In 1913, preliminary work on a proposition whereby it was hoped the Jamestown park commission could prevent the further cutting of the standing timber on the Hundred Acre tract and ultimately secure possession of the whole or at least the larger part of the land, which was still forested, for park purposes, was under way. Charles M. Dow, chairman of the park commission, had interested himself personally in the matter to the extent of securing a formal proposal from the owners or their agents as to what the City would have to do to secure title.

Lester Peck, a son of William Peck of Dayton, Cattaraugus County, lay in critical condition in Dunkirk as the result of an accident the past Saturday night. Peck and a boy friend, Neal Waite, went fishing along Cattaraugus creek. As dusk came on they started for home but found they were close in a wild stretch of country thickly covered with underbrush. They wandered about for hours, vainly trying to find a way out. Peck stumbled down an embankment. Waite tried for several hours to find him but was unsuccessful. Waite finally managed to get out into the open at daybreak. After telling his story at the nearest house, he collapsed. A search party found the Peck boy. He was carried to the home of William Parks where his condition was said to be very serious.

In 1938, ending four days of perfect spring weather, a sudden severe windstorm swept Chautauqua Lake about the previous evening and nearly caused a tragedy. Two men, Joseph Biscup, 62, and Andrew Laieski, 35, both of Salamanca, who came to the lake to fish for bullheads, were caught in the storm off the shore near Fardink’s Crossing in Ashville Bay and rescued with difficulty. The men, along with two companions in a separate boat, were fishing for some time. Two of the men noticed the storm brewing and went to shore. Waiting a few minutes more, Biscup and Laieski were caught in the windstorm and unable to manage their craft. The boat capsized, throwing the men into the lake. Their cries were heard on shore and they were rescued from clinging to their overturned boat.

Trial of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company on a charge of selling underweight packages of butter at its store at 300 West Third Street in Jamestown, started before Judge Allen E. Bargar in city court and was continuing at edition time. Sealer of Weights and Measures, Carl A. Larson, upon whose complaint the arrest was made, was the first and only witness. He testified regarding several visits to the West Third Street store. He had warned the store employees against underweight sales of any and all merchandise. Mr. Larson said the two packages of butter he purchased were found to be underweight on the store scales as well as on a certified scale at the public market.

In 1963, two young people were killed early the previous afternoon when the automobile in which they were riding failed to make a curve in Allegany State Park, left the road and overturned, pinning them beneath it. Dead were Dorothy Ziegler, 19, of Bradford and Thomas Potter, 18, also of Bradford. Dr. George A. Hays, Cattaraugus County coroner, said the young man was pronounced dead at the scene. The girl was pronounced dead on arrival at Salamanca District Hospital. Allegany State Park rangers reported the 1963 convertible failed to make the curve in ASP Route 2, the Bradford-Red House road and overturned. The young people were en route from Bradford to Red House Lake at the time of the crash at 1:10 p.m. Sunday.

Fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Quality Markets, Inc. was observed at a dinner Sunday night in the Hotel Jamestown’s Crystal Ballroom. About 500 persons attended. Richard H. Reading, company founder and president was in attendance along with his son, Rollin J. Reading, executive vice president and general manager. The grocery concern operated 38 stores throughout southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.

In 1988, New York Gov. Mario Cuomo had signed a bill amending the General Municipal Law to legalize the game of chance known as the “bell jar.” The amendment would go into effect Oct. 12. The change in the law meant that members of non-profit, religious and lodge organizations could play legally the same game they had been playing illegally for several years. Locally, there seemed to be some confusion about the new bill and exactly how it would affect players and organizations. According to Francis Sheehan, press officer for the governor, the regulations that would govern the game had not yet been decided upon.

For aquatic biologists, it was a mystery with all the elements of a bestseller. The victim was a small smelt-like fish called an alewife. The fish had been washing up on Lake Erie shores by the millions in recent weeks. No one was sure of the cause of death. Inspection of the crime scene revealed that it wasn’t poison. There had been no indication of any toxic spills, according to Michael Wilkinson of the state Department of Environmental Conservation in Buffalo. Nor were the alewives beaching themselves after reproducing. Spawning happened later in the spring. “A complex case,” Wilkinson admitted.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, representatives of the Journal Printing Co., would commence this week the canvass of the city for information for a new edition of the Jamestown City Directory, which would be completed and published as early as possible this year. To facilitate the work, the people were requested to be prepared to receive them and give the necessary information, which would include the name of every person over 16 years of age and under that age if independently employed, his or her occupation, business address, home address, distinguishing between the head of the family, members of the family described as residents or boarders, the fact of whether or not the house was owned and the number of people in the house, including younger members of the family, boarders and employed help.

Twelve stalls, comprising one section of the boat houses owned by Filbert T. Bouck, near Celoron, were burned to the water’s edge at 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning and 14 gasoline launches ranging in value from $500 to $5,000 were totally destroyed. It was one of the most disastrous boathouse fires that had visited Chautauqua Lake. The loss would probably total $10,000. It was quite possible that a fine launch owned by E.L. Underwood was also burned. This launch was cut loose and presumably floated down the outlet but a search had not disclosed the whereabouts of the boat. The Celoron fire department did good work in preventing the spread of the flames. The only theory for the starting of a fire at that time in the morning was that some fisherman had gone into the boathouse and carelessly dropped a cigar stub among the inflammable material or possibly tipped over a lantern.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, Mrs. Catherine Finson Ferrara, 26, wife of Attorney John A. Ferrara, died at WCA Hospital at 4:35 a.m., the second victim of the explosion and fire which rocked the Ferrara home at Curtis Stop, directly across the lake from Celoron Park, the previous afternoon. Mrs. Cora Ferrara, 46, the young attorney’s mother and widow of the late Michael Ferrara, well-known real estate dealer, died at the same hospital at 11 p.m. the previous evening. Both women were badly burned. The 5-month-old son of the younger Mrs. Ferrara was unharmed by the blast and the subsequent fire. It appeared that the infant’s mother sustained her fatal burns in rushing to the assistance of her mother-in-law. The baby had been out on the sun porch of the house with his mother and was taken from the porch by neighbors.

Fire, which burned through dry grass spread to the village of Brocton’s watershed property and did untold damage. The creeping blaze was discovered by Burty Medd. Realizing the imminent danger to the village property, he sent for help to Brocton and a gang of men was hastily gathered together and driven by automobile to the scene of the fire, about two miles south. The flames had advanced into the watershed property, which was one of the reforesting projects sponsored by the village for the past 10 years. The flames quickly spread into the trees and burned the foliage and trunks. Finally, after several hours, the flames were under control but not before eight thousand trees had been burned. The origin of the fire was unknown.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, Falconer-based state police had a busy Wednesday. Troopers were involved in a “speed blitz” at various locations on Route 17. According to Sgt. Daniel MacLaughlin, “We have speed checks about four times a year. Today we had 16 troopers and two sergeants on patrol looking for speeders and any other traffic violations.” The Falconer base was headquarters for Zone III. Troopers patrolled the zone which included all of Chautauqua County and extended to the middle of Cattaraugus County.

It took some wheeling and dealing by Cattaraugus County legislators but they finally reached an agreement to ask the state to extend the extra 1 percent sales tax. The resolution became a watered down version of the original as legislators finally agreed to request a two-year instead of three-year extension for the tax. “Politics is the art of compromise,” said Minority Leader Joseph K. Eade, D-Olean, after reaching an agreement with Republicans over the extension.

In Years Past

• In 1913, the Jamestown Common Council spent Friday evening considering the tax budget for the coming year. The result of the first conference was a tentative budget, subject, of course, to revision, which would mean an increase of the tax rate of about $2 per thousand valuation over that of the previous year. The estimate of expenses for the entire city at the time of the adjournment of the meeting was $313,646.28. This estimate was intended to pay all the running expenses of the city. The main items which caused the increase were: Overdraft general fund – $10,585.52 and Overdraft street and sidewalk fund – $10,932.00.

• A man whose name was given as George J. DeVereaux, had been arrested in Lakewood on a charge of falsely representing himself as an heir to an estate and had been held by Justice R.F. Pickard to await the action of the grand jury. This was a serious charge, one to which the penal law devoted considerable space. The section in question read: “A person who – with intent fraudulently to obtain any property, falsely represents himself or another to be a person entitled to an interest or share in the estate of a deceased person – is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than ten years.”

• In 1938, Mrs. Michael L. Ferrara and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. John A. Ferrara, were both burned shortly after 3 p.m. in the afternoon when the Ferrara summer home at Curtis Stop on the lake, opposite Celoron, was badly damaged by fire as the result of a terrific explosion. It was believed the explosion was caused by an oil water heater in the basement of the house. The flames spread quickly and both women were badly burned before they could make their escape although the 3-month-old child of Mrs. John A. Ferrara was rescued without injury. Mrs. Michael L. Ferrara was the widow of a well-known real estate dealer of Jamestown. Mrs. John L. Ferrara was the wife of a young Jamestown attorney.

• Metropolitan Opera basso John Gurney, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Gurney, former Jamestown residents, would give a public concert this evening in the Jamestown High School auditorium under the auspices of the First Congregational Church. He was a celebrated basso, who had already achieved a brilliant career in both the operatic and concert field. Mr. and Mrs. Gurney were the house guests of Mr. and Mrs. E. Snell Hall, and would be honored following the concert at a reception in the First Congregational Church. Gurney appeared in concert in St. Louis with Martinelli, tenor and Weede, baritone, both Metropolitan Opera stars.

• In 1963, plans for a $500,000 recreation center near Kinzua Dam had been announced by Peter N. and Thomas J. George, father and son, of Bradford. The men said the 40-acre plot of land to be developed as a recreation center was in the community of Westline in southwestern McKean County and formerly was occupied by a charcoal factory. The center would include facilities for skiing, ice skating, horseback riding, camping and hiking to tie in with water sports on Kinzua Lake. The center’s lodge would include a dining room with capacity for 150, lounges and meeting rooms. Plans also called for a 20-unit motel overlooking an all-weather swimming pool.

• More than 200 persons, largest registration to date, were in Jamestown for the 16th annual meeting of the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs being held over the weekend. Jamestown Audubon Society members were on hand to register and greet the large number from out of the city. Drawing card for large attendance was Jamestown’s Dr. Roger Tory Peterson, internationally famous ornithologist, who would speak this night before a capacity crowd at dinner in the First Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.

• In 1988, Warren, as a borough, no longer existed. Voters there decided it would be better to rename it “City of Warren.” Voter approval was overwhelming. The unofficial ballot from Tuesday’s primary election results showed 1,920 voters said yes to the name-change referendum with only 409 voting no. “I hate to use a cliche but it’s an idea whose time has come. We were ready for this step. This (vote) is a tremendous mandate (for change)” said Warren Mayor Susan McConnell.

• Members of Chautauqua County Legislature’s Human Services Committee had agreed on an amended version of long-proposed smoking regulations in public places but it was not known when it would go to the legislature for action. Indications were that it would not be on the table for this night’s legislative session.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, complaint was made of the extreme speed at which automobiles and motorcycles passed through Falconer, especially on Main Street. This street was a part of the state road leading from Jamestown to Buffalo and hundreds of tourists passed through the town every season on motor trips, in addition to the local autoists and autocyclists, of which there was an ever increasing number in Jamestown and in Falconer. The matter was brought up at the last meeting of the village board by Trustee H.L. Ames, whose residence was in that section and the board decided to rigidly enforce the village ordinances regarding speed.

The Harmony Farmers Club held a regular meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Mark Baker, April 24. The time before the dinner hour was spent in sociability and admiring the beautiful view of the lower portion of Chautauqua Lake. The two peach orchards on the farm also attracted attention and Mr. Baker announced that every indication was for a bountiful yield. After a most refreshing dinner served by Mrs. Baker and her assistants, President Lewis called the meeting to order. One notable feature of the club was that a goodly number of the members were retired farmers, that was, retired from the work part, although they still owned farms. This fact always insured a good attendance.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, the unsightly conditions which had developed at the Boatlanding in Jamestown since the old steamboat dock fell into disrepair, would disappear if plans proposed by the Chamber of Commerce and approved by City Council were actually carried out. Council voted to spend not to exceed $600 for construction of a new boat dock, adequate for both the Steamer City of Jamestown and smaller lake craft, if present owners of the strip of land would deed it to the city. The outer row of pilings protruding from the water indicated the front of the old steamboat docks in the old, gold summer days when boats arrived and departed at frequent intervals all day long and well into the night.

Milady’s hair had been going up – it was going higher – and the later in the evening, the higher it would go. Such was the decree of the New York State Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association meeting in convention in Buffalo this day. Mrs. Louise E. Schaad, Rochester, explained hairdresses had been climbing steadily up milady’s head recently. First, part of the ear was exposed and style now insisted on moving the hair completely above the ear. Called the “Swing” and “Empress Josephine” vogue, the evening styles featured the brushing of the hair straight up to end in waves, ringlets and curls at the top of the head.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, Jamestown’s former post office and federal building at West Third and Washington streets had been purchased by a Rochester firm which would raze the structure for a 100-car parking lot. The property had been sold for $38,000 to the United Schmitt Corp., operators of several parking lots in Rochester. Demolition of the 59-year-old landmark was expected to start sometime the following week, according to Bernard B. Toor, agent for the seller, Michael Jawitz of Miami, Fla. Mr. Toor said the wrecking job would be completed in about six weeks and the parking lot should be in operation by June.

