(January 16, 1934-July 15, 1965)

Paul W. Davey, 31, whose address was listed as Dekalb Junction, was killed about 9:30 p.m., Tuesday when a foreign made station wagon he was driving hit a bridge abutment on county road 131 between West Potsdam and Slab City.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. M. L. Stevenson of Potsdam, who was appointed coroner’s physician by Dr. Samuel Livingston of Madrid. Death was caused by a fracture skull, according to the medical report.

Davey, who reportedly worked at the Gouverneur Iron Works, was traveling alone and was headed north. There is a slight curve to the road at the point the station wagon went off on the south side of a bridge over a small brook.

The vehicle snapped a wooden guard post on the side of the road and then apparently hurtled about 50 feet through the air and hit the opposite side of the bridge abutment, toppling into the water. The impact left a headlight lens in the wooden pile of the bridge about eight feet above water level. The front of the car was demolished by the impact and the top partially ripped off. The victim was not thrown from the vehicle.

Nearby residents heard the crash and summoned the West Potsdam Fire Department, Sheriffs Department and Potsdam Rescue Squad.

A wrecker from Canton was used to haul the station wagon out of the water, which is about two feet deep. Flood lights from the Potsdam rescue truck illuminated the scene.

Investigating were undersheriff Harold J. Mitchell, Deputies Ed Whitcomb and Keith Knowlton.

The body was brought to Potsdam Hospital.

Mr. Davey was born in Norfolk, Jan. 16, 1934, a son of John and Myrtle Babbett Davey. He attended Norfolk schools.

The body is at the Buck Funeral Home in Norwood. Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 11 at the Church of the Visitation in Norfolk with burial in Visitation Cemetery.

Surviving are his wife, the former Sarah Briggs; seven children, Sally Marie 8, Paul William Jr. 7, Michael Daniel 6, John Ralph 5, Barbara Ann 3, Louise 2, and Edward James, two weeks old; three brothers, John Davey, Norwood, Carl and Richard Davey, Norfolk; the parents, Mr. And Mrs. John Davey, Newton Falls; five sisters, Theresa and Margaret, at home, Mrs. James (Rita) West, Norfolk, Mrs. Richard (Alice) King, Parishville, Mrs. Dennis Mary Clary, Norfolk.

He was employed as a maintenance foreman for the Gouverneur Iron Works.

(From the Pauline Deshaies collection, original source unknown).