Thirty years ago — 1994

Dr. John Joy of Fredonia has begun a personal mission to honor the extraordinary life and career of George Abbott, who was born in Forestville. Mr. Abbott recently celebrated his 107th birthday by supervising a new revival of his 1955 Broadway success, “Damn Yankees.” In a career that spans over 80 years, the actor-author-producer-director has been associated with at least 125 productions and he was the recipient of Kennedy Center Honors in 1992. Mr. Abbott’s maternal grandparents, the McLaurys, owned a farm in Forestville.

Forty years ago — 1984

The “Condome” is the name given the plastic bubble that serves as a recreational facility for more than 400 inmates at Collins Correctional Facility. It’s 200 feet by 100 feet and 40 feet high in the center, and can be used ‘year round. The plastic bubble houses two full-sized basketball courts or eight standard-sized rooms, including a weight room. An honor block has been added to the correctional facility for good behavior. Inmates who have had no disciplinary reports in six months are eligible for the honor block, which allows them certain cooking privileges and televisions in their dorms. The prison population has now reached 940.