“I should have placed Jamestown on my Swedish-American map long ago!” This was the greeting of Sweden’s ambassador to the United States at a press conference in the Governor’s Suite at the Hotel Jamestown. Highly impressed with the distinct Swedish-American background of Jamestown, Ambassador Gunnar Jarring spoke of the deep and sincere feeling of affection and pride on the part of Sweden over all that her sons and daughters had accomplished in this country.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, U.S. Rep. Amory Houghton Jr., R-Corning, said he did not believe the U.S. Postal Service was in any danger of being replaced by private mail delivery services. However, the congressman would like to see all government agencies run in a businesslike manner and make a decent effort to stay in the black. The question of whether the U.S. Postal Service should lose its monopoly arose because of the recent increase in postage rates-combined with a decrease in services.

The dateline would be Freedonia Saturday and there would be a special U.S. Postal Service cancellation stamp to prove it. The State College at Fredonia would celebrate its second annual Fredonia Marxonia Festival Saturday, April 30. The daylong event honored the mythical setting of Freedonia, the location of the Marx brothers’ movie, Duck Soup. As part of that celebration, Karen West, assistant to the president, had commissioned a special stamp which would be used to cancel letters sent from the college between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, as a result of police investigation in regard to several train robberies, evidence was brought to light the previous morning that indicated boys had been the culprits. Lucas Krystniak of Dunkirk, 12 years old, stated at headquarters he and three other boys stole at least 16 pairs of shoes from a Lake Shore freight train several weeks ago. Lucas said he picked out a pair of tan shoes that fitted him and hid them till his mother gave him $2.50 with which to buy a pair of shoes. He then wore the stolen shoes and spent the money. One of the other boys, Adam Krystniak, 10 years old, told of a theft in which they implicated themselves and also told upon oath they had seen Albert Wachowski with a revolver in his possession and that he was accustomed to fire at boxcars and other objects in the railroad yard. The boys were allowed to go home, but would be brought in again when the other members of the gang of boy thieves were rounded up.

John Gustafson, a man who had been employed at various times by local livery stables and at one time by the Witkop-Holmes Company as a driver, fell through a floor at the boarding stables of the Chautauqua Storage and Transfer Company, West Fourth Street, Jamestown, at an early hour in the morning and received injuries which resulted in his death a few minutes later. He was about 53 years old and came to this city from near Skandia, Pa., a few years previously. Little was known of how the accident occurred but the evidence seemed clear enough to convince Coroner B.F. Illston that death was purely an accident.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, four young men, three from Dunkirk and one from the town of Pomfret, none more than 21 years old, were being held in the county jail at Mayville to await arraignment before Justice of the Peace Rider at Cassadaga. They were charged with malicious mischief in connection with the overturning and damaging of 33 headstones in the Christian cemetery near Cassadaga on the night of April 11. According to Sheriff Roy L. Chadwick, all had admitted their part in the affair.

Glen T. Helgren was elected president of the Ellicott Drug Company, second largest independent cooperative wholesale drug concern in the world, at the meeting of the board of directors in Buffalo. Helgren was owner of the Helgren Drug Company and president of the Monitor Furniture Company in Jamestown. He served as vice president of the 36-year-old drug firm the past year. The concern, reported to be doing a several-million-dollar gross business annually, was cooperatively owned by some 500 Western New York retail drug stores, all being stockholders.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, the Fenton Historical Society of Jamestown was the name given temporarily to a new organization being formed to promote preservation of the Gov. Fenton Mansion and other historic places in Jamestown and the immediate area. The action was taken at a meeting in the mansion, presided over by Mrs. Calvin C. Torrance, temporary chairman. The new organization received historic documents and pictures presented by Rollin Cass and Ernest D. Leet to be placed in what was hoped would be a permanent historic museum to be established in the mansion.

“We already have partisan politics in everything but name and it’s time to stop kidding ourselves,” Optimist Club members were told at their meeting at the Hotel Jamestown. The speaker was Sherwood S. Cadwell, one of a three-member panel presenting the case for return to partisan politics in Jamestown. Cadwell, in calling for a return to the national two-party system, said “partisan politics have been present in every city election during the last 10 years and it’s time we realized this.”

25 Years Ago

In 1988, an oil spill that resulted when a 50-gallon drum containing 25-30 gallons of the liquid fell from a pickup and was struck by another vehicle was cleaned up by Ashville Fire Department members and the Chautauqua County Hazardous Materials Team. Ashville Fire Chief Ronald E. Saxton said the department was notified about 10:30 a.m. Sunday of the spill on Route 394 at Neits Crest. The State Department of Transportation was called to sand the affected section of roadway. No one was injured in the incident.

Area temperatures during the past week had been 5 to 10 degrees below normal for this time of the year but average readings to date through April were above those of past years. That was the word from Debbie Bauer, meteorologist with the Buffalo office of the National Weather Service, who pointed out that warm temperatures were recorded early in the month, with a high of 76 degrees reached on April 6, offsetting the colder readings recently experienced. She said April was often that way – unpredictable.

In Years Past

THURSDAY

TOPS 721, Kidder United Methodist Church, 385 S. Main St., Jamestown; weigh-in, 8:30 a.m.; meeting, 10 a.m.

English As A Second Language class, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 9 a.m.

Jamestown Chapter of the Parachute Group, Allegheny Financial Services office, 474 Fairmount Ave., Jamestown, 10 a.m.

“Roger Tory Peterson: The Art of the Line,” by L. Pierce; Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, 311 Curtis St., Jamestown, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mental Health Association Recovery Focus group, 31 Water St., Suite 7, (behind the Gateway Center), Jamestown, 11 a.m.

Mental Health Association Relapse Prevention; 31 Water St., Suite 7, behind the Gateway Center, Jamestown, 11 a.m.

Free blood pressure screenings, Westfield Episcopal Church Community Kitchen, 12 Elm St., Westfield, 11 a.m.; contact Westfield Memorial Hospital cardiac rehab, 793-2218

Alcoholics Anonymous: Open discussion, Alanon Club, 511 E. Second St., noon; wheelchair accessible

Chautauqua Chapter of P-Flag (parents, family and friends of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons), parlor of the Women’s Club, Lakeside Avenue, Chautauqua Institution, 12:15 p.m. For information, call 753-7254.

Joint Neighborhood Project Staff, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1 p.m.

MHA of Chautauqua County Benefits of Exercising, 31 Water St., Suite 7, Jamestown (behind the Gateway Center), 1 p.m.

MHA of Chautauqua County Social Group, 31 Water St., Suite 7, Jamestown (behind the Gateway Center), 1 p.m.

Brain Injury Association of NYS, Jamestown Chapter, Jones Memorial Health Center first-floor conference room, Jamestown, 1 p.m.

MHA Dual Diagnosis, 31 Water St, Suite 7, (behind the Gateway Center), Jamestown, 3 p.m.

Women’s Family and Friends Life Beyond Cancer Support group, 7 p.m.; call 793-2258 for location and information

Narcotics Anonymous: Our Choice, open meeting, open discussion, nonsmoking, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 556 E. Second St., Jamestown, 7 p.m., wheelchair accessible

Narcotics Anonymous: Basic text, First Presbyterian Church, 300 Market St., Warren, 7:30 p.m.; open discussion, BT, nonsmoking

Alcoholics Anonymous: Open speaker rehab meeting, 7:30 p.m.; wheelchair accessible

Neighborhood Watch meeting, Sinclairville Fire Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Open discussion, 24-hour group, Christ First United Methodist Church, 663 Lakeview Ave., Jamestown, 8 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Open discussion, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 99 S. Erie St., Mayville, 8 p.m.

Alanon: Closed discussion, Alanon Club, 511 E. Second St., Jamestown, 8 p.m.

FRIDAY

Ellington Community Food Pantry, Ellington Fire Hall, 8 a.m. to noon

“Roger Tory Peterson: The Art of the Line,” by L. Pierce; Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, 311 Curtis St., Jamestown, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Closed discussion: Alanon Club, 511 E. Second St., noon and 8 p.m.; wheelchair accessible

Narcotics Anonymous: Just For Today Group, Trinity Memorial Church, 444 Pennsylvania Ave., W., Warren, noon.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Young at Heart, open speaker, Fluvanna Community Church, 3363 Fluvanna Ave. Extension, Jamestown, 6:30 p.m.; wheelchair accessible

Narcotics Anonymous: Women’s Recovery Group, Warren Wesleyan Church, 602 Fourth Ave., Warren, 6:30 p.m.; C, nonsmoking

Narcotics Anonymous: Second Chance, open meeting, open discussion, nonsmoking, wheelchair accessible, Blackwell Church, 610 Spring St., Jamestown, 7 p.m.

Narcotics Anonymous: Just for Today, open meeting, open discussion, nonsmoking, The Relief Zone, 5 Frew Run, Frewsburg, 7 p.m.

Narcotics Anonymous: We Do Recover, open meeting, open discussion, nonsmoking, St. John’s United Church of Christ, 733 Central Ave., Dunkirk, 7 p.m.

Narcotics Anonymous: Time for a Change, open meeting, nonsmoking, wheelchair accessible, First Baptist Church, 133 Union, St., Olean.

Open “C.D.” sing, Helping Hands, 31 Water St., Jamestown, behind WCA Hospital, 7 p.m.

Narcotics Anonymous: Work the Steps and Live, Lutheran Church, 109 Third Ave., Warren, 7 p.m.; open discussion, L, nonsmoking

“We Believe” Fireside Meeting recovery group, First Covenant Church, 520 Spring St., Jamestown, 8 p.m.

Baha’i Faith, an independent world religion for spiritual renewal; call 386-6900, 484-2506 or 483-6871.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, the production of “Sweet Clover” at The Lyric this week showed that Col. Horne was sparing neither work or expense in making the offerings of the Horne Stock Company up to the minute in every respect. “Sweet Clover” was of the type of rural play that was sure to find favor with all classes of theatergoers as the story had a strong heart appeal and interspersed with the clever comedy furnished by such familiar characters as Aunt Abigail, Uncle Jerome, Sunnie and other down east folk. Next week the management would present a superbly staged production of George Middleton’s dramatization of Meredith Nicholson’s widely read romance, “The House of a Thousand Candles”, a weird and unusual play in four acts.

The moving picture people were planning to take views in Jamestown for exhibition here and perhaps elsewhere. Mayor Carlson had received a letter from a moving picture corporation in which it was stated that Jamestown would be included in a new series of films showing in moving pictures the realities of civic life and industries of the city. The pictures would be shown in the moving picture theaters under the title “Civic America.” The cooperation of the mayor was asked in a letter the company sent, to the extent of having interesting events carried out in the streets, such as parades, fire runs, etc. The mayor was to turn the letter over to the park board.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, a conviction in Mayville seven years previously counted heavily against Sam Bellavia, 25, when he appeared for sentencing before Erie County Judge F. Bret Thorn in Buffalo, pleading guilty to a charge of robbery in the recent holdup of a Buffalo liquor store. Judge Thorn sentenced Bellavia to serve from 30 to 60 years in Attica prison as a second felony offender after the defendant admitted a conviction for attempted extortion in 1931 in Mayville. An accomplice in the crime, Patsy Malucci, 26, was sentenced to Attica for 10 to 30 years. Both men had been badly beaten by sons and friends of the store proprietor, who frustrated the holdup. Alexander Taylor, the pair’s attorney pleaded that the prisoners were “honest boys at heart.”

Jamestown police were searching for three gypsies, two of them women, driving a large, black sedan with Michigan license plates, who, it was alleged on Friday, fleeced an 80-year-old Stowe Street man of $7.50. According to the man’s story, the car stopped and the driver asked him what street they were on. Then the women got out of the machine, he said, and began to feel his muscles, telling him he should take treatments for rheumatism. When they got into the car and drove on, the Jamestowner discovered he was minus the money.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, a bomb threat in the elementary school in Warren sent state police and the North Warren Volunteer Fire Department to the premises in the morning hours. The school was completely evacuated of its 375 students and 14 teachers. State police reported that they received a call at 9:10 a.m. saying that a bomb had been planted in the school and was scheduled to go off at 9:45 a.m. The North Warren Volunteer Fire Department was summoned with two trucks and an ambulance. A thorough search was made of the school premises before 9:45 and officials had started a second search. Police reported that the voice of the caller sounded like a young male and that the bomb might be the work of a prankster.

