100 Years Ago
In 1912, there were some Poplar trees growing in front of the property purchased for the new west side hose fire house on Fairmount Avenue. As the Jamestown city ordinance required the removal of all poplars growing in the city, Fire Chief Wilson detailed the crew of the hook and ladder truck to remove this particular clump of trees. The crew set about the task in the forenoon. As all members went to the place, they took the fire truck to have it in readiness to respond to an alarm. The trees were cut and the firemen had returned to their quarters before noon.
While in the woods near Carrollton, four hunters from Lackawanna came across the remains of an unknown man. The body had evidently lain in the place for several months. The only clothing consisted of a blue shirt and gray trousers. It was the supposition that the body had been carried to the spot by the Allegany River during the high water period of several months previously and that the missing clothes had been taken away by the water. There were no papers or any identification about the body. The dead man was about medium height and had reddish brown hair. The remains would be held at the morgue in Salamanca for a certain length of time and if not claimed, would be interred there.
75 Years Ago
In 1937, Joseph E. Finitz, 31, of Niagara Falls, was in a critical condition at Glens Falls, the victim of upstate New York's second serious hunting accident of the season. Shot late the previous day as he helped his companions bring a deer they had killed from the woods near Indian Lake, Finitz suffered punctured lungs and was not expected to live. Finitz was shot by a bullet from a service revolver carried by Matthew Ajewski, Niagara Falls policeman and one of his hunting companions. The revolver reportedly accidentally discharged as Ajewski attempted to shoot a hornet's nest.
Administrators were appointed in the estates of Joseph and Laura Holtz of Silver Creek, who were killed Oct. 10 in an auto accident, at a session of surrogate's court at Mayville by Judge Lee L. Ottaway. An unusual circumstance in the case was that the man and his wife were killed instantly and were not survived by any children. According to Newton Lincoln, clerk of surrogate court, when a man and wife died at the same time and there was no proof as to which died first, the law of this state held that the wife died first as women were weaker physically than men.
50 Years Ago
In 1962, Robert M. Morgenthau, Democratic and Liberal candidate for governor proposed a plan for gradual reduction of New York Thruway tolls and their elimination by 1972. "If elected," he said, "I will make it a matter of the highest priority to obtain federal legislation to give New York its share of interstate highway funds so as to take the tolls off the Thruway." Morgenthau also indicated that the state was losing out - in the construction of new industrial plants - to states having similar highways which were toll free.
A freak accident on the Columbus-Lottsville Road saw a pedestrian struck and injured by a car as he attempted to flee for his life from the onrushing vehicle. The mishap took place in front of the Corry Rod and Gun Club. Julia Sadowski, 24, was westbound on Route 967 when she broke over a rise to see a truck and auto blocking her path. The truck and auto were parked side by side blocking both lanes. Edward Brockway, 39, of Ashville, was in the process of transferring from the truck to the auto when he spotted the Sadowski auto approaching. He made a mad dash to the south side of the road to escape the car but was struck as the driver attempted to turn left off the highway. Charges were pending.
25 Years Ago
In 1987, whether a resort in the Allegheny National Forest was a worthwhile idea would be the topic of a late October news conference. The Warren County Chamber of Commerce was calling together the regional media on Oct. 29 to detail the various phases of a market analysis and feasibility study that was the core of the planning process. But even if an in-depth study concluded a resort was worthwhile, actual development and construction was years away.
"Where are the roaches, Tony?" With those words, Jamestown Mayor Steven B. Carlson greeted Anthony Zingale, sanitation-division supervisor, outside his department's brand new garage. "This is as clean as they come," Zingale replied, smiling. For Zingale, the morning's press conference was a happy occasion. After 25 years in the sanitation division, he was finally ready to start work in a clean, bright new facility.