100 Years Ago
In 1912, manufacturers and other users of coal in large quantities were again face to face with a shortage in the supply of this fuel and, according to R.J. Bootey, secretary of the Jamestown Manufacturers' Association, the conditions were the worst of which he had ever known. There was a good reason, however, to believe that the manufacturing establishments of the city included in the membership of the association - and that meant 90 percent of the factories, large and small - would be kept running at full time. It was only fair to state that were it not for the Manufacturers' Association, the factories of Jamestown, or many of them, at least, would be having a hard time of it right now through their inability to secure coal insufficient quantities to keep the machinery running.
The attention of all readers who enjoyed good fiction of the exciting and romantic nature was directed to Molly McDonald, the new serial story which was to run in The Journal during the next few weeks. The first two chapters of the story appeared on page 3 of this day's issue. The author was Randall Parish who wrote "Keith of the Border" and "My Lady of Doubt", two absorbing tales of adventure that had had phenomenal runs. Molly McDonald was said to be well up to their standard. The story concerned a brave girl on the frontier in the days of Indian wars.
75 Years Ago
In 1937, Robert H. Jackson, assistant attorney general, told the Supreme Court that the Aluminum Company of America had contributed toward retarding business recovery early in the year. The company, he said, had raised the price of its products and thereby had "discouraged the building industry insofar as aluminum was used in that industry. Jackson, in charge of the Justice department's anti-trust division, was arguing in support of the government's effort to prosecute dissolution proceedings against the company in the southern New York federal district court. Jackson contended the company had a 100 percent monopoly of virgin aluminum manufactured in the United States.
V.M. Parshall, Albany, examiner for the public service commission, was presiding over a hearing at the city hall on the petition of the Jamestown Street Railway Company to abandon its present trolley system in the city of Jamestown and villages of Lakewood, Falconer and Celoron and petition the Jamestown Motor Bus Transportation Company to supplant it with motor coach service. Describing the physical condition of the company, William A. Broadhead, former treasurer of the Jamestown Street Railway Company and one of its directors explained that the equipment was old and in need of replacement and that operating costs were heavy. Mr. Broadhead expressed the opinion that motor buses would provide better service for the city and vicinity than the present street car system, which he said interfered with traffic in the congested business districts.
50 Years Ago
In 1962, actress Lucille Ball was taking over as president of Desilu Productions and would acquire control of the multi-million-dollar enterprise by buying out her ex-husband, Desi Arnaz. Arnaz, 45, resigned the presidency the previous day and the board of directors immediately named Miss Ball to succeed him. Thus the couple ended their business association about two years after ending their marriage. Arnaz was not available for comment on his resignation but a Desilu spokesman said he wanted to devote full time to other interests. Miss Ball, 51, said she would purchase 300,350 shares of stock held by Arnaz and increase her holdings to 600,650, or 52 percent of all outstanding shares.
"Politics is People," a book by Robert H. Miller, Chautauqua County treasurer and county GOP chairman, was published Saturday by James H. Heineman Inc., New York City, and was being released this week. The 116-page book was written by Mr. Miller in collaboration with Wilbur Cross, formerly of Life magazine. The book jacket commented: "County government is as American as a pumpkin," says Bob Miller in his serious yet lighthearted story of an active political life in Upstate New York.
25 Years Ago
In 1987, the hill separating Westfield and Mayville was the most visible sign of obstruction in the path of the school districts' merger vote. It would, most likely, play a very large part when residents of the two villages voted on the issue in separate polls. "The hill becomes a very big question," said Mayville Principal Larrie Parker. They (the citizens) continue to consider it a problem." He said statistics showed the hill had not been a large obstacle. On most days a bus from Mayville went up and down the hill and picked up students to take them to school. But residents considered it an issue. "Busing those kids down that hill," said Mrs. Henry Textor of Mayville when asked why she opposed the merger. "I don't like that hill," said Ed Slate of Westfield.
A 100-year-old woman had fulfilled her wish to fly, thanks to the generosity of her live-in friend. Mrs. Beulah Parkhurst of Randolph always wanted to fly, and recently had the opportunity when her friend, Mrs. Ruth James, took her on a flight out of Dunkirk's Airport. Mrs. James told The Post-Journal that Mrs. Parkhurst awoke one morning and said she wanted to fly before she died, because it was something she had never done. Jeff Reynolds, a pilot from Conewango Valley, took the two women up in a private plane for an hour. "It didn't bother me a bit," said Mrs. Parkhurst, adding that she was not thinking of the possibility of falling. "I think it was wonderful, said Mrs. James, who was also experiencing her first flight.