Two AWOL army youths ran out of their shoes after a third of a mile foot chase. At 10:30 the previous morning on Route 39 near Forestville, Trooper Richard Rogers stopped an eastbound 1962 Chevrolet on a routine check. While the officer was recording the names of the men, identified as Keith Wendell John, 19, of Englewood, N.J., and his companion, Joseph Igloe, 18, of Chicago, they sped away. Trooper Rogers gave chase in the state police cruiser at speeds of more than 100 mph on several occasions. The driver made a turn, went off the road and became stuck. The soldiers dashed away on foot across wet fields. John lost both of his shoes and Igloe lost one of his. The youths were cornered in a farm yard. An investigation disclosed they had stolen the car in Chicago. They had been AWOL from Ft. Sheridan, Ill., since April 15.

In Years Past

In 1913, with at least one hundred men dead in the mine and a possibility that the list of victims would reach to over two hundred, scores of rescue parties were at work in the Cincinnati mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Company on the Monongahela River, near Washington, Pa., where occurred one of the most disastrous explosions ever recorded in the long history of mine fatalities in Washington County. The exact cause of the explosion was not known and how many lives were sacrificed would probably not be ascertained for days. Less than two score survivors had been rescued from the three hundred men who were at work when the explosions occurred.

So persistent had been the rumors that Walter A. Robinson, the long-missing game protector, was alive, that a representative of the Journal made a trip to Silver Creek in an effort to learn what there was to the reports. The rumors were all to the effect that letters had been received from Robinson at far distant points within the last month or two. A rumor had gained the widest circulation that Robinson was alive and well and living in some Canadian city. Some had named Toronto as the city and others, Montreal. Daniel J. Van Vlack, who knew Robinson intimately, was still firmly of the belief that the young man was made the victim of foul play. If Robinson was still in the land of the living, he was remarkably successful in keeping it a secret from those who knew him.

In 1938, because he refused to kiss a Swastika flag, a crippled editor told New York City police, four men beat him up in his office and scratched Nazi emblems on his chest with sharp sticks dipped in ink. Hospital physicians said the victim, Dr. Charles Weiss, 31, editor of “Uncle Sam,” published by the anti-Communist, anti-Fascist and anti-Nazi league of Brooklyn, had a brain concussion and internal injuries. The editor said that after he refused to kiss a Swastika flag one of the men carried, the intruders tore down an American flag in the room, beat him with the staff and fled after scratching the Nazi emblems on his chest.

The past 24 hours proved somewhat hazardous ones for two prowl cars of the Jamestown Police Department. One figured in a collision with a light coupe at the junction of Dunham Avenue and the West Lake Road with Captain Oscar Nelsen and Officer Platt Ostrander being sent to the hospital. The accident occurred as the light coupe turned quickly into Dunham Avenue in front of the police sedan. Both cars had been traveling south, towards Jamestown. Another of the department’s prowl cars had front-end damage received from the rear of a truck owned by the Paquin-Snyder Company. The car was parked in the alley at the rear of city hall.

In 1963, the second annual Chautauqua Lake Summer Festival promoted by the Lakewood Area Jaycees had been scheduled in Lakewood for June 28, 29 and 30. The event promised to be a weekend of fun and festivity with the primary purpose of attracting tourists to the scenic Chautauqua Lake area. Attractions scheduled would be a thoroughfare of watercraft, camping, and automobile displays, hydroplane races with competition from Buffalo and Toronto, a two hour parade, drum and bugle corps competition, sky diving, water ski show, dances, band concert, fashion and variety shows, kiddie rides, helicopter rides, concessions and other entertainment. A gala fireworks display would climax the festival on Sunday night.

Winterlike conditions returned overnight, complete with snow and near-freezing temperatures. Snowflakes, some as large as silver dollars, began to fall during mid-evening and by midnight the ground was covered with a blanket of white. Rain followed on heels of the snow and erased all traces of it by morning.

In 1988, flight attendants and ticket agents would ply passengers with free candy and gum, and get tough if necessary to enforce the new federal ban on smoking that would take effect on thousands of domestic flights this day. The new regulation, which outlawed smoking on flights of less than two hours, carried stiff fines for violations: up to $1,000 of smoking and $2,000 for tinkering with lavatory smoke alarms.

Area horse players would find a new, larger, and improved Off-Track Betting parlor waiting for them Tuesday morning, April 26, at 1345 E. Second St., Jamestown, where opening was set for 10:30. The new location was only a short distance from the current OTB parlor at 1395 E. Second St. and occupied the one-story building formerly operated as The Food Factory. John Tarbrake of Lakewood, Chautauqua County representative on the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. board of directors, said the structure had been completely remodeled.

In Years Past

In 1913, Gladys Probst, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Probst of 19 West Second Street, aged 6 years, was struck by a motor truck driven by Andrew J. Lawson, the contractor, in front of her home, shortly before noon this day but escaped without any broken bones or serious injuries. The child was crossing the street to the meat market when the truck swung into Second from Cherry Street and then veered out to pass a wagon standing by the curb, just as the little girl ran out from behind the wagon. Luckily she didn’t quite get in front of the machine but was thrown to one side by the fender, striking face first against the curb. This was the second accident the child had figured in, the other being a runaway on East Second near the Falconer line, when she was with her father. She was thrown from the buggy in that incident but escaped injury, though her father was not quite so fortunate.

Edward O’Neill of Jamestown, a barber, fell off train 6 on the Erie Railroad Monday evening between Steamburg and Red House. He was brought to this city and taken in an ambulance to the Woman’s Christian Association hospital, where he was attended by the Erie Railroad physician, Dr. W. M. Bemus. He sustained several bad scalp wounds, a broken left hand and a bruised back, besides many other body bruises. At the hospital it was stated that Mr. O’Neill’s injuries were not serious and that he would be out in a few days.

In 1938, members of the highway committee of Jamestown city council decided to recommend that the city spend not to exceed $600 for construction of a wharf at the boatlanding, if details could be arranged so that the city would not become involved to a greater degree financially. The action was taken at the request of several interested groups and individuals, including the Chamber of Commerce. Secretary Lucian J. Warren and two other members of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as several other persons, requested the committee to build a dock at the Boatlanding suitable for all kinds of lake craft.

Celoron Park was being completely rejuvenated and reconditioned for the approaching season and would be formally opened on May 28, according to announcement by J. G. Campbell, general manager of the Jamestown Motor Bus Transportation Company, which would operate the amusement park this season. The program was still in process of completion but many attractions had already been booked. Animal acts, stunt riders and acrobatic teams had already been signed up for the free programs to be offered on the amusement park stage. One of the changes which would be noticed was the disappearance of the old Funhouse, formerly situated near the baseball park. A new ride called Ghost Alley had been built to replace the Funhouse.

In 1963, Jamestown Fire Chief Virgil Eggleston had outlined possible consequences of false alarms such as the three received in the same general vicinity during little more than a half hour early Sunday. The normal complement of three pieces of equipment was dispatched in response to each of the box alarms and would seriously have affected effectiveness of the city’s fire fighting force if a real emergency had existed elsewhere during the period, he said. The alarms were received from Buffalo Street School, from Buffalo Street and Lakeview Avenue and from North Main and Price streets. Police were investigating the three false alarms in hopes of apprehending the person or persons responsible.

Four persons were injured in a three-car accident while the vehicles were part of a 32-car funeral procession Sunday on Route 17, Town of Coldspring. The vehicles were all enroute to the Long House at Steamburg where funeral services were held for Seneca Indian Chief Walter Jimerson. Wilbur Black, 29, of Red House, stopped his car when the cars ahead slowed down to make a left turn. Wayne Abrams, 24, of Steamburg, was nearly stopped when the third car operated by Mrs. Bernice Markham, 49, of Killbuck, struck the rear of Abrams’ machine, causing it to strike the rear of Black’s car.

In 1988, a consumer group had gone to court to try and force state officials to suspend the toll increase that went into effect April 15 on the New York State Thruway. The lawsuit filed by the college-oriented New York Public Interest Research Group, Inc. said the toll hike was illegal because the state comptroller did not issue a report on the increase before it was approved. “No one is above the law,” said Blair Horner, NYPIRG spokesman.

Cattaraugus County Sheriff Jerry Burrell praised members of the Little Valley Fire Department for the professional service and cooperation the department had given the community. “We are in the same business – serving the public,” he said at the installation dinner for the firemen and firemen’s auxiliary. Burrel was master of ceremonies for the event. “We need your continued service, leadership and decision making in Little Valley,” the sheriff added.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, Mrs. Mary Merrell, recognized for several years as the oldest woman in Jamestown, died at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Lynn M. Goulding on West Third Street on this morning, aged 98 years, 2 months and 20 days. Until the past Friday, she was about the house as usual, through ever since her last birthday, Jan. 31, she had been failing somewhat. Her final illness was a bronchial trouble but her death was quiet and peaceful, just as her long life had been. Merrell was the mother of six children and survived all of them.

The A.C. Norquist Company, furniture manufacturers, Chandler Street, Jamestown, announced that they had purchased the plant of the Peerless Furniture Company, located on property adjoining the Norquist factory, and the two plants would hereafter be run under the same management. The relations between the two plants had been very close for some time. The Peerless Company had manufactured a strong line of dining room furniture, while the Norquist Company made a specialty of case goods. The Peerless plant would be used exclusively for case goods, it was stated, as soon as present orders were completed.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, plans for a third span across the Chadakoin valley, from the foot of Washington Street to a point near Barrett Avenue and Market Street, near the foot of hospital hill in Jamestown, were being prepared by Director of Public Works Leland L. Graham at the request of Mayor Harry C. Erickson. It was the mayor’s opinion that such a structure might well be built with a public works grant if Congress approved President Roosevelt’s proposed $1.45 billion pump-priming public works program. “Such a bridge will be built within 20 years anyway,” said the mayor, “and the city will probably never have a better opportunity to secure this desirable improvement at so little expense.”

For the first time in the history of the Dunkirk police department an arrest was made of a man on a charge of killing a dog by striking it with his automobile and failing to make a report of it. The defendant, Ralph Blodgett of Sheridan, was taken into custody by Chief John J. Warren, to be arraigned later. According to police, Blodgett’s car struck a dog owned by Alex Papierski, of East Doughty Street. The driver failed to stop and pedestrians noted the license number on the car and immediately reported it to police.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, in Rochester, authorities were trying to determine whether human bones discovered in a 19th-century house built by an immigrant butcher belonged to a man or a woman. The bones were found between the first-floor ceiling and second-story floorboards of the house, which was under repair. “It’s probably going to be one of the most interesting investigations we’ve conducted in a long, long time, ” said Police Maj. William D. Mayer. Jeff Abel, 31, an employee of E.J.M. Excavating, made the discovery of a leg bone while he and other workers were pulling down the first-floor ceiling. “I was just cleaning up and there it (the leg bone) was in a pile of debris. I just left the shovel right there and went to get my boss,” Abel said. Construction workers continued to rip up the floorboards and found more bones later in the day. The house, under renovation by a State University College at Brockport professor, was built by a German immigrant butcher some time between 1857 and 1875.

State legislators had tried to make the best of a bad situation for the State University of New York’s four-year colleges and institutions. Unfortunately, the community colleges were one of the sacrifices. “We basically added about $15 to $20 million to the governor’s budget,” Rep. William A. Parment, D- North Harmony, said. “That’s less than what the Legislature wanted and less than what the colleges wanted.” “It’s kind of a mixed bag,” legislative aide Tom Christy agreed. The news was not so good for community colleges. “I really don’t know what to do about it,” Jamestown Community College President Paul A. Benke said. “It means a program of austerity.”

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, President Thomas Lynch of the National League meted out punishment to offending players. Second baseman Doyle of the New Yorkers was sent down for three days for kicking in the game with Boston, while Heine Peitz of St. Louis was fined $50 and suspended three days for using abusive language during the contest with Chicago. Second baseman Sweeney of Boston had been suspended three days for trouble on the playing field while pitcher Purdue of the same club was fined $10 for discoloring the ball. Lynch said that players misconducting themselves on the field would be severely dealt with and that abusive language would not be tolerated.

Spontaneous combustion set fire to a storeroom of excelsior in the plant of Ferris Cut Glass Company in Corning and the resulting blaze affected half a score of business firms and did damage to property in excess of $50,000, checked by a three-hour fight by the firemen. The blaze occurred in the Lawrence Company building in which several manufacturing firms had quarters. The cut-glass plant was ruined and a valuable stock spoiled. The Erie Saw Company’s plant was destroyed. Other heavy losses resulted from water and smoke. The stereotyping room of the Corning Evening Leader was damaged by the flames and the press and mailing rooms were deluged with large quantities of water.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, although the mill race at Warren was drained to the lowest point in years by the erection of a dam early Tuesday, it failed to reveal the body of little Rodney Orcutt, age 5, who disappeared while at play a week ago. Most of the water flow in the mill race was shut off by the temporary dam, which was erected by volunteers who were helping police and firemen in the search for the missing boy. As a result of work this day, future efforts would be concentrated on the Allegheny River, into which the boy was now believed to have fallen.

