Harry Weir was born in
Cambridge, New York in 1886. He lived
most of his life in North Hoosick. Mr.
Weir was an active civic and business leader, and was long associated with the
Noble and Wood Machine Company. He started as a foundry foreman, was named Secretary
of the company in 1918, and later served as Treasurer, President, and General
Manager. After his retirement in 1960,
he was named Chairman of the Board.
Mr. Weir organized and was
principal officer of the Peoples Gas and Oil Company, which served as agent for
Texaco in Rensselaer, Washington Counties and into Vermont. He was also associated with many other
businesses. He was on the advisory
board of the National Commercial Bank and Trust Company as well as on the
executive committee of its predecessor, The Peoples First National Bank. He was a director and President of the
Permanent Savings and Loan Association and Chairman of the Board at the time of
his death. Mr. Weir was a director of
the Mary McClellan Hospital. He was the
treasurer of the former Presbyterian Church and became a trustee of the First
United Church following the merger of the churches.
Mr. Weir was Chairman of the
Board and contributed generously to the Town of Hoosick Youth Center, which
utilized the former Presbyterian Church building. He was an active member and
Vice President of the Hoosick Falls Committee for Industry that brought Nancy
Shoe Company to town. He was a member
of Kiwanis and belonged to the Elks for more than fifty years. He was the Treasurer of the Hoosick Falls
Cemetery Association and belonged to Van Rensselaer Lodge F&AM and the
Hoosick Falls Country Club.
Upon his death in 1963, he
left many bequests to local organizations and individuals. The remaining money was set up as a trust
fund to be given out in the Town of Hoosick area. In 1965, funds from his trust were given to the Pool
committee. These funds made it possible
to complete the pool area. Several
causes in the area are still benefiting from his trust. Harry Weir was an important part of the
history of the Town of Hoosick.