In 1913, the body of Oscar B. Gustafson, son of Mrs. A. J. Borst of Hanley Street, Jamestown, was brought home from Corry on Sunday morning. He was killed Saturday evening in Corry by being run over by an Erie freight train. The members of the family of young Gustafson all believed that he met his death from foul play and not from an ordinary accident such as the railroad officials and Corry police professed to believe. The foul play theory was supported by his well known careful habits and the unexplained disappearance of his money and a valuable gold watch which he was known to have had with him when he left the house.

The good people of the village of Gerry were somewhat interested, not to say excited, over the exploits of a man giving the name of Ned Walker, who spent the week in the village and who on last Saturday night gathered in, it was thought, about $150 selling medicine to a crowd in a hall he had rented. Walker was under arrest on a charge of assault third degree but it was not unlikely that an attempt would be made to fasten another charge on him. The Gerry authorities suspected that Walker was not his real name. They found an envelope in his possession addressed to Claude Boise, Salamanca. It was thought possible that his real name was Boise. That, however, was merely conjecture.

In 1938, musicians by the thousands invaded Jamestown this day to participate in the western state championship finals of the New York State School Music Association at the senior high school. Fully 3,000 students and their directors and other educators were expected to be here during the two-day festival competition. Band, orchestra and choir competitions were on the program. Jamestown High School’s a cappella choir, under direction of Miss Ebba H. Goranson, repeated its performance of the past year by achieving a rank of superior when it sang shortly after noon.

A proposed amendment to the state constitution which would empower the legislature to enact compulsory automobile insurance laws would be vigorously opposed by the Jamestown Bar Association. This decision was reached at a meeting of the association. The resolution which placed the bar association on record as against an authorization to the legislature to enact compulsory automobile insurance was on the grounds that such authorization would be inimical to the public welfare. “The system would be disruptive of our economy and tend to promote social unrest and dissatisfaction,” said the resolution, in part.

In 1963, Bomber, an 11-year-old gray and white coon hound, was a hero this day. It was Bomber’s barking that attracted the attention of a group of volunteers at 1 a.m. Sunday, at the climax of their long search for two youngsters in a wooded area of West Ellicott west of Howard Avenue. Rushing towards the baying sounds of the dog, the group found the boys – Jay Arthur Palmer, 3 1/2, of Norton Ave., and his playmate, Billie Reid Ware, 4 1/2, also of Norton Ave. – huddled together on the ground with Bomber sheltering them with his body. The air was damp and the temperature was in the 40s. The boys were playing within sight of their homes when they were discovered missing and their disappearance reported to police at 8:41 p.m. Saturday.

A garage housing ammunition, kegs of powder, gasoline and a drum of fuel oil, burned to the ground in Youngsville early in the morning. The garage, located on Route 62, three miles south of the Route 6 intersection at Irvine, was owned by Paul Smetanka. The fire was discovered at 3:05 a.m. by a passing motorist who awakened a neighbor and telephoned an alarm to the Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department. Approximately 3,000 rounds of loaded ammunition exploded and burned throwing containers and sparks of debris in various directions from the rapidly burning structure. Mr. Smetanka, who was employed by National Forge, loaded ammunition as a side-line occupation.

In 1988, a company seeking a location in the Eastern United States had taken an option on 60 acres in the North County Industrial Park near Dunkirk as the possible site for a more than $100 million facility. A decision on whether it would locate there was expected by mid June. The announcement was made by Chautauqua County Executive John A. Glenzer and Dunkirk Mayor Madylon Kubera. They said state and county representatives held meetings during the past two days with officials of the unidentified company who were very impressed by the reception given them. Glenzer commented, “While the company still wants to remain anonymous, officials have indicated their intention to break ground in July of this year and to construct and equip it with an investment in excess of $100 million if, of course, the final arrangements can be made.”

People should not expect any breaks if they were caught carrying drugs across the U.S. border from Canada. No matter how small the quantity, they would face criminal penalties and would also lose their car. Thousands had already forfeited their vehicles under the federal government’s “Zero Tolerance” program. “It doesn’t make people very happy,” Walter Lechowski of the U.S. Customs district office in Buffalo said. “But it sure gets the point across.”

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, all attractions booked for Celoron over the summer had been canceled. The Celoron Amusement Company had abandoned all intentions of conducting the place as heretofore. This move was due to the strike of the employees of the street railway company and the traction company. Rather than undertake to present the free amusements furnished heretofore, it was deemed best to cancel everything. Celoron had been running for many years without a break. At the time of the other street railway strike the resort was kept open but the management had decided not to repeat the experiment. The past year had not been a very successful season. In this year, with the hostility of one element in the city there was little encouragement for opening and hence the resort would not be opened.

The furniture manufacturers of the city were considering the advisability of adopting a plan which was said to be working well in Grand Rapids, which was to cut down the working time to five days in the week instead of six. Business in the furniture line was not as brisk as could be desired and this plan would curtail production considerably. No definite steps had been taken further than to discuss the matter in an informal way. At the present time the factories were operated six says in the week. The plan contemplated reducing the working time half a day, half holidays now being allowed on Saturday. The matter would be considered further in the near future.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, volunteers, answering a call for 1,000 able-bodied men set out soon after the break of another cold northern Pennsylvania dawn to beat through heavy woods in a final search for little Marjory West. A reward of $200 for information leading to the discovery of the blue-eyed, auburn-haired child “dead or alive” spurred the volunteers to press foot by foot through the wild, heavily forested country 16 miles south of the oil producing fields near Bradford. The Bradford American Legion post offered the reward, four days after little Marjory, 4-year-old daughter of an oil field worker, wandered away from a family picnic on Mother’s Day to gather flowers on a mountainside.

Officials reported that Niagara Falls once more had changed its shape slightly during the past winter and the American falls was taking on a horseshoe shape similar to that of the famous Canadian Horseshoe falls. The city publicity department announced that a survey had revealed that the crest of the American falls had developed a more decided sawtooth appearance than in former years. Two V-shaped indentations had appeared in the crest, each about 20 to 30 feet deep. “It is clearly evident that erosion is progressing at a rapid rate and that the heretofore fairly even and straight American falls is taking on a horseshoe shape, similar to that on the Canadian side of the river,” the bureau reported.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, there were no devil-worshipping cults in Jamestown, Warren and Youngsville high schools. That was the word from police and school administrators in those areas. Rumors had been flying about the supposed cults but no police department or school official had found anything to substantiate any of the reports. “For the life of us, we’ve just been amazed,” Youngsville Principal Douglas Allen said. “We continue to receive calls.” But Allen said despite reports that there were black roses being sent to the school and that 300 people from Jamestown and Ohio were congregating at the school this day, “School is operating normally and has been operating normally. As far as we’re concerned, everything is simply rumors,” he said. “There is no basis for any of those things,” Jamestown Police Chief Richard D. Ream said.