Jamestown’s “On to Philadelphia” movement for the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the first Swedish settlement in America received a tremendous impetus when Dr. Julius Lincoln of Chicago, for 22 years the pastor of the First Lutheran Church of Jamestown, spoke at a public meeting in the high school auditorium. He was recording secretary of the national organization known as the Swedish-American Tercentenary Association and, after telling in dramatic fashion the story of the Swedes in America during the past 300 years, described the plans being made for the celebrations at Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del. for June.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, a troublesome band of thundersqualls continued eastward after spawning 65-mph wind gusts that flattened barns and power lines and touched off minor flooding in Western New York. Winds rocked a farm house off its foundations in rural Wyoming County but a family of eight inside escaped injury. Two barns at opposite ends of the county were flattened, killing livestock. Power failures were numerous as winds sent tree limbs crashing on power lines. Minor flooding was reported in Rochester. The wide-ranging thunderstorms also hit Buffalo.

Arthur B. Verry called for preservation of the nonpartisan election system in Jamestown in a talk at the annual meeting in Moon Brook Country Club of the League of Women Voters. Verry, who was executive secretary of the Jamestown Boys Club and active in several other civic groups, said he was offering his views as an individual and not as a representative of any organization. Jamestowners would vote April 30 on whether or not they wanted the partisan system of electing its city officials, a method that was abandoned under a 1923 charter change.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, firemen battled the blaze the previous day at the Norvell Reed and Sons, Inc. barn on the Titus Road in the town of Chautauqua. The fire was the second of the day for western Chautauqua County firemen, who earlier doused an oil well blaze about two miles from the barn. This fire damaged the upper story of the structure and consumed a sizable quantity of hay, but cattle in the barn at the start of the fire were safely evacuated.

Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis won the New York primary the previous day and won it by a four-to-one margin in Chautauqua County because he worked the hardest, was the most organized and had a proven record over his opponents, local officials said. In spite of the cold and snowy weather, voter turnout was good, with 26 percent of eligible Democratic voters making it to the polls. Jamestown Mayor Steven B. Carlson was “delighted (Dukakis) carried the 34th Congressional District. Those of us who backed him early on worked hard on his behalf.”

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, John Woods of Monroe Street, Jamestown, an employee of the Art Metal Construction Company, Jones & Gifford Avenue, died in the WCA Hospital early the previous afternoon as the result of injuries received in the factory about 3 p.m. Woods received his injuries in one of the freight elevators. It was said that he walked onto the trap doors in the floor which, in such elevators, closed down after the elevator goes through and just as he walked on, the elevator came up through the opening before he could get out of danger. He was hurried to the hospital but failed gradually until his death. His age was 80 years.

The bravery of Fred Larabee saved the life of Henry Layman, a farmer, when in trying to pass each other on a narrow road overlooking the Susquehanna River near Towanda, Pa., Layman’s horse took fright and plunged over the precipice with wagon and driver, into the river. The deep water saved man and horse from instant death, but they were drowning, both being held fast by the wagon. Larabee plunged into the current and, after a hard swim and much effort, succeeded in freeing the horse. Then, with Layman half unconscious and in the floating wagon, he swam to shore, shoving the wagon in front of him.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, the Easter parade in Jamestown, which began at the first peep of dawn on Sunday as hundreds of persons made their way to sunrise services or early Mass, and continued through the day in spite of rain, was one of the most brilliantly colorful to be seen here in many years, matched only by the splendor of the brightly shining rainbow that spread itself over the city and dipped into Lake Chautauqua in the late afternoon. It was the first time in a few years that the sun had shown so warmly over Jamestown on an Easter morning, even glittering through the rain.

Two of the four “killer” dogs that had terrorized the town of Busti for weeks and were believed to have killed many animals, would kill no more. They were shot when found attacking sheep on Alva J. Tibbett’s farm, Sugar Grove-Sherman’s Bay Road. Just how many sheep had been injured had not yet been determined as the animals were so frightened that all had not yet been rounded up. Tibbetts tried to capture the dogs alive but being unable to get them, shot them as they ran away. One of the dogs was a large hound and the other was a large police dog. Both wore tags and the owners, it was reported, would be prosecuted.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, Yetta Grotofent, 42, of the famed circus aerialist family, the Wallendas, died in a 50-foot fall from her slender gray pole at a Shrine Circus performance the previous evening in Omaha, Neb. She had reached the climax of her solo act and was swaying back and forth in a wide arc when, as the pole was on a back swing, Yetta suddenly tumbled backward and plummeted to her death as 4,666 spectators watched in awed silence. She was the third member of the troupe to die in a fall in the last 16 months.

Eight feet of curbing on Barrows Street between Sciota and Allen streets in Jamestown caved in to a depth of about five feet about noon this day, requiring emergency repairs. The street was closed to traffic and a Department of Public Works crew was dispatched to the scene. Extent of the damage could not be immediately determined. Police said a resident of the area called headquarters to report the cave-in which included two four-foot sections of curbing which dropped about five feet. Workers from the DPW were also attempting to determine the cause of the freak accident.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, after a campaign described by Jesse Jackson as “so divisive and so violent,” New Yorkers were voting this day in a presidential primary that could anoint Michael Dukakis as the clear front-runner Democrats had sought for so many months. The New York vote also could spell the end for Sen. Albert Gore’s presidential candidacy. Already deeply in debt, the Tennessee senator needed to show surprising strength to regain credibility as a candidate.

Chautauqua County Legislature’s Public Works Committee had decided that “yawning crevices, gaping holes and eroded shoulders” had no place in a motion calling for proceeding with reconstruction of a portion of Route 394. Legislator Charles Porpiglia, D-Dunkirk, minority leader, took strong exception to part of the wording of the originally proposed resolution that included the “yawning crevices, gaping holes” description. The motion went on to call for the state Department of Transportation and residents of West Ellicott to resolve their differences over the proposed roadway construction so the project could get underway.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, the Jamestown Fire Department was called out at 3:10 p.m. by an alarm from Box 312 at Steele Street and Barrett Avenue, the fire being in the dry kiln of the Nelson Table Company on Steele Street. At 3:20 the flames broke through the roof of the dry kiln, which was a one-story structure in the rear of the main building. Several firemen were on top of the roof, chopping holes through and one of these holes evidently was close over the worst of the blaze, which burst through, driving most of the men off the roof. The fire was a very smoky one and gave the appearance of being a hard one to fight. The big steamer was limbered up standing on the banks of the Chadakoin near the Shearman Bros. factory and had several streams going.

Word was received by relatives in Jamestown on this morning of the death of Irwin A. Hall, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred E. Hall of this city, which occurred in a sanitarium at Watkins Glen this morning. His parents were with him at the time and would bring the remains to Jamestown this night. Hall was a popular and a gifted young man and his death would bring genuine sorrow to hosts of his friends. He left, besides his parents, two brothers, Carroll M. and Shirley M. Hall of Jamestown.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, a young man and woman called at the courthouse in Mayville looking for a judge to get an order waiving the three days after the issuance of a marriage license before the marriage ceremony could be performed. It appeared that the man resided in Cleveland and the girl had arrived in New York City from Germany two days previously. As part of the permission to enter the U.S., the immigration officers made a requirement that the marriage take place immediately. A Supreme Court justice was required to grant the order. Justice Harley Crosby was located at Falconer. They left for Jamestown to locate an attorney to prepare papers to grant the necessary waiver.

Marion Brown, aged 43, a well-known farmer residing on the Panama-Ashville road, died Saturday afternoon at the WCA Hospital as the result of a fractured skull sustained when he was knocked down and stepped on by a frightened horse. Brown had recently purchased the animal. Passersby saw the frightened horse running through the meadow and investigated, finding Brown lying near the barn. He was taken to the office of an Ashville physician, who directed his removal to the hospital.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, Dr. Paul S. Persons, 71, Ripley’s only physician, in general practice for 44 years, during which time he had been an outstanding civic leader, died at 1 p.m. April 17 in Hamot Hospital, Erie. He had suffered a heart attack earlier in the day. School physician for more than 40 years, member of the Ripley Central School Board of Education from 1949 to 1954, he was also an elder of the Ripley Presbyterian Church since 1934. He had estimated that as a Ripley physician he had delivered more than 2,000 babies.

A varied menu of melody, ranging from the twist to Tchaikovsky, was served up to a highly appreciative, music hungry audience of 1,600 the previous night in Jamestown High School auditorium. The principal ingredient in the three hour rhythmic repast was a generous serving of glittering showmanship in the person of internationally acclaimed Liberace. The show was kept running at a smooth pace by a tireless Liberace who interspersed the numbers with a continual line of patter. After the final curtain had rung down, a random sampling of audience reaction failed to disclose a single dissatisfied customer.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, Chautauqua County voters and their statewide counterparts would go to the polls the following day to vote in New York’s presidential primary election, where a small turnout and chilly weather were expected. Only 35 percent of eligible voters were expected to turn out across the state, though that figure might be lower because Republicans seemed to have decided on Vice President George Bush as their candidate. For Chautauqua County, “25 percent would be a high figure,” according to Democratic Election Commissioner Joseph Porpiglia.

Construction of a new boat-launching ramp was underway at McCrea Point boatlanding off lower Jones and Gifford Avenue in Jamestown. The location was popular with area fishermen and provided a convenient starting point for boaters wishing to go up the outlet and into the lake. The work was being done by Butler Mechanical Inc. of Springville and was scheduled to be completed by the end of April.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

The village of Irving was much excited over the fate of Myron S. Whipple, a fisherman and boat builder who recently moved here from North East, Pa. He lived at the mouth of Cattaraugus Creek near West Irving. The past Thursday morning Whipple bade his wife goodbye, telling her he was going to North East to bring back his sailboat from that place, so he could use it in the fishing business the coming season. Inquiry at North East developed the fact that Whipple left that port Thursday night. His wife had warned him to be careful on account of the large amount of ice that had drifted in with the high winds that had been blowing for the past week. Mrs. Whipple was distracted over his probable fate as she had not heard anything from him.

This year was to be a year of construction work for the Jamestown Street Railway Company and it was the intention to build new car barns the following year on the site of the old barns on West Third Street. The new barns would probably be built this year were it not for the fact that the company had so much other work on hand, including the construction of the new Willard Street line, the double tracking of Winsor Street, the double tracking of the Lakewood line as far as Lowe Avenue and the widening of the space between the tracks on West Third Street.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, a verdict of accidental death would be issued in the case of Lloyd L. Hendrickson, 40, of Benson Street, Jamestown, who was shot by Carl Alfred Lundsten, 15, of Hedges Street, while the latter was shooting at “targets” in a patch of woods between Willard and Camp streets near the city line two days previously. Lundsten told the coroner the accident occurred when he shot at what he believed to be a tin can. He was released in the care of his father following questioning. The boy told Coroner Bowers he had borrowed a .22 caliber rifle from a friend, Milton Gustafson of Johnson Street. He went into the woods to shoot at crows, he said, and while on his way home, saw what he thought was a tin can and blazed away at the “target.” Hendrickson had been in the woods with his dog, a small hound, when he was fatally shot.

Completion of the work on the new and modern Parisian dining room and cocktail lounge at the Hotel Jamestown had made it possible to set the following Saturday, April 23, for the formal opening, with special entertainment featured. Scientific air conditioning for both summer and winter, artistic and effective lighting, furnishings to provide both comfort and beauty were features that had been worked out in detail.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, fires posed a serious threat to millions of acres of woodlands in northwest Pennsylvania where personnel of the state’s Department of Forests and Waters had been on emergency alert since Good Friday. A special air patrol had been maintained for the past several days. Forest lands in southwestern New York also were periled by an almost week-long dry spell and the previous day 10 acres of timberland near the peak of Mt. Hermanns, near Olean, were destroyed. Firefighters from Olean and the Town of Olean fought the fast moving blaze and prevented it from spreading to another 3 1/2-mile stretch of forest on the mountain slope. Mt. Hermanns was one of the highest of the Allegheny foothills.

An 8-year-old Warren boy was in poor condition in Warren General Hospital after falling into an oil well while at play. The child, Charles Schaffer, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Schaffer of Jackson Avenue, was playing in the backyard around the uncapped well with other children when he fell in. Word of the child’s plight was revealed by 4-year-old David Schaffer, who ran into the house to tell his mother of the accident. The mother rushed to the well but was unable to lower herself into the 6-foot well where the oil was waist deep. She managed to get the youngster out through the outlet with the aid of the other children. The boy apparently swallowed an undetermined amount of oil and suffered asphyxiation from fumes.

In Years Past

In 1913, the Jamestown Street Railway Company had a large force of men at work removing the pavement on West Third Street, preparatory to widening the devil strip between the tracks in accordance with the permission received at the meeting of the common council. There had long been a need for this improvement but owing to the failure of the council and the street railway company to agree, it had been delayed from year to year. Patrons of the line and those using the street would all rejoice that the work was to be done. The widening of the strip between the tracks would do away with the danger and difficulty of two large cars passing on that part of the line.

Albert Letten was sentenced to 63 days in Mayville jail on this morning by Police Justice Maharon at Jamestown police court. Letten had been arrested on complaint of his wife, charged with annoying his family. Hysen Rushan, the Albanian who dropped a loaded revolver on the sidewalk when he stooped to pick up a letter, was arrested by a policeman, who was nearby at the time. He pleaded guilty to the charge of carrying a loaded revolver and was fined $30 which he paid.

