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Retrospective

County history

August 11 1826 – Stockton post office was established. 1893 – Fredonia Union School was organized. 1898 – Four stores were burglarized in Cherry Creek. 1905 – President Theodore Roosevelt visited Chautauqua Institution for the fourth and final time. 1959 – First jet aircraft (Air Force T-33) landed at the Jamestown airport. 2014 – Phil Donahue returned to Chautauqua Institution; Jay Leno also visited Jamestown the same day. August 13 1834 – Philip Phillips, a world-renowned gospel singer known as the “singing pilgrim,” was born in Cassadaga. 1999 – ...

County history this week

July 7 — 1849 – The first Jamestown-bound shipment of postage stamps departed Washington, D.C., including 1,300 five-cent and 700 ten-cent stamps. — 1924 – Speeding fines in Jamestown were increased to one dollar. —1956 – A Navy AD6 Skyraider crashed in Chautauqua Lake. July 8 — 1881 – A young woman nearly drowned after being trapped by a turtle in Chautauqua Lake. July 9 — 1872 – A six-foot, 120-pound mystery fish—largest ever recorded—was caught in Chautauqua Lake. — 1898 – Midway Park officially opened. 1903 – The Waldemere Hotel in ...

County history this week

June 15 — 1799 – Near the Pennsylvania border (6 miles from Chautauqua County), the first vision of Handsome Lake occurred at Cornplanter Grant. This marked the beginning of the Handsome Lake religion, still practiced today by hundreds of Iroquois in the U.S. and Canada. — 1818 – The Westfield Post Office was established. — 1873 – Alden’s Grove at Cassadaga Lake was dedicated. It later became the foundation for the Lily Dale Assembly. — 1944 – 407 German prisoners of war were housed at the Dunkirk Fairgrounds. — 1984 – Welch’s historic plant in Brocton ...

County history today

June 13 — 1819 – William Bemus gave a lecture in Mayville on achieving physical immortality. He believed he would live forever—but died in 1830. — 1902 – A test run of the first train from Westfield to Jamestown was conducted. — 1998 – The WJTN Breakfast Party relocated to the Sandpiper Restaurant at the Jamestown Airport.

County history this week

June 10 — 1886 – The Eureka Fire Company was organized in Silver Creek. — 1945 – A tornado struck Jamestown, causing significant damage in the Brooklyn Square area. — 1956 – Lena the elephant arrived in Mayville. She passed away in January 1957. — 1967 – Groundbreaking took place for the Gerace Office Building in Mayville. — 1973 – The new Jamestown Airport was officially dedicated. — 1996 – The largest surviving chestnut tree in New York State was discovered in Arkwright. The species was largely destroyed by blight in the early 20th century. June ...

County history this week

June 7 — 1917 – The Northern Chautauqua County Red Cross Chapter was organized. — 1997 – Lori Bova disappeared, a case that remains part of local lore. June 8 — 1848 – Silver Creek was officially incorporated as a village. June 9 — 1898 – A hospital at the poorhouse in Dewittville was opened. — 2000 – The film “Gone in 60 Seconds” had its world premiere in Dunkirk.