Kathleen Kennedy
Keywords: Sugarbush, Redford, Bloomingdale, Loon Lake, Saranac Lake, Will Rogers,
Interviewed on 08/23/2018 by Kayt Gochenaur as part of the Oral History Project at Will Rogers.
Kathleen Kennedy nee Bell was born on June 5, 28 in Saranac Hollow. Near Cadyville. She grew up in Sugarbush, the small hamlet where her mother and grandfather were born. Kathleen’s great grandparents were from Ireland, and came to the US with many of their relatives. The family came through Goldsmith, near Loon Lake, before they settled the Sugarbush. Kathleen says that Sugarbush looks just like Ireland, little river running through the town, stone walls, and log houses. It was a wonderful place to grow up. Kathleen’s father was from nearby Redford, where his family had settled, having previously split their time between their winter home in Canada and a summer place nearby in Standish. Her father, Fred Bell, worked for Paul Smith’s electric company. At the time, there was no electricity in Sugarbush. Fred was the trustee for the Sugarbush school and was able to broker a deal with Paul Smith Electric to wire the school, which being at the far end of town, also provided the opportunity for residents to get electricity. Kathleen was in 8th grade when the town was wired. After 8th grade, Sugarbush students were bussed to Saranac Lake where they attended the high school. After graduating high school, Kathleen attended SUNY Albany where she studied education. While she was in college, she met Paul Kennedy. They were married in 1949. The couple lived in Loon Lake before moving to a house halfway between Vermontville and Bloomingdale. Together Paul and Kathleen had three children. Kathleen always enjoyed living “in the country” as she puts it—outside of the nearby towns, and she was happy to raise her children that way. Paul passed away in 1993. After his death, Kathleen continued to live in their Vermontville house for 4 years. At the time she was working for the Tri-Lakes Credit union. When she decided to move out of the house, she rented an apartment on Church St. in Saranac Lake. She lived there for 16 years, before moving to Will Rogers.
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.
Interviewed on 08/23/2018 by Kayt Gochenaur as part of the Oral History Project at Will Rogers.
Kathleen Kennedy nee Bell was born on June 5, 28 in Saranac Hollow. Near Cadyville. She grew up in Sugarbush, the small hamlet where her mother and grandfather were born. Kathleen’s great grandparents were from Ireland, and came to the US with many of their relatives. The family came through Goldsmith, near Loon Lake, before they settled the Sugarbush. Kathleen says that Sugarbush looks just like Ireland, little river running through the town, stone walls, and log houses. It was a wonderful place to grow up. Kathleen’s father was from nearby Redford, where his family had settled, having previously split their time between their winter home in Canada and a summer place nearby in Standish. Her father, Fred Bell, worked for Paul Smith’s electric company. At the time, there was no electricity in Sugarbush. Fred was the trustee for the Sugarbush school and was able to broker a deal with Paul Smith Electric to wire the school, which being at the far end of town, also provided the opportunity for residents to get electricity. Kathleen was in 8th grade when the town was wired. After 8th grade, Sugarbush students were bussed to Saranac Lake where they attended the high school. After graduating high school, Kathleen attended SUNY Albany where she studied education. While she was in college, she met Paul Kennedy. They were married in 1949. The couple lived in Loon Lake before moving to a house halfway between Vermontville and Bloomingdale. Together Paul and Kathleen had three children. Kathleen always enjoyed living “in the country” as she puts it—outside of the nearby towns, and she was happy to raise her children that way. Paul passed away in 1993. After his death, Kathleen continued to live in their Vermontville house for 4 years. At the time she was working for the Tri-Lakes Credit union. When she decided to move out of the house, she rented an apartment on Church St. in Saranac Lake. She lived there for 16 years, before moving to Will Rogers.
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.