Putnam Patriot

Frank Vadnais Is Appointed Postmaster

Name of First Selectman and Former Alderman-at-Large is Recommended By Senator Lonergan to Senate

A PUTNAM NATIVE

The news which Putnam has been waiting for for eight months came Monday afternoon when a telegram was received at The Patriot office stating that: "Senator Lonergan has decided to recommend for postmaster at Putnam. FRANK VADNAIS."

When the dispatch arrived. as far as could be found out, no one in the city was aware that any action on the appointment had been taken. Even Frank Vadnais. himself, when approached for a statement was ignorant that his name had been sent to the Senate by Senator Lonergan.

Yesterday, Mr. Vadnais received word from Washington that his appointment had been confirmed by the Senate before their adjournment. However. the latter stated. an official announcement of his appointment would come from the Postmaster General within a few days.

Mr. Vadnais succeeds Postmaster Archibald Macdonald, who has been head of the Putnam Post Office for twelve years. His term of office expired in January of this year and since that time, the people of this city have been anxious to learn who his successor would be.

When applications were called for by the United States Post Office Department, a long list of names were filed-names of prominent citizens Everyone seemed to have an equal opportunity to receive the appointment.

The matter rested for some time. until a few weeks ago, when a representative of the United States Civil service and a representative of the United State Postal Department came to Putnam and conducted a field investigation of the candidates for the berth. At that time, each of the applicants were questioned and other prominent citizens.

On their departure from Putnam, the men announced that some announcement would be forthcoming in the near future.

Mr. Vadnais. who has been one of the leaders of the democratic party in Putnam for many years, served the city for seven years as an alderman from ward three and alderman-at large. He is also completing his fifth year as selectman of the town, In 1926. Mr. Vadnais was named alderman from the third ward to fill out the unexpired term of (Councilman Frederick Pigeon. He continued in that position for five years, when in 1931, as running mate for ex-Mayor Leon A. Talbot. he was elected alderman-at-large. He was one of the few men, if not the only one. who ever held office as alderman-at-large and selectman at the same time. Mr. Vadnais was defeated for the post in the city council in the republican landslide of 1933.

A veteran of the World war, Mr. Vadnais served over-seas for fifteen months. He enlisted in 1917 and after a month's training in this country. he was sent to France and was among those who took part in the greater part of the war. He was promoted from a private, to a private first class, to a corporal and was discharged from the service in June, 1919, with the rank of sergeant

A native of Putnam, Mr. Vadnais was educated in St. Mary's school. After leaving the parochial school. he worked with his father at the parish house and at Delisle's garage until 1917, when he entered the service. After the war. Mr. Vadnais worked in a Putnam mill for a time and in 1920 entered the employ of the A. Gilman company of this city. He was promoted in that establishment from truck driver to clerk and is now the general manager of the store.

Fraternally. Mr. Vadnais is a member of the Putnam lodge of Elks. the Cargill Council, Knights of Columbus and Court City of Putnam, Foresters of America.