A new restaurant planned for Jamestown’s south side was among five applicants approved by Jamestown Local Development Corp. directors for $179,500 in loans in connection with projects totaling $1,035,581. It was proposed as a 3,500-square-foot A&W Restaurant at 800 Foote Ave., with seating capacity for 130 people and parking for 64 cars. The project was designed as a one-floor wooden/masonry building with professional landscaping.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, vaudeville and motion pictures would hold forth at The Lyric Theater in Jamestown during the entire summer, commencing May 12. A fine list of pictures were booked for the first two days of the coming week, a few of the subjects being “The Darktown Belle,” a hilarious comedy; “The Past Forgiven,” a sympathetic drama and “Human Kindness,” a comedy interspersed with pathos. Besides the motion pictures there would be two acts of high class vaudeville; Madeline Sack, the well known violin soloist, who returned to The Lyric fresh from triumphs in the larger cities and the Dayton Trio.

Brush fires of immense proportions had been fought successfully by men in the employ of the South Penn Oil Co., in Forest and Warren counties during the past two weeks but there was still considerable danger of destruction to valuable property. Two weeks ago one of these fires started in Forest County where the South Penn had many wells and other holdings. This fire was fought to a standstill after it had covered an area of at least 2,000 acres. The only loss by the South Penn was near Balltown where a standard derrick, boiler and engine and the boiler house were destroyed.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, mud spattered and shivering men who had combed dense woods in the area of Bradford, Pa. for three days seeking little Marjory West expressed doubt that the child, if found, could be alive. Blue-eyed and titan-haired, the 4-year-old Marjory – object of one of the most intensive searches ever staged in this densely forested northern Pennsylvania district, had but recently recovered from pneumonia. She wandered away from a family picnic Sunday to gather flowers in the woods. Bloodhounds brought in by New York state police who joined the hundreds of men and boys in the hunt, picked up the trail but lost it.

If anyone was out of doors about 9 a.m. and saw what they felt were spots in front of their eyes, and mentally resolved to abandon at least one little pet indulgence, they could be reassured and bust the said resolution wide open. The reason? They weren’t spots. They were snowflakes. True, they weren’t many and those that filtered timidly through the air were of an ethereal, ephemeral nature. Nevertheless they were snowflakes as anyone with sharp senses could testify on this slap-happy old May 11.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, detonation of what proved to be a “live” aerial bomb found lying in 8 feet of water under the Erie Railroad Road over the Chadakoin River in Jamestown was successfully accomplished shortly after 6 p.m. Friday. The blast rattled windows and caused vibrations in homes within a half-mile radius of the Sixth Street Bridge but there were no reports of damage to property. The explosion was handled by two members of the Tri-State Underwater Recovery Team. The bomb, believed to have been a discarded war souvenir, was first discovered under the water by Wayne Newark, an Erie-Lackawanna Railroad trainman, Jan. 23. The missile, over 2 feet in length and approximately 8 inches in diameter, was lying in the water about 20 feet from the bank. The blast sent up a tower of water and silt which engulfed the railroad bridge but caused no damage.

The detonation of the unexploded bomb found in the Chadakoin River was accomplished by Frank Falejczyk of Summit Ave., Lakewood and Miss Jean Nelson, of Sturges St., Jamestown. Their assistance was enlisted by Detective Lauritz Nelson of the Jamestown Police Department. A detonating cap was affixed to the shell by Mr. Falejczyk and with the help of Miss Nelson, wire was strung to a detonator set up beside a junk truck in Heldeman Brothers Salvage Co.’s yard. The blast was set off by Miss Nelson on an “all clear” signal. Miss Nelson, a sophomore at Jamestown Community College, was the only woman in New York State holding a license for underwater demolition work. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Nelson.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, 5-year-old Scott Szczodrowski of Lakewood held the crappie he caught Sunday that was worth $1,000 in the Chautauqua Lake Crappiethon. The fish, named, “Ernie Eagle,” was sponsored by Eagle Claw hooks and was caught with a homemade jug which had been sent to national Crappiethon Headquarters to check if that type of hook was used. If it was, Scott would pick up an additional $1,000.

The crisis at Jamestown General Hospital could probably have been avoided had the city gone ahead with a merger of health care services suggested 18 years previously, according to Mayor Steven B. Carlson. Jamestown General was running in the red and hadn’t shown a profit since 1976 and earlier in the week the mayor suggested it merge with WCA. A product of the Citizen’s Hospital Committee, the 1970 study of health care services in Jamestown recommended that the community would best be served by “a single hospital complex brought about by expansion of existing facilities at WCA,” Carlson said. “Had we gone ahead with the recommendations in that report we could have had lower health care costs for the community and avoided the particular crisis we find ourselves in today,” Carlson told The Post-Journal.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, the Spanish War Veterans’ field music band had ordered new uniforms for its 24 members and would wear them for the first time in the parade in Jamestown on Memorial Day. The uniforms were very similar to the full dress uniforms of the National Guard of New York, consisting of dark blue coats with white facings; light blue trousers with white stripes and dark blue caps of the bell crown pattern, with two white stripes and in the front a device consisting of an eagle and the number “45,” this being the number of Samuel M. Porter camp, United Spanish War Veterans of Jamestown.

That the present cold snap was giving the people very unseasonable weather was evident from reports that had been received at The Journal office this day. One man reported that water had frozen a quarter of an inch in thickness in Jamestown. Another man reported that the water in a dish in his hen house was frozen over. Whether vegetation was far enough advanced to suffer would be determined later. Reports by telegraph received indicated the cold wave covered a good section of the state.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, Lawrence E. Lamb, proprietor of Hawkins Restaurant on East Third Street in Jamestown was freed in city court from a charge that he violated the state labor law by keeping a waitress at work after midnight. The case was dismissed by Judge Allen E. Bargar upon recommendation of Vincent A. Tauriello, assistant to Attorney General John J. Bennett, Jr., who prosecuted the case when it was tried in city court a fortnight ago. Because he had sleeping rooms for rent in connection with the restaurant, Lamb maintained that he was entitled to operate under the rules governing hotels rather than those governing restaurants.

