150 Years

• July 15, 1875: (SALAMANCA —) Last Friday morning (July 9), Mr. T. Ingstrum opened his grocery store at the usual hour, and found that somebody had been there ahead of him. But instead of sweeping out, as Mr. Ingestrum had intended to, the unknown friends had cleaned the money drawer of $10 or $15, pocketed a watch worth $20, helped themselves to the cigars and other trinkets in the showcase and “dug out” through the window, which they had broken for the purpose. The same night, some unknown parties attempted to break into Peter Myers’ clothing store, but the smashing of the glass awakened Mr. Myers, who hinted to them something about a dose of cold lead, and they went away disgusted. Not even the remotest clue has been obtained of the burglars.
• July 15, 1875: On Thursday last (July 8), Mr. Young, leader of the Otto Cornet Band, started for England, the land of his nativity. The Band accompanied him as far as Salamanca and favored the people who happened to be at the depots with some very excellent music.

100 Years

• July 10, 1925: (LITTLE VALLEY —) The work of pouring the concrete into the foundation forms for the new cattle barn on the Fair Grounds commenced Thursday morning (July 9). A new men’s cement block toilet has been erected and is nearly ready for roof and floor. A new band stand and orchestra stand have been built with a cement block foundation. Men are at work on the fair grounds, making cement blocks for the cattle barn. The new barn will be 70 feet wide and 144 feet long.
• July 13, 1925: The new tennis courts at the Railway Y.M.C.A. in East Salamanca will be ready as soon as the roller can be run over them, Secretary David Rennie said today. The Y.M.C.A. will have two double courts which Mr. Rennie declares will far surpass any others in the city. One court has been seeded down, and next year he expects to have a good grass court, making three double courts in all.

50 Years

• July 10, 1975: The Democratic race for mayor of Salamanca is beginning to take shape as two hopefuls have declared themselves candidates and another is waiting in the wings. Former mayor Ronald Yehl and Paul Formica today announced their intention to seek endorsement from the Democratic City Committee.
• July 15, 1975: (JIMERSONTOWN —) A young typist in Manchester, England, interested in American Indians. Interested enough to spend evenings and spare time for five years learning about them — to spend four years trying to find an Indian “pen-pal.” And finally, after having corresponded with the “pen-pal” for a year, taking a month-long leave from job and home in England to live with the pen-pal’s family on an American Reservation. It sounds unlikely, but in the case of a young British woman who arrived last week to visit the Cornelius Abrams family in Jimersontown, it’s a true story. And for her, the visit is “a dream come true.”

25 Years

• July 10, 2000: JAMESTOWN — Salamanca Mayor Carmen Vecchiarella was front and center at a political appearance by U.S. Senate candidate and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday (July 7) as she marked her one-year anniversary on the campaign trail. The mayor was one of four speakers to precede Clinton at the political fundraising picnic. Vecchiarella told the crowd of Clinton’s earlier visit to Salamanca in May and described her as “electrifying.”
• July 11, 2000: SALAMANCA — With a growing debt of almost $2 million and its latest plans dashed by asbestos, the Salamanca Hospital District Authority will close the doors on the former hospital for good on Oct. 15. The authority only has two employees left — secretary Mary Oyer and maintenance worker Tom Dry — besides SHDA Interim Administrator Richard Chubon.
• July 13, 2000: CATTARAUGUS — The Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School District Board of Education began its first year of business Wednesday (July 12) by swearing in three new members and electing officers. Two of the three fill seats were added to the existing Cattaraugus board. All three — Mary Reynolds, Myrna Reynolds and Kenneth Frank — have been members of the Little Valley Central School Board, which plans to dissolve.

10 Years

• July 16, 2015: SALAMANCA — As summer playground programs hit their stride, the city has moved to invest in recreation. At its last meeting, the Salamanca Common Council authorized the purchase and installation of two playground sets in order to replace long-outdated equipment. The total cost of the project will be $42,663. The playground sets will be installed at the Erie Street Playground and the School Street Playground.
• July 16, 2015: SALAMANCA — It’s been 50 years since the Class of ‘65 graduated from Salamanca High School, and there’s still plenty of stories to tell. The class got together at an informal gathering at the Wildwood Grill & Saloon Friday night (July 10) and on Saturday (July 11) convened at the Premier Banquet Center in Olean with the Salamanca Alumni Association. “Every year we get together and honor the class that is celebrating its 50th reunion,” said Mike Zaprowski, alumni association member and also a member of the Class of ‘65.