In 1938, A. W. Wheelock, Dry Brook Road, Kennedy, had received word of the sudden death of his grandson, Vincent Mackey, which occurred at his home in New York City the previous day, aged 15 years. The youth had been shot and was found by his mother when she returned home. It was thought he was cleaning the gun when the fatality occurred. No details were available. The young boy resided in Kennedy with his grandfather until about two years previously when he joined his mother in New York. Also surviving was his father, Gurth Mackey of Jamestown. A sister was killed by an automobile five years ago as she was walking home from school near Kennedy.

Despite almost continuous search since he disappeared Wednesday afternoon, no trace had been found of little 5-year-old Rodney Orcutt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Orcutt of Warren. It was believed the boy had fallen either into the Allegheny River or the nearby mill race. Efforts had been concentrated on dragging of the river. A boat load of searchers made a trip from Warren to Starbrick the previous morning searching the sand bars and banks for a cap that the lad was said to have been wearing when he disappeared.

In 1963, a Jamestown man, Donald Gardner, 46, escaped injury early the previous morning when the truck he was driving collided with a car carrying four college students, killing one of the boys and seriously injuring the other three. The accident occurred on Route 17 about 15 miles east of Binghamton. According to reports, the four boys were en route back to Cornell University in Ithaca, following Easter vacation. Dead was German Varela, 20, of Flushing. Mr. Gardner, employed by Falconer Plate Glass, left Jamestown Sunday evening for New York City. As he was going uphill on Route 17, he saw the car carrying the four students approaching his lane of traffic at a fast rate of speed but was unable to avert the tragedy. The head-on crash completely demolished the auto and caused extensive damage to the tractor-trailer. State police reported that the driver of the car, Gordon Matta, 24, of Manhattan, went onto the shoulder of the road and lost control of the car. He then swerved into the path of the truck.

The Jamestown Police Dept. would acquire five new Plymouth 4-door sedans if City Council approved a recommendation adopted by its Public Safety Committee. The offer of Community Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc., 1351 E. 2nd St., to supply the five new cars at a net price of $4,365, after allowing $8,169 on five trade-ins, was designated as the lowest of four bids received. Bids were also received from McFadden Ford, Inc., on Washington St., Berglund Chevrolet on W. 4th St., and Cusimano Brothers Dodge on Buffalo St.

In 1988, the competition between WCA and Jamestown General hospitals to expand mental health services boiled down to one thing: power. It was no secret that the hospitals, only five blocks apart, had been rivals for more than a decade, each battling to win support for expansions and new services. And even though the state was soon expected to end the latest chapter in the feud by ruling in favor of WCA’s bid for a $36,000, 20-bed alcohol rehabilitation unit – and rejecting Jamestown General’s $3.6 million plan for a mental health complex – the tension between the two facilities remained.

British actor Gregory de Polnay brought the glorious sound of the well-spoken word to Jamestown Community College’s Forum Theatre Thursday night. De Polnay was artist in residence at the college and would be artistic consultant for the One-Act Play Festival which JCC would hold on April 28-29. His performance was entitled “Attachments and Expectations,” and offered oral interpretation of a wide range of literature, both in style and in subject matter. His characterizations were most suitable, as were his great range of British accents. The American accent still needed a bit of work.

In Years Past

In 1913, Miss Elsie Brumagin had a narrow escape from drowning at the end of the steamboat dock at Mayville depot the previous night and was only saved by the heroic efforts of Rowland Batton, who saw the accident and plunged into the 20-foot deep water and brought Miss Brumagin safely to the dock, after a hard fight. The cold plunge of Miss Brumagin was an accident caused by a loose board near the end of the dock on which she tripped while walking very near the edge. She was with Miss Pearl Dornbarger when the affair happened. Miss Dornbarger was the daughter of the proprietor of the Lakeview Hotel and Miss Brumagin was employed there.

The bill introduced in the assembly by Assemblyman Jude providing for an appropriation of $100,000 for dredging the Chadakoin River and thereby obviating the flood conditions that had caused much trouble and expense in Jamestown over the spring, had passed the assembly. The Journal received brief notice of its passage from its Albany correspondent in the afternoon.

In 1938, Lloyd Hendrickson, nearly 40 years of age, of Benson Street, Jamestown, was killed in the afternoon when hit by a .22 caliber bullet believed to have been fired by Carl Lundsten of Hedges Avenue, who was shooting at tin can targets in the woods east of Reservoir Park. The Lundsten boy was questioned by the police after he had run nearly a mile and a half to his home after the accident to report the matter to police. Hendrickson was identified by papers in his pocket when found by police in the woods between Camp and Willard streets. He was believed to have been employed until recently at the Berkey Chair Company.

Under the guiding hand of a veteran skipper, Alton W. Ball, the Bemus Point-Stow ferry began its 127th year of continuous operation this spring. Mr. Ball had been actively identified with the enterprise, known as the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry, Inc. for the past 40 years. The ferry opened its 127 consecutive year of operation on April 1, a large four cylinder motor-driven craft with a capacity of six passenger automobiles, as compared with the small rough-hewn log raft which inaugurated ferry service for the late Thomas Beemus in the summer of 1811.

In 1963, two Falconer area youths started out in the morning on a four-day, 120-mile horseback outing. They were Lewis Lavigne and Corky Axford, both 15 and both of the Clay Pond Road. They started their odyssey at 6:30 a.m., loaded down with cans of beans and other “pioneer” provisions. They planned to spend the night in the Steamburg or Quaker Bridge area, Tuesday night at a Bradford area riding stable and Wednesday at Kinzua. They would head home Thursday morning, hoping to reach Falconer in time for supper on Thursday evening. They had taken along maps and compasses to make sure of not straying from their route.

Approximately 700 youngsters from the Lakewood area took part in the 11th annual Easter egg hunt Saturday afternoon. This year for the first time, two separate hunts were held. Winners in the preschool to 7 year old group at Packard Field were Joan Peterson, gold egg; Beth Arrison, blue egg and Bonnie Truver, red egg. Winners at the Village Park were: Kim Anderson, gold egg; Gene Monica, blue egg and Richard Johnson, red egg. The Easter Bunny and helper awarded the prizes.

In 1988, the impasse in talks over the state budget had not put school officials in the best position. On the one hand, many were rooting for the passage of the state budget in order to get aid money to pay school district bills. The same ones were also hoping the asbestos aid wasn’t thrown out in a compromise to get the state spending plan approved. “Next week will be the critical period for us,” said Southwestern Superintendent Donald Ogilive. “Our cash flow has been designed to carry us through April.”

“He may not cry on cue, but the passion that drives him is very real,” said John Dukakis of his father, Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, as he addressed a small gathering at Commons Mall in Jamestown. Dukakis was in town to garner support for his father’s New York primary bid for Democratic presidential nominee. Dukakis, 29, attended Brown University before interrupting his studies to pursue an acting career. He had appeared on stage, in films and on television, including work on Family Ties and Jaws ii.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, after 12:30 p.m. there would be practically no business transacted in Fulton County for the rest of the day. Every business place in Gloversville and Johnstown would close at that hour and the employees of every mill, factory and store would join in a monster parade. This demonstration was a protest from this, the world’s glove-making center, against the proposed reduction in the rate of duty on gloves, as fixed in the Underwood bill. Following the parade, mass meetings would be held in four of the local theaters, at which resolutions would be endorsed against the Underwood tariff rates on gloves.

Joseph Simmons, a resident of the town of Charlotte, about four miles west of Cherry Creek, died Sunday morning at the Jones General Hospital in Jamestown from injuries received Saturday near Gowanda, where he was struck by an Erie passenger engine. Simmons was brought to Jamestown at 10:40 p.m. on Saturday by Brown, overseer of the poor, of Gowanda after the Erie Railroad and the Erie physician there refused to attend to his injuries. At the hospital here, Simmons was attended by Dr. Robert Blanchard. He was suffering from a broken hip, concussion and internal injuries. Little could be done for him after the lapse of so long an interval after the accident. Simmons was about 45 years old and was survived by a wife, one son and three daughters.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, the first major strike in American circus history ended in New York City this day as 400 attendants of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus went back to work under a compromise agreement. Performers, including midgets, the fat lady and an 8-foot giant, had refused to join in the two-day strike. They worked at rigging apparatus side by side with circus executives to put on three performances of the show – minus elephants, peanuts and Gargantus, the gorilla in Madison Square Garden, after the walkout was called.

The residence of Frank O. Anderson, 339 E. Fourth St., would be occupied by the Jamestown lodge of Elks after long standing idle, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson residing at the Hotel Jamestown. The house, one of the finest in the city in point of both material and construction, was to be remodeled before occupancy by the Elks. It was assessed at $23,975 by the city and was being purchased by the lodge for only $7,000. The Elks had for several years occupied the former Charles S. Abbott mansion at the northwest corner of East Fourth and Spring streets, making extensive alterations and adding a large auditorium.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, Jamestown Mayor Steven B. Carlson held out little hope that his meeting in Albany with state Health Commissioner David Axelrod improved the chance of Axelrod approving Jamestown General Hospital’s $3.6 million plan for a mental health complex. Although Carlson said he felt he had a “good meeting” with Axelrod, he was doubtful that the state’s top health official would decide differently from three previous recommendations that rejected the hospital’s Institute of Behavioral Medicine project. “I’m not anymore encouraged,” Carlson said. “It was a good meeting…but I’m not certain it will make any difference. I think they (state officials) have their minds made up.”

A fire which claimed a woman’s life early Tuesday might be ruled accidental, based on autopsy findings. Joyce M. Besse, 38, of the Leon/New Albion Road, died in a fire at her mobile home, discovered shortly before 6 a.m. by a passerby. Dr. Jose Galindo found evidence of smoke inhalation which led to the woman’s death. Firemen found the mobile home fully involved in flames when they arrived and found the woman’s body inside.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, the Buffalo streetcar strike was over. The strikers and the company had agreed to arbitrate their differences. The men went back to work on this morning. Justice Brown of the Supreme Court who issued the order calling out the Fourth Brigade, this forenoon issued the order for the dismissal of the troops. The 65th and 74th regiments were immediately dismissed. The outside military organizations left Buffalo in the afternoon. The 13th Separate Company, which was Company E of the 65th regiment, would leave Buffalo on the regular train at 4:05 p.m., arriving in Jamestown at 6:05. Doubtless, many friends of the members of the company would be at the station to meet them.

For two hours Sunday afternoon Jamestown would have a limited water supply. It was suggested by the water department that consumers make preparations for this event by drawing water before the appointed hour or by using as little as possible during the time a portion of the supply was to be shut off. The supply would be shut off on East Second Street from Buffalo to Winsor street from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Journal readers, especially residents of that section, would do well to remember these hours. The purpose of shutting off the supply was to connect the big 16-inch main with the reservoir. These hours were selected because it was at this time that the least water was used in the city.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, rescued by a woman from a cake of ice floating in Lake Erie, a fox terrier romped with a new mistress in a warm home in Dunkirk this day. Details of the rescue became known as Mrs. Earl O. Gilson sought to locate the former owner. She believed it likely the animal had been carried here from Erie, Pa., or a Canadian shore point. Gilson said she heard the dog barking “out on the water.” Wading 75 feet off shore, she persuaded it to jump into the water and swim to her.

Marjorie Ruth Hallett, 9-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hallett of Frewsburg, was fatally injured Monday afternoon at 3:15 on the Frewsburg-Warren highway when struck by a Moran Transportation Company trailer-truck, driven by Arnold Becker of Jamestown. The girl was brought to WCA Hospital by unidentified motorists and she died at 5:35 p.m. The child was on her way home from school when the accident occurred. Suddenly a small inoffensive grass snake crawled into view and the little girl screamed and darted out of its path. In her fright she went directly into the path of the oncoming truck.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, two new citizens of Olean had been added to the community, courtesy of Mayor and Mrs. Edward J. Morris. Twin girls arrived the previous afternoon at St. Francis Hospital bringing the total of Morris children to 13. The twins were as yet unnamed but chances were they would be given names starting with J. The other 11 Morris children all had first names starting with that letter.

Gov. Rockefeller appointed John A. Hall, editor-in-chief of The Jamestown Post-Journal, to the council of the University of Buffalo. Also named were Clifford L. Strang, a Buffalo banker; and William J. Conners III, president and publisher of the Buffalo Courier-Express. Hall, a native of Jamestown, was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frederick P. Hall. He was managing editor of the former Evening Journal and an officer of the corporation before the merger with the Morning Post in 1941 to form The Post-Journal. He served as managing editor of that newspaper until it was sold in 1961 to the News Publishing Co., of Wheeling, W.Va. when he was named editor-in-chief.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, “The Last Emperor,” the lavish epic of China directed by an Italian, conquered Hollywood by capturing nine Oscars, the most for any film in 26 years. Cher won best actress for her portrayal of a widow who discovers love in “Moonstruck.” Michael Douglas, the greedy, unethical inside trader of “Wall Street,” was named best actor at the previous night’s 60th annual Academy Awards ceremony. Best supporting performers were Olympia Dukakis, as Cher’s outspoken Italian mother in “Moonstruck,” and Sean Connery, the hard-fisted incorruptible Chicago beat cop in “The Untouchables.”

