Twenty years ago — 1998

A new attraction at this year’s Chautauqua County Fair was the Budweiser Mobile Beer School. The school is an extraordinary facility — a completely self-contained classroom on wheels. The 53-foot long trailers unfold to create a spacious 1,400-square-foot classroom with comfortable seating for 48 people. The facility can be assembled on site in just eight hours. The focal point of the presentation is an incredibly detailed three-dimensional replica of the brewing process. It is an impressive display covering the entire front wall of the classroom. The classes encourage interaction between participants and their instructor, who is an Anheuser-Busch brewmaster.

Thirty years ago — 1988

From Just Between Us ….. Jim Steffan of Dunkirk is one of several students from the Tri-State area currently spending their summer marching in some of the nation’s top drum and bugle corps. These students have committed their summer to traveling, practicing and performing in more than 50 shows all across the U.S. and Canada. Mr. Steffan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Steffan of Dunkirk, attended Dunkirk High School and was an active member of the band. He has marched several seasons with the Murraymen Senior Drum Corps and is currently playing snare drum with the Cavaliers of Chicago.

Forty years ago — 1978

In 1975, on a brief stop in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area, Gov. Hugh Carey stood with OBSERVER reporter Tim Callahan and said that the Lamphere Street crossing in Dunkirk posed an unsafe condition and would be corrected. Three years later, not a lot has been done for the problem and talks about the axle-busting crossing stretch back nearly two decades. The latest development is that William Hennessey, state transportation commissioner, is coming to Dunkirk to view the site and discuss the status of planning for either an underpass or overpass.

Fifty years ago — 1968

This year’s American Field Service student at Dunkirk High School will be 17-year-old Juan Carlos Revera Fajardo of Lima, Peru. He will reside with the Rowland B. Mahany family, 25 West Green St., Dunkirk. A senior, he will return home after a year to continue his education toward a doctorate of medicine degree. Juan is expected to arrive in Dunkirk on Aug. 28.