100 Years Ago
In 1912, Jamestown Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was making a determined effort to locate all graves of Revolutionary soldiers in the cemeteries of the southern part of Chautauqua County. The purpose of this effort was to get into permanent form some record of these graves so that coming generations might know where Chautauqua County heroes of the Revolution were buried. It was planned that in time suitable markers might be placed at every one of these graves at present unmarked, the idea being that these men would not be forgotten as the generations came and passed, each one removing the activities of the soldiers of 1775-1783 further from the memory of man.
A company of about 22 young people, members of the Christian Endeavor Society of the First Presbyterian Church, enjoyed a cornroast at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Barker on the Boomertown Road near Ashville on Friday evening. The young people went to Ashville on the 6 p.m. Chautauqua Traction car and then walked to the Barker home. The lawn around the house was illuminated with lanterns and a large fire was lighted in the meadow near the house. The young people passed the evening in playing games and enjoying Victrola music. The usual good things to eat were served later in the evening and the return home was made at 10 o'clock.
75 Years Ago
In 1937, Youston Sekella experienced a new way of flying - backward - in a glider at the site of the national soaring contest in Elmira. Sekella took to the air in a wind of almost gale force and as soon as the craft struck ridge currents above Harris Hill the wind tossed it about like a small ship in a heavy sea. The wind actually carried the glider backward and Sekella could only gain forward momentum by keeping the nose of the craft down. When he attempted to land, he permitted the wind to "back up" the ship and nosed down in a field.
Ross Dyar and Dr. Robert E. Redmond who operated a medicine show near Russell field in Warren several weeks ago and for the past three weeks had been in Titusville, were arrested there by Chief of Police Dan F. Connell on a warrant obtained by Deputy Coroner C.M. Sonne. They were being held in the city jail pending the outcome of an autopsy performed on Leon W. Stufflebeam, 65, former resident of Grand Valley, who died suddenly at his home in Titusville. Deputy Coroner Sonne said Stufflebeam had been taking medicine which he purchased at the show tent. The men were being held without bail pending the report of the autopsy.
50 Years Ago
In 1962, new bids for necessary construction work and supplying and installing equipment to fluoridate the city's water system would be sought by Jamestown's Board of Public Utilities. Board members rejected the lone bid of Sans Corp. of $13,140 for the work after the consulting engineer firm of Nussbaumer, Clarke and Velzy, Inc., reported that the bid seemed "a little high." Cost of the project had been estimated at $10,800.
In Washington, House leaders sought quick approval of a resolution warning Havana and Moscow against any military buildup in Cuba that endangered the United States. But some members insisted on a chance to argue for tougher language than the Senate approved in the carefully worded resolution awaiting House action. The determination of objecting members was increased by word from official U.S. sources that the Soviet Union had stepped up arms deliveries to Cuba.
25 Years Ago
In 1987, one of the milestones of any band's career was landing a spot on Billboard magazine's "top albums" chart. Jamestown's 10,000 Maniacs had done it. In a weekly listing of the top-selling 200 albums in the United States, Billboard named the acts and albums whose works were ringing up the most sales in record stores nationwide. In the edition dated Sept. 19, 10,000 Maniacs' In My Tribe debuted on the chart - in the No. 190 spot. The album was also pegged with a bullet, which indicated sales gains over the week. A bullet usually meant the album was expected to climb higher on the charts in the weeks ahead. The band had returned from concerts in Europe and was touring the West Coast.
Senior Chad Chitester had an outstanding football game for the Frewsburg Bears in Division 9 on Saturday. The 135-pound defensive back recorded two key defensive plays in the game for the Bears as Frewsburg surprised Cassadaga Valley, tied for sixth place in the Western New York Small Schools rankings, 10-0. "It wasn't pretty," Frewsburg Coach Tom Sharp said. "But a win is a win." With the Bears clinging to a 3-0 lead with 5:05 remaining in the first half, Chitester stopped Cassadaga Valley's 160-pound senior running back Brian Wolcott on fourth-and-two play for a 2-yard loss as Frewsburg had a brilliant goal line stand. "That was one of our finest goal line stands we've had in several years," said Sharp.