Twenty years ago — 1999

The Benjamin Prescott Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, celebrated its 100th anniversary March 27 with a luncheon at the Fireside Restaurant. The chapter was chartered on Jan. 2, 1899. The first meeting was held at 36 Central Avenue, Fredonia, the home of the first Regent, Martha Jane Prescott, for whose great-grandfather the chapter was named. There were 15 charter members. Over 550 women have belonged to the chapter during the past 100 years. Current membership is about 40.

Thirty years ago — 1989

The Dunkirk Youth Bureau and Dunkirk Recreation Commission recently held their second annual jelly bean guessing contest in the Dunkirk elementary schools. A large glass container with 7,713 jelly beans was taken to each of Dunkirk’s nine elementary schools. Jennifer Helwig, a fifth grader at School 4, won an Easter party for her entire school by being the student with the closest guess — 7,720, only seven beans away from the magical number.

Forty years ago — 1979

The Dunkirk landfill may have had its gates locked to debris last year, but it still remains without a final closure date despite state mandates requiring such procedures within 60 days. Though the city of Dunkirk owns the property, the county bears the responsibility of closing the site. An estimated $150,000 to $200,000 is required to close the landfill, with the major cost coming from the earth blanket and seeding operations.

Fifty years ago — 1969

The 1944 class president of Jamestown High School will return to deliver the commencement address to the Class of 1969 in the Chautauqua Amphitheater in June. U.S. Sen. Charles E. Goodell, a Jamestown native, will address the class. Since the graduation program was moved the amphitheater, it has attracted crowds of more than 7,000. Sen. Goodell has been named to the Jamestown High School Hall of Fame, one of only three to receive that distinction.