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Murder on Johnson Avenue
As noted in an earlier blog, growing up on Johnson Avenue in Plattsburgh was a pretty comfortable thing. Just across the road from our house was the Elizabeth Street School yard, the perfect place to play baseball. Just down the street was Burdo's Market, where you could get a bag of Kitchen Cooked potato chips for ten cents and a Pepsi for fifteen cents.
Almost every family had kids and was headed by a stay-at-home mom and a hard-working dad. Victor was a trucker, Glenn and Gene worked for NYSEG, Clinton worked for the United States Postal Service. Ralph and my dad worked for the New York Telephone Company. Sparky ran a gas station and Russ worked at Imperial Paper Company. Bernard was a school teacher.
Seldom did anything happen to disrupt the "Leave It To Beaver" neighborhood that I grew up in. It made it all the more shocking when Blogoteer Jim, he of Apple Jack fame, sent me a newspaper clipping from the PLATTSBURGH SENTINEL, dated 1930.
The headline blared: PRIVATE KAISER FOUND SLAIN ON JOHNSON AVENUE. This was the days when the Army's 26th Infantry was stationed on what later became Plattsburgh Air Force Base. According to the story, the 28-year-old soldier was found at eleven o'clock on a February evening in a vacant lot. No addresses are given so one can only speculate where on Johnson Avenue that might have been. The body was found near the home of Samuel Goodwin.
Two Company B privates found the body and, along with Goodwin, carried the body to the Goodwin home. At first they thought the man was drunk, but they later realized that he was dead, so they contacted the Army Post Hospital. A fractured skull was listed as the cause of death. Investigation revealed that Kaiser had argued with three other soldiers earlier in the evening.
The three men in question were named Gallagher, Alpine and Sissler. They returned to the post at 2am and were taken for questioning. I guess I'll have to do some research to find out what happened in the ensuing weeks.
That tragedy occurred 18 years before Ray and Viola Gagnon bought their first home, a two-story three-bedroom home at 48 Johnson. Their first child was six months old, and two other children, a boy and then a girl, would grow up in that home as well.
Just goes to show you: you never know -- you just never know.
Comments
Never had a doubt about you, Randy! And Merry Christmas to you all!
Posted by: The Donald | December 24, 2007 7:20 PM
Fox, I am delighted to see Don K as our mayor. Living in Kansas has nothing to do with my love for Plattsburgh. Don I consider a friend and just thought I would let him know I am doing fine. I know at one time he may have been a little worried about that, Thankfully it was many years ago... Merry Christmas Foxy to you , Goose, your sis' and of course your Mom. I know..... This has nothing to do w/ a murder on Johnson Avenue but... it is Christmas Eve. ... Oh yeah did I tell you I used to own an apartment building on Montcolm Ave that was a bar and a murder is alleged to have been commited there. A whole 'nother story
Posted by: Randy Vaughn | December 24, 2007 11:33 AM
This city needs some organization and, once elected, I plan to do that as my first task. It’s high time we not only put rules in place, but have methods for enforcement and I plan to appoint Rubble as code enforcement officer and hope he is up to the task. I’d start in the grocery stores by establishing definite traffic patterns and making certain aisles one-way. By allowing carts only on the right side of any aisle and limiting casual conversations to the parking lots we could free up valuable space within the store. First offence would be mandatory wearing of skunk hat pelts the newly appointed pest control officer would provide and the other code officers would be armed with cattle probes to insure individuals adhered to the rules. I’d impose and collect stiff penalties on crossing the line in cars and paint lines on all sidewalks to eliminate walking-a-breast, regardless of size or physical handicaps.
As far as that St. Peter’s thing, I wish everyone a Happy HOLIDAY, and Merry Festivus, and you’d better not sit in the back of the church; “that’s all I have to say about that”…Art V-this one's for you....TBI
Posted by: Tom-A-Hawk | December 24, 2007 10:58 AM
Another challenge for the mayor, Forrest! All the past problems are now converging in City Hall on my watch! We will do our best to address this situation whether a lawsuit shows up with my name on it or not although I have several cases presently pending!
Posted by: The Donald | December 24, 2007 9:14 AM
Sorry to hear the Foxman is sick! Get well soon! I'd like to thank you for doing a great job with the Blog. It has brought many people and old friends together again.
Your Blog has had it all; History,Laughs, and sometimes sadness along the way.
The city past and future are special to the many former residents who read the Foxman 's Blog. Plattsburgh is a good little city because of its people and it still has many
wonderful and caring people.
I would like to wish the Foxman's Family and all your loyal readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy and Prosperous New Years.
From Sunny & Warm (80 ) Degrees Today in Port St Lucie, Florida. Lenny Smallacombe
(Foxy's note: We are freezing up here, Lenny, but it's a White Christmas.)
Posted by: Lenny Smallacombe | December 24, 2007 8:15 AM
Talk about issues - I wouldn’t be surprised if someday there were a mass shooting at St.Peter’s Church by a rage driven motorist. The churchgoers seem to think it’s OK to park on both sides of the street, even with high snow banks, rendering the street a one-lane passageway. As if the Catholics don’t have enough problems defending the lawsuits cropping up from the past, they’re now courting road rage as a defendable offense.
