Eileen LaPlante
Keywords: Saranac Lake, St. Bernard's, Trudeau Sanatorium, Will Rogers, Olive St.
Interviewed on 09/26/2018 by Kayt Gochenaur as part of the Oral History Project at Will Rogers.
Eileen LaPlante was born Genevieve Eileen Madden on March 21, 1993 in Saranac Lake. She was the youngest of five children. Her father Francis Madden was a carpenter while her mother, Lillian Madden worked as a cook at two cure cottages, ran by Mrs. Sageman and Mrs. Robinson respectively. Eileen enjoyed the occasions she got to go to work with her mother. They lived by Lake Colby and attended St. Bernard’s School. Though she was called Gen at home, when she started at St. Bernard’s she switched to Eileen. Her father had to travel to Vermont for his job and would come home on the weekends. Since their dad would have the car during the week, Eileen, her mother, and her siblings would walk everywhere. They used to go to Trudeau Sanatorium chapel, which was closer to their home. They knew a lot of people in town, and Eileen said their mother would always hear if they got in trouble. After graduation she married Bob LaPlante. They lived on Olive Street in Saranac Lake. She worked in the Boy Scout office which used to be in the Leonard’s Block, and occasionally did odd jobs. “I always worked,” Eileen said. Bob worked for the A&P. Eileen and Bob have three children, and they used to enjoy taking vacations to visit Eileen’s older sister. Bob passed away about 12 years ago. Their son is still living in the area. Eileen moved to Will Rogers about a year ago and enjoys spending time with the other Will Roger’s Residents. “Well I think I’ve had a good life,” Eileen said, “it may have been hard at times and I may have been cold and miserable and so on, but I‘ve had a good long life.”
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 09/26/2018 by Kayt Gochenaur as part of the Oral History Project at Will Rogers.
Eileen LaPlante was born Genevieve Eileen Madden on March 21, 1993 in Saranac Lake. She was the youngest of five children. Her father Francis Madden was a carpenter while her mother, Lillian Madden worked as a cook at two cure cottages, ran by Mrs. Sageman and Mrs. Robinson respectively. Eileen enjoyed the occasions she got to go to work with her mother. They lived by Lake Colby and attended St. Bernard’s School. Though she was called Gen at home, when she started at St. Bernard’s she switched to Eileen. Her father had to travel to Vermont for his job and would come home on the weekends. Since their dad would have the car during the week, Eileen, her mother, and her siblings would walk everywhere. They used to go to Trudeau Sanatorium chapel, which was closer to their home. They knew a lot of people in town, and Eileen said their mother would always hear if they got in trouble. After graduation she married Bob LaPlante. They lived on Olive Street in Saranac Lake. She worked in the Boy Scout office which used to be in the Leonard’s Block, and occasionally did odd jobs. “I always worked,” Eileen said. Bob worked for the A&P. Eileen and Bob have three children, and they used to enjoy taking vacations to visit Eileen’s older sister. Bob passed away about 12 years ago. Their son is still living in the area. Eileen moved to Will Rogers about a year ago and enjoys spending time with the other Will Roger’s Residents. “Well I think I’ve had a good life,” Eileen said, “it may have been hard at times and I may have been cold and miserable and so on, but I‘ve had a good long life.”
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.