firm of Feinberg, Jerry and Lewis of Plattsburgh and that of McMullen, Snyder and McMullen of Vancouver, Wash., as attorneys.
Lake Placid News, April 19, 1946
Pisgah Pete was quite evidently in a reminiscent mood as he crossed his lanky legs and, lighting that pipe, blew a huge cloud of incense (?) ceilingward.
"Member the time when Ricketson, the feller who run the Alpine, 'cross th' street, had them poler bears thet he kep' in back of the Duprea Block, w'ich Leo Kaiser was runnin'?
"Wal, seems he got 'em from a travelin' show thet owed him money, an' they wuz small at th' time he took 'em. But they sure growed up fast, an' us fellers use to git up on th' garage roof an' watch 'em play in a pool he had fixed for 'em.
"Leo Kaiser wuz back here fer a few days, an' we wuz talkin' about th' bears. He says one night w'en him an' Nick Vitullo an' Leo Maple wuz feelin' pretty good, Leo says to 'em to come over in th' garage, fer some reason or tother. Wal, they walked in th' narrer door, not th' big door. One of 'em wuz fumblin' round fer a light, when they seed somethin tall 'n white thet riz up, seems like right from th' floor an' started arter 'em. Howsomever, wa'n't a chance to catch 'em. Kaiser couldn' make th' door, 'cause Nick an' Leo Maple wuz stuck tight in it, so Kaiser takes the window, sash an' all.
"Wal, 't wuz jes one of Rickettson's poler bears, but, say, them fellers wuzn't in no mood to argy with a ghost, so they lit out o' there, lickety-split. Th' owner rounded up th' playful bear later, an' the fellers in McVeety's Diner, when they heard it, laffed till they was sick, a'most."
