There was little to smile about in the 1930s, the era of the Great Depression.

But for a passing moment, a Watertown cop helped people put their miseries in the background.

Standing at the American Corner, where Court and Arsenal streets split off from Public Square, Herman C. Trumble greeted all who approached with a courteous salute, a big smile and a friendly word or two.

He became so popular — not only about town but also beyond city and county boundaries — that his picture was in the paper just for being a guest speaker at a banquet in Sackets Harbor. There were other speakers at the October 1930 Chamber of Commerce affair, but only the happy face of Officer Trumble appeared in the paper.

He donated blood to a fellow officer's ailing wife, and again his picture appeared in the paper. Another officer, Clifford A. Damon, gave blood too, but no one saw his face in the Watertown Daily Times.

Even as Officer Trumble lay seriously ill in the hospital, people were endorsing him as Republican candidate for sheriff.

And it was during that illness that people, despite being burdened by their own financial situations in the troubled economy of the day, scraped dollars together to help him meet expenses.

This is the story of "the smiling cop," as Mr. Trumble would be known well beyond his seven years on the police force.

Just like any other day of the year, the policeman was working his beat, directing traffic at the American Corner on Dec. 30, 1931, and assuring safe crossing for pedestrians. Officer Trumble was likely still being his cordial self.

But he was not feeling well. As the mercury hovered just above 20 degrees, with sunset fast approaching, he was getting progressively worse. Finally, he was rushed home, only to be taken a short time later to the House of the Good Samaritan.

Less than two hours later, at about 6 p.m., the 34-year-old cop was in surgery, under the skilled care of Dr. Frederic R. Calkins. He had a serious case of stomach ulcers.

Mr. Trumble had been wearing the city police uniform about six years. One of 10 children of Joseph N. and Emma B. Lester Trumble, he had served with the Marine Corps during the first world war, although his assignment was south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Following his military duty, he went to work for H.H. Babcock Carriage Manufacturing Co. on Factory Street.

He married Katherine E. Cleary on Feb. 4, 1920, and by the end of the year, the couple had a son, Joseph.

About five years later, he decided to become a city cop. From then on, "this 'smiling cop' who has been performing his happy service among us here" was "held in high regard and indeed affection by the people of this town," said a Times editorial. "He has brightened the way for limitless numbers."

His assistance for a fellow officer's wife came just eight months before his own illness. Lena W. King, 30, of 264 Seymour St., wife of patrolman Evangelist J. King, was seriously ill in Mercy Hospital when blood donors were sought for her. She eventually had surgery, recovered and lived to age 84.

Now it was Officer Trumble being taken to the operating room. Dr. Calkins determined that an ulcer had perforated the stomach wall, necessitating emergency surgery.

The 60-year-old physician was considered a north country pioneer in the field of surgery.

"What separated him from the rest of his colleagues was his willingness to innovate," said a biography of Dr. Calkins in the February issue of the Samaritan Medical Center Newsletter.

Dr. Calkins, who opened a general medical practice in Watertown in 1894, studied at the Mayo Brothers Clinic, Rochester, Minn., before becoming a surgeon in 1907. In the half-century that followed, he estimated, he performed 25,000 major operations.

A day after surgery, Officer Trumble was said to be "pretty good," but he was having difficulty with his lungs, suffering from bronchitis. There was danger of pneumonia developing.

From that day on, the police department, the Times, the city manager's office and the hospital were reported to have received hundreds of calls inquiring about his condition. Police officers who went house-to-house taking a dog census reported that always there was an inquiry about Officer Trumble.

The Times maintained a regular update on his condition:

Jan. 2, 1932, the officer was "much improved today" and "getting along all right." He was considered out of danger, although the possibility of pneumonia still persisted.

Jan. 4, he is slightly improved and resting comfortably, with his lungs clearing up.

Jan. 7, a setback today. He underwent a second operation, this for an obstruction of the intestines, which developed as the result of the original operation. While the operation was a satisfactory one, the police officer's condition was described as "fair." Dr. Calkins said he is still suffering from bronchitis, but is not in immediate danger.

Jan. 8, his condition today is "slightly improved," and his wife spent the entire night near him. Many floral tributes have been received at the hospital for him.

And the flowers kept coming every day, to the extent "there is no place for them in his room and they have been distributed around the hospital," the Times reported.

Jan. 13, "He was reported as improved today. It is believed now that he will recover unless something unexpected occurs. However, he must remain at the hospital for some time, and the aggregate expense of his illness will be large."

With that concern, the Times announced that at the request of two close friends of Officer Trumble, the newspaper was sponsoring a fund drive to help him out.

"Friends say his recovery is being retarded by worry over his financial condition," a Times article said. "He has no money to meet his hospital or physician's expenses, and this is continually on his mind."

The city was continuing to pay his wages, the paper reported, "but this pay is only sufficient to support his family. He has had a number of obligations to meet of late and has no reserve to meet the heavy expenses which have piled up as a result of his illness."

A Times editorial added, "In reality now that he is in trouble there is a public obligation to see to it that he is relieved of the money strain."

The two friends, stressing that money would do more good than flowers, each threw in $5 to kick off the campaign.