Residents who were protesting the opening of a Kwik Fill gas station at 342 Forest Ave., could apparently rest easier since the new station wasn’t expected to be much different from the Forest Avenue Keystone station it would replace. United Refining Co., of Pennsylvania would renovate the full-service Keystone station it owned at the intersection of Forest and Barrett avenues and open it as a Kwik Fill. The new station would not be open 24 hours daily, nor would it have an adjoining convenience store, two concerns which prompted four residents to attend the Jamestown City Council meeting on Monday night.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, the four-day spring opening sale given by the members of the Jamestown Retail Dry Goods Association would end Saturday night, this day being the third successful day of the event. A very notable increase in the number of people on the streets, in the number of people in the stores and of sales reported had resulted from this concerted trade effort and the members of the association were strong in their statements of approval of the plan and its operation. It was safe to conclude from the reports made by the members of the association that no previous effort of the kind had ever brought as many bona fine buyers into the city at any one event as had the three days of trade excursions.

The cotton and woolen schedules of the Wilson-Underwood bill spelled the end of the hobble skirt, in the opinion of Mrs. Christian Hemmick, society leader. Hemmick believed that the real reason for the scanty hobble, with its consequent frank display of the feminine figure was the high cost of dress materials. “The manufacturers of dress goods control the styles,” she said. “If cloth cheapens, they will favor designs that will utilize more cloth so that their profits will continue.” Hemmick declared working women should adopt trousers as being much better fitted for rapid motion. They would be very practical for climbing street cars and walking, she asserted.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, Jamestown and county snowplows were called out Saturday night and Sunday morning to clear roads and sidewalks of snow following a severe storm that left them covered with several inches of snow and ice, making both driving and walking hazardous. While roads were not drifted sufficiently to block traffic, they were cleared of snow to make it easier to get through and prevent the situation from becoming worse. Highway officials could not recall when it had previously been necessary to send out plows so late in the season.

Samuel Thorstenberg of East Fifth Street, Jamestown, outstanding figure in Jamestown music circles for nearly 30 years, died suddenly the previous night or this morning in his studio in the Jamestown Conservatory of Music, Nordic Temple. He was found lying on a couch by Wilbert Anderson, a driver for the Railway Express Agency, who sought to deliver a package to him and entered the studio after getting no response when he knocked at the partially open door. Thorstenberg was 67 years of age.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, the U.S. Navy gave up on the nuclear-powered submarine Thresher and the 129 men who rode her down into a mile and a half of water 220 miles off Boston the previous day. Adm. George W. Anderson, chief of naval operations, made the announcement more than 25 hours after contact was lost during a deep diving test of the recently overhauled vessel. “Very reluctantly I have come to the conclusion that the Thresher has indeed been lost,” Anderson said. President Kennedy, in a statement expressing his deep distress over the disaster, wrote an epitaph for the ship’s complement of officers, enlisted men and civilians. He compared them with “their forefathers who led the advance on the frontiers of our civilization. The future of our country will always be sure when there are men such as these to give their lives to preserve it,” Kennedy said.

A Jamestown man, Richard Bartsch, who formerly served on the ill-fated submarine Thresher, was now a crew member of the USS Sea Robin somewhere in the Mediterranean. Bartsch served on the Thresher from the time it was commissioned until his transfer the past summer. He was the husband of Carol Bartsch, 15 Hall Ave. No one from this area was listed among the crew of the ill-fated submarine.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, “He’s the savior of America,” Louis J. Thomas, District 4 director of the United Steelworkers of America, said as he introduced Gov. Michael Dukakis, the front-running Democratic presidential candidate from Massachusetts, during a campaign stop in Dunkirk. A murmur of laughter ran through the standing room only crowd of about 600 people Saturday afternoon in the union hall. But it was quickly drowned out in a roar of applause as Dukakis stepped to the microphone. “I don’t know that I’m the savior,” he said. “No one person is going to make a difference. We’re going to make a difference by working together.” The applause was deafening.

Construction of the Jamestown area’s latest Burger King restaurant was well under way at Green and Fairmount avenues in West Ellicott where the grand opening was set for late May. The building was the largest in the chain’s size range with seating for 96 patrons. Provision was made for 78 parking spaces, with the restaurant to employ about 75 people.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, the members of the 13th Separate Company of Jamestown were all well and hard at work in Buffalo. As a part of the 65th Regiment they had to assume some of the most trying tasks of strike duty. To date, however, this duty, while tedious, had not been onerous, consisting merely of policing the streets and listening to the good natured gibes of the passersby. The company was quartered in the 65th armory until 10 a.m. the previous day when it was assigned to duty on Main Street. The particular post was between Chippewa and Eagle streets. The duties of the guardsmen was to keep the crowds moving.

Chautauqua County had some good state roads built in 1912 as well as some sections of other roads which were not so good. That the impression should not become general that all the roads were as bad as the sections described in articles in The Journal on Monday and Tuesday of this week, a representative was sent over one of the roads built the past year, which was all right, and which would stand practically any test which could be applied to it. It was the section of the Jamestown to Frewsburg brick road which extended from the center of the village of Frewsburg to Stillwater. It was a welcome contrast after Burnt Hill near Kennedy.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, the Jamestown High School orchestra returned from the Western New York Music festival at the Fredonia State Normal School Friday evening with a rating of superior and state eligibility tucked neatly in its pocket. The 62-piece unit was given a Division 1 rating in Class A. Ebba H. Goranson was the director. Orchestras from Falconer and Fredonia High Schools were ranked in the first division with ratings of superior, while Randolph was given a rank of excellent in Division 2 – all three organizations being given state finals eligibility.

Pupils of the sixth grade of the Fairmount Avenue school presented a four-act play, “Our Constitution,” depicting scenes from the Philadelphia convention of 1787 at the school auditorium Friday. The heated debates, the signing of the Constitution, the inauguration of George Washington and the inaugural ball were capably done by the children. The play was part of the celebration of the sesquicentennial of the U.S. Constitution which had been a part of the school program this year. The audience was entertained between acts by Bonnie Beaustrom and a chorus of sixth-grade girls who sang “Our Flag,” “Allegiance” and “Duke Street.”

50 Years Ago

In 1963, three youths were arrested following an explosion of a firecracker at Jamestown High School the past Friday night. The explosion resulted in injury to another youth. The arrests were made on warrants obtained by Det. Lt. Earl Thies. Police said a 17-year-old youth suffered a rupture of the right ear drum which, according to his physician, might result in permanent loss of hearing in that ear. According to police, the explosion occurred about 10 p.m. Friday just inside the College Street entrance to the high school. The injured boy, a JHS senior, was just leaving the building after attending a school dance when a cherry bomb, accidentally tossed through an open doorway, exploded near him.

Recreational facilities proposed for Kinzua Dam in nearby Pennsylvania posed a serious threat to the future of the tourist industry in Chautauqua County unless proper steps were taken soon to exploit local attractions fully. This warning was sounded by Jamestown Supervisor Fred J. Cusimano at the annual meeting of Chautauqua Lake Regions Inc. in the Hotel Jamestown. Cusimano said the lake created by the Kinzua Dam would provide more than 12,000 acres of water surface and a shoreline of more than 91 miles. Facilities at the site would include picnic areas, marinas, boat launching ramps, cabin accommodations and summer and winter sports areas.

In Years Past

In 1913, the summoning of the 13th Separate Company, which was Co. E of the 65th regiment, to strike duty in Buffalo, would enlist local attention in the disorder prevalent in the Bison city, because of the strike of street railway men, in a much greater degree than heretofore. The important news of the previous day was that the entire Fourth brigade of the national guard had been ordered out. This included the 65th and 74th regiments of Buffalo, three companies in Rochester and companies in Geneva, Olean, Hornell, Elmira, Syracuse, Oswego, Niagara Fall, Medina and Auburn.

One of the series of “At Home” parties being held under the auspices of the Young Ladies’ Sodality of SS. Peter & Paul’s Roman Catholic Church was held in the K. of C. rooms in the Parochial School building Tuesday evening and the affair was a pleasant one in every detail. About 85 members were in attendance. Supper was served at 6:30 o’clock and the remainder of the evening was spent in informal sociability during which Victrola selections were enjoyed. The rooms were very prettily decorated.

In 1938, when the new telephone books were out about the first of May, it was expected that the telephone numbers of the subscribers to the Mayville exchange would all be changed. The local exchange was not installing the dial system but the numbers were to be similar to the numbers used by that system. Subscribers would have to call central but those on party lines would not hear a ring every time another party on the line was called. In calling another party on the same line it would be necessary to call central and hang up the receiver and wait a moment for central to call the party. Manager George Dinsbler had about 70 of the subscribers’ bell boxes changed and was aiming to have them all done by May 1.

Agents of the Buffalo office of the federal alcohol tax unit squad under Chief Investigator Martin O. Hanson, late Friday afternoon raided four private homes in Olean and reported seizing several stills and equipment. Four persons, two to them women, were arrested and brought to Jamestown for arraignment before Commissioner Edward R. Bootey.

In 1963, Gregory Peck, a four-time loser in the Oscar finals, and Anne Bancroft, an actress Hollywood once ignored, were winners of the movies’ best actor and best actress awards for 1962. “Lawrence of Arabia” was named the year’s best film at the 35th annual Academy Awards ceremony. Grandfather, Ed Begley and a teenager, Patty Duke, won best supporting actor and actress honors. Miss Duke, played the child Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker.” Peck won for his role as a small-town Southern lawyer in “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Bancroft won for her role as Anne Sullivan, the teacher of Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker.”

An effort by a local group of men to take over former Celoron Park with the aid of the village board for development into a recreation center and sale of lots for lakefront homes was abandoned when the board was advised it could not go into the real estate business and compete with private enterprise.

In 1988, area hospitals cited decreasing nursing school enrollment as one of the leading factors in the current nursing shortage. According to a recent issue of Nursing and Health Care magazine, national nursing school enrollment fell to 218,085 in 1985 from 251,000 in 1983. Enrollment was down 5 percent in 1984. It continued to decline by 9 percent in 1986 and 15 percent in 1987. The magazine said that by the year 2000 the nation would be short a half-million nurses. Locally, area hospitals hadn’t been hit as hard, so health care hadn’t been affected, hospital officials said.

A bus which would make rural stops in Chautauqua County, much like the stops made by the former Erie Railroad’s “milk train,” would bring access to passenger rail service. The new bus service to Jamestown, Dunkirk and Fredonia would provide the Southern Tier with a direct link to rail service in Buffalo. It was expected to begin May 15.

In Years Past

In 1913, the concert given in the state armory Monday evening under the auspices of the Jamestown Choral Society for the benefit of the Ohio flood sufferers was a splendid success from every standpoint. Musically it was one of the finest events of the season and financially it surely was a success for the big drill shed of the armory was practically filled. A detail of members of the Fenton Guards in uniform acted as ushers. The audience showed appreciation of all the numbers on the splendid program and was deeply impressed with the purpose of the gathering.

There was a flurry of excitement at police headquarters in Jamestown this forenoon, caused by a desperate attempt to escape on the part of Cyrus Eaton, who was locked up on a charge of intoxication. Mr. Eaton’s actions led to suspicions as to his mental condition and it was quite likely a lunacy commission would be named to pass on his sanity. As Eaton was released from his cell for the purpose of arraignment in police court the man started to run down the narrow hallway towards the outside door. Eaton was a muscular man and fought with great desperation as police tried to subdue him. He was not arraigned as anticipated. Instead, an investigation will try to determine his mental condition.

In 1938, Dr. Mary Agnes Burchard, formerly of Jamestown, who was physician and surgeon in charge of the Creighton-Freeman Hospital at Brindaban, India, was to have her dream of an x-ray machine at the hospital come true as the result of a gift of over $1,900 from her friends in Chautauqua County through the efforts of Miss Zelma L. Shute, general secretary at the local YWCA. For three years Dr. Burchard had conducted her work without the valuable assistance of x-ray equipment in setting broken bones and diagnosing hundreds of cases. In fact, when she first came to Brindaban an three years ago the hospital had no electricity and all water had to be procured from a half mile distant point.

The Jamestown Symphonic Band had added a new musical achievement to the mounting group of worthwhile effort in whose direction the Goranson’s had a hand. The first concert of the group, under the direction of Arthur. Goranson, was presented Thursday evening before an appreciative audience in the high school auditorium. The band was composed of 50 musicians, who practically ran the gamut in age, the work being highly commendable in the premier appearance. The interest of the audience rose to such a high pitch of enthusiasm that the band was forced to repeat the Bennett rhapsodic arrangement of the haunting swing-time number, From Africa to Harlem.