Who would be at fault - the city for not policing the area, the city for not clearing the banks, the neighbors for not plowing the sidewalks, or the neighbors who do shovel and create the snow banks? I’m sure the churchgoers won’t be at fault and will have an interesting defense.The Donald should look into this before he too is named as a guilty party......TBI
(Foxy's note: Excellent point, Forrest. The area you refer to may be the most dangerous area in the entire city, with or without the snowbanks. And have you ever had to wait out a beer truck trying to back into the tight fit at the grocery store's driveway?)
Posted by: Forrest | December 23, 2007 12:16 PM
As you know my Grandmother Mary "Tish" LaPoint lived on Johnson Ave her entire life. I believe she was born in the house at 41 or 43 Johnson I cant remember which in 1907. I dont remember any details but I do remember her telling me about a body being found on Johnson ave and I think it was very near the Elizabeth st school. She used to tell me about the the calvary soldiers riding down Johnson ave when she was a little girl. If I remember correctly she said the gate was located at the end of Johnson ave then.
Posted by: LaPoint | December 23, 2007 1:34 AM
Holiday greetings to you Foxy and all the great blogoteers near and far. Im leaving for warmer climes in a couple of days and promise to send occasional updates from down there and the havoc that Plattsburgh snowbirds who have relocated.
Carver brings up an interesting subject. If the Council of the Arts are claiming the federal building and grounds for an arts center I wonder why, with all their artistic talents, did not decorate the majestic pine tree in front. At least it would have been a gesture of good will which seems to be lacking at this joyous season.
So, good health for the next year and good tidings.
Skip
(Foxy's note: We will miss you, Skip!! Sorry I missed out on the boiled dinner at the Seniors Center, but I've been hit with the flu bug, despite my wool socks.)
Posted by: skip Zatonski | December 22, 2007 10:04 AM
The Carver brings up some interesting Rubblings:
To update:
No skunks seen in over a month
Many elderly have been seen at SAMS Club (one day free pass) purchasing snow blowers
Mayor Danny's former credit card has been placed in Mayor Donnie's freezer along with pay raises for city employees.
The ctiy counselors have leased the Federal Building to Walmart.
The tree of lights will be adorned with art work once it can be carted up from PSUC.
Posted by: rubble | December 22, 2007 8:00 AM
Foxy:
My Mom grew up in the old Parrotte homestead on Monty Street (the big house immediately to the West of the school yard). In those days, it was the only house in the area and looked right over to Johnson Avenue. When I was younger and we were visiting my grandparents, I was told about that murder and the other goings on that occurred in the South End of the city known as "The Hill". That murder was the least of the crimes that the area was known for. The 26th Infantry, being located on what is now known as the 'old base', was a major contributor to the goings on. The area was very poor then and attracted some seamy types. The McKinley Avenue/U.S. Avenue area was probably the worst. There were several very large buildings known as 'roadhouses' there and some survived well into the late 50's. I can recall delivering the Press-Republican to one in particular and asking my Mom what it was all about. Talk about losing one's naiveté!
We built our last home on the empty lot just behind your parents' house. The problems of the old days seemed to have been relegated to the past by then except for the reputation that stuck to the area. That too began to wane during my college years.
Fortunately, "The Hill" has come a long way since then and has pulled itself up by the bootstraps so to speak. The homes are now neat as a pin and the neighborhood is as safe as any in the city. As you point out, it was a great place to grow up but like many areas, it has a curious past.
(Foxy's note: Thanks for the historical perspective, Ron. Maybe that troop of Boy Scouts from the 50s played a role in pulling up the neighborhood's reputation. I recall seeing you, Leo Lefebvre, Ronnie Bushey, Lee LeMay and others parading around in those Boy Scout uniforms!)
Posted by: Ron Turbide | December 21, 2007 8:02 AM
Yes Foxy, I had heard about that murder on Johnson Ave, Old Timer had filled me in, he was one of the lead investigators at the time.
He also mentioned another murder he witnessed during the Battle of Plattsburgh, when he was a young lad .
Speaking of Applejack,has he given you his
alibi for skipping the Christmas Blash??? I have heard Bullet's excuse and I aint buyin it!
Also rumors are flying regarding your ride home from the party .... you had in a previous blog (Amidst the Rubble Highlights) mentioned you got rides home from 2 lovely ladies .. but you neglected to mention the Gagnon bros. got rides home from one of Plattsburgh's infamous sister combos! (and I don't mean Geneveve and Bernadette)
Tom-a-hawk, I think an internal investigation is warranted. Perhaps you could appoint a committee to study this and the many other "Rubbling" city issues, (skunks, sidewalks, credit cards, federal building, just to name a few)
and what about the infamous tree so many fought to save in front of the Federal Building, you'd think they'd at least decorate the darn thing!
(Foxy's note: As always, the Carver has his finger on the heartbeat of Plattsburgh. He doesn't miss anything that goes on ...)
Posted by: The Carver | December 21, 2007 6:47 AM