Born: September 27, 1888
Died: July 29, 1967
Richard J. Longtin worked at Paul Smith's Hotel for 54 years, from 1908 until he retired in 1962. He was a World War I veteran.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, July 28, 1967
Richard T. Longtin Dies; Headed PS Electric Here
Richard T. Longtin, who had been president and treasurer of the Paul Smith's Electric Co., a trustee of Paul Smith's College, and supervisor of the Town of Brighton from 1924 to 1933, died Friday afternoon at Saranac Lake General Hospital of a long illness.
Mr. Longtin also was postmaster of Paul Smith's for 25 years and when area postmasters planned a small party in honor of his retirement it turned into one of the largest testimonial dinners ever given to a local man.
At the dinner he was paid tribute by many businessmen, politicians, educators, and clergymen. Congressman Clarence Kilburn said he always knew ahead of time how Mr. Longtin would react to any situation. “I know he will be fair, honest and sound.” Dr. Chester Buxton, president of Paul Smith's College, said, “He makes work seem honorable... he believes in the dignity of the individual.”
Mr. Longtin was born Sept. 27 1868 in Bennington, Vt., a son of Narcisse and Eliza Bousquett Longtin.
He served in World War I «s a sergeant in Company B. Second Pioneer Infantry in France and 1 in World War II he served as secretary of the Saranac Lake Selective Service Board.
During his years with the Paul Smith's enterprises, Mr. Longtin collected a store of historical data and knowledge on the Smith family and the Adirondacks.
Unfortunately his historical collection was destroyed in June of 1962 when the Paul Smith's College Hotel was burned to the ground during an early morning fire.
Mr. Longtin, who was living in the hotel at the time and had an office in the building, escaped from the burning building but was able to rescue only a pocketful of neckties.
Survivors are a brother, Raymond of Manchester, Conn.; a sister Mass Olevine Longtin of Bennington, Vt.; and several nieces and nephews.
Friend s may call at .the Fortune Funeral Home where the Rosary will be recited at 8 o'clock this evening. A Funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a. m. Tuesday at St. Bernard's Church. Burial will be in Bennington, Vt., at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
From Geraldine Collins The Brighton Story
RICHARD J. LONGTIN, who was born in Bennington, Vermont, on Sept. 27, 1888, came to work for the Paul Smiths' Hotel as a young man of 20 years. He worked in the office and spent his entire life working for the family in the various Smith enterprises. Only during World War I (from May 27, 1918, to July 9, 1919) did he leave the area while he served as a sergeant in Company B, Second Pioneer Infantry in France. After old Paul Smith died, Mr. Longtin became more and more useful to Phelps in the operation of the business and when Phelps died in 1937 it was Longtin who took over the operation of the Power & Light Co., and the Hotel Co. For 25 years he was Postmaster of Paul Smiths and he also served as [Brighton] Town Supervisor from 1924 to 1933. During his entire life he was active in all community affairs until his retirement because of poor health shortly after 1962. Mr. Longtin had been living in the Smith Hotel and escaped from the building when it burned in 1962, but he suffered a severe personal loss of historical possessions collected over the years, in addition to smoke inhalation. The combination seemed to rob him of all inclination to live. His decline was steady from then until his death on July 29, 1967.
Comments
