100 YEARS?AGO
In 1912, the idea of a reunion of the former students of the old Jamestown academy, which was first suggested in The Journal the past week, seemed to be a popular one, as several of the men and women who attended school there had given the movement their enthusiastic approval. The list of names of former students, which was published Wednesday, was only a partial list and additions would be published from time to time as names were sent to the office. Abner Hazeltine, one of the school boys of the old academy, called at The Journal offices to express his hearty approval of the reunion suggestion.
A lawsuit was being tried before Justice L.L. Hanchett and a jury with Miss Anna Anderson of Camp Street, Jamestown, seeking damages amounting to $92 against Douglas C. Allen of the Bouck-Allen Company. The trouble arose from a collision of pleasure launches in the Chadakoin river a short distance above the boatlanding. A launch in which were Miss Anderson, Miss Bertha Christenson of Jamestown and others, was run into and upset by a launch in charge of Allen. The two girls were thrown into the water. Miss Anderson claimed she lost her gold watch, her silver mesh bag and other property. Allen maintained that the power of his boat gave out unexpectedly and the suction of the water drew his launch against the other.
75 YEARS?AGO
In 1937, Charley J. Johnson, for nearly a half-century an employee of the Jamestown Worsted Mills and widely known in fraternal circles through his connection with lodge drill organizations, died at his home on Allen Street Monday evening. He was 62 years old. Johnson was born in Sweden in 1875 and had been a resident of Jamestown for the past 53 years, serving as an employee of the dyeing department of the Jamestown Worsted Mills for almost 50 years. He was for several years a volunteer fireman with the old Rescue Engine Company. He had been confirmed at the First Lutheran Church with the class of 1890 when the late Rev. Dr. Carl O. Hultgren was serving as pastor. Funeral services would be held at the Henderson & Lincoln chapel on Friday. The remains would be at the family home until Friday morning.
Dr. Robert E. Plunkett, general superintendent of New York state tuberculosis hospitals said that "tuberculosis could be made a forgotten word within one generation if known methods of prevention and control could be adopted effectively." Urging purchase of Christmas seals to support the program of the State and National Tuberculosis Associations, the physician asserted that the disease was still the leading cause of death "at an age when men and women are of greatest value to a community."
50 YEARS?AGO
In 1962, apprehension of three teenage boys while they were burglarizing the Western Auto Store in Fredonia for the fourth time the previous night had solved seven other burglaries, police reported. The 11 burglaries netted less than $100 in cash and more than $100 in merchandise. The merchandise was recovered, while most of the money was spent by the boys to buy Christmas presents. Police said two boys were 14 and the other lad was 15. Most of the merchandise was taken from the Western Auto store. Police said the boys had the merchandise already wrapped in Christmas gift paper. The "gifts" were found hidden in their homes.
Another bid to win voter approval of the proposed $779,000 building expansion program for Southwestern Junior-Senior High School, defeated 1,255 to 1,158 in a special election held Nov. 17, would be made early the following year. The decision to hold another referendum on the complete program as originally presented was adopted unanimously by the district's nine-member Board of Education. The motion contained a statement reaffirming the board's stand that the original proposition was in the best interests of the Southwestern School district.
25 YEARS?AGO
In 1987, in a game that meant so much, the Buffalo Bills pitched a shutout Sunday afternoon at Rich Stadium. And it came against none other than the hated Miami Dolphins, a team the Bills hadn't shut out since Lyndon Johnson's presidency. When the smoke had cleared, the Bills, buoyed by a 21-point second quarter and a relentless defense, walked away with a flawless 27-0 victory, further evidence that the team was for real. Buffalo, 6-5 and the winner of two straight games for the first time since 1983, found itself in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East with Indianapolis and the New York Jets.
A Warren County man was dead as the result of a highway mishap that occurred in Warren county the past weekend. Marvin H. Gregerson, 24, of R.D. 1, Clarendon, suffered fatal injuries when he stepped into the path of an oncoming pickup on Cherry Grove Road in Cherry Grove Township shortly after midnight Saturday. Gregerson was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy County Coroner Jerry Bordon. Gregerson had been standing near the middle of the road talking to the driver of one pickup when he stepped aside and was struck by a truck being driven south on Cherry Grove Road by Steven Dragon, 21, of Ashtabula, Ohio.