100 Years Ago
In 1912, at the meeting of the board of health on Friday evening nine cases of infantile paralysis in Jamestown were reported in widely scattered parts of the city, making 21 in all, but thus far there had been only three deaths from the dread disease. It was stated by eminent medical authorities that but little was known in regard to the disease from which 10 percent fully recovered and 70 percent were crippled for life. Among those who were suffering with the disease were Ralph C. Sheldon Jr., the seven year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph C. Sheldon of 110 Lake View Ave. and Marian, the 3-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William P. Osmer of 514 Jefferson St.
Jamestown City Clerk C.B. Jones said that, so far, this fall had proved more popular for hunters than any fall since hunting licenses were required and that he issued more licenses during the month of September than in any previous month. There was an immense amount of work connected with issuing the licenses and keeping the reports required by the law and often for days at a time he had practically no time to devote to regular work of other kind.
75 Years Ago
In 1937, Clare T. Woodmancy, 51 years old, a farmer living in the East Randolph-Steamburg Road in the town of Coldspring, was instantly killed Monday afternoon when a team of horses he was driving became frightened and bolted, causing him to be thrown from the wagon, the rear wheel of which passed over his neck. The accident occurred at a gravel pit about a mile from Woodmancy's farm. Woodmancy was working for the town of Coldspring at the time, hauling gravel from the pit for a road job. As he drove into the gravel pit he accidentally dropped one of the lines and when he attempted to recover it the horses became frightened and bolted, causing the fatal accident.
The first tryout for police radio in Jamestown and Chautauqua County was held by local police Monday evening, a radio-equipped prowl car receiving and executing orders broadcast directly from the office of Chief of Police Charles A. Sandburg. "The first test was eminently satisfactory," said Chief Sandburg as he announced that further tests would be conducted every night during the week for the benefit of the city and county officials. Most of the tests made were of a very simple nature but proved conclusively the superiority of radio to the present call light system.
50 Years Ago
In 1962, possibility of cutting the municipal light plant fuel bill by as much as $100,000 annually through changes in present purchasing policies was suggested by Mayor William D. Whitehead at a conference with the Board of Public Utilities. Suggested changes included inauguration of competitive bidding, use of coal produced by "strip" mining and delivery by truck instead of rail.
Trapped on a ledge in Zoar Valley for five hours, Carl Bailey, 25, of Hamburg, was rescued at 11 p.m. by Gowanda volunteer firemen. He was none the worse for his experience. Sheriff Morgan L. Sigel reported Bailey either jumped or lowered himself onto the ledge at 6 p.m. while hunting with his companion, Eugene Schwartz, 24, also of Hamburg. When Schwartz was unable to reach his friend, he went for help and walked for more than two hours in darkness through the woods of the valley before he obtained assistance. The distance from the ledge to the bottom of the gorge was estimated at more than 50 feet.
25 Years Ago
In 1987, a freak snowstorm socked - and shocked - eastern New York with up to 20 inches of snow the previous day, knocking out power to an estimated 735,000 people and closing many roads and at least one airport. Gov. Mario Cuomo declared a state of emergency in Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Green, Montgomery and Rensselear counties. Two Long Island men were killed by trees that were toppled by the snow. The low weekend temperature was recorded for Jamestown at its Ross Mills weather location as a cold 22 degrees. The cold brought snow flurries to some local areas during the weekend.
As Jamestown's mayoral candidates knocked on voters' doors they would also meet in their first public forum this week, giving city residents a chance to see how they run. Republican Ronald Rine and incumbent Democrat Steven B. Carlson would face off in their first public debate the following afternoon at the Marvin House. In an event sponsored by the Women's Political Study Club, the candidates would each give a 15-minute address. They would then be asked to answer questions from people attending the session.