Hailesboro’s own Evelyn Mary Washburn celebrates 107 years

by Rachel Hunter

The North Country came out in great numbers to the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center on Sunday, April 16, to wish Hailesboro’s own Evelyn Mary Washburn a very happy 107th birthday.

Faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall that Evelyn Mary Washburn is known as “Aunt Mary” to all the Spilman family and has supplied many in her life with continuous friendship, counseling, and wisdom. She was born on April 15, 1916 in Gouverneur to Grover Cleveland and Evelyn McGrane Washburn. She recollects that her birthplace was the bedroom of an apartment over what was then known as the Bank of Gouverneur on the corner of East Main and Park Street in Gouverneur. She is sister to Jane Dyer and aunt to David L. Spilman, Jr.

Miss Mary’s mother ran a School of Beauty there and had clients such as Senator Rhoda Fox Graves plus the very well-known Bligh A. Dodds. Her mom worked 12 to 14 hours per day and only lived to the age of 56. Her dad was the bartender in the old St. Lawrence Inn that was located on Main Street in Gouverneur. After a short time, it is reported that the family moved to Hailesboro Street and had another child, Jane Elizabeth, who later married Kenly Spilman.

As to education, Miss Mary attended the old East Side Grammar School (Community Bank location) and graduated from the Gouverneur High School in 1933. Miss Mary was in the first marching band at GHS in 1933, and played saxophone.

In a previous interview, the Gouverneur Tribune Press learned that Mary played the saxophone in a jazz band named “Bud LaRue and his Eight Beautiful Girls,” which played all over the North Country area. Miss Mary recalled that one of the girls quit, and the leader got a guy to dress as one of the girls and the band played on… and no one was the wiser.

After taking a year off from the rigors of high school learning, Miss Mary enrolled in what was then called the St. Lawrence School of Nursing, associated with the State Hospital in Ogdensburg, in 1939 She drove her parent’s car every day to school and back. She graduated with the Class of 1941.

Miss Mary joined the Naval Reserves during World War II (enlisted on January 1, 1943 and was called to duty on January 5). and was stationed in Camp Perry, Williamsburg, Va., as a nurse for 16 months and then had orders to depart with the Seabees for California and on to the war zone. However, fate interfered and by the time they arrived on the West Coast, the horrific battles were at an end.

After WWII, Miss Mary furthered her career by attending St. Lawrence University and Simmons College in Boston and becoming Physical Therapist for physical therapy. She earned her Master’s in Rehabilitation Nursing. She worked for New York State as a Public Health nurse and physical therapist. She retired at the age of 55 and went to work for JRC in Jefferson County as Physical Therapist for 18 years. She finally retired from a wonderful life of helping others achieve goals in the 1970s. In her retirement, Mary enjoyed her camp at Clear Lake near Plessis. For over two decades, she enjoyed journeys back and forth to California to visit with lifelong friend, Marion Holmes. Great Aunt Mary was always with the Spilman family and went on all family vacations with them. She always said that Sam the dog was the best behaved in the car. Today, Mary enjoys a safe and wonderful retirement with her nephew, Dave Spilman, Sr., on the Country Club Road in Hailesboro.

The Spilman family celebrated Mary’s birthday on Saturday, April 15 with a small celebration at home. Great cheers rang out as she made her wish and blew out all the lit candles on her birthday cake. The celebration continued on Sunday, April 16, as the Spilman family hosted a grand public event in celebration of their Aunt Mary’s 107th birthday at the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center – and invited the entire North Country community, friends, family members, and others to join the celebration. All were warmly welcomed upon entrance, and had the opportunity to sign the guest book, join the card shower, and read about Mary Washburn’s inspirational life in copies of the Gouverneur Tribune Press. Invitations detailing the day’s event were also available for the taking. The Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center took on a birthday theme, and impressed all guests as they offered their birthday wishes to Mary Washburn.

At 1 p.m., there was a special public performance of the 10th Mountain Division Band’s brass ensemble – Pinnacle Brass – which played patriotic tunes, movie soundtrack tunes, among others. Miss Mary, a lover of music, from the very first note to the very last kept in time with the music and offered applause at the conclusion of each number. The great crowd in attendance at the 107th birthday party sang along with the Pinnacle Brass in offering a very special “Happy Birthday To You” to Mary Washburn. Thunderous applause sounded throughout the main hall of the community center as all gathered offered their wishes for a happy birthday to Miss Mary.

At the conclusion of the concert, Miss Mary was presented a sash and “birthday queen” tiara from a special guest at the party who told the Gouverneur Tribune Press that she had never met Mary Washburn before that day, but knew she needed it for her birthday celebration. Thunderous applause sounded throughout the community center as the special gift was announced, and Natalie Spilman (a great-niece of Mary Washburn) placed the tiara on her head in great fanfare.

The Spilman family then encouraged those gathered to enjoy the smorgasbord buffet luncheon and an assortment of desserts that were in great abundance at the event. After all had enjoyed the hearty meal, Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. (great-nephew of Mary Washburn) then gave the floor to Bonnie Fikes, NYS Senate District Office Manager, for a special presentation.

NYS Senator Mark Walczyk signed and issued a New York State Senate Proclamation in honor of Evelyn Mary Washburn on the occasion of her 107th birthday.

Mrs. Fikes read the proclamation as follows: “Whereas it is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to individuals of the State of New Yor who have served their community, and State with gratitude; and, Whereas, Evelyn Mary Washburn is celebrating 107 incredible years of life on April 15, 2023; and, Whereas Evelyn Washburn began an illustrious career in providing critical care to the residents of her community in 1941, graduating from the St. Lawrence State Hospital School of Nursing; and Whereas, she immediately began serving our country, taking the courageous step of joining the Navy Reserves in 1942; and, Whereas, her military career brought her to provide assistance to the WWII efforts, traveling to California to board a Navy hospital ship, and, Whereas, even after the war she continued to dedicate her life to caring for others, returning to New York to attend St. Lawrence University and become a Physical Therapist; and Be It So Resolved, that as a duly elected member of the New York State Senate, I recognize that Evelyn Mary Washburn has exuded the true qualities of what it means to be a leader and thanks in part to her unwavering dedication and love for her community and country; and Be It Further Resolved, that a copy of this Proclamation, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Evelyn Mary Washburn with sincere and honest appreciation for her dedicated and selfless service to New York State and our great country.”

Great cheers rang out as the proclamation was hand-delivered to Mary Washburn. Mrs. Fikes then said: “If Senator Walczyk were here today, he would say to you: “It is a great honor and a privilege to serve great Americans like you.””

The great crowd then cheered as the Original Yanks Drum and Bugle Corps, sponsored by the American Legion Post 916 in Antwerp, NY performed several selections. The Original Yanks Drum and Bugle Corps, now in their 67th season, practice on Sundays and were pleased to hold their first public performance of the season in Gouverneur at Mary Washburn’s 107th birthday party. The Original Yanks Drum and Bugle Corps presented Miss Mary with an official Original Yanks cap, an extended to her an invitation to join their practices. Miss Mary enjoyed the high energy of the concert, offering a great smile and adding her own toe-tapping energy to the performances. Much gratitude was extended to both the 10th Mountain Division Band’s brass ensemble, Pinnacle Brass, and to the Original Yanks Drum and Bugle Corps for the outstanding concerts.

Much gratitude was extended to all those who were in attendance, and joined the public birthday party for Miss Mary Washburn. Special invitation were sent out to local dignitaries, and many took the opportunity to come out and extend their happy birthday wishes. This included Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr., Town of Gouverneur Councilman Curran Wade, Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall, among other town and village officials and other community leaders.