(Seal of Chautauqua County displayed at the New York World's Fair 1939-1940.)
Research by Norman Carlson, Chautauqua County Historian
From the arrival of the first cars in Jamestown to legendary performances by civil rights icons, this week in our county’s past is packed with memorable moments. Here’s a look at the fascinating local events that helped shape our region this week.
April 27
- 1827 – The Cassadaga Navigation Company was incorporated, aiming to clear the Cassadaga and Conewango Creeks for keelboat travel.
- 1865 – President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train passed through Dunkirk just after midnight.
- 1939 – Groundbreaking soprano and civil rights trailblazer Marian Anderson performed in Jamestown at 8:30 p.m.
- 1942 – Famed baritone and civil rights advocate Paul Robeson also performed in Jamestown at 8:30 p.m.
- 1984 – The Roger Tory Peterson Institute received its preliminary charter.
April 28
- 1900 – The first two automobiles arrived in Jamestown. One, owned by Cyrus Jones, had already hit the streets.
- 2002 – Vern and Sandy Ahlgren of Busti were deployed to assist victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City.
April 29
- 1877 – The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Emmanuel Church of Busti was formally organized (later the Mission or Covenant Church).
- 1888 – A Bible class formed in Jamestown, later becoming Pilgrim Memorial Church.
- 1891 – The Fredonia Opera House opened with a performance of Josephine, Queen of the French.
- 1907 – The Sportsmen's Club in Stow was incorporated.
- 1911 – A fire at the New York State Museum destroyed many early records and artifacts.
- 1913 – The original Quality Cash store opened in Brooklyn Square, Jamestown, a forerunner of Quality Markets.
- 1929 – Fireworks were officially prohibited in the hamlet of Busti.
- 1936 – Demolition began on the trolley powerhouse stack near Sixth Street in Jamestown.
- 1957 – Jamestown’s first airport restaurant opened (following an earlier snack shop).
- 1958 – Jamestown hosted its first officially titled “brainstorming session,” led by Mrs. Volney M. Holmes of Buffalo.
- 1958 – The Chautauqua County Mental Health Society was formed during a luncheon at the Marvin House.
- 1966 – The Driftwood restaurant was destroyed by fire.
- 1996 – Gennifer Flowers, known for her connection to President Bill Clinton, visited Jamestown and appeared at the Reg Lenna Civic Center.
- 2005 – Customer service at the Jamestown Telephone Building closed temporarily, later reinstated.
April 30
- 1850 – Sinclairville Presbyterian Church officially became a Congregational church.
- 1878 – Warner Dam in Jamestown washed out. It was rebuilt three times.
- 1889 – The Knights of Labor in Jamestown called for a shorter workday.
- 1920 – A severe sugar shortage gripped Jamestown.
- 1924 – Famed pianist and Polish statesman Ignace Paderewski performed at the Palace Theater in Jamestown.
- 1945 – The Iroquois Confederacy formally applied for membership in the United Nations.
- 1963 – Jamestown voted to end Sam Carlson’s nonpartisan election system, in place since 1923.
- 1987 – Gunnard Kindberg, Jamestown’s last “old-fashioned” traffic cop, retired at 4:30 p.m.
- 1988 – The first “Chautauqua Lake Crappiethon U.S.A.” fishing event began. (The final one ended June 25, 1996.)
May 1
- 1811 – The first recorded birth in Jamestown: Mary Blowers.
- 1832 – Jamestown’s first soda fountain opened at the W. D. Shaw Hotel, Third and Main.
- 1837 – Dunkirk Academy was incorporated.
- 1882 – Jamestown Water Company’s ornate pumping station was completed at the Boatlanding, considered the city’s most beautiful building at the time.
- 1887 – Reports surfaced of using crude oil to fuel steamboats on Chautauqua Lake.
- 1898 – The 13th Separate Company (Jamestown National Guard) left for the Spanish-American War but saw no combat.
- 1903 – The Bank of Jamestown was incorporated.
- 1904 – Hotel Newell in Boomertown, owned by Native American showman Rolling Thunder, burned down at 11:30 p.m.—likely from a discarded cigar.
- 1908 – Six inches of snow blanketed Jamestown.
- 1913 – A streetcar strike began in Jamestown.
- 1923 – A dinner promoting the Chautauqua Lake Bridge was held at Columbian Inn in Bemus Point at 6 p.m.
- 1931 – WOCL (precursor to WJTN radio) doubled its power from 25 to 50 watts and began 12-hour daily broadcasting.
- 1953 – Jamestown hospital semi-private room rates increased from $1 to $1.50 per day.
- 1992 – "It’s Elementary," a school supply store, opened in Jamestown. (It closed February 27, 1999.)
May 2
- 1829 – Fredonia was incorporated as a village.
- 1845 – Thomas Wilsie of Carroll offered a yoke of oxen (worth $80) to anyone who could hypnotize him for a painless leg amputation.
- 1882 – Chautauqua Lake went “dry” when liquor licenses in Mayville—the last on the lakefront—expired.
- 1912 – Tom the bear left the Celoron Park bear pit.
- 1946 – Jamestown Telephone Company acquired the Stedman Telephone Company.
- 1953 – The first wedding at Our Lady of Snows Catholic Church in Panama took place: Robert Davis and Mary Hurley.
- 1953 – Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Lakewood was organized (now closed; location of Rock Church).
- 1983 – A tornado killed two people, with the worst damage at Chautauqua Shores near Chautauqua Institution.
May 3
- 1852 – Hornell’s rail route to Buffalo bypassed Dunkirk, ending its hopes as the western terminus of the Erie Railroad.
- 1857 – A rare triple wedding took place in Busti.
- 1928 – Jamestown Lodge #1681 of the Loyal Order of Moose was instituted.
- 1956 – Jamestown High School’s A Cappella Choir began a three-day trip to Washington, D.C.
- 2001 – A new decorative steel fence was installed at the Busti Cemetery, replacing the old wrought iron one.
- 2024 – The final home delivery of the Jamestown Post-Journal took place, marking the end of a long era in local journalism.
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