100 Years Ago
In 1912, two days previous saw the completion of the first six months in the history of the Samuels Hotel, the opening date having occurred on May 15. The hotel had been successful from the start and already had a name and reputation for splendid accommodations and service abroad in the land. The management, however, announced that the patronage of the grill room had not been such as to warrant a continuation of the high-priced orchestra that had delighted all with its splendid music during the past six months and that, consequently, the orchestra would return to New York City the following week.
Jamestown chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, had inaugurated a movement having as its aim the erection of a soldiers' and sailors' monument in keeping with the size and importance of Jamestown and the large number of men from the community who had served the nation as soldiers and sailors in time of war. The movement had not yet assumed definite form but the organization of patriotic women was determined that such a memorial should be built in honor of the memory of the dead soldiers and sailors from Jamestown and as an inspiration for this and coming generations.
75 Years Ago
In 1937, a man whom officials claimed refused to work to support his family and insisted that he be given relief was given his choice of accepting a WPA job or serving six months in Monroe County penitentiary when arraigned before Acting Judge Charles H. Widborg in Jamestown city court. The man had a wife and two children. Welfare department officials and Assistant Corporation Counsel H. Stanley Turnquist described him as one of the type who believed the world owed him a living. The man told Judge Wiborg he had failed to report for work at a WPA project to which he had been assigned because he did not have proper clothing. He was instructed to go to the welfare department and secure proper clothing.
The Kum Dubble class of the Grace United Brethren church held a hobo party Tuesday evening at the church, with Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Folwell in charge. Costumes were those of hoboes. Plans for the annual church supper were discussed. The class would be in charge of the refreshments. Games and a lunch, furnished to each member in paper bags, followed.
50 Years Ago
In 1962, "The worst thing I ever saw," was the way Mrs. Gerry Greenwood described the devastation left the past week by typhoon Karen on the Pacific island of Guam. Miraculously, many families at Andersen Air Force Base located in Guam seemed to pick the safest places to stay and survived the storm. Mrs. Greenwood, the former Marcia Marchiando and daughter of Samuel Marchiando of Woodlawn Avenue, arrived in Jamestown the previous day from Guam. With her was her 11-month-old son, Scott Alan. They left Guam two days ago for the 8,000 mile flight home. Her husband, Airman First Class Gerald Greenwood, was still on Guam where he was stationed. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry N. Greenwood of Foote Avenue Extension.
When a customer pulled up in front of the new drive-in facility at the Corry Citizens National Bank he shouldn't be alarmed if he didn't find a teller. All he needed to do was push a button and one would materialize before his very eyes just like magic - the magic of television. Thus, the wonders of the electronic age came to add a new touch of adventure to such a routine chore as cashing the weekly paycheck.
25 Years Ago
In 1987, Dunkirk's first woman Mayor-elect Madylon Kubera said she might re-evaluate some programs in view of the city's dwindling population after taking office Jan. 1. Mrs. Kubera, a Republican who ran on the Citizen's Party ticket, maintained her lead on Election Night over her closest competitor, Democratic and Conservative-endorsed candidate Edward F. Wisniewski, after 119 absentee votes were counted. A spokesman at the Board of Elections confirmed that Mrs. Kubera received a total of 1,837 votes; Wisniewski garnered a total of 1,778.
The hole that Harry Carlberg of Ivory Street, Frewsburg, had found in his lawn didn't contain hidden treasure but it did make an intriguing conversation piece. Carlberg had mowed his lawn for 14 years before he came across a small hole and examined it further. He discovered that it led to an opening 8 feet deep and 3 feet wide. He believed the hole was a former well.