100 Years Ago

In 1909, members of the Jamestown Water Commission spent considerable time discussing the question of water rates. The subject was introduced by Mayor Carlson who offered a lengthy resolution providing that the superintendent should make a tentative schedule of a uniform rate for all. Rates for many of the large cities were lower than Jamestown but Superintendent Immel explained that these cities had an inexhaustible supply while here the water had to be pumped a long distance from artesian wells. A new main would have to be laid through the village of Falconer in 1910 as the village was planning to pave the street.

There was one proposition on which the temperance people and the liquor dealers could consistently unite over and that was the proposition to drive the low dives from the community.

50 Years Ago

In 1959, troubles, or, perhaps more accurately, blessings - seemed to come double for teachers at Jefferson Junior High School. There were four sets of twins in the school's seventh grade in the school year. The previous year there were four sets in the ninth grade. The twin crop for 1959 were Beverly and Robert Cusimano, Franzella and Florence Pinzone, Sally and Donna Knowles and Robert and Larry Dorler. There were no other twins attending the school, according to Wendell M. Crozier, principal. Having a brother or sister in the same grade was no problem for the youngsters. The reason? ''We're not in the same classes,'' they chorused.

The Chautauqua County Humane Society had issued an appeal for all trappers to inspect their traps more frequently as four dogs had recently been brought to the Society carrying traps on their feet. Most of the traps in the county were set for fox or muskrat. The Society's announcement said that the law provided that traps had to be inspected every 24 hours. There is now a ''humane'' trap on the market, the Society noted.

25 Years Ago

In 1984, snow and ice control vehicles from Chautauqua County Highway Department and the state Department of Transportation were out in force to cope with winter conditions. In Jamestown, everything was in readiness in case a snowstorm hit the southern area of the county. The dispatcher at the county highway office in Falconer said winter conditions ''are pretty general'' with a little snow, along with ''pretty slippery'' road surfaces. About 15 trucks from Falconer and four or five from Sherman were out sanding, salting and plowing.

The increase in Chautauqua County taxes in the city of Jamestown was greater than had been expected, Jamestown Mayor Steven B. Carlson said. According to figures issued by the county, the tax increase in Jamestown would be $4.21 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, for an increase of 28.8 percent, Carlson said. On Nov. 15 the mayor expressed concern over a proposed $3.19 per $1,000 tax increase adopted by the County Legislature. ''This (latest) listing shows a startling additional increase in county taxes, not only for the cities of Jamestown and Dunkirk, but for all villages and towns within Chautauqua County,'' Carlson said.

10 Years Ago

In 1999, hundreds of people filled the sidewalks on Third Street to watch a Christmas parade as the Downtown Jamestown Open House Weekend started on Friday night. Participants in the parade included several school bands, police and fire departments, an Elvis impersonator, Christmas carolers and Santa Claus, among others. ''I liked seeing all the people come to town,'' said Diane Swanson, a parade spectator. ''The support, the life - it's wonderful.''

An employee-initiated program at Cummins Engine Co. had resulted in the donation of 74 computers to area not-for-profit organizations, with 50 more scheduled to be made available early in 2000 as a continuation of the project. Fourteen employees were credited with contributing more than 100 volunteer hours in cleaning and readying the primarily three-and-four-year-old units for donation. Employee Kelly Hammond accounted for 60 hours.