A proposal to establish a municipal milk plant at an estimated total cost of $400,000 was referred by the Jamestown City Council to its gas committee which had under consideration plans for a $1,200,000 municipal gas plant. The proposal was submitted by Councilman Gust C. Peterson in the form of a resolution. A chorus of laughter greeted a suggestion by President Clark that the matter be referred to the Gas Committee. “You can laugh all you want to, but I think the matter would be in the hands of a pretty good committee,” commented Peterson.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, the wheels of partisan politics in Jamestown were beginning to turn and were geared to gain momentum steadily before reaching top speed by election day Nov. 5. City Democrats held the first in a series of ward meetings designed to explain the mechanics of running in the Sept. 5 primaries. The session was held at the home of Joseph C. Spitale, 176 Barrows St., Fourth Ward chairman. Daniel R. Larson, city Democratic chairman, said similar meetings would be scheduled in the remaining five wards, possibly concluding by the end of the following week.

A fire at the Mundane Company, Central Avenue, Brocton, was believed to have started from an overheated motor of a blower. Thirty men of the Brocton Fire Department under the direction of assistant fire chief Donald MacFadden were called to the frame structure at about 9:30 a.m. The fire was confined to a chute and area between the first and second floors of the building formerly occupied by the Crandall Panel Works. The Mundane Company manufactured raw plastic material.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, Mayor Steven B. Carlson made a strong pitch for merging Jamestown General and WCA hospitals into “a single health care organization” at Jamestown’s City Council meeting. The recommendation grew out of severe financial problems at JGH. The hospital had lost money every year since 1976 and had to receive taxpayer support to finance its operation, according to Carlson.

A fast-moving storm that created a lot of sound and fury the previous night, resulted in few problems, however, according to spokesmen for area agencies. Albert J. Frisina, regional consumer services manager with Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.’s Dunkirk office said the utility experienced no power interruptions as a result of the inclement weather. He reported a problem with an unsafe tree leaning against wires on the Gleason Road near Ashville was taken care of without any loss of service.

In Years Past

• In 1913, a demonstration which might have culminated in serious disorder was promptly suppressed by a squad of policemen at the Jamestown Shale Brick Company shortly before 7 a.m. Chief Johnson, accompanied by five officers, started for that place. On arriving there the police found about 50 employees of the brick company standing on the north side of the Erie tracks near the approach to the stone quarries and an equally large sized group of men on the south side. The situation was simply that the stone quarry employees wished to go to work and the men grouped on the opposite side of the tracks would not permit them to do so. The police jumped into the crowd with orders for it to disperse. These orders were enforced with much vigor. Several of the men were jolted about with considerable abruptness. There was no organized resistance.

• Unusual interest was manifested in the annual school meeting held at Chautauqua the previous evening. There had been advocacy of manual training by some, while others said that the time had not yet come for the establishment of such instruction. Recently a teacher from the Dunkirk schools spoke at the school house upon the subject. The place of the school meeting was filled by interested persons, more than one hundred voters being present. One old lady was present who, although she had been a resident of the district for more than half a century, had never attended a school meeting before. The voters, by a show of hands, declared themselves against the adoption of manual training for the coming year.

• In 1938, Major Albert W. Stevens, famed U.S. army stratosphere balloonist, believed an air raid could not be stopped by airplanes. “For large cities,” he said in a lecture in Rochester the previous night, “it is popularly presumed that the best defense is a ring of anti-aircraft rifles – but they are not particularly effective either.” Speedy attacking planes, he said, could change their flying course quick enough to escape bursting anti-aircraft shells. He offered no solution to the problem.

• Principal Peterson of the Ashville School announced that the school, closed since the previous Monday morning because of the growing measles epidemic, would open on this morning. The epidemic, which had spread like wild fire through the village and had reached serious proportions, claimed a list of 59 pupils of the total registration of 119 last Monday morning when, on the advice of Dr. L. C. Green, health officer and Mrs. Emmeline Meyer, board of education head, the school was shut down. According to Mr. Peterson, the epidemic was the first to hit the village in the past 10 years, this being the reason it was so prevalent.

• In 1963, the Rev. Marshall L. Smith, the Presbyterian minister who officiated at the wedding of Gov. Rockefeller and the former Mrs. Margaretta Fitler Murphy, faced disciplinary action for his part in the ceremony. Mr. Smith, a graduate of Jamestown High School in 1938 and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Smith of Lakeview Avenue, Jamestown, was accused by Hudson River Presbytery, of failing to obtain the required permission to marry a person divorced less than one year. Rockefeller’s bride obtained a divorce from Dr. James S. Murphy on April 1. Rockefeller was divorced 14 months ago from the former Mary Todhunter Clark.

• Sherman Brothers Co., local upholstered furniture manufacturers since 1880, had been declared bankrupt and assets would be sold at public auction. The decision meant the company’s doors were closed for the first time in its 83 year history; the loss of more than 125 production jobs and other jobs, which included office help and salesmen. A court appointed general manager, John G. Catranis of Derby, N.Y., reported he was unable to raise sufficient funds to keep the firm in business.

• In 1988, plans for the five-lane section of Route 394 in West Ellicott were progressing at the Buffalo regional office of the state Department of Transportation according to William Christen, project engineer. “We’re still designing the five-lane section,” he told The Post-Journal, adding, “I haven’t seen a response from Mr. Lundine’s office so I don’t’ know if he’s responded.” Lundine met with representatives of the Committee for the Preservation of Route 394, who were opposing a five-lane segment and state and area officials in March. Christen said plans called for putting the project to bid early in 1989, with construction also proposed to begin next year.

• The painting of bridges had been banned throughout New York state until Department of Transportation officials could determine the extent of possible health hazards from lead-based paint, DOT Regional Director Robert Russell said. Lead-based paint had long been known to cause serious problems when it gets into the human body. During the process of repainting a bridge, the old lead-based paint was sandblasted off the steel and became an airborne dust. People then breathed in this dust. Several downstate environmental groups had complained about the situation, causing the DOT to order the work stoppage.

