West NY News

As we continue to reflect on the history of Chautauqua County, the events of this week offer an eclectic mix of milestones, from foundational developments to cultural landmarks and personal stories.

September 15

- 1797: The "Treaty" of Big Tree was signed, transferring Western New York land from the Seneca Nation to the Holland Land Company. Despite its name, this agreement was more of a property deed than a treaty.

- 1879: The private Mary Washington Episcopal girls' school opened in Mayville, offering education to young women.

- 1886: A tragic train collision in Silver Creek claimed 14 lives.

- 1920: The Scottish Rite Masonic organization took possession of the historic Kent Mansion in Jamestown.

- 1936: Johnny's Lunch, famous for its Texas Hots, opened its original location in Brooklyn Square, Jamestown. It has since relocated to West Ellicott.

- 1937: The Celoron-West Ellicott Library opened, though it has since closed.

- 1953: Jim Roselle, beloved radio host, began his long and storied career at WJTN, where he worked until his passing in 2016.

- 1957: Donald L. Warner of Jamestown was convicted of murdering his wife. He was sentenced to 20 years to life on January 17, 1958.

- 1981: The Palace Theater in Jamestown officially closed after showing its last film on September 10.

- 1999: Jamestown police officer David Mitchell was shot by James Earl Lewis Jr., a harrowing event in local law enforcement history.

September 16

- 1813: The first road survey through the hamlet of Busti marked an important step in regional development.

- 1909: Tree surgeons operated on the famous willow tree at Jamestown High School, a tree featured in the school’s Alma Mater.

- 1966: The Kinzua Dam was formally dedicated at 2:30 PM, marking a significant engineering achievement.

- 1972: The Busti Pioneer Crafts Festival began as one of the earliest craft festivals in the region and is still celebrated today.

September 17

- 1922: The Zion Mission Church old people’s home was dedicated in Frewsburg, later known as the Frewsburg Rest Home.

- 1932: The first reunion of Busti District No.11 schoolgirls from the classes of1899–1909was held and later expanded to include all Busti Rural Schools.

-1944:The first combat use oftheJamestown-developed drone bomb,theTDR-l occurred intheSolomon Islands during World War II

-1947 Two diesel locomotives were put into service ontheJamestown Westfield&Northwestern (J.W.&NW) Railroad transitioning from an all-electric system

-1951 Jamestown’s First Colored Baptist Church officially changed its name to Emanuel Baptist Church

September18

-1925TheBusti Board established alighting district bringing electric service tothehamletofBusti

-2006TheDalai LamaofTibetbeganathree-dayvisittoBuffalohisnearestapproachtoChautauquaCounty

September19

-1858Acontroversialspeechonwomen’srightsandtheabolitionoffamilyandmarriagedrewacrowdof5000inKiantone

-1865GeorgePullmanborninBroctonwasawardedapatentforhisrevolutionaryfoldingupperberthtransformingrailtravel

-1873WarrenandJohnPackardarrivedinLakewoodbeginningtheseriousdevelopmentofthearea

-1883BuffaloBill’sWildWestShowmadeitsfirstappearanceinJamestownbringingatasteoffrontierlifetothearea

-1924LincolnJuniorHighSchoolwasformallyopenedinJamestown

-1992ThelastissueoftheBuffaloCourierExpresswasprintedmarkingtheendofanera

-2003JamestownCityCouncilpresidentMichaelJMistrettawaschargedinamoralsoffense

-2005The“Portage”sculpturededicatedatthekeelboatlandinginJamestowncommemoratedtheregion’shistoricalconnectiontotransportation

September20

1831AmeetinginJamestowadvocatedforaSouthernTierrailroaddreamthatwasrealizedonAugust251860

1898GroundbreakingfortheLakeViewRoseGardensinWestEllicotttookplacewhichbecamethelargestgreenhouseinthestate

September21

1901ChautauquaCounty’sfirstautomobileaccidentfatalityoccurredwhenRobertMJohnsonofWestfieldlosthislife

1907TheMinervaFreeLibraryopenedintheShermanprovidingavitalresourcetothecommunity

1909AcorporationformedinJamestowntomanufacturePrimuswashingmachinesbringingindustrialgrowthtotheregion

1928TheJamestownConsistoryoftheMasonicScottishRitewascharteredcontinuingalongtraditionofMasonicserviceinthecommunity

1955TheFoxCottagebirthplaceofSpiritualismburneddownafterhavingbeentransportedtoLilyDalein1916

1959JamestownsnewFirstMethodistChurchopeneditsdoorswith3000attendeesfortheopeningservices

These events provide arichtapestryofChautauquaCounty’ spastillustratingthewide-rangingdevelopmentsandpersonalstoriesthathaveshapedthecommunityFromearlylanddealsandindustrialadvancementstoculturalmilestonesandpersonalachievementsourcounty’ shistoryisfilledwithmomentsworthremembering