Jane M. Mason, 33, housewife, saved W. Reid Henderson, 5, from drowning, Cleverdale, New York, February 21, 1951. Reid wandered onto Lake George and attempted to jump across a long opening two feet wide which had been sawed through solid ice 16 inches thick 40 feet from shore. He fell into the water and sank seven feet to the bottom. Noting the absence of Reid, who she knew had been near the lake, Mrs. Mason ran from her home near the shore and stepped onto the ice. Reaching the opening and peering into it, Mrs. Mason dimly sighted Reid lying inert on the bottom partly beneath the ice. Fully clothed, she dived into the icy water and swam down to him. She took hold of Reid with both hands and with limited visibility swam with him toward the surface by kicking her feet. Miscalculating her position, Mrs. Mason struck her head on the underside of the ice four feet from the opening. Supporting Reid with one hand, she placed her other hand on the ice and felt her way to the opening. She surfaced with Reid and lifted him part way onto the ice. A man pulled Reid from the water and assisted Mrs. Mason onto the ice. Reid was revived in a half an hour. Mrs. Mason was tired and nervous and suffered from shock and exposure but recovered. 42205-3732
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42205-3732Obituary
Jane Mead Mason, 77, of Stuart, Fla., and Cleverdale, N.Y., died on Dec. 29, 1994, at her home in Cleverdale. Mason, a native of Glens Falls, N.Y., born to Arthur D. and Frances M. Mead on Dec. 1, 1917, owned and operated Takundewide Cottages on Lake George in New York for 30 years. She graduated from Glens Falls High School and attended Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y.
Mason participated in several civic organizations. She was treasurer of the Lake George Scholarship Association and a director of the North Queensbury Recreation Assocation. In January 1952, she received the Carnegie Medal for saving a person from drowning in Lake George in 1951.
Mason’s husband, Alger C. Mason, died in 1986. She was the mother of Lucile M. Lucas, William P. Mason, John A. Mason, Richard A. Mason, Robert A. Mason, James H. Mason, and Stephen M. Mason.
(Edited from an obituary published in The Stuart, Fla., News on Jan. 1, 1995.)