Nancy Howard Heath
Keywords: Saranac Lake, COVID-19, Winter Carnival, Sugar Bush, Bloomingdale, Vermontville, Mask makers.
Historic Saranac Lake’s Oral History Project interviewed Nancy Heath as part of our Saranac Lake in the Time of COVID project. Nancy was one of the many volunteers who sewed masks and ‘head gear’ for Adirondack Health. These interviews aim to document the impact of COVID-19 on Saranac Lake. This interview was conducted over the phone. Over the course of the interview Nancy shared some of her family history, ways in which the pandemic has changed everyday life, and spoke about her time as Winter Carnival Queen.
[1:00 - 7:30] Nancy Heath neé Howard was born in 1957 in Saranac Lake. She attended North Country Community College and raised her children here. Her family has lived in the Saranac Lake area since the 1800s. Her paternal grandfather Howard served as the supervisor of the Town of Franklin, while her maternal grandparents owned the O’Neil family farm on Cold Brook Road in Vermontville (formerly known as Sorrel Rd.)
[7:30 - 12:30] At the time of the interview Nancy said she was feeling optimistic about the future. She briefly spoke about the prospect of reopening and shared about her experience during the first week of NY on Pause. “I kept thinking it was going to be over soon, then the reality of it hit. … It was a little disheartening just for that want to see your family.” Nancy also shared about some changes in her daily routines [12:30 - 18:30]. Before the pandemic, Nancy enjoyed caring for her grandchildren during the day. She has missed being physically close to them, but appreciates seeing them via FaceTime.
[21:40 - 27:15; 29:00 - 32:00] Nancy became involved with the effort to sew masks for Adirondack Health through Gina Norton. When Gina said she was looking for volunteers to make masks, Nancy said she was willing. She also joined the effort to sew ‘head gear’ (a type of personal protective equipment designed to cover the head and shoulders) for Adirondack Health. At the time of the interview she had sewn some 88 head gear PPE. She said, “I figure that’s the least I can do. … This is how I can help.”
[27:15 - 29:00] Nancy has been sewing since she was about 12 years old. She took sewing lessons with Mrs Baldwin at the old Potter’s Block (currently the parking lot across from the Rusty Nail). These lessons sparked a life long love of sewing.
[34:15 - 42:15] Sewing PPE for Adirondack Health has helped Nancy keep her mind off things. She spoke about pandemic-related stress, and when she first realized COVID-19 would impact Saranac Lake. [39:45 - 42:15] When asked if there was a lesson she has taken from this experience, Nancy said. “Things can change in a heartbeat … There might be a time when you can’t just give your child or your grandchild a hug, so enjoy it while you can.”
[42:15 - 52:24] Nancy spoke about her experience as the 2020 Winter Carnival Queen. “It was absolutely spectacular. It was probably everything I could ever imagine.” Nancy has always loved Winter Carnival. When she was about 11 years old she and her sisters met Ms. New York (the Winter Carnival Queen) in the ladies room at the Pontiac Theater. She said she couldn’t believe her sisters were talking to the Queen like she was a regular person. Of her own experience as Queen, she said, “It’s truly been an honor. I have loved every minute of it. I don’t know if I can say thank you enough. … It will be one of those wonderful memories that will be with me always.”
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.
Historic Saranac Lake’s Oral History Project interviewed Nancy Heath as part of our Saranac Lake in the Time of COVID project. Nancy was one of the many volunteers who sewed masks and ‘head gear’ for Adirondack Health. These interviews aim to document the impact of COVID-19 on Saranac Lake. This interview was conducted over the phone. Over the course of the interview Nancy shared some of her family history, ways in which the pandemic has changed everyday life, and spoke about her time as Winter Carnival Queen.
[1:00 - 7:30] Nancy Heath neé Howard was born in 1957 in Saranac Lake. She attended North Country Community College and raised her children here. Her family has lived in the Saranac Lake area since the 1800s. Her paternal grandfather Howard served as the supervisor of the Town of Franklin, while her maternal grandparents owned the O’Neil family farm on Cold Brook Road in Vermontville (formerly known as Sorrel Rd.)
[7:30 - 12:30] At the time of the interview Nancy said she was feeling optimistic about the future. She briefly spoke about the prospect of reopening and shared about her experience during the first week of NY on Pause. “I kept thinking it was going to be over soon, then the reality of it hit. … It was a little disheartening just for that want to see your family.” Nancy also shared about some changes in her daily routines [12:30 - 18:30]. Before the pandemic, Nancy enjoyed caring for her grandchildren during the day. She has missed being physically close to them, but appreciates seeing them via FaceTime.
[21:40 - 27:15; 29:00 - 32:00] Nancy became involved with the effort to sew masks for Adirondack Health through Gina Norton. When Gina said she was looking for volunteers to make masks, Nancy said she was willing. She also joined the effort to sew ‘head gear’ (a type of personal protective equipment designed to cover the head and shoulders) for Adirondack Health. At the time of the interview she had sewn some 88 head gear PPE. She said, “I figure that’s the least I can do. … This is how I can help.”
[27:15 - 29:00] Nancy has been sewing since she was about 12 years old. She took sewing lessons with Mrs Baldwin at the old Potter’s Block (currently the parking lot across from the Rusty Nail). These lessons sparked a life long love of sewing.
[34:15 - 42:15] Sewing PPE for Adirondack Health has helped Nancy keep her mind off things. She spoke about pandemic-related stress, and when she first realized COVID-19 would impact Saranac Lake. [39:45 - 42:15] When asked if there was a lesson she has taken from this experience, Nancy said. “Things can change in a heartbeat … There might be a time when you can’t just give your child or your grandchild a hug, so enjoy it while you can.”
[42:15 - 52:24] Nancy spoke about her experience as the 2020 Winter Carnival Queen. “It was absolutely spectacular. It was probably everything I could ever imagine.” Nancy has always loved Winter Carnival. When she was about 11 years old she and her sisters met Ms. New York (the Winter Carnival Queen) in the ladies room at the Pontiac Theater. She said she couldn’t believe her sisters were talking to the Queen like she was a regular person. Of her own experience as Queen, she said, “It’s truly been an honor. I have loved every minute of it. I don’t know if I can say thank you enough. … It will be one of those wonderful memories that will be with me always.”
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.