The Peru Gazette

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Making a difference on and off the field with a lasting legacy

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Facebook post of November 9, 2022 Parker Family Maple Farm

Saturday, November 5 – Congratulations to Peru student Alexis Hathaway who surpassed a 100-meter backstroke record that stood for twenty-seven years. Alexis recorded a time of 1:02:89 surpassing Erica Lindsay’s  time of 1:02:90 set on September 15, 1995.

Alexis set the record at Section VII competition held last Saturday at Ausable Valley Central. Alexis swims for the combined Ausable Valley, Saranac Central, Peru Central team.

One of the many invaluable photos acquired by the Allens

One of the many historical markers placed during the Allen’s tenure. This one in close proximity to the Valcour Educational Center.

The Lyon Street Schoolhouse, one of several Peru buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Ron and Carol Allen at the unveiling of the Port Jackson historic marker in 2009.

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Over many years, many people knew Ron and Carol Allen, Ron as a Peru Central School guidance counselor and Carol as Peru Central’s food service director. They retired from their professions several years ago. On July 31, 2022, Ron and Carol retired as Town of Peru co-historians, another activity they dearly loved. The position is unpaid; historians typically love history and their community. The Allens possess both qualities; they love Peru and have a mutual interest in preserving Peru’s rich history.

Shortly after accepting the historian’s position in 2003, Ron approached the town supervisor asking, “Where’s the town’s history collection?” The supervisor had no idea. Thanks to suggestions from a few residents, Allen located the collection in a two-drawer file cabinet in a former town historian’s garage.

In a few months, preserving the collection required more than a two-drawer cabinet. Ron explained, “Timing had much to do with what we did initially. At one time, Cora Stafford had been the town historian. She took a lot of notes, on the back of an envelope, on a piece of scrap paper. Then, after Cora’s passing, her daughter-in-law Muriel contacted us. She had loads of written things and pictures. So that got us started.” At about the same time, Becky Pace cleaned the downstairs area in the Peru Library. The Allens found old Peru Central School yearbooks and many unique items there.

There was, however, a significant problem. Ron explained, “We had the material but no place for it.” Fortunately, Ron noticed John and Kathy Flynn had a downstairs town hall closet for bats, balls, etc., that they used in the recreation program. He asked Kathy, “Do you think you and John could find someplace else for this?” The Flynns readily agreed. That closet, plus an adjacent closet, became the Peru historian’s office. Ron commented, “We’re proud that the historian’s office became permanent with us.”

Once there was a historian’s office, the number of donated items increased. Carol stated, “A lot of people were very generous. We’d have an open house once a year, and they’d bring in items.” Prized items include century-old photos of downtown Peru, a large timber from Benedict Arnold’s Revolutionary War Flagship, the Royal Savage, and a lock, key, and pew from Peru’s original Quaker Church.

The Allens worked with Town Clerk Kathy Flynn to restore badly deteriorated birth, marriage, and death records, some dating to the 1880s. They each allocated a portion of their budgets to hire a company specializing in records restoration. Today the documents are restored and encased in plastic. Carol said, “One of my favorite tasks has been researching those records. We get a lot of requests.”

Anyone traveling along Lake Shore Road and other local roads can see more results of the Allens’ hard work. They compiled the required documentation and received approval to erect historical markers at several of our community’s most significant locations. Those include the Peru Landing, Port Jackson, the Robert and Jonas Platt houses along Route 9, and Goshen on the River Road.

The National Park Service approved their application to include several local buildings on its National Register of Historic Places. The Heyworth-Mason Building, the Peru Community Church, the Valcour Island Lighthouse, and the Lyon Street School all received this honor.

Restoring the Lyon Street School has been Allens’ primary focus over the past several years. Long neglected, the town hired a local contractor to replace the school’s roof and restore its foundation, exterior, and interior. Ron added, “People donated several period desks. Our former dog control officer Dave Drollette did super work refinishing almost all of them.” The Allens hope the schoolhouse will soon be open to the public.

Health challenges, especially mobility issues, led to Ron and Carol Allen’s decision to retire. Nevertheless, Peru residents and visitors will never forget their contribution to our community. There’s a visible reminder of their work in almost every part of our town.

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“Republican running mates Richard A. Kupferman and Chris Obstarczyk, who earned the other two open seats, earned 152,176 votes and 144,315 votes, respectively.”

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These totals do not including 262 Early Ballots, 241 Absentee Ballots and 22 Affidavit Ballots. 

Governor and Lt. Governor 

Hochul & Delgado – 779

Zeldin & Esposito – 1382

Write-ins – 6

State Comptroller 

DiNapoli – 981 

Rodriguez – 1144 

Attorney General 

James – 840

Henry – 1291

Write-ins – 1

U.S. Senator 

Schumer – 872

Pinion – 1255

Sare – 11

State Supreme Court Judge 

Frost – 195 

McGahay – 1340 

Muller – 890

Kupferman – 1143

Varasi – 791

Obstarczyk -1141

Representative in Congress 

Castelli – 954

Stefanik – 1281

State Senator 

Lapper – 748

Stec – 1373

Member of Assembly 

Jones – 1228

Chilton – 921

County Sheriff 

Favro – 1303

Write-ins 243

Town Justice

Thurber – 1608

Write-ins – 17

Environmental Bond Issue Proposition #1 

Yes – 1055

No – 902

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A little sidenote – Judge Suddaby grew up in Picketts Corners, Saranac, NY.

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Peru’s voting 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru. The Peru Gazette plans to bring you the Peru results no later than 10 p.m.