In 1963, Chautauqua County residents apparently put in a real walking weekend, with marathon walkers registering around-the-lake trips in a number of groups. Three of six Jamestown High School students who started out on a walk around the lake completed the trip. They were David Pangborn, 16, a sophomore; Bob Smith, 17 and Steve Johnson 17, both juniors. They started on their trek from the Super Duper Market, Fluvanna Avenue at 7:30 a.m. and completed the trip at 9:30 p.m. at Little Theater of Jamestown headquarters, 414 Fairmount Avenue.

A welcome home for three Jamestown teenagers Saturday was much “warmer” than their freight train ride to Hornell, N.Y., local police said. The trio apparently boarded a train in Falconer for a free trip to Gerry but were unable to get off because of the train’s high speed. Shivering with cold, the boys jumped off the freight in Hornell and went to a police station to explain their predicament. Parents of one of the boys went to Hornell and brought them back to Jamestown after Jamestown police were notified.

In 1988, an Allentown, Pa., pilot, who used Jamestown Airport as his base made a crash landing early in the morning on Route 400 in West Seneca instead. Ronald Phillips, 47, was only slightly injured in the 2:30 a.m. accident. “His destination was the Jamestown airport,” West Seneca Police said. “He’d taken off from the Buffalo Airport at about 1 a.m. but due to the weather and poor visibility he could not land. Phillips had radioed that he was on his way back to Buffalo after determining he could not land in Jamestown. The plane caused minor damage to a fence and trees when it went down on Route 400, also known as the East Aurora Expressway.

Michael Dukakis, who hoped to be the Democratic nominee for the presidency, would be in Dunkirk the following day to discuss issues of interest and importance to residents of Western New York, Jamestown Mayor Steven B. Carlson announced. Dukakis, who was governor of Massachusetts, would speak at Philip Murray Union Hall in Dunkirk at 3 p.m. “I urge everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to see and hear Gov. Dukakis,” Carlson said.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, although the requested franchise to lay a street railway line on Willard Street had not been formally granted by the Jamestown Common Council, the company had received informal assurances that there would be no opposition to the franchise and preparations for the building of the road were now well underway. Iron trolley poles were being set along the street and employees of the company commenced hauling ties. No work at track laying would be undertaken until the weather was more settled because track laying involved considerable concreting and it was risky to undertake concreting at this season of the year.

Motorists who had occasion to use the newly completed stretch of state road between Poland Center and the Cattaraugus county line at Waterboro hill on the road to Randolph and the people who lived along the line of this road had been making serious complaints over the condition of the completed road. The allegations as to its condition had been so serious that a Journal representative was sent to the place to make an investigation and report the condition it was in. The road was constructed during the season of 1912. It was what was known as a concrete road with a bitumen surface. Close examination of the road material at the point where it was soft showed that apparently the concrete had not set at all. The top two inches was as loose as mud.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, Floyd C. Pickard, of Barrett Avenue, Jamestown, manager and treasurer of the Jamestown Sterling Furniture Company, received fractures of both knee caps and facial brush burns when an automobile he was driving collided head on with a Westfield-bound West Ridge Transportation Company motorbus near a sharp curve in the lakeshore road near Stow. Pickard was the most seriously injured of seven persons.

Kennedy was in the throes of reminiscing. The oldest inhabitants were comparing notes and the younger folks who had no memories worth recalling were just sitting back and letting grand dad have his day in the sun. This all came about because of the passing of Kennedy’s best-known landmark, Woodward’s Hotel. For long years, some said more than 100, it stood on the Main Street corner watching the trains go by or better yet seeing them stop and let off a few passengers. The passing of this old hostelry, damaged the past winter by fire, would leave no blackened ruins in the center of town for it was being replaced by the inevitable gas station.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, only about half the adults who had a computer at home actually used it as opposed to nearly three-quarters of all children, the Census Bureau reported. Youngsters used computers for learning and for games and many children were also exposed to the machines in school, said bureau statistician Robert Kominski, whose survey was released the previous day. Even though many adults used computers at work, the home computer might have been bought by one adult for a specific use, and not be of interest to others in the home, Kominski suggested. In addition, many computers were bought “as learning tools and game machines for children,” he said. “So there probably are quite a few situations in households where children use a computer and not the adults at all.”

Water rates might be going up in the town of Ellicott. Town Clerk Howard Lyon told the Ellicott Town Board that Jamestown, Ellicott’s water supplier, had given him the list of new water rates. After he looked at last year’s records, he told the board, “I’ll compare them with last year’s and give a report.” Lyon said he wasn’t sure whether there was an increase in rates or not. “That is usually the case, that rates go up instead of down, but I can’t say until I study last year’s records.”

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, another tragedy, a murder, was added to the long list of crimes and casualties that had marked the progress of the new Erie grade work near Saegertown, Pa., and Sheriff Roudebush and a deputy left for the scene of the shooting on the first car out of Meadville. It was impossible to learn any of the particulars beyond the fact that one of the workmen in the camp had been shot and that the murderer was allowed to escape. The belief at Saegertown was that the shooting was the result of a fight, following a drinking bout but the names of none of the parties concerned was mentioned.

Fred D. Warren, the so-called fighting editor of The Appeal to Reason, the Socialist newspaper published at Girard, Kansas, addressed a large audience in Institute Hall on Friday evening. Owing to the delays caused by the flood troubles in Ohio and Indiana, train 8, on which Warren came to Jamestown, did not arrive here until shortly after 9 o’clock. The large audience had a long wait, the lecture having been announced for 8 o’clock. While waiting for Warren the audience was entertained by George Ferguson of Lakewood and Bernard Coleman of Sugar Grove, two well-known Socialists of this vicinity.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, Girl Scouts of Jamestown Area Council took orders for 10,314 pounds (more than 5 tons) of cookies in their third annual cookie sale which closed the previous day. This number included 6,427 pounds of cookies sold by Jamestown Girl Scouts and 3,887 pounds by Girl Scouts of southern Chautauqua County. Troop 2 of Washington Junior High School had the honor of the largest sale, 633 pounds. Troop 19 at Fairmount School was second with 525 pounds. Cookie headquarters were to be opened at 13 W. Second St. where cookies would be available for distribution. Proceeds would be used for the Girl Scout camp, Newatah, on Lake Chautauqua and to assist area scouting.

Damage estimated at about $3,000 was caused by fire at the Weinstein junk yard at an early hour in the morning in Falconer. The frame building, one story, located between East Falconer Street and East Main Street, adjacent to the New York Central Railroad tracks was a complete loss and firemen of the village were still working over the burning embers at noon. The storage of a large quantity of paper and rags in the building made plenty of fuel for the flames and hundreds of residents of the village and nearby community came to the scene within a short time. The flames shooting in the air were visible for several miles.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, with students of home rooms at Jamestown High School planning to take hikes, five girls from Room 214 chose an around-the-lake trek for their stint. Starting out from Fluvanna City Line at 5:15 a.m. were Rosalie Lombardo, Marlene Lunetta, Judy Lundburg, Marian Linder and Carol Lindstrom. The latter two, a little tired after passing Midway Park, decided to ride back with a friend who had met the group by pre-arrangement. The other three girls called The Post-Journal from a restaurant just north of the park upon request of a paper employee who saw the quintet trudging earlier in the day. Except for being thirsty and a couple cases of near-frostbitten knees peeking out from beneath Bermuda shorts in 30-degree temps, the girls were fairing well.

Spring must be officially here now. The Post-Journal Sports Editor Frank Hyde would leave the following day for the southland and his annual trek to the baseball training camps from where he would report on the daily doings of the Jamestown Tigers as well as other teams in the NY-P League. Frank was due to arrive at Lakeland, Fla., spring training headquarters of the pennant-winning Tigers. Jamestown would open the season on Sunday, April 28 at Erie, Pa., against the Erie Sailors.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, due to the tightness of its operating budget, the city of Salamanca’s Public Works Department would not be hiring any seasonal workers for the coming summer. The cutback was discussed by Mayor John F. Gould and the city council, sitting as the public works commission. Anthony Pascarella Sr., public works superintendent, asked to fill a vacant position in the parks department, noting one worker could not handle summer maintenance of the city’s 60 acres of parks.

The state assembly passed the Aid to Localities Budget Bill, Sen. Jess J. Present, R-Bemus Point, told The Post-Journal and that meant good economic news for some Chautauqua County projects. “They passed a $600,000 grant for Blackstone’s (wind tunnel) research project and this money should complete the research funding package,” said Present’s executive assistant Jeffrey Sandquist. “Additionally, the Assembly passed a $2 million grant and authorization for a $3 million loan for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute,” he said. “This money will be used for program development and the construction of the facilities.”

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, Mahoney & Swanson, the contractors who had the contract for making the Erie grade crossing elimination in Jamestown, had commenced the construction of a derrick for hoisting concrete. The derrick was placed on the top of an Erie flat car, the idea being to operate the concrete mixer on the car so it could be easily moved up and down the line. With this car the entire concreting could be done. The derrick was a formidable structure and on the comparatively light flatcar seemed top-heavy.

What was being termed the Indian Land Opening demonstration car had arrived in Jamestown from McAlester, Okla., and it was on the Erie sidetrack just east of the Main Street crossing, being open to the public at all times. Fine specimens of wheat, rye, corn, oats, peaches, alfalfa, broom corn, millo maize, wool, cotton and other products were nicely arranged for inspection. A fine feature of the exhibit was the large collection of photographs of buildings, business blocks, private residences, etc., in McAlester. The city of McAlester had a population of 18,000 and a suburban population of 30,000 and was only 12 years old.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, violence committed by a mob resulting in death of a person in custody of a peace officer or charged with or convicted of criminal offense, was defined as lynching under a bill signed by New York Gov. Herbert Lehman. Punishment would be imprisonment of from 20 years to natural life. The law, effective immediately, also made mob violence not resulting in death a felony punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

With approximately 150 delegates and visitors in attendance, sessions of the 16th annual convention of the New York state Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages got under way at the Hotel Jamestown this day. President Dayton S. Wilkins of Jamestown presided. Registration of arrivals and a meeting of the executive committee consumed the morning hours with the women being entertained at a bridge luncheon at noon. The women would go on an industrial tour of the city Wednesday morning when the men were engaged in their final business session of the convention.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, high winds, which reached a peak recorded velocity of 60 miles an hour in the area the previous day, subsided overnight. Damage was not heavy, authorities said. Accompanying high water resulted in barricading of Jones and Gifford Avenue from Lister Avenue into Celoron. Water also flowed across low points of Monroe and Clinton streets but was not deep enough to require closing the streets to traffic. Only two of 11 flights at Jamestown Municipal Airport were canceled due to air turbulence and winds which reached a peak speed of about 58 miles an hour at the facility.

A July 1 target date for opening of the Jamestown municipal beach and recreation area at Burtis Bay was agreed to by Recreation Commission members. The beach had been the center of controversy recently over reports the water was contaminated for swimming. Roger Anderson, chairman of the Burtis Bay beach project for Jamestown Junior Chamber of Commerce, said Lakewood planned to extend its sewage plant outflow pipe 50 feet and that should help the beach situation considerably. Carpenters were continuing work on the bath house and plans for an outdoor shower were complete, he said.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, Democratic presidential candidate Tennessee Sen. Albert Gore Jr. was to be in the Jamestown area the following day with a 3:15 p.m. visit to Chautauqua County Airport north of the city. Gore was expected to begin campaigning in New York City, including a ride on the Staten Island Ferry, and then to fly to Elmira for a noon campaign rally before coming to the local airport for his second appearance of the day in the 34th congressional district. He then would continue on to Syracuse. The Tennessee senator believed that campaigning in the 34th district was very important. While here Gore was scheduled to meet with party leaders and the news media.

Despite concern from Jamestown Councilman-At-Large Samuel C. Forscey about potholes plaguing city streets this spring, there seemed to be little recourse for drivers, except to wait for them to be patched. “We seem to be spinning our wheels,” Forscey, who was on the Public Works Committee, told fellow committee members. “I don’t know if they’re any worse this year, but they’re bad,” he said.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, one of the largest and most important real estate deals in the city of Jamestown in many years had been closed up by which the extensive L.B. Warner property on Market Street, formerly Steel Street, had been transferred to Harry G. Lyons, the well-known lumber dealer. Lyons expected to greatly improve the property and had already begun foundations on the western side for a three-story office and store house, back of which would be located his own lumber yards.

Willard Case, the 11-year-old son of Allen Case of Ivory, a small settlement near Jamestown, playing with a .22 caliber revolver in the forenoon, accidentally discharged the weapon. The bullet pierced his abdomen. As there was no means of properly caring for the boy at his home he was hurried to the WCA Hospital of Jamestown, where Dr. F.C. Purcell attended him. Dr. Purcell said he had sustained a serious wound and he could not at this time say what the outcome would be. The wounded boy was the great grandson of Mrs. Sarah Mason of Ivory, and her funeral was to be held in the afternoon at the home of Mrs. Frank Case, who was grandmother of the wounded boy.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, Capt. Clarence A. Fray of Company No. 1, Jamestown Fire Department, died at Jamestown General Hospital this afternoon following a sudden heart attack. He was admitted to the hospital only two hours before his death. He would have been 51 years old on April 6. Capt. Fray was one of the best known and one of the best loved among his associates of all members of the fire department. He performed his duty as a seasoned fireman without complaint. He was seldom absent from roll call and was on duty as late as 6 p.m. the previous day when the day shift under his command was relieved.