In Years Past

TODAY

Ellington Community Food Pantry, Ellington Fire Hall, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

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

Narcotics Anonymous: Just For Today Group, Trinity Memorial Church, 444 Pennsylvania Ave., W., Warren, noon; open discussion, SWG, nonsmoking

Narcotics Anonymous: A Vision of Hope, open meeting, nonsmoking, wheelchair accessible, stepworking meeing, 33 Union St., Olean, 1 p.m.

Mental Health Association writing group, 31 Water St., Suite 7, Jamestown (behind the Gateway Center), 1:30 p.m.

WNY Alzheimer’s Association Caregivers Support, Steger Apts., 15 N. Main St., Dunkirk, 2:30 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous: Women’s meeting, closed discussion, Alanon Club, 511 E. Second St, 5:30 p.m.; wheelchair accessible

TOPS NY 142 Jamestown, Christ First United Methodist Church, 663 Lakeview Ave., Jamestown; use the Buffalo Street entrance; weigh-in, 6 p.m.; program, 7 p.m.

Double Trouble in Recovery Group for those with mental illnesses and having a drug or alcohol problem, 517 Spring St., Jamestown, 6:30 p.m

Narcotics Anonymous: All You Can Hope open meeting, St. Francis Episcopal Church, 343 E. Main St., Youngsville, 6:30 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Look to This Day Relapse Prevention, open discussion, First Baptist Church, 358 E. Fifth St., Jamestown, 7 p.m.; wheelchair accessible

Mental Health Association Healthy Living Group, 31 Water St., Suite 7, Jamestown (behind the Gateway Center), 3 p.m.

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

Narcotics Anonymous: Recovery on the Rez, open meeting, open discussion, nonsmoking, Free Methodist Church basement, 387 Center St., Salamanca, 7:30 p.m.

Gamblers Anonymous, Falconer United Methodist Church, 7:30 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Step meeting, closed discussion, 511 E. Second St., Jamestown, 8:15 p.m.; wheelchair accessible

THURSDAY

Gluten Free Diet Support, WCA Hospital, Classroom 4, for more information and meeting time, call 664-8356

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 Ave., 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 of Chautauqua County Recovery Focus group, 31 Water St., Suite 7, 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.

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

Narcotics Anonymous: WOW, Welcome to Recovery, closed meeting (addicts only), ask it basket/open discussion, nonsmoking, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 556 E. Second St., Jamestown, 5 p.m., wheelchair accessible

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

WNY Alzheimers Association Caregivers support, Memory Gardens, 560 Fairmount Ave., Jamestown, 7 p.m.

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

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.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, Miss Julia Nyberg of South Main Street, Jamestown, who was spending Sunday with her parents in Busti, was attacked at about 6 p.m. by an unknown man while she was returning to the city. She was on Kidder Hill just beyond the city limits when the man whom she described as of medium height, smooth-faced and wearing a black derby hat and brown coat, stepped up to her and grabbing her by the throat threw her down and attempted to choke her. She screamed for help and the man, seeing a carriage coming down the road, ran across the fields and got away. As the assault occurred outside the city limits, the matter was placed in the hands of Sheriff Anderson, who was working on the case.

The Warren Mirror said Clarence O’Neil, the buttermilk man, declared there was a shortage of buttermilk in that section the like of which had not been seen in many years. It might be that buttermilk was growing in favor as a cool summer beverage or the creameries did not care to bother with it but O’Neil could not get enough of the lacteal fluid to supply the restaurants and hotels, let alone the private customers. O’Neil was endeavoring to contract for greater quantities but thus far he had been unable to do so.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, Jamestown would undergo its official annual spring housecleaning the following week as Cleanup Week would be observed. City trucks would tour the city to collect junk and rubbish placed by householders on the curbs in front of their homes. To insure the truck drivers of a maximum cooperation, householders had been requested to place their rubbish on the curb on the first day of Cleanup Week. It was further requested that the rubbish be tied in bundles small enough for one man to handle. Chief of Police Edwin Nyholm had assured the department of public works of assistance, which should eliminate one factor that had troubled the drivers during recent years. Junk pickers were reported to have made tours of the city, selecting from the heaps of rubbish whatever they wished, scattering the remainder in disorder. Police cars would keep a close surveillance of the city to see that such scavengers did not disrupt the cleanup plans.

The Chautauqua Lake Yacht Club would be humming with activity at Lakewood as sailing craft owners and members of their crews continued their work of getting the boats ready for the racing season in the offing. The blue waters of the lake would be graced by the appearance of several spanking new sailboats this year. Dr. Clyde Wilson had already launched his new Palmer C. boat, as had James R. Morris of Toledo and Chautauqua. The boats arrived during the past week and their owners promptly went to work getting them into the water. Morris called his Miss Chautauqua.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, the two-room schoolhouse would be without students and teachers for the first time in more than a century when the 1963-64 school year began in September. Among the last of school districts to yield to large centralized school districts, voters of Coldspring School District No. 3, by a vote of 18 to 12, agreed to contract with Randolph Central School District to educate all of its students. The school enrollment for the ensuing year had been estimated between 50 and 60 students.

A can, ripped apart, was found in a further investigation of the Toothman camp explosion which claimed the life of one person and injured two others, one critically. Coroner Frederick Hitchcock announced the can had been found. He said it was the type of can which probably contained fluid used to start a charcoal fire in a barbecue grill. The can was discovered near the small space heater in the room where the victim, Mrs. Nell Toothman, 45, of Bradford, Pa., and her grandson, Robert Williams, 1, were asleep when the explosion occurred. The boy was still in poor condition at Jamestown General Hospital. His sister, Becky, 2, was discharged from the hospital the day after the explosion.

In Years Past

In 1913, a reward of $50 had been offered by Mrs. Robert J. White of Jamestown, for the discovery of the body of her son, Louis Hammermiller, who was supposed to have been drowned near Crystal Bend in Chautauqua Lake Sunday morning. No trace of the body had been found yet although searching parties were at work under the direction of Chief of Police Gotts of Celoron.

More men returned to work on the Jamestown Street Railway this morning and the regular day schedule was in force on the entire city system and on the traction line. The company was not operating cars in the evening as there were not enough men to operate them. A group of 25 to 30 men went to the Lake View Rose Gardens on the Lakewood road for the purpose of organizing the men employed there and it was planned to parade downtown. Chief of Police Frank Johnson went to the Rose Gardens and interviewed the leaders of the proposed demonstration. “You cannot have a permit for this parade,” was Chief Johnson’s ultimatum. The leaders assented. There was no disorder of any kind.

