Twenty years ago — 1999

A request from United Refining Co. of Warren, Pa., requesting permission to demolish a house at 765 Central Ave., Dunkirk has failed to receive approval from the Dunkirk City Planning Board for a third time. The company, which has owned the house since 1989, is seeking a demolition permit as part of a possible plan to expand the Kwik Fill station it owns at the corner of Central and Lucas avenues. Company officials indicated they would like to install new gas pumps and build a convenience store. The company has owned and operated the Central Avenue location since 1941.

Thirty years ago — 1989

Southern Tier Environments For Living, Inc., has submitted a proposal to build a group home on a vacant lot at 815-817 Park Ave. in Dunkirk that will be used to house mentally disabled geriatric adults. The home would be a newly constructed single-story residence that was designed to be barrier-free. Individuals living in the home would be partially to fully ambulatory and capable of taking care of their own personal needs with some supervision.

Forty years ago — 1979

It’s official! The refurbished softball field at Point Gratiot in Dunkirk will be known as “William L. Koch Field” in memory of William L. Koch, past president of the Fred Koch Brewery in Dunkirk. Naming of the field in honor of Mr. Koch was approved by the Dunkirk Common Council at a recent meeting. Councilman Alex Uszacki, who sponsored the resolution, said Mr. Koch and Koch Brewery have supported softball and other sports in Dunkirk for years.

Fifty years ago — 1969

William W. Cease, 71, president of Cease Commissary Service, died March 25. A prominent citizen in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area and well-known throughout Western New York, Mr. Cease was active in local, county, state and federal organizations and gained fame as a successful pioneer in the preparation of frozen food specialties. The first frozen pies were introduced by Mr. Cease in 1945, followed in 1946 by the first frozen meals.