School building construction in New York state municipalities of less than 50,000 population jumped more than $20 million since the past July, the state education department said. Dr. William K. Wilson, acting director of the building and grounds division said that 41 school buildings were being constructed. “The reason for the increase,” Dr. Wilson explained, “is the encouragement given to school building by the federal government which, under a law enacted the past year, would provide 45 percent of the construction costs for new school structures in an effort to eliminate hazards in present buildings.”

50 Years Ago

In 1963, the first two girders of the Washington Street Bridge in Jamestown were put in place the previous afternoon on piers across the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad and the Chadakoin River. Erection of the steel framework would take about five weeks, according to estimates by riggers and engineers of the William Higgins & Sons Construction Co. Work in setting girders, braces and other connecting steel would continue this week despite windy and cold weather which hit Jamestown the previous night.

A penniless wanderer who had trudged 22,000 miles as the “Peace Pilgrim” chose Jamestown to start a New York state pilgrimage of some 1,000 miles. “Peace Pilgrim” was an aging but ageless small woman with sparkling blue eyes and gray hair. She had only one resolute goal – that of walking 25,000 miles in the name of “world peace.” “Peace Pilgrim” would admit to no other name. That name had been official and legal since she rejected a material life 10 years ago in Los Angeles.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, the last of three informational meetings by Chautauqua County Legislature’s Human Services Committee on implementing smoking regulations in public places was set for this evening in Jamestown City Council chambers. Committee Chairman Jackie L. Jackson, R-Kiantone, said a good turnout was hoped for in contrast to a March 7 meeting in Dunkirk which was poorly attended. She said those speaking at it were strongly in favor of the proposed restrictions on smoking in public places.

On the 20th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in Memphis, Tenn., the civil rights leader’s message was still alive, but America remained racially divided, local black politicians said. As Americans remembered him for his ideas and goals of racial and social equality, civil rights activists throughout the country said that those goals had not been fully met and the poor still faced problems 20 years later. “I feel that most of the things he stood for are deteriorating fast,” Jamestown City Councilman Vivian A. Taylor, D-Chadakoin, said. “He was looking for educational opportunities and now there is a significant dropout rate for blacks in high school and colleges.”

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, the charge of manslaughter, it was said, would be preferred against Willard Ash, who was in the Warren jail on suspicion of being responsible for the death of Mrs. Christine Peters of Chandlers Valley. The district attorney would be assisted in the prosecution of the case by Edward S. Lindsay. The Warren Times gave the interesting information that after Ash was arrested, the constable who had him in charge lost the key to the handcuffs and Ash had to remain overnight in jail with his hands still manacled and his overcoat on. The Times was also responsible for the statement that Gust Peters, the husband of the dead woman, was so dejected that it was feared his death would be hastened.

Hazzard Robinson, 15-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Robinson of Conewango, was very seriously injured by catching his clothing in the gasoline engine in the rear of the A.B. Archer store, where he had gone to oil the machinery. His screams brought help immediately and the engine was stopped. He was being whirled around in the flywheel when help came and would have undoubtedly been killed in a very few minutes. Every particle of clothing except his shoes and stockings was torn to shreds. The young man was taken to his home and Dr. W.F. Gardner rendered surgical aid. He was thought to be out of danger except for the always present danger of blood poisoning.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, the annual Falconer High School senior play, “The Saturday Evening Ghost,” was presented to a capacity audience Friday evening in the Falconer High School auditorium. The comedy-mystery was written by Tom Taggart and was based on a story by Oscar Wilde. Miss Irene Jenkins and Glenn Quaint, the principal actors in the production, carried their parts well and set the pace for the rest of the carefully selected cast. All members of the cast received much applause for their efforts and the play was judged one of the most successful in many years.

Dedication of 300 Bibles to be presented to the Jamestown public schools by the Jamestown camp of Gideons was held Friday evening at the First Lutheran Church at which speakers were S. Hugh Paine of Houghton College, Houghton, N.Y., president of the N.Y. camp of Gideons; and Rev. Dr. Samuel M. Miller, dean of the Lutheran Bible institute at Minneapolis, Minnesota and former pastor of the First Lutheran Church here. The 300 Bibles were stacked in the form of a cross at the front of the church. They were presented to Mrs. Emil C. Peterson, member of the board of education, who responded briefly.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, Earle O. Hultquist, 71, of Prendergast Avenue, prominent industrialist, philanthropist and civic leader, died at 9:15 p.m., the previous evening in the WCA Hospital. He had been ill for two months and hospitalized for several weeks but was up and around in his room 15 minutes before he died. His wife, Mrs. Marguerite Peterson Hultquist, who had spent most of the day with him, had left for home a few minutes before he expired. Hultquist was nationally known in the financial and furniture fields. He was president of the Jamestown Metal Corp. and chairman of the board of directors of Rane Tool Co. Inc. He was also one of the organizers of the Jamestown Morning Star Publishing Co.

Legislation “by the numbers” appeared to have all but doomed chances in Albany this day for passage of the much sought Chautauqua Lake anti-litter law. Assemblyman A. Bruce Manley of Fredonia said the bill was on the calendar but there was little purpose in seeking legislative action because of a technical fault. The bill, which had the support of the Chautauqua Lake Association, was aimed at pressuring ice fishermen to remove their shacks from the lake when the season ended as well as curbing litter in general. Protests from county sportsmen resulted in the bill being amended so it would not be necessary to get a license for their shacks.

In Years Past

In 1913, a large section of Jamestown’s Second Ward was threatened with destruction by fire during the night but fortunately the flames were confined to the round house and shops of the Jamestown, Chautauqua and Lake Erie Railroad at the boatlanding. The fire broke out at about midnight and within an hour the buildings were simply a huge mass of wreckage, so quickly did the flames sweep through them. There was a strong wind at the time, in fact, almost a gale, and showers of burning embers were carried long distances over the Second Ward, some of them dropping as far away as Washington Street. None of them started a fire, however.

Two men students and a former woman student of the University of Michigan were drowned in a canoe accident on the Huron River at Ann Arbor, Michigan late Sunday night. They were Miss Ella Rysdort of Spring Lake, Mich., Henry Bacon of Pontiac, Mich., and Arthur Crandall of Brocton, N.Y. Arthur Crandall was the son of Jay E. Crandall, president of the Crandall Panel Company and was one of the most popular young men of the village of Brocton. He was 20 years old and this was his first year as a student at the University of Michigan.

In 1938, several recent automobile thefts in Jamestown were believed to have been solved by the arrest at Westfield the previous night of two Jamestown youths who were in possession of a machine previously reported stolen by Donald Mackey, 811 Prendergast Avenue. The youths were caught by Westfield police after a four mile chase from Westfield, up Westfield Hill toward Jamestown. One of the youths was just 16 years old and the other was 15. Both would be arraigned before Judge Lee L. Ottaway in children’s court the following Friday. They had confessed to several recent auto thefts, telling police the cars were taken for joyrides.

Jamestown High School’s a capella choir would return home shortly after midnight this night from its trip to the national choral competition festival in St. Louis where it was awarded a rating of “good” according to announcement by Miss Ebba H. Goranson, its director. The group left the midwest city in its special railroad coach about 10:30 in the morning. Arthur R. Goranson, local director of school bands, joined the group for the homeward journey.

In 1963, motorists were warned by State Police that the Hunt Road, one of the few wide improved highways in the area, would not be tolerated as a speed lane. Motor vehicle traffic was permitted to travel at 50 miles per hour maximum most of the way, but beyond that, motorists were taking their chances. Falconer State Police patrol had its radar speed system in operation on the Hunt Road the previous day and eight motorists were given summonses to appear before Peace Justice George H. Chiverton.

The Packard Estate, offered to the village of Lakewood for $80,000 as a possible village-township municipal center, was in excellent condition and would meet the requirements of a long range plan as a community center as well. However, no action was taken. Mayor Roland C. Rapp, serving for the first time as chief executive, succeeding Mayor Nels Carlson, and other village board members all felt the report should be deferred for further study.

In 1988, Jim Jordan, who delighted radio audiences for decades as the well-meaning but bumbling Fibber McGee in the classic show Fibber McGee and Molly, died the previous day. He was 91. Jordan had been hospitalized for about a week after a fall at his home, said a family friend. Fibber McGee and Molly was on the air for the NBC radio network from 1935 to 1960 and was the top-rated show in the country for seven of those years. It was the source of such familiar routines as McGee’s overstuffed closet, which always unloaded mercilessly on Jordan’s character whenever it was opened. Even McGee’s address, 79 Wistful Vista, became a place on the American cultural roadmap.

It seemed it was a good thing the presidential election wasn’t being held any day soon because many Jamestown-area voters apparently didn’t know whom to vote for. No one seemed to be excited about any of the candidates. The Post-Journal asked several people at random who they would vote for if the election was held this day and what they considered to be the most important issue of the presidential race. “Can I say I’d vote for Barry Goldwater?” joked Patrick Walker, plant manager with a local business. “No, I don’t see any of the candidates as substantially better than the others, not yet.” Like Walker, Polly Boehm, a secretary for a local claims adjuster, also said she had to wait awhile longer before she could make a serious decision about the candidates. “The way things are looking right now, I’d probably vote for Pat Paulson,” she said.

In Years Past

In 1913, a certificate of incorporation had been filed with the secretary of state, by the Jamestown Upholstery Company, incorporated, for the right to engage in the manufacture of upholstered furniture. The authorized capital was $150,000 and the incorporators were Louis N. Olmsted, Fred A. Nelson, Frank L. Kling and John H. Prather. The incorporators of this company had exhibited sound business judgment by the purchase of a railroad-flanked factory site well within the industrial zone of Jamestown. The factory would be located on Crescent Street with frontage of 500 feet on Erie Railroad tracks.

The Chautauqua Lake Railroad was still crippled. Little could be done towards repairing the tracks which were being swept by an angry sea due to excessive high winds. As soon as the wind subsided, the tracks would be replaced as rapidly as possible. Jamestown Fire Chief Wilson was asked to pump out the basement of the new Flickinger factory. He was told that the basement was water tight but a leak had admitted the water. The leak had been found and plugged and the management was anxious to have the basement dried as soon as possible.

In 1938, March both entered and departed from the Jamestown scene like a lamb, thus disproving the old saw, but it lived up to its reputation for vagary by providing some of the most vernal weather the area had enjoyed in many years. Statistical evidence of the unusually mild demeanor of the month practically filled the monthly weather report compiled at the Government Weather Station at City Hall. Outstanding fact was the 81 degrees maximum temperature recorded on March 22. Readings of 78 and 75 degrees were recorded on March 23 and March 30 respectively.

New York State Motor Vehicle Commissioner Charles A. Harnett viewed an increase in night time traffic accidents as “alarming.” Although he reported that the current decline in traffic deaths had continued through its third month, Harnett added that more than 53 percent of the non-fatal and 66 percent of the fatal accidents occurred at night. “When the reduction in traffic during this period is considered, these figures became more alarming and indicated that night driving was becoming increasingly hazardous,” he said.

In 1963, sub zero temperatures and at least a foot of snow, accompanied by gale force winds, were predicted for Chautauqua County for the following day. But wait. Hold on to your spring bonnet. It was only a nitwit weatherman having his little April Fools Day joke, which wasn’t funny to area residents still thawing out from a record cold winter. Actually typical April weather – showers and a balmy 60 degrees – were on tap for this day after a nice spring weekend of sunshine.

The 46 remaining employees of Fibre Forming Corp. of Olean, who had not had a regular payday in six weeks, were idle in the aftermath of the company president’s arrest on charges of fraud. Robert W. Easley, president of Local 22 of the American Federation of Grain Millers said the workers would not be asked to return to their jobs. Later in the day, company president Charles E. Nolan, said the plant would not reopen after the weekend shutdown. Nolan, 36, who was free on $10,000 bail, said the charges against him were “unwarranted and unjustified.” The plant’s workers voted to skip regular paychecks temporarily in an effort to help the company improve its financial position.

In 1988, the government of the country’s second largest state had its checking account closed this day. New York had failed for the fourth consecutive year to adopt a state budget in time for the start of the new fiscal year. That meant the state which was working on a budget of more than $44 billion had no legal authority to spend one penny. The 1988-89 fiscal year began at 12:01 a.m. But about seven hours earlier, the leader of the Republican-controlled state Senate sent his members home for the religious holiday weekend. “There’s no earthly way we can finish so…we’ll be back on Monday,” said state Senate Majority Leader Warren Anderson.

They were still skiing at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville where the curtain would ring down at 4:30 p.m. the following day on a 117-day season. It ranked as the longest in the area during the winter of 1987-88 and probably could continue except for a shortage of skiers, according to Marketing Manager Jane Eshbaugh. She said of the situation, “Actually, we have quite a bit of snow left but not many skiers.”

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