In 1938, Jamestown’s semi-annual furniture market closed this day with the 700 attendance mark reached at noon in comparison with a registration of 968 buyers the past spring and 812 last fall. The first 1937 market was in progress for 10 days while the markets last fall and this spring continued for 11 days. In view of reports received from current markets held in Chicago and Grand Rapids, exhibitors at the local market felt that Jamestown had more than held its own in the matter of comparative attendance.

With the flags of the United States and Sweden as an appropriate setting, Ingjald lodge No. 65, Independent Order of Vikings, celebrated its 13th anniversary at its club in the Arcade building, with more than 200 men and women in attendance. The dinner, an elaborate affair, was followed by a program with Oscar C. Nelson presiding and the assemblage being welcomed by Ed Erickson, chief of the lodge. Music was furnished by the Viking trio and the Harmony Singing Society. Dance numbers were presented by Arlene Sodergren, accompanied by Mrs. Louise Kennedy.

In 1963, an initial estimate of damage to grapes, principal crop in Chautauqua County’s lake shore fruit belt, as result of low temperatures overnight, April 30 and May 1, was expected to be compiled by Friday, May 10. A spokesman for Welch Grape Juice Co., Inc., Westfield, the area’s largest processor, said a six to seven man team from the firm currently was making a careful evaluation of the entire belt and hoped to make a report on its findings by late in the week. “There is no question about it. There is damage and it undoubtedly will have a definite effect on overall crop prospects,” he said.

A call for more research and trained personnel in the field of public works was sounded by Paul R. Screvane, president of New York’s City Council. He spoke at a dinner in the Hotel Jamestown of the New York State Chapter, American Public Works Association. “Industry has found in terms of hard cash, well selected research and development programs have paid off handsomely,” he said. “I am convinced that at the municipal level, systematic research and development programs, particularly in public works, is long overdue.” Mr. Screvane said the public works field was not glamorous and lacked the financial appeal found in other fields.

In 1988, Medicare’s fortunes had improved and its trust fund was not likely to run out of cash until the year 2005, while the Social Security old age fund should be solvent until the middle of the 21st century, the systems’ trustees told Congress. The 2005 date was three years later than was forecast a year previously. The trustees, including three Reagan Cabinet members, said Social Security’s old age fund also had achieved robust gains and predicted it “will have enough funds to cover expenditures for about 60 years into the future.” The trustees urged Congress to “take early remedial measures to bring future (Medicare) costs and finance into balance” and to “avoid the need for later, potentially precipitous changes.”

George Carlin had been around for 30 years making record albums, movies and radio and television commercials – mostly making people laugh – and he was coming around again. Carlin would be at the Reg Lenna Civic Center in Jamestown for two performances on Saturday, May 14. Tickets were selling briskly according to Patrick Gibson, director of box office sales.

In Years Past

In 1913, Herman August Schultz, eight years old, son of Mrs. August Schultz of Maple Street, Westfield, was drowned in what was known as the mill dam in Westfield Creek late Saturday afternoon. His body was found floating in the creek near the Westfield mills Sunday night by two boys. They went to the mill and told Martin Stoakes, who took the body from the water. Young Schultz went swimming with two other young boys and whether or not they were with him when he was drowned had not been learned but it was thought that they were and became frightened and ran away.

Bert Oscar Anderson of North Work Street, Falconer, well known in both Falconer and Jamestown as B. O. Anderson, left his home Sunday shortly before noon and could not be found by his family or friends. The family was very greatly concerned over his unexplained absence and asked The Journal to make facts known to the public. Mr. Anderson had spent more than 30 years in Falconer and was a hard working Christian man with no bad habits, exemplary in this conduct and spoken of in the highest terms by all who knew him. He attended church with his wife on Sunday, came home and remarked that he was tired of it all and was going away. He had not been seen since. He was almost 60 years old and had worked at farming most of his life.

In 1938, Jamestown police were busy investigating the ransacking of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde G. Jones, 404 East Fifth Street, while the family was in Buffalo the previous day. It was believed the intruders were in the home between 7:30 and 10:15 p.m. George Jones, son of the couple, discovered what had occurred when he returned home at 10:15 p.m. and reported the matter to police promptly. So far as could be determined, nothing was stolen. A hatchet found near a basement window through which entrance was probably effected, was taken to headquarters for fingerprint examination. Fragments of the broken window pane were taken for the same kind of study.

A man about 50 years of age, believed to be W. V Stevenson of R. F. D. 3, Pleasantville, Pa., was found dead along the B & O railroad tracks near the Fenton farm just outside Salamanca and at the upper end of the railroad yards this morning about 6:30. The name was given on a card carried in his billfold, with instructions in case of accident to notify Jess Stevens of Pleasantville. An overcoat and lunch were found in a box car at that point leading to believe the man had jumped out of the car in front of a freight train.

In 1963, Cynthia Lou “Cindy” Bush, 8-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bush of Livingston Avenue, Celoron, beamed a happy smile as she received her crown and regal robes as Miss Chautauqua Princess of 1963 Saturday afternoon at the State Armory. Princess Cindy, a second grader, was crowned by Miss Chautauqua County – Kay Rendell, of Watts Flats. The crowning was part of the two-day show to aid the current cancer fund drive.

Police and fire officials continued their investigation to determine the cause of a small oil stove explosion which took the life of one person and injured two others, one critically. The explosion occurred at 1:20 p.m. Sunday in the family’s small one-story frame camp at the Goose Creek camping area near Vukote. The three victims, all of Lewis Run, near Bradford, were asleep at the time of the explosion. Fatally burned was Mrs. Nell Toothman, 45, who died in Jamestown General Hospital at 7 p.m. Sunday. Injured were her grandchildren, Robert Williams, 1, whose condition was critical and his sister Becky Williams, 2. Her condition was listed as good.

In 1988, a half-scale replica of the Vietnam memorial wall would be on display at the Dunkirk Historic Lighthouse grounds from August 26 through Sept. 1, according to Harold Lawson, president of the Lighthouse and Veteran’s Park Museum in Dunkirk. “We know Vietnam vets feel left out and we want to show them we care,” Lawson said. The memorial would be available for public viewing free of charge 24 hours a day during the week it would be in the area.

