After the first shock of the first news of the sudden death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt was absorbed by its citizenry, the city of Williamsport began to pay tribute to its leader.

The memory of President Roosevelt will be honored in Williamsport and vicinity today and Sunday in special services, particularly during official special mourning hours this afternoon when church bells will toll and places of business will close.

As approved by all officials late Friday, the Lycoming County Courthouse will be closed all day, the Capital and Keystone theaters will follow the same plan, while banks, the local post office and City Hall will maintain their normal Saturday hours.

The James V. Brown Library will be closed from 1 to 6 p.m.

Earlier yesterday, the Merchants Bureau announced that most retail stores will be closed after 2 p.m. today until Monday afternoon. Cafes and taprooms and members of the Liquor Dealers Association will be closed during the same period.

Member clubs of the Lycoming Federation of Clubs will be closed from 4 to 5 o’clock. The Rialto, Park and Karlton theaters will discontinue shows at 2 p.m. and reopen at 5 p.m. in honor of Mr. Roosevelt.

The local office of Bell Telephone Company said that there will be a momentary pause in telephone operation throughout the land at the time of President Roosevelt’s funeral.

Between 11:45 and noon today, the Aviation Corporation will sound its tribute over the public address system and the Rev. Stuart S. Gast will offer a brief prayer.

A period of silence from 4 to 4:05 p.m. will be observed at the local Bethlehem Steel plant.

Students at the Williamsport High School devoted a moment of mediation in chapel Friday morning and classes were dismissed for the day at 2:45 p.m.