Twenty years ago — 1998

More than 300 residents and business leaders came out to toast the recent grand reopening of the Sheraton Four Points Harborfront Hotel in Dunkirk in conjunction with the Northern Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce mixer. The hotel, purchased in August by G.F. Management Co. of Philadelphia, is in the process of completing a $500,000 capital improvement and renovation project. The hotel had been closed for three months when G.F. purchased it. It was pointed out at the mixer that the Sheraton Four Points Hotel Dunkirk is in a key location. It is the ideal destination and the only one of its kind between Buffalo and Erie.

Thirty years ago –1988

Two New Year’s Day babies are pictured in today’s OBSERVER. Mrs. Joan Smoczynski of Dunkirk holds her son, Daniel William, the first 1988 baby born at Brooks Hospital. Daniel arrived at 9:51 a.m. and weighed 11 lbs., 5 oz. He is the first child for Mrs. Smoczynski and her husband, Leslie, who reside in Dunkirk. The first baby of the New Year at Tri-County Hospital in Gowanda was Joy Elizabeth LaQuay, who is shown with her parents, Daniel and Rose (Hall) LaQuay of South Dayton. The first child for the couple was born at 11:40 p.m., weighing in at 9 lbs., 13 oz.

Forty years ago — 1978

The subject of this week’s People in Profile is Clinton H. Lewis, a Dunkirk resident for the past three years. During that time, he has greatly influenced young musicians at the Dunkirk Middle School where he is an instrumental and general music teacher, director of the Brass Choir and marching band and co-director of the Concert Band.

Fifty years ago — 1968

A new industry which manufactures and distributes a new copying machine is getting under way in Silver Creek. The plant is located at 285 Central Ave. and when under full production is expected to employ more than 50 workers. The copying machine is produced by PMS Inc. and according to Paul D. Kessler, general manager of the company, application for a patent has been made. Once in full production, the plant will be producing about 100 machines a day.