The Times set a goal of $1,000. Within a week, nearly $550 was raised. After 18 days, the drive was concluded, with $1,011 in the till. Donations arrived from Detroit, Buffalo, New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida and communities throughout the north country.

A man's $2 donation from Buffalo was accompanied by this note, "I figure it is at the rate of only one-thousandth of a cent for each smile Herman has given me."

Five donors signed themselves as "from one who appreciates (or enjoys) a smile."

The Times printed the names of those givers who so desired. Among the 106 $1 donors were 3-year-old Betty Jane and 5-year-old Larry Woodcock.

At 51 businesses and organizations, the hat were passed among workers and members.

"It is seldom that there has been such a response to any public appeal as that for the fund for Herman Trumble," the Times reported.

With this outpouring of support, some of the officer's friends decided to advocate him as a Republican candidate for sheriff, even as he continued to recuperate in the hospital 28 days after his initial surgery.

"Those who are putting forth his name express faith that he would make an excellent sheriff," the Times reported on Jan. 26, 1932. "They say that his experience of several years as an officer on the Watertown police force would be of immeasurable value in the conduct of the criminal work of the office."

He had not previousIy been mentioned as a candidate, the Times reported, but "the suggestion has been favorably received by many."

His sponsors believed that if nominated, he would do well in the election "because of the extent to which he is known throughout the county and his general popularity," the article continued.

Whether by his choosing or that of someone else, Mr. Trumble did not run, and the man who carried the Republican banner, LeRoy S. Harrington, was elected.

When the phone rang at the 643 Mill St. home of Herman and Katherine Trumble the afternoon of Jan. 30, 1932, Herman answered. He had just been discharged from the hospital earlier that day, and he told the caller — a Times reporter — he was "feeling fine" and was able to walk around his home and on the street again. But four days later he was back in the hospital, being observed for an intestinal ailment.

After returning home the next day, Feb. 4, he was visited by a delegation consisting of Times Editor and Publisher Harold B. Johnson, Mayor John B. Harris, City Manager Paul B. Sutton, police Chief Edward J. Singleton and Times City Editor Harry F. Landon.

Handing Mr. Trumble a check for $1,011, Mr. Johnson said, "This is an indication of the esteem in which you are held by the people of Northern New York."

Knowing of the public's financial assistance was an important factor in his recovery, the officer gratefully responded.

He was back on the job May 2, but his happy face was no longer seen at the American Corner. The department bosses believed his old job would be too strenuous for him. His new assignment was checking cars on Court Street.

On Aug. 5, 1933, just 15 months after his return to duty, Herman Trumble turned in his resignation. He was going into business with a partner, Frederick Gates. The following week, Gates and Trumble Shell Gas service station opened at 1544 State St. It was a new career that would keep him occupied for most of the next two decades.

Eventually becoming sole owner of the business, Mr. Trumble teamed with Shell to open a new service station in May 1937 at 540 State St., where the Trailways bus terminal now stands.

"Much money and thought were expended on the construction and design to make it the finest in Northern New York," a Times story announced. "Cars may be serviced efficiently and conveniently. The yard and pump islands are arranged so that four cars may be served at one time without inconveniencing either the motorists or the attendants."

Mr. Trumble and his employees "have been thoroughly schooled" for operation of new lubrication facilities fit for all types of automobiles and light trucks, the report continued.

And of course, modern restrooms had been installed.

Health became a factor again in 1951, prompting Mr. Trumble to sell the business to Bert E. Mabe, but by 1956, he was back running the shop, now being called Herm's. He was also making news again.

The Times lauded him as the first small businessman in Watertown to provide unemployment insurance to his three workers under the extended-coverage provisions of the state unemployment law that had just gone into effect.

To mark the occasion, a state labor department payroll examiner, John D. Cowen, delivered a poster for display at his business.

"I don't intend to lay off any of my workers and I hope I never have to," Mr. Trumble said. "But it's good to know that I can offer them the same unemployment insurance protection as the largest firm in the state."

He had three employees at the time: his son, Joseph, Harry Oatman and Floyd Ruttan.

Mr. Trumble retired late in the 1950s.

He was still remembered as the smiling cop when he died at 73, on May 25, 1971, in the House of the Good Samaritan following hospitalization of about six weeks. Katherine died March 19, 1974, at the age of 79.

Their son flew 59 missions over Italy and the Balkans as a radio gunner aboard a B-25 Bomber during World War II, earning two Bronze Stars and an Air Medal. Later a salesman for Burns Supply Inc., Joseph Trumble was 85 when he died Jan. 27, 2006. He and the former Lucy Frattali, who survives, were the parents of Mary Jo Trumble Roberge, now of Liverpool, and Katherine A. Trumble Sandy, Hanover, Va.

According to Jeffrey M. Garvey, director of library services at Samaritan Medical Center, Mr. Trumble's 32-day hospital stay in a men's ward in 1931 and 1932 probably cost about $70 — $2.15 per day — plus $40 for use of the operating room, $4 for medical supplies and some extra charges for radiographs, dressings and drugs.

We acknowledge Times librarian Lisa Carr, Mary Jo Roberge and Jeffrey M. Garvey for their assistance with this story. Also, Timothy J. Abel, director of the Jefferson County Historical Society, assisted with a photo reproduction.