Twenty years ago — 1999

At the village elections held earlier this month, Mayor Frank Pagano, the first Democratic mayor in Fredonia’s history, easily won re-election over Trustee Patrick Damore, his Republican-Concord Party challenger. A total of 2,385 voters turned out. Fredonia has 5,188 registered voters. Trustee Stephen Cobb, was the highest vote-getter in the race for three board seats, all of which went to Democrats. Susan T. Westling and Stephen Keefe also were elected to the board, which is the first all-Democratic board in the history of the village.

Thirty years ago — 1989

George Weaver Jr., former president and chief executive officer of the Fredonia Seed Co., has been chosen as the Business Person of the Year by the student-run Business Club of Fredonia State University College. Mr. Weaver chaired the committee that started the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and is active at the college as a member of the Fredonia College Foundation Board of Directors. He served as president of Fredonia Seed from 1961 to 1984.

Forty years ago — 1979

St Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, formerly St. Mary’s Church, recently celebrated its 125th anniversary. In observance of the anniversary, a plaque briefly recalling the history of the church, has been placed in the center vestibule. The first Mass at St. Mary’s Church was celebrated on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 1854. After trying for several years, Bishop John Timon secured Passionist Priests to assume responsibility for the church.

Fifty years ago — 1969

Yet another train wreck in the city of Dunkirk occurred the morning of March 22. The derailment of seven cars of an eastbound Norfolk and Western railroad freight train cannot be classified as a serious wreck as Dunkirk residents have come to know them, but it was enough to block all tracks on N & W in the city. About 110 yards of track and ties were ripped up.