(Seal of Chautauqua County displayed at the New York World's Fair 1939-1940.)
Research by Norman Carlson, Chautauqua County Historian
Each week, we take a journey through time to reflect on the moments that shaped Chautauqua County. From pivotal votes and community milestones to natural disasters and first-time events, history reminds us of how our region has evolved. This week, we highlight key events that took place between March 16 and March 22—spanning over a century of progress, challenges, and resilience.
March 16
- 1885 - The Jamestown Bicycle Club changed its name to the Chautauqua Wheelmen. The club had been founded on October 3, 1884.
- 1909 - Voters in Lakewood, Celoron, and Falconer rejected annexation by Jamestown.
- 1926 - The Busti District #8 (Mill School) Mothers' Club was formed.
- 1946 - Commercial air service began in Jamestown with an Empire Airlines flight.
- 1999 - An illegal methamphetamine factory was discovered in Forestville.
- 1999 - The Village of Sherman voted against dissolving into the Town of Sherman.
- 2001 - Another illegal methamphetamine laboratory was discovered in Jamestown.
- 2010 - Residents of Randolph, East Randolph, and Perrysburg voted to dissolve into their respective towns, with the changes taking effect in 2012. (Cattaraugus County)
March 17
- 1854 - The first Catholic church in Chautauqua County, St. Mary's, opened for services in Dunkirk.
- 1865 - A great flood impacted Jamestown and the surrounding region.
- 1936 - The infamous St. Patrick’s Day snowstorm devastated the area, crushing many buildings.
- 1951 - Watts Flats Methodist Church was destroyed by fire.
March 18
- 1837 - Fire destroyed the east side of Main Street in Jamestown.
- 1891 - The Fluvanna Political Equality Club was organized as part of the women's suffrage movement.
- 1910 - A bronze tablet honoring Calista Jones (1823-1900), a beloved progressive teacher, was unveiled at Jamestown High School.
- 1964 - Caryl Vandermolen (1927-2018) became the first woman elected to the Lakewood Village Board.
- 1999 - Jamestown signed a sister city agreement with Datong City, China. The city was previously twinned with Jakobstad, Finland, and Cantu, Italy.
- 2003 - The first use of electronic voting machines in Chautauqua County took place in Celoron.
March 19
- 1915 - The Lakewood Improvement Society was organized.
- 1937 - The Portland Historical Society was organized. (Later became defunct.)
- 1999 - At 4:30 p.m., David R. Miller was murdered in Pomfret.
March 20
- 1887 - A fire at Chautauqua Institution destroyed 55 cottages.
- 1941 - The Mayville Methodist Church was destroyed by fire.
- 1995 - A Bob Evans restaurant opened just north of Jamestown.
March 21
- 1838 - The Jamestown Journal reported on a prophetic dream about the year 2000, possibly one of the strangest articles ever published in a Jamestown newspaper. (A 1947 article in a shopping guide rivaled it for strangeness.)
- 1945 - Busti Bethany Lutheran Church merged with Jamestown Bethel Lutheran.
- 1972 - Off-duty Sheriff John Bentley rescued a three-year-old girl from Chautauqua Lake.
March 22
- 1836 - The Panama Post Office was established.
- 1900 - A felt factory in Fredonia was destroyed by fire.
- 1903 - Niagara Falls temporarily ran dry due to a low water level in Lake Erie.
- 1913 - Corbin Willard, age 84, gave an interview recalling a baseball predecessor in Jamestown from the 1830s.
- 1999 - A bomb scare led to the evacuation of Jamestown High School.
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