Dec. 25

— 1808: Joseph Thayer, the first person to drown in Chautauqua Lake, marks an early tragedy in the area’s history.

Dec. 26

— 1897: The Dunkirk Post Office was robbed, one of the many criminal incidents that punctuated the county’s history.

Dec. 27

— 1817: The Universalist Society of Ellicott was organized, contributing to the area’s early religious movements.

— 1924: The first radio station in the county, 8 DIS (later WJTN), went on the air, revolutionizing the way information and entertainment were shared in Chautauqua County.

Dec. 28

— 1854: Susan B. Anthony visited Mayville, marking her first trip to Chautauqua County. She would go on to become a leading figure in the women’s suffrage movement.