100 Years Ago
In 1912, the much-heralded Biederwolf revival campaign was opened enthusiastically in the great wooden tabernacle on Market Street in Jamestown Sunday evening. The crowd was all that the most devoted supporter of the enterprise could wish, for the big building with its seating capacity of about 4,000, was actually too small to care for the multitude. Every seat was filled and at least 500 persons stood at the rear, along the sides and down the aisles during most of the service and many more went away because they were unable to obtain seats. The chorus of 400 voices, volunteers from the choirs of the city churches, for the most part, sang effectively under the leadership of William McEwan, the Scotch tenor whose home was at Binghamton, N.Y. Finally, the evangelist delivered a stirring sermon on "For What Intent Have You Sent for Us?"
The house and barn owned by Charles Berg, located at South Main Street in Jamestown, were destroyed by fire Sunday evening. The house adjoining owned by Eric Vanstrom was saved by strenuous exertions. The nearest hydrant to the house was on Cole Avenue and it was necessary to lay 1,300 feet of hose to reach the blaze. This handicapped the firemen considerably. Mr. and Mrs. Berg had been out during the evening and returned just in time to see the flames breaking out of their residence. The house burned rapidly and there was little opportunity to remove the furniture. Consequently, it was destroyed. A team was taken from the barn but everything else in the barn was burned.
75 Years Ago
In 1937, plans were being made by a committee organized through the Good Government Club for a public testimonial dinner in honor of Mayor Samuel A. Carlson, who was rounding out over 40 years of service to Jamestown with his retirement from office at midnight the following night. The dinner would be held about Feb. 1, probably at the Hotel Jamestown. It was planned to have Mayor-elect Harry C. Ericson act as toastmaster.
The annual Christmas party for the children of the employees of Ed's Baking Company was held in the Ed's Bread club rooms at the bakery, 1056-58 E. Second St., Jamestown. Santa Claus presented gifts to over 30 children. Refreshments were served first to the children, then to the employees and their wives. The children ranged in age from 14 years down to one month. The youngest child present was Donald Mudge.
25 Years Ago
In 1987, the year had been a very good one for the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency and 1988 might be even better. That was the opinion of David G. Dawson, the agency's administrative director, who cited developments in both the north and south county as reasons for his optimism. Dawson commented, "I think 1987 was the best year Chautauqua County's had in about a decade and 1988, in my opinion, could be better than 1987." The IDA official said, "Probably the highlight of the year was the success in locating the Blackstone Research Center (in Jamestown)." And the agency was involved in countless other small expansions throughout the year, which added together, made it a very good year.
The government's main forecasting gauge of economic activity plunged 1.7 percent in November, the biggest decline in more than six years, the Commerce Department said. The steep drop in the department's Index of Leading Economic Indicators, the first setback since January, reflected primarily the steep tumble in stock prices that occurred in October. The forecasting tool had taken on added significance since the record Oct. 19 drop in stock prices as economists tried to determine whether the country was headed for another recession.