The state Department of Transportation has done some work on the James A. France Memorial in the rest area on Route 60 between Cassadaga and Sinclairville. The memorial was first dedicated 23 years ago. It is in memory of all deceased state DOT employees from Chautauqua County.

The memorial was created by the DOT’s Fredonia Roadside Team as a place where travelers on Route 60 could pull over and rest.

“Years ago, we had a ‘make a difference’ with all the shops,” explained Frank Gugino, a Fredonia DOT supervisor.

James A. France was a DOT employee for 23 years. He retired in 1995 due to health issues and passed away less than two years later.

The plants that were overrun by weeds have been replaced by marble stone at the James Frank Memorial Rest Stop on Route 60 in Charlotte.

The Fredonia shop was told they couldn’t dedicate it to one specific person, which is why there are two signs there – one that highlights France and the other that states the memorial is in memory of all deceased state DOT employees who lived in the county.

The memorial stone sat in an elevated section where annuals were planted. However as the years went on, the DOT couldn’t water the plants on a regular basis or weed it. “It was just an eyesore,” Gugino explained.

They decided to rip out all of the plants and replace them with marble stone.

According to Gugino, the memorial was originally dedicated on April 26, 2002, when France’s family was in attendance.

In the past there were picnic and garbage cans there, however those had to be removed due to the amount of trash that was left there.

The James A. France Memorial Rest area is pictured off of Route 60 between Cassadaga and Sinclairville.

Travelers are still welcome to sit and eat there, however it is labeled as a “carry in-carry out” rest area.