CCC Foundation Establishes the Krinovitz Endowment

Monday, February 05, 2007

Plattsburgh, New York …. Steven Frederick, Clinton Community College’s dean of development and alumni affairs, is pleased to announce the creation of a new endowment, thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Frances H. Krinovitz. A generous supporter of the College and higher education, Mrs. Krinovitz requested the donation be used for scholarships to benefit qualified students of the area who face financial challenges and might not otherwise be able to attend college. The scholarship opportunities created as a result of the endowment will be administered through the office of the CCC Foundation and will be made available to one or more students on a yearly basis.

Originally from Montreal, Mrs. Krinovitz and her late husband Hyman were married in 1943. A Plattsburgh businessman, Mr. Krinovitz built and operated the dry cleaning business, which was located on Montcalm Avenue in the City of Plattsburgh for a number of years. Mrs. Krinovitz explained the building design was like that of a beautiful Spanish villa. In 1948, they lost the building to a fire. After it was rebuilt Mr. Krinovitz chose to sell it. The couple owned and operated another Plattsburgh landmark business during the 1960s and 1970s. Many will remember the Super 87 Drive-in Theatre, which was located where the Clinton County Jail now stands.

During the war years, Mr. Krinovitz operated a small pick-up office in the Hotel Champlain that provided dry cleaning services to guests. Mrs. Krinovitz explained that because of the war businesses catered to the soldiers and Mr. Krinovitz’s business was considered essential. She recalled a little store on Bridge Street where much of their business included sewing chevrons on army uniforms.

The hotel was quite a high-class establishment, according to Mrs. Krinovitz, and she described the hotel guests as being the elite of society, which included many of Montreal and New York City’s upper class. She remembers the hotel as a busy place where guests kept the dining room continually full, spent time taking in the wonderful views of the lake from the veranda, and attended dances held regularly in the hotel ballroom. She vividly remembers the beautiful ‘circle settee’ in the center of the second floor lobby (now visible only in the historic postcards of the time) and how everything was so well kept, even the cottages. She recalls how hotel guests would arrive shortly after the train stopped at the station at the bottom of the hill. Many local residents living near the hotel chose to disembark at the hotel’s stop to save a trip home from Plattsburgh.

Mrs. Krinovitz remembers when the owners of the Hotel Champlain, the Mailman’s, finally closed the hotel around 1955. She recalled that shortly thereafter another landmark, the Witherill Hotel, located on Margaret Street was scheduled to be torn down. An auction was held which she expressed regret in not attending, because the ‘circle settee’ she admired from the lobby of the Hotel Champlain was in the Fife & Drum cocktail lounge in the hotel's basement and was likely sold.

For all her fond memories, Mrs. Krinovitz is mindful of the role that the main academic building at Clinton Community College, the former Hotel Champlain, still plays in the lives of those who attend the 2-year college today and how important it is that the College can continue to have such a positive impact on this community and its residents.

According to Steve Frederick, dean of development and alumni affairs, "Mrs. Krinovitz has been a supporter of the College for several years, and this gift in the form of an endowment will give a number of students from the local area a chance to further their education."

Maurice "Moe" Hickey, president of CCC said, "I love listening to Mrs. Krinovitz talk about the Hotel Champlain and sharing what’s happening now on Bluff Point with her. Her support of the College accentuates our historical roots and the significant role the College plays in the lives of the residents of Clinton County. We sincerely appreciate her ongoing support of our students."

For more information on endowments or scholarships, contact Steve Frederick or the CCC Foundation Office at 518 562-4195 or visit www.clinton.edu.

###