Rainy weather didn’t stop about 75 Jamestown General Hospital nurses from participating in what they called a “right to know rally” the previous afternoon on Tracy Plaza at Jamestown City Hall. The rally was an attempt to gain community support to keep JGH a full service health care facility, said Kathleen Moore, president of the Nurses Association. She said Jamestown needed two hospitals and not a health care monopoly. “No decisions were made on the financial crisis at JGH,” said Mayor Steven B. Carlson this morning

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, the Jamestown, Chautauqua & Lake Erie Railway Company had received a Bench-Edison electric car, made by the Federal Storage Battery and Car Company of Silver Lake, N.J. and a test run from Jamestown to Westfield and back was made the previous day. The car which was equipped with Edison storage batteries and four 20-horsepower motors had a seating capacity of about 75. The run was made at an average rate of about 21 miles an hour, including stops at all stations and the results were very satisfactory. Great effort would be made to give the people of Jamestown and the lake region a frequent service on the east side of the lake over the summer and if this new electric car would not fill the bill something else would be tried.

Up to noon this day, no traces had been found of the body of Louis Hammermiller, the 18-year-old boy who was supposed to have been drowned some time Saturday night or Sunday morning between Crystal Bend and Grass Island in Chautauqua Lake. Hammermiller’s cap, basket of lunch, a whiskey bottle, fishing rod and tackle were found floating in the lake Sunday morning by the men who found his stepfather, Robert J. White, dazed and nearly unconscious on the bottom of the overturned boat in which Hammermiller and White went fishing the night before. Two women who lived at Crystal Bend heard cries for help out in the lake some time not far from midnight Saturday evening. This was as nearly as any definite information could be secured as to when the accident happened. The boy’s mother, Mrs. White, was nearly prostrated with grief over the affair.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, 15 local Boy Scout troops of Chautauqua Lake Area council launched a fight to rid Jamestown of its annual spring pest, the tent caterpillar. The scouts planned to work on vacant lots throughout the city but would assist householders if their aid was requested. Various methods of extermination of the insect would be used by the scouts but in most cases nests would be burned out. Instructions would be given to the boys on how to do the work safely, to themselves and to the trees and shrubs and other properties.

Three Ashville Grange members, youthful in spirits if not in years, were among the 50 who enjoyed the card and dancing party given by Ashville Grange on a recent evening. The ages of the three totaled 261 years divided as follows: Mrs. Jane Alexander, who was 83; Mrs. Silence Doud, 81; and George Ira Alexander, who lacked but three years of being 100. Players filled 10 tables of progressive pedro, with first prizes going to Mrs. Warren Wilcox and Leonard Ticknor. Second prizes went to Miss Lottie Comstock and Fred Halbon. Chinese checkers were played at one table. Dancing was another feature of the party. Still another one of these public social events would be held Saturday, May 14.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, an Ellington youth became Chautauqua County’s ninth highway fatality of the year when he was killed overnight in a one-car accident on Route 394 near the Leach Hill Road in the town of Poland. The victim was identified as 18-year-old Dennis S. Ayers. Chautauqua County Coroner P. Michael Nielsen said the accident occurred overnight and was discovered at 6:40 a.m. this day by a passing trucker. Nielsen said Ayers was alone in the car, which was eastbound on Route 394 when it struck a utility pole and guard rail and went down into a culvert area where it came to rest partially overturned. Ayers remained inside the vehicle. The accident was investigated at the scene by Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department officers and was continuing.

Mayor Steven B. Carlson addressed approximately 200 hospital employees to inform them of the deficit woes at Jamestown General Hospital before the hospital’s executive committee met in a separate, closed-door session. “The purpose of tonight’s meeting is for the (hospital) board to review our financial audit prepared by our certified public accountant,” the mayor said. “We don’t have answers at the present time but I am to go to Albany tomorrow to meet with New York state Health Commissioner David Axelrod about this crisis,” he added. “We want to save the health care system in the community and jobs at Jamestown General,” Carlson said.

In Years Past

• In 1913, the local YWCA was planning other things beside the financial campaign, although, of course, the campaign would take first place for the next two weeks and, in fact, the “other things” were partly dependent upon the success of the campaign. But the summer vacation time had to be planned and it would help splendidly if young women who had enjoyed the vacation home provided by the association together with those who expected to do so this season, would not only register very early but feel free to offer any suggestion which would help make the summer home an entire success. Some day the association hoped to have a permanent abiding place somewhere around the lake but until that happy time, the location varied with the rents, convenience of travel and financial resources.

• Ernest Ciano, aged about 4 years, whose home was at 516 Allen St., fell into the Chadakoin River about 9 o’clock the previous morning and but for the prompt work of rescue on the part of Robert Varing, an employee of the Weber-Knapp Company, he would have drowned. The little chap fell in above the Weber-Knapp factory while playing with other children and floated down past the factory, being pulled out by Varing. The city ambulance was called and the child rushed to the WCA Hospital where he was resuscitated. At noon, though the child was out of danger, he was still somewhat cyanotic therefore it would be necessary to keep him quiet for some time. The child’s mother, who was French, worked in a mill and had left the child with a neighbor.

• In 1938, opening of the fishing season in Allegany State Park brought warning from Chief Ranger Oscar Lindberg that there still was considerable danger of forest fires and care should be exercised by everyone going into the woods. A planting of 2,000 black ash trees made the past week by Indian boys of a newly formed 4-H club on the Allegany Indian reservation was threatened for a time by fire which burned over about 50 acres of brushland Sunday but which was put out before it reached the new plantings. This fire, blamed on a spark from a train, caused negligible damage, the land having nothing on it but brush.

• Proposals to legalize gambling in New York state by constitutional amendment brought scores of protests to convention delegates mostly from clergymen on grounds that it would “impoverish the common people” and “weaken the moral fibre.” Supreme Court Justice Harry E. Lewis of Brooklyn, chairman of the bill of rights committee to which the proposed constitutional amendments were referred, asserted letters from citizens opposing the measures outnumbered those in favor by more than three to one.

