Jan. 1, 1874: The depot in this village (Little Valley) has been receiving some needed repairs this week. Little Valley has the credit of having one of the neatest and most orderly depots on the road, for which the public can thank our agent, D.M. Brooks, who lays no little stress on Pope’s adage that “Order is Heaven’s first law.”
Jan. 1, 1874: CHRISTMAS FESTIVALS — The Christmas festivities of the Sabbath Schools in this village were largely attended and were the source of much interest and pleasure to the little folks, to say nothing of the older ones. The M.E. Festival was held Wednesday evening (Dec. 24). The church had been elaborately trimmed with evergreens and decorated with pictures. The Congregational Festival was held Thursday evening (Dec. 25). This church, too, was very tastily trimmed and decorated with wreaths, arches, and mottoes in evergreen and with pictures.
Dec. 29, 1923: (SALAMANCA —) The Cattaraugus County Farm and Home Bureau are to move to office on the second floor of the Leach block, 39 Atlantic street, within the next week. They are to occupy a suite of three rooms, and plans for the furnishing of one of the rooms as a restroom are now being discussed. The rooms now are being papered and otherwise prepared for use. At the time of the fire last July, the Farm and Home Bureau occupied offices on the second floor of the city hall.
Jan. 3, 1924: (SALAMANCA —) The third night of the week’s engagement of the Bob Ott Musical Comedy Company drew another good-sized audience to the Andrews Theatre, and further confirmed the reputation of the company for putting on a good popular priced entertainment. The offering last night was “The Jumping Jack,” with Mr. Ott in the title role and Miss Mildred Vaughn playing opposite him. The dancing numbers again were among the best features.
Dec. 28, 1973: The Zawatski Site, a former farm in Killbuck on which archeologists made test diggings last summer, has been accepted for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The announcement was made today in Albany by State Parks and Recreation Commissioner Alexander Aldrich.
“This site is the only known stratified, multicomponent site on the New York side of the Allegany River Valley,” the announcement said. “Primarily of archeological value, the various test pits which have been dug show evidence of occupancy in this area as long as 5,000 years ago.”
Dec. 31, 1973: Students at Prospect Elementary School won three of the four prizes and shared the other in the first annual Christmas Tree Decorating Contest in Bradner’s Salamanca Mall.
Winners among the thirteen trees decorated by the elementary pupils were determined by votes of persons going to the mall during the past two weeks. There were a total of 5,237 votes.
Getting the most votes, 595, were pupils in special classes at Prospect and Seneca Schools who won with tree No. 13 they decorated as a “most original” entry.
Dec. 28, 1998: SALAMANCA — The staff at city hall is on the move for the second time in two weeks. Mayor Carmen Vecchiarella, Section 8 Rental Assistance Program Manager Ruthe Wolf and Tracy Chamberlain, the administrative assistant the two share, are switching offices today.
Vecchiarella will move the mayor’s office one door down the hall to the Section 8 office, which served as the mayor’s office during previous administrations. Chamberlain will move into the desk that Vecchiarella had been using while Wolfe will operate the desk that Chamberlain had been using in the double office.
Dec. 29, 1998: SALAMANCA — The Salamanca Volunteer Fire Department has a longtime manpower shortage, but fire officials have differing opinions on its cause. With the number of active volunteers dwindling to about seven, SVFD President-elect and Fire Commissioner Ned Fenton III recently began advertising for new members.
“We need volunteers desperately, as does every other fire department in the country. It’s a country-wide problem,” said Fenton. “We desperately need people in any capacity anywhere from drivers to fire police to firefighters. There’s a position for anybody that’s willing to serve.”
Jan. 2, 2014: NAPOLI — After a 28-year career as Napoli Town Supervisor, Karoline “Lena” Ruper says she had no regrets as she ends her run at the age of 83.
In the November 2013 election, Ruper, a Democrat, lost 2:1 to political newcomer Melissa Kish, a Springville pharmacist from Randolph who ran on the Republican and Conservative lines.
“I’ve done my job,” Ruper said in an interview after votes were posted. “I have no regrets. The town is fine. The finances are fine. I’m leaving the town in excellent shape. I’m very healthy and very happy.”
Jan. 2, 2014: SALAMANCA — The Salamanca School Board met Monday morning, Dec. 30, to discuss a potential sale of Seneca Elementary School, but no action was taken as the board awaits an environmental review document from the state necessary to proceed.
“We are still awaiting the SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) document,” Superintendent Robert Breidenstein stated in an email Monday morning to The Salamanca Press. “As soon as we receive the SEQR, we will convene a BOE meeting to approve the SEQR, publicly present the purchase price and discuss setting a referendum date.”
