Twenty years ago — 1999

The Fredonia Baptist Church has officially kicked off a fund drive to restore the church steeple which houses the village clock by signing a grant agreement with the village. The village board is supporting the church’s efforts by providing the services of its professional grantwriter. The church is seeking a $20,000 grant from the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which it will match through donations.

Thirty years ago — 1989

The Chautauqua County Home in Dunkirk, which only a year ago was facing the possibility it would be sold to private interests, today appeared to be on the threshold of a bright new future. That future could involve the creation of a multi-million dollar “campus for the elderly” on the home’s 40 acres of grounds. Plans are being explored to set up a not-for profit corporation which would be semi-autonomous and therefore eligible, as a non-government organization, to obtain almost 100% state and federal funding for expanded facilities.

Forty years ago — 1979

Officers of the Gioia Co., their mothers, wives and children, officials of the Red Wing Co. and more than 250 Red Wing employees will participate in Fredonia’s Sesquicentennial “Spaghetti Day” celebration. Members of the Gioia family will be in Fredonia for a tour of the Red Wing plant conducted by Douglas Manly, president.

Fifty years ago — 1969

The two Dunkirk area residents who came closest to the Man on the Moon contest sponsored by the Evening OBSERVER and Today were Mrs. Ralph Furness and Robert Bucholtz, both of Fredonia. Mrs. Furness guessed 8:16:21 p.m. and Mr. Bucholtz picked 7:42:21 p.m. as the exact time the astronauts would set foot on the moon. The actual time was 10:56:20 on July 20.