• In 1963, two brothers and three of their grandchildren were drowned Friday night when their small flat-bottomed boat capsized in Mud Lake, about 12 miles east of Oswego. The victims were identified as Arthur Hotaling, 57, Archie Hotaling, 51, and their grandchildren, Larry Woodruff, 5, Lannie Woodruff, 10 and Robert Myers, 11. All were residents of Fulton, a small community near Oswego. Oswego County Sheriff Raymond Cotton said the group apparently was fishing when the homemade wooden boat overturned. No lifejackets were aboard the boat.

• Burglary of the Lakewood Sport Shop the previous Aug. 23, loot from which included eight pistols, two rifles and a large quantity of ammunition, was reported solved early this day with the arrest of an 18-year-old Celoron youth by officers of the State Police, Falconer. The loot, including 7,500 rounds of assorted ammunition, totaled $954.91 in value. The youth waived examination and was ordered held for the Chautauqua County Grand Jury on a charge of unlawful possession of firearms. A .38 caliber revolver, found in the lad’s possession at the time of his arrest, was identified by serial number as one of the weapons taken in the burglary.

• In 1988, higher speed limits on rural interstate highways were having no discernible effect on traffic fatalities, probably due to stricter enforcement, Transportation Secretary Jim Burnley said. “A 55 mph limit that is not enforced can be more of a problem than a 65 mph limit that is enforced,” Burnley said after a speech to the Society of Automotive Engineers. A law enacted the past year over President Reagan’s veto allowed states to raise the speed limit to 65 mph on rural stretches of interstate highways, 10 mph faster than the national 55 mph speed limit enacted in 1974 as an energy conversation measure.

• Jamestown General Hospital was on shaky financial ground as the hospital apparently would have to absorb a $2 million loss for 1987. According to Mayor Steven B. Carlson, “It’s been losing money since 1982.” Carlson said he blamed unfair federal and state reimbursement rates for the losses. He said the rates made it difficult for small hospitals to turn a profit.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, Ray F. Pickard, justice of the peace of Jamestown, was elected by the district attorney department to issue the warrants in the cases against the former employees of the Jamestown Street Railway Company and Chautauqua Traction Company, who were accused of damaging the property of these corporations. Justice Pickard spent all the afternoon signing the various papers necessary for these proceedings. He spent the entire evening, or more properly speaking, the better part of the night, at the police court receiving bail for various persons under arrest. Bail was fixed at $1,000 in spite of the protest of Attorney Frank Mott who thought $500 bail ought to be enough.

News had been received in Jamestown of the death of Thomas Tansley of Levant in the Soldiers’ Home at Dayton, Ohio, Thursday. He was aged 70 years and was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted at Batavia in Co. K, 12th New York infantry, Sept. 6, 1862. He resided at Levant and conducted a blacksmith shop there for many years. His wife died several years ago and his only son was killed by a trolley car near Dunkirk three years previously. He was survived by a daughter, Mrs. Edwin Fox of Levant. He was a member of the Falconer tent of the Maccabees and of James M. Brown Post, Grand Army of the Republic.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, Jamestown police were at work probing the disappearance of $950 in cash from the office safe of Lang’s Bakery, Inc. at 2226 Washington St., sometime over the weekend. It was believed that whoever stole the money also took eight cases of beer from the warehouse of the Hollywood Beverage Company, located in the same building. Police were handicapped in their investigation by the fact that the alleged burglaries were not reported until many hours after they were discovered. Ruth Greim, bookkeeper at the bakery, claimed she discovered that the money was missing when she arrived at the place at 8 a.m. the previous day. The safe was closed and locked but when it was opened, the money was not there.

With applications still pouring in, according to word received by Arthur R. Goranson, 3,000 students would attend the state music finals under the auspices of the New York State School Music Association in Jamestown the following weekend. These students would form at least 40 bands and orchestras. More applications were expected as a result of sectional contests held last weekend. The estimated attendance of 3,000 was exclusive of all directors and visitors who would be here during the huge affair. The gathering was expected to be the largest in this city in several years.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, for the first time in its history, Jamestown was building a public boat launching ramp at the southern end of Jamestown’s municipal dock at the boatlanding. This would permit the free launching and free drydocking of small craft in the outboard motor class which were transported via trailer. The project was developed by Chautauqua Lake Region, Inc. and the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce to meet demands for a launching facility in Jamestown.

Cigarette ashes on an upholstered seat were blamed for a fire at 11:45 p.m. the previous evening which damaged a car and a garage in Portville. John Weakland was listed as the owner of the car and the building, valued at a total of $4,500. The fire destroyed 75 percent of the car and 20 percent of the building, Sheriff Morgan L. Sigel reported.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, Chautauqua Lake area businesses were expected to experience an increase in activities over the spring and early summer as a result of the “Crappiethon U.S.A.” fishing tournament that began Saturday, April 30, and would continue through June 28. Area bait sales locations appeared to be the major beneficiaries from the opening weekend, according to a random sampling of fishing-associated operations. Arthur Carlson of Carlson’s Boat Livery in Celoron said of the activities there Saturday, “We had the best day I guess we’ve had in five years.”

Lincoln should remain the neighborhood elementary school for the west side of Jamestown. If the school board’s decision on district reorganization fell where it was headed, Lincoln would be one of six kindergarten through fourth grade elementary schools in the city. Persell Elementary, meanwhile, would be converted to a middle school for fifth through eighth-graders. The option was discussed at the Jamestown School Board meeting the previous evening. About 20 residents attended.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, nightfall of the first day of the strike of the employees of Jamestown Street Railway Company and the Chautauqua Traction Company, was signified by several attempts to destroy or injure the property of the company. Some of these attempts were successful, some were not, but the sum total represented considerable damage. As a result of this lawlessness, eight men, former employees of the company, were already under arrest and more arrests would probably follow.

This night was “Overland Night” at the Peterman Garage Opening and Auto Show at 107-109 W. Fourth St., Jamestown and a rousing time would be had. The admission was free to all and all Overland owners and prospective buyers were especially invited to meet and exchange ideas and relate experiences. The stripped model 69T chassis was proving highly interesting and instructive. A carload of Overland Thirties arrived the previous day. Persons attending would be able to see the electric self-starter and have it explained to them. The standard electric at $1,885 had no competitor. It carried Exide Batteries containing 30 cells and was propelled by a Westinghouse motor. The First Lutheran Church band of 36 pieces would give an open air concert starting at 7 p.m.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, Frank Jinks, a roomer at 117 E. Fifth St., had a harrowing experience Sunday when he awakened to find his third-floor room filled with smoke from a burning mattress which had caught fire when he fell asleep while smoking. Trapped from a normal exit by the dense smoke, Jinks, clothed only in his underwear, hung from the window ledge of his room, with one foot resting on the top sill of a second-floor window, until firemen arrived. Jinks was rescued from his perch by firemen who placed a ladder along the outside wall of the building. His hair was singed but he was otherwise uninjured. The fire was discovered by a young man who, new to the area, ran five blocks to a restaurant to learn how to summon the fire department which was located only two blocks from the blaze.

