William Frank Plouffe (1915 - 1999)

Born 5 Apr 1915 in Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Cornelia Page (Dunham) Plouffe — married 26 Nov 1936 (to before 1959) in Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Husband of Irma Pauline (Rabiner) Plouffe — married 5 Dec 1958 in New Lebanon, Columbia, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 30 Nov 1999 at age 84 in Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Biography

Name: William Frank Plouffe. Also Known As: Bill Plouffe. ^[1] Also Known As: Will Plouffe. ^[2]

Born 5 APR 1915. Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. ^{[3] [4]}

Census: 1920 Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. ^[5] 1930 Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. ^[5] 1940 Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. ^[6]

Occupation: Photographer. FROM 1933 TO 1981. ^[7] Wire Coverer (Steel Mill). 1940 ^[6] Deputy Sheriff. 1949 ^[8] Civil Defense Director. 1957 ^[9] Social Worker. 1977 ^[10]

Residence FROM 1935 TO 1957. Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. ^{[6] [9]} 1958 Lanesboro, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. ^[11] 1959 New Lebanon, Columbia, New York, United States. ^[12] FROM 1960 TO 1977. Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. ^{[13] [14]}

Died 30 NOV 1999. Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. ^[4]

Buried 2000 Canaan, Columbia, New York, United States. ^[15]

Note: 1946: Will Plouffe, well known photographer in this arrea, today anwunced the opening of a studio at 126 Fenn Street. Mr. Plouffe, who served for four years as an indusilal and news photographer for the General Electric Company here, is also experienced in-color photography and motion picture work. He was an amateur photographer from 1930 to 1937 when he became a professional, specializing in portraits of children and news wtork. He has been a member of the Berkshire Museum Camera Club since 1937 and has served as chairman and a committeeman. Mr. Plouffe started taking pictures in 1929 when he was a Boy Scout in camp at Otis. He later became assistant scoutmaster of Troop 10, Lutheran Church troop, and later became an Eagle Scout. He was an instructor in Indian lore for three years while at camp. For eight years Mr, Plouffe has done free-lance news photography in this area. Mr. Plouffe plans to specialize in his new business in wedding photographs and industrial pictures. He is a member of the Photographers Association of America. He married the former Cornelia Dunham and they have two sons, Philip and Gordon. They reside at 71 Cherry Street. ^[16] 1947: Plouffe Will Speak To Camera Club Tonight at 8. Will Plouffe, the professional photographer, will conduct the third meeting of the free elementary course in photography being given by the Berkshire Museum Camera Club. Tonight at 8 Mr. Plouffe will discuss and demonstrate the use of simple camera accessories, which include tripods, filters, sunshades and exposure guides. Last week's lecture drew 57 persons. The instructor, who started with the club as an amateur, worked as a General Electric Company photographer before opening his own studio. ^[2] 1949: William F. Plouffe, owner of a photographic studio at 126 Fenn Street, has been named a deputy sheriff by Sheriff J. Bruce McIntyre. He is to work at the service of criminal precepts only. Mr. Plouffe, who lives at 26 Richmond Avenue, Pittsfield, MA qualified today before the qualifying commissioners, Walter S. Dickie and Miss Isabella A. Kelm. ^[8] 1958: Miss Irma Pauline Rabiner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack B. Rabiner, 58 Dodge Ave., was married last evening to William Frank Piouffe of Lanesboro, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Plouffe of 24 Westover St. The 7 o'clock ceremony took place at the Congregational Church in New Lebanon. N.Y., where the Rev. Verne E. Henderson officiated. A dinner for the wedding party followed at the Pillars, New Lebanon. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a grosgrain-trimmed white mohair dress, and white feathered hat with silk illusion veil. She carried a bouquet of crushed carnations and miniature pompons with baby's-breath. Mrs. Robert R. Hebert of Monterey was her sister's honor attendant. She wore an aqua brocade dress and matching hat and carried a pink bouquet similar to the bride's. Best man was George W. Wilson of Lanesboro. When the couple return Dec. 11 from a trip to Canada they will live in New Lebanon. The bride, a Pittsfield High School graduate, was secretary for the Massachusetts Civil Defense Agency, Sector 4E, with headquarters in Berkshire, before her marriage. A professional photographer, Mr. Plouffe is former director of Civil Defense of Sector 4E (Berkshire County) for the Massachusetts Civil Defense Agency. He graduated from Pittsfield High School and attended Berkshire Business College. Mr. Plouffe for many years was night photographer for The Eagle. He now is commodore of the Pittsfield Boating Club for his second team. ^[11] 1962: PITTSFIELD, MA - William F. Plouffe, one of the longest established commercial photographers in the area, has closed his business to take a position with E. D. Jones Corp. Mr. Plouffe will serve as photographer and graphic arts specialist with the Jones firm, nationally known manufacturers of paperrmaking machinery and now a wholly owned subsidiary of Beloit Iron Works. He has just returned from a four-day meeting on visual reproduction in Philadelphia sponsored by the Society of Reproduction Engineers. ^[17] 1977: William F. Plouffe of 61 Pomeroy Ave. was named commander of the Berkshire Power Squadron at the group's annual Change of Watch ceremony at the Holiday Inn in Lenox. Plouffe succeeds William J. Beebe as commander. Other officers installed at the annual meeting were Carl Shirley of Lee, executive officer; Edgar F. Sewell of Lenox, administrative officer; Donald C. Vincent, educational officer; Gerard Kuckman of Pittsfield, secretary, and Wallace L. Douglas of Pittsfield, treasurer. Beebe, the former commander, was presented the past commander's flag and plaque. Shirley and James E. Plenge were awarded senior-member plaques for working five years in the squadron's educational program and William E. Dodge and Shirley were awarded a new squadron flag, which they helped design. Nicholas DiSantis received a night illuminated compass and range finder for his help to the squadron. Mrs. Donald Tufts of Becket presented the squadron a sextant for use in the educational department in memory of her husband who was a teacher in the squadron. Some 91 members, wives and guests attended the dinner and dance. Plouffe, a retired professional photographer who is a social worker in the state's welfare office, helped organize the Berkshire Power Squadron in 1974. He has served as its educational officer, administrative officer and executive officer and has been a member of the United States Power Squadron for 18 years. Plouffe and his wife, Irma, have two children at home. He has three married children by a former marriage. The Berkshire Power Squadron is a unit of the United States Power Squadron and offers boating-safety courses to the public. Squadron members have been teaching boating courses in the Berkshire County area for 14 years. He was a photographer for The Eagle. He sold his first photograph to the newspaper in 1933. In addition to his Eagle employment, he worked as a photographer for General Electric for four years prior to opening his own studio on Fenn Street, Pittsfield, MA in 1946. Covering virtually every major event for the newspaper, he was appointed night and weekend photographer for the Eagle in 1950. In 1953, he won a National Press Photographers Association award for his photo of a fire at the former Berkshire Woolen Mill on Peck's Road. Upon closing his studio in 1948, he became employed as the staff photographer for Beloit Jones. Until his retirement in 1981, he was employed by the state Department of Public Welfare, now the Department of Transitional Assistance. He was a member of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a charter member and then life member of the Berkshire Power Squadron. A past commander of the squadron, he received national recognition in 1987 from the U.S. Power Squadron. He was appointed by the late Gov. Foster Furcolo to be the Civil Defense director for Berkshire County in the mid-'50s. He also helped organize the Pittsfield Auxiliary Police and served as its first president. He was a member of the New England Photographers Association, which bestowed two awards on him for his commercial photography and portraits. He also was a member and former officer of the Western Massachusetts Society of Professional Photographers. The official photographer for Tanglewood for two years, he served as the president of the Berkshire Museum Camera Club. He was an Eagle Scout at Zion's Church as well. ^[15]

