West NY News

As Chautauqua County moves through March, residents and historians alike take time to reflect on significant historical events that have shaped the area. This week, several notable anniversaries highlight the county's history of resilience and innovation.

On March 9, 1806, William Bemus settled Bemus Point, becoming one of the first pioneers on Chautauqua Lake. In 1925, Henry Ford sponsored a fiddle contest at Shea’s Theater in Jamestown to celebrate traditional music. The Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Jamestown was dedicated in 1958 and is now part of Tree of Life Lutheran.

March 10 marks the arrival of the first telegrapher in Fredonia in 1848, leading to Chautauqua County’s first telegraph station. In 1893, Jamestown saw advancements with the operational Buffalo Street pumping station. George M. Cohan performed at Shea’s Theater in Jamestown in 1935.

Chautauqua Lake experienced its earliest recorded ice breakup on March 11, 1894. The Elite Furniture Company was incorporated in Jamestown in 1909. The Fenton Mansion was deeded to the City of Jamestown by the Fenton family in 1919. In Ripley, Mrs. Bertha L. Hamilton left a bequest for a home for "dumb animals" in 1944.

Jamestown High School conducted its first fire drill on March 12, 1908. On this day in 1909, both the Busti South Side Sunshine Birthday Club held its inaugural meeting and Jamestown hosted its first automobile show. A devastating fire at the Gokey building claimed two firefighters' lives in 1910.

March 15 holds significance as Busti School District #13 was formed in 1825. The neighborhood later became known as Boomertown near Cummins Engine Plant. The first meeting of the Jamestown YMCA took place in 1888.

These historical moments offer insight into Chautauqua County's evolution across various sectors such as communication, public service, business, and culture.