The Abrahamson-Bigelow Co., operating the largest department store in the Jamestown area, would this week observe its golden jubilee anniversary – an event rare in the life of business corporations – and in the very fitting celebration of the event, was taking the public, which it had served for 50 years, into its plans by offering a special store program with sales in all departments. The business was established in 1888 by the late C.F. Abrahamson, originally occupying a store just north of the National Chautauqua County Bank on North Main Street. Some years later the late R.W. Bigelow joined forces with Abrahamson and together they expanded the store.

50 Years Ago

In 1963, criticism of Jamestown for trying “to go it alone,” ignoring the interests of neighboring communities was voiced by John M. Barrett, attorney for the village of Celoron at a meeting of the Jamestown Industrial Development Commission. Barrett said although the city bus system served Celoron, Lakewood and Falconer, none of these communities was represented on the Municipal Transit Commission. Noting that Celoron had recently lost its amusement park leaving an area which would be suited for use as a residential area, he suggested that Celoron might be included in the city’s plans for future development. Ninety percent of the residents of Celoron, he said, were employed outside the village and did most of their shopping in Jamestown.

Initial work at the overlook and parking area located on Route 59 near the dam site at the Allegheny Reservoir Project was nearing completion. Paving and the installation of guardrails were expected to be finished in another two weeks. Landscaping in the promenade area of the overlook was expected to be complete in time for the summer tourist traffic. The promenade would provide a convenient and unobstructed view of work at the dam site and the reservoir area upstream of the dam. It was expected to be a popular tourist attraction in summer.

25 Years Ago

In 1988, two new automated “clerks” were being shown to postal executives in Washington. However, the new machines were still in the experimental stage and were not expected to be used in Jamestown for several years, James Smith, superintendent of postal operations, told The Post-Journal. The machines, dubbed Infopost and Autopost, would be on display at the Third Advanced Technology Conference of the U.S. Postal Service. Both of these devices were upgraded models of the vending machines already in place at many post offices around the country.

Two people were injured after their plane crashed at 11:03 p.m. Friday at Ross Mills Road in Ellicott. Marie Eddy, 25, of Philadelphia and Michael D. Calvitto, 25, of Belleview, N.J., were enroute to Niagara Falls Airport from McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. The Piper Archer 181 flew into bad weather and was unable to land at Wellsville. It was diverted to Jamestown, experienced icing conditions, lost altitude and was forced to land in a small, wooded area a half-mile from Route 380 about one mile northeast of the Jamestown Airport. Eddy suffered a broken arm and Calvitto suffered cuts and abrasions.

In Years Past

100 Years Ago

In 1913, the new local union of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America, at a meeting Wednesday night declared by a unanimous vote to declare a strike against the Jamestown Street Railway Company and the Chautauqua Traction Company taking the stand that all honorable means of bringing about a peaceable settlement of the differences between members of the union and the two companies had been exhausted and a strike was therefore the only thing to do. There had been no violence thus far but the police department was taking no chances and several special policemen were sworn in this morning. The deputy sheriffs in the city were also on the job in order to prevent trouble.

Henry B. Wilhelm dropped dead at the corner of Fifth Street and Prendergast Avenue in Jamestown about 10 a.m. Wilhelm resided at 46 Grant St. and for over 10 years had been in the employ of the George Irish Paper Company. He was on his way from his home to the city when he was taken suddenly ill and died before anyone could reach him. Wilhelm was exceptionally well-known not only in Jamestown but throughout Western New York and Pennsylvania, where he had traveled for many years. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in a Pennsylvania regiment.

75 Years Ago

In 1938, maintaining that widespread publicity in the press had created a strong sentiment in Arkwright Township against them, four Dunkirk and Fredonia youths charged with malicious mischief for the alleged damage to gravestones in Cassadaga Cemetery, applied to County Judge Lee L. Ottaway to have their cases certified to the grand jury. The lawyers asked that the case be sent to the grand jury instead of having Justice of the Peace A.J. Black, Arkwright, dispose of the case, claiming that the youths could not secure a fair and impartial trial there because of the sentiment created by publication of their alleged acts. Thirty-three monuments and grave markers were recently toppled from their base in Christian Cemetery, Cassadaga. Authorities later arrested the four youths.

Falconer police were investigating the breaking of a window and the theft of two bottles of cheap whiskey at the Falconer Liquor store, West Main Street, sometime early Saturday morning. The display window was discovered broken by one of the store employees when he opened up Saturday morning. The store was owned by Walter Fuller, who told police that the thief or thieves missed getting a much better grade of liquor by breaking the wrong window. The other display window contained a higher priced variety. Police were of the opinion that the act was one of “a pair of booze fighters.”

50 Years Ago

In 1963, it was a poor pun – but one might say “it’s snow time for May.” Especially when compared with May Day 1962 when residents basked in shirt sleeves, light summer dresses and a temperature of 80. Temperatures dropped to 26 degrees in Jamestown the previous night and were hovering near the 30-degree mark this day. On the same day in 1962 a warming sun moved the mercury up to 82 degrees and the overnight low was 57. This year, snow and rain accounted for precipitation totaling .023 inch in Jamestown. County temperatures ranged between 25 and 30 degrees. Up to 2 inches of snow fell in some sections.

Jamestown, for the first time in 36 years, would select its city officials under the party system of elections as a result of the previous day’s referendum. The referendum, marked by a light vote turnout, saw the so-called nonpartisan system rejected, giving the party system advocates a victory margin of 787. The proposition was carried in all of the voting districts except the fourth and fifth districts of the Fifth Ward where it lost out by slender margins. The nonpartisan system had been in effect here since a 1923 city charter change. Under the nonpartisan system, candidates put themselves on the ballot by petitions and formed parties which often cut across party lines. It was not uncommon to have Republicans and Democrats running on the same ticket.

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