100 Years Ago

In 1909, a storm of cyclonic proportions passed over northern Crawford County, Pa. the previous evening. The storm tore east and left everywhere a trail of desolation and suffering. The most pretentious section of Cambridge Springs was completely wrecked. Several persons were injured. Thorp Williams of Jamestown who was in Cambridge Springs, stood one side of the path of the cyclone and saw it twist house after house to pieces. Jamestown caught the tail end of the tornado but it had spent its fury before reaching the state line and very little damage was done.

The body of John F. Nowak of Fredonia was found lying beside a road near Brocton. He had evidently fallen from a wagon which he was driving and striking on his head, broke his neck.

50 Years Ago

In 1959, the Erie Railroad had sold its historic Kinzua Bridge to the Kovalchick Salvage Company of Indiana, Pa., it was announced. The bridge was about 2,000 feet long and was 300 feet above a scenic valley that it spanned. Once called the eighth wonder of the world, it had attracted thousands of tourists over the years. It was built in 1882 of iron and was rebuilt of steel in 1900. The railroad had no use for the bridge after abandoning a 14-mile stretch of track between nearby Mount Jewett and Lewis Run. A number of civic and historical organizations tried to interest the state in a plan to create a state park in the area but the state never acted on the plan.

Office operations of Falconer Plate Glass Corporation had been moved to its new building, a structure adjacent to the mirror plant, Lyndon Boulevard, Falconer. Richard H. Turner, corporation president, said the new unit would permit streamlining of mirror production for increased efficiency and added output. Mr. Turner said the decision to construct the new building was based on faith in the Jamestown area as a business center and a willingness to invest in its future.

25 Years Ago

In 1984, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture officials were still considering a recommendation that a civil penalty be filed against a Gettysburg railroad operator who sprayed a restricted herbicide along tracks in a residential area of Warren Borough in June 1983. Edwin Wallace, director of the Agriculture Department's Bureau of Plant Industry, said that he was waiting for the legal opinion of department lawyers on whether a fine should be imposed against Sloan Cornell, the operator of the Irvine, Warren, Kane and Johnsonburg Railroad.

Lakewood United Methodist Church had completed its long-range plan with the building of a new parsonage on Shadyside Avenue close to the church. A campaign in March raised the funds. Ground was broken soon afterward. Oct. 20 was moving day for the Rev. Richard A. Caldwell and his family, who had much help from the congregation.

10 Years Ago

In 1999, the new joint wastewater system between the villages of Randolph and East Randolph was brought to a screeching halt when a protesting businessman parked two service trucks and a sedan across the sewer commission's right-of-way to their treatment plant behind Jamestown Street. The plant was scheduled to begin final testing and be put in use the next couple of weeks. Tom Wade, chairman of the project's volunteer sewer commission, was concerned the blocked right-of-way was a hazard in case of a fire or medical emergency occurring at the plant.

Vivian Taylor had announced his candidacy for Jamestown City Council. "I was shocked when I discovered that there was no Democratic candidate for the Third Ward council seat," said the former eight-term Ward Three councilman. "The Third Ward, more than any ward in the city, needs representation," he said. "This is the reason I have decided to run. I believe I did a good job in representing my constituents before, and I can do it again. I care about the city and about people," he said.