Former Fulton mayor turns 90

By Nate McDonald

Q. What do you think about being 90?

A.  I never think about it. I haven’t been ill like most people my age are. Lately I’ve had a few problems, but I’m able to go to my doctor who takes care of them right away. Interests keep me going. If you don’t have interests, you sit around and think about yourself. One of the joys of being involved in the community is everyone gets to know you, and I love that. I love it when I go out and people recognize me and come up and talk. I don’t know why, but I never focus on tomorrow. I just enjoy today.

Q. Do you do any special exercises to stay active at 90?

A.  I hate exercising. My husband [Joe Allerton] is a health nut, though, so he takes care of all of our vitamins and supplements. I have a lot of interests, and I enjoy them very much, and that’s very important. I love to read and knit and watch politics on the television. We live on the river and I love to watch the squirrels and ducks, too. I’m also involved with the Salvation Army in Fulton, I belong to the Press Club, I’m involved with the Thanksgiving Day Dinner in the community very deeply, and I’m involved in a church. I’ve been involved with a number of organizations throughout my life. I was with the College Council and was a trustee with the Fulton Public Library for a time. I think it’s very important to have things you love to do.

Q. How are you still involved with the Professional Journalists and Communicators of Oswego County.[formerly Oswego County Press Club]?

A.  I was a charter member. I’m 90, so I’m not in any position to do anything other than sit by the phone and make calls. I call all of the members and make sure they’re coming [to the monthly meetings]. That personal touch is very important. Some people don’t have their minds made up at the time I call, and a personal phone call can make the difference. I was once the president in the early days and have always been interested in it.

Q. You were mayor of the city of Fulton from 1987 to 1991. Can you talk about that?

A. One day I was asked to fill in for the mayor’s secretary for a few days, because she the secretary was sick. I ended up being there for nine and a half years. I learned a lot and helped to run some political campaigns, which taught me a lot as well. The incumbent mayor decided not to run again one year. So I received a phone call one Sunday night. It was the leaders of the Democratic Party in Oswego County. They didn’t have a candidate for mayor and asked me to run, so I did and I won. It helped that I had been involved with the community and wasn’t a stranger coming off the street. My opponent said I was too old to run, and I think that may have lost him the senior citizen vote. [laughs]  Everyone was wonderful to me. I had such a warm welcome from everyone in the mayor’s office and in the community. I was very happy to be there. It was a successful time.

Q. Do you have a particular diet or have certain things you like to eat to stay healthy?

A. We do try to eat healthy. Fish is very important in my husband’s diet interests, so we eat a lot of that. I have no particular food interests, but my husband does. He’s an engineer, so I suppose they’re interested in things like that and how it works with the body. My husband and I are the same age — he turned 90 in the spring — so it must be working.

Q. How was the city of Fulton changed since you’ve been there, and especially since your time as mayor?

A. It’s like any other community. Businesses close and new businesses open. Everything is changing today, but ultimately communities find their way to new situations and ways to earn a living. It was very important to me to bring people together in the community and have activities to do that. One time, I wanted to have a tight-rope walk across the river, but the police caught wind of it and forbid it. I think a lot of people would have shown up to see that. It’s very important to provide activities to bring people together. That helps build a sense of community. We had festivals and all sorts of things to do when I was the mayor. It worked out very well, I think.