150 YearsFeb. 6, 1873: The Concert under the directions of Mr. M.F. Bennett, at the Congregational church last Thursday evening (Jan. 30), passed off very successfully, although there was a very meagre attendance of our people. Home talent seems to lack appreciation here; the people preferring to patronize traveling humbugs rather than entertainments gotten up in the interests of the village. The programme was made up of well selected music, and the class evinced no little taste and skill in executing it.
Feb. 6, 1873: HUMPHREY NEWS — The two Baptist churches are encouraged under the lead of their respective Pastors, and the Pastors’ helpers, to arise and build them houses of worship. Both churches have resolved to build. The first church will put up their house at Chapelsburgh. A lot of the purpose has been secured by the trustees, and twelve hundred dollars has been pledged towards the erection of the building. The second church will locate their house at Humphrey Centre. About nine hundred dollars has been pledged towards its erection.
100 YearsFeb. 6, 1923: (SALAMANCA —) Mayor McCann last night named his official family for the ensuing year and in the course of his announcement of appointees increased the hospital commission from three to six members, with himself at its head, over the objections of Alderman Gibson, who voted against the motion to enlarge the commission and make the Mayor its president.
All of the appointments were confirmed, however, and there was not a hitch except the incident relating to the reorganization of the Hospital Commission. For a month or more, rumors have been rife of serious friction between Mayor McCann and the City Hospital administration.
Feb. 7, 1923: (SALAMANCA —) Following publication yesterday of the news of Mayor McCann’s action Monday night (Feb. 5) in increasing the number of hospital commissioners from three to six, with himself as president — a move interpreted as designed to enable the Mayor to reverse the decision of the Hospital Commission on several matters as to which he and the hospital authorities had had difference of opinion — Frank C. Prescott, chairman of the Hospital Commission, resigned today.
50 YearsFeb. 3, 1973: Work inside Bradner’s Salamanca Mall is proceeding as planned and a survey by engineers has disclosed the recent smashing of part of the east wall with a big construction machine caused no serious damage to steel roof supports.
Installation of metal partitions at the south end of the mall, to be occupied by Brander’s 20,000-square-foot anchor department store, is well underway despite the huge hole in the brick and concrete block wall.
An unofficial estimate of the damage was put at $30,000 with a possibility of overall damage of $100,000 if it was determined that steel girders supporting the roof were damaged when the 50 by 18 ½-foot hole was made with several smashes with the machine.
Feb. 7, 1973: WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lyman F. Piece, a native of the Allegany Indian Reservation and a former Cheektowaga resident, has been named to the fifteen member National Advisory Council on Equality of Education by President Nixon.
Mr. Pierce is a member of the Onondaga Nation of the Iroquois Indian Confederation but was born on the Allegany Reservation. His sister, Marian Pierce, lives on Star Route, Kill Buck.
His job with the council will be to help determine the effectiveness of the operations of programs under the federal Education Act’s Title VII, which provides emergency school aid money.
25 YearsFeb. 4, 1998: LITTLE VALLEY — The Little Valley Central School Board of Education made the first move Tuesday (Feb. 3), voting 4-2 in favor of an annexation study with Cattaraugus.
Board Member Barbara Ross urged colleagues to approve the state-written resolution applying for a $50,000 grant which would fund the study if Cattaraugus Central School passes the same resolution at their board meeting Monday night (Feb. 9).
“We need to make it official,” Ross told board members. “We need to take the first step.”
Feb. 5, 1998: SALAMANCA — This year’s mild winter has made for a long wait but skaters may get the chance to practice their triple-toe loops tonight at the Fawn Avenue ice pond.
Department of Public Works Superintendent Ray Wilson said crews are working to get the facility opened sometime this evening. The DPW opened the pond once in December, but rain forced the facility to close after just seven hours.
Feb. 7, 1998: CATTARAUGUS — One might not expect to find a speedway in the center of the sleepy Village of Cattaraugus, but about 40 to 50 racers are rolling into town today.
The 1998 ROAR (Radio Operated Automobile Racing) Region 1 On-Road Carpet Championship will be held on the second floor of Pritchard’s Hardware. The hardware store’s owner, Marc Pritchard, a lifelong resident of the village, operates a carpet raceway in the 5,000-square-foot space. Winners in today’s event will go on to the national competition in Chicago next month.
10 YearsFeb. 7, 2013: Salamanca High School senior Gabby Papa joined an expert conference at the
United Nations last week to discuss issues facing indigenous youth, reflecting on her own experiences.
The conference met to plan the annual United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) meeting in May, focusing on “Indigenous Youth: Identity, Challenges, and Hope: Articles 14, 17, 21, and 25 of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
“I’ve watched many of the indigenous youth in my community turn to drug and alcohol abuse and I think the hardest part is watching the culture fade away from them,” said Papa, a Seneca, Hawk clan, in a speech Wednesday, Jan. 30.
Feb. 7, 2013: RANDOLPH — An anonymous Randolph resident has made a generous offer to the Randolph Cemetery Association stating that he or she will match any donations up to $3,000 to assist in the restoration of the monuments that were damaged by the devastating tornado on July 24, 2010.
Since the storm, people have collectively donated approximately $1,000 and the anonymous donor said they will include those donations towards the matched amount.
According to Howie VanRensselaer, treasurer of the Randolph Cemetery Association, more than 100 stones were damaged and 30 maple trees were destroyed after the 125 mph winds ripped through the cemetery.
