Photo: Todd Vincent

Winter Olympics at Lake Placid

In this project of the Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum, oral histories document memories of the people who were at the first Olympics in Lake Placid in 1932, in which Sonja Henie won the gold medal for figure skating. Interviewees include George Hart, in 1932 a 16-year-old Boy Scout who served as an usher at various Lake Placid Olympic venues and who carried the Canadian banner in the opening ceremonies; George Martin, who was then Sports Director at the Lake Placid [Ski] Club and who was assigned to run Olympic events; Franklin Farrell, a Yale hockey player, and Douglas Everett, a Dartmouth hockey player, who competed for the U.S. hockey team; Celilia Colledge, in 1932 an 11-year-old British schoolgirl who competed as a figure skater; Frances Silleck, a "Girl Friday" to Count de Baillet-Latour, who headed the 1932 Olympics; and Mary MacKenzie who served as a secretary to Ernest Gamache, the Executive Secretary of the Games. Other project materials include an explanation of how Lake Placid's Olympic venues got their names; the history of Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway; and the script of an exhibition which marked the 50th anniversary of summer ski jumping in Lake Placid.

Originally submitted by: Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Senator.

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The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.

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