The north

10 years ago

Dec. 9, 2002: Letters sent out this fall by groups lobbying against swapping free music and videos on the Internet haven’t had much effect on north country colleges and universities. They say they’ve already addressed the problem. The letters encouraged colleges and universities to crack down on piracy by students who get free music and videos from the Internet and share it with others. Colleges and universities were particularly targeted because their large computer networks make swapping the copyrighted material easier.

25 years ago

Dec. 9, 1987: A rare albino lake trout has biologists and fish-fanciers pressing their noses against the aquarium at the Cape Vincent Fisheries Station. “It’s a true albino,” said Gerard C. LeTendre, supervising aquatic biologist. The fish has pink eyes, but a golden color.

50 years ago

Dec. 9, 1962: It took 40 firemen from five fire departments 2½ hours to bring a blaze at the commercial building at 30½ Market St., Potsdam, under control this morning. It is estimated that the fire, which started from an overheated chimney in the Coffee Shop, caused up to $60,000 damage. Most of the loss was due to smoke and water, although there was also some fire damage.

75 years ago

Dec. 9, 1937: More than 600 pupils and 28 teachers were on an enforced vacation today as a result of a disastrous fire that razed the main three-story section of Pulaski Academy on South Jefferson Street early this morning and for a time threatened the center of the Pulaski residential and business district. School officials and assessors estimated the loss at $250,000.

100 years ago

Dec. 9, 1912: On account of the slippery track conditions caused by the falling of the light snow, passenger and freight trains are experiencing difficulty in maintaining schedule time. The tonnage for freight trains has been lowered somewhat on account of the difficulty of maintaining a full head of steam during freezing weather and on account of the snow bucking the engines will have to perform if the snow becomes deep and drifting.

125 years ago

Dec. 9, 1887: Watertown’s champion blindfolded checker player, John Dempster, gave an exhibition of his playing in the parlors of the Levis House at Carthage last evening. He played blindfolded against five local players. The champion defeated four of the players and the other game was a draw.

150 years ago

Dec. 9, 1862: E. Farwell & Co. have an article of sugar — direct from New Orleans, now under the direction of the Yankees — to which they invite special attention.

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