Mining for Souls
Page 29
NOTED CITIZENS of Lyon Mountain page 2.
Bernard Harrica
Bernard Harrica, educator, civic leader and former
World War II veteran, was born in Chateaugay, New York on December 27, 1908.
He attended Chateaugay High School and was graduated from St. Lawrence University
in 1932. In subsequent years he earned a Master's degree in Education from
the University. His first teaching job was in Rouses Point where he was
a Math and Science teacher. In 1942 he was commisioned an officer in the
U.S. Signal Corps. Active in the African Theater, he spent four years as
commander of the Signal Center in Ghana. Upon his return from active duty,
he remained in the Army Reserves where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel. During his twenty years in the Reserves, he was Commander
of various Battalion units stationed in Plattsburgh. It was in 1947 that
he was appointed Principal of the Lyon Mountain High School, a capacity
he served until 1969 when he made District Principal of the newly merged
school, the Northern Adirondack Central School.
During his reign in Lyon Mountain the school achieved
its greatest peak. Mr. Harrica was instrumental in the development of an
expanded curriculum which included a Kindergarten, an Industrial Arts department,
a full course in Homemaking, art and musical instruction. He secured the
services of a dental hygienist, a school psychologist, a girls physical education
instructor, a guidance director, a school nurse and a grade supervisor. Under
his direction, a cafeteria was opened and the library was expanded to include
both a grade and high school library. Vivid in the minds of students
who graduated from Lyon Mountain High School will always be the Guided Reading
Program, the fine staff of teachers and instruction received which enabled
fifty percent of the students to go on to college, and the large percentage
who stepped into top Civil Service jobs as secretaries. Much of the
credit for this achievement must go to Mr. Harrica for his able leadership,
initiative and his desire to advance the education of young people to the
fullest. Perhaps his crowning achievement occurred when the Northern Adirondack
Central School was dedicated in 1972.
It was with shock that the North Country learned
of Mr. Harrica's passing on June 25, 1974. The Teachers Association established
a perpetual scholarship in his honor, and the first scholarship was awarded
to Ardyce Barcomb of Ellenburg. Surviving were his wife, the former
Florence Bechard, a son, Paul who teaches in Dannemora, and a daughter Ann
Marie who resides in Burlington. During his years as an educator and civic
leader, Mr. Harrica will be remembered for his leadership, his forsight
in education, his devotion to civic causes and for his many accomplishments.
He was on the Board of Directors for the NYS Retirement system in Albany,
served on many educational committees and pilot programs, was active on the
BCCES board and Interscholastic League affairs. "Buzz" as he was so
well known earned the respect and admiration of all his students, his teachers,
his co-workers, the non-teaching staff, his Board, and above all the community.
Buzz always had time to listen and to help, and will forever be remembered
for his friendliness and his helping hand. He devoted forty years to
the education of youth and was known throughout the state.
Dr. H. R. Marvin
Dr. H. R. Marvin opened his office in his home
in 1909 and for 43 years practised medicine in Lyon Mountain and the surrounding
communities. In the early years he made house calls driving a horse and
buggy in the summer and using a sleigh in the winter. In 1909 the nearest
hospital was at Albany, N.Y. and one of his first patients, an official
of the mines, was transported by train to Albany. The man had suffered a
ruptured appendix and Dr. Marvin accompanied him to the Albany Hospital.
In most admissions to a hospital Dr. Marvin or his wife provided the transportation
using his own auto.
He was Company Physician for Chateaugay' Ore and
Iron Co. and later Republic Steel Corp. Many times he went down into the
mines to treat a miner who had been injured. In the 1920's and 1930's he
managed the Lyon Mountam Miners baseball team. It was due to his leadership
that the Miners fielded strong teams year after year and due to his enthusiasm
that they had the full support of the community.
During the second World War the towns of Ellenburg
and Mooers were without a physician and the towns people appealed to Dr.
Marvin to cover that area, which he did often driving to the towns two and
three times a day. Dr. Marvin was a veteran of World War I. Dr. Marvin was
born August 29, 1882 in Alburg, Vermont, son of Herman W. and Lucretia Allen
Marvin.
After receiving his early education in Alburg
schools, he attended Poultney Academy and the College of Medicine at the
University of Vermont in Burlington. He received his degree in Medicine
from the college in 1908 and served his Internship at Lynn Hospital, Lynn,
Mass. where he met his future wife, Clara Beyea, a registered nurse.
They were married October 15, 1909 at the Methodist Parsonage in Dannemora.
In later years his wife assisted him in his office and accompanied him on
all his maternity cases. Dr. Marvin was a member of the American Medical
Association, a life member of the State Medical Society.
He was a member of the American Congress of Parents and Teachers, The American
Legion, and a member of Mount Hermon Lodge 572 Free and Accepted Masons.
Dr. Marvin enjoyed the simple things in life and was a plain spokesman with
the young people. He persuaded many to continue their education. After several
years of ill health, he died August 25, 1962 at the age of 79.
Sources:
Adirondack Museum photos, Blue Mountain Lake, NY;
History of Clinton County, New York;
Go to Page 1 of The History of Lyon
Mountain.
Go to Page 3 of The History of
Lyon Mountain.
Go to Mining History for The History
of Mining in the North Country.
Go to Page 5 of The History of Lyon
Mountain.(for article on Lyon Mt. and Mineville)
Go to Page 30 of Mining for Souls.
Back to Page 28 of Mining for Souls.
Go to Page 1 of Mining for Souls.(cover
page)
Rod Bigelow
Box 13 Chazy Lake
Dannemora, N.Y. 12929
rodbigelow@netzero.net 
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