Marriage Husband William Frank Plouffe. Wife Cornelia Page Dunham. Child: Philip E. Plouffe. Child: Gordon Charles Plouffe. Child: Barbara E. Plouffe. Marriage 26 NOV 1936. Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. ^[18] Note: Married at Zion's Lutheran Church. Divorce: BEF 1959. ^[19]

Husband William Frank Plouffe. Wife Irma Pauline Rabiner. Child: Brian E. Plouffe. Child: Brenda E. Plouffe. Marriage 5 DEC 1958. New Lebanon, Columbia, New York, United States. ^[20]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S2782
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Source: #S2783
3. ↑ Source: #S7526
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Source: #S7525
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Source: #S47
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Source: #S7764
7. ↑ Source: #S5590
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Source: #S2781
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Source: #S5675
10. ↑ Source: #S5875
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Source: #S2776
12. ↑ Source: #S2778
13. ↑ Source: #S5711
14. ↑ Source: #S5880
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Source: #S12
16. ↑ Source: #S5604
17. ↑ Source: #S2784
18. ↑ Source: #S2787
19. ↑ Source: #S2778
20. ↑ Source: #S2776

• Source: S12 Internet
• Source: S2776 Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, December 6, 1958 (www.newspaperarchive.com)
• Source: S2778 Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, April 21, 1959 (www.newspaperarchive.com)
• Source: S2779 Berkshire Evening Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, September 4, 1946 (Ancestry.com)
• Source: S2780 Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, March 10, 1959 (Ancestry.com)
• Source: S2781 Berkshire Evening Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, January 12, 1949 (Ancestry.com)
• Source: S2782 Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, September 7, 1956 (www.newspaperarchive.com)
• Source: S2783 Berkshire County Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, October 9, 1947 (Ancestry.com)
• Source: S2784 North Adams Transcript, North Adams, MA, December 17, 1962 (www.newspaperarchive.com)
• Source: S32 SSDI (ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com)
• Source: S47 Internet (www.ancestry.com: Census Data)
• Source: S5590 Berkshire Evening Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, January 17, 1946 (www.newspaperarchive.com)
• Source: S5604 Berkshire County Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, September 4, 1946 (www.newspaperarchive.com)
• Source: S5675 North Adams Transcript, North Adams, MA, April 1, 1957 (www.newspaperarchive.com)
• Source: S5711 Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, December 9, 1960 (www.newspaperarchive.com)
• Source: S5875 Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, April 28, 1977 (www.newspaperarchive.com)
• Source: S5880 Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, August 19, 1977 (www.newspaperarchive.com)
• Source: S7525 Internet (www.familysearch.org) Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003
• Source: S7526 Internet (www.familysearch.org) Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915
• Source: S7764 Internet (www.familysearch.org) United States Census, 1940