Out of the Past

125 Years Ago

Dec. 8, 1881

Why wouldn't it be a good idea to erect sign posts bearing the name of our streets? Williamsville is such an intricate place that one of these days, someone is going to get lost.

Adam, Meldrum & Anderson, the popular Buffalo dry goods and carpet house, are now ready with their Christmas cards, which will be sent by mail free of charges in answer to requests sent before December 17th. These cards are gold bronze, highly colored and finished, and cannot fail to please all who send for them.

No sleigh bells heard yet.

There has been a stray black pig in the pound since last Tuesday afternoon, awaiting its owner.

The little folks linger longer before the temptingly arrayed windows of our toy stores now and wonder what's a comin' Christmas. Boys are looking after the skates and sleds.

A good boy may not become a handsome man but a nice bouquet surely becomes a pretty woman.

A millionaire patent medicine manufacturer died at Natick, Mass. last Wednesday. He lived to a good old age and always avoided his own prescriptions.

"Potatoes planted must have their eyes about them if they are to come up."

"The man who goes to church simply because he has nothing else to do may not be a heathen, but he is certainly an idle worshipper."

100 Years Ago

Dec. 6, 1906

Snyder had another big fire with the large barn on the property of John Kabel, on the south side of the Main Road, was burned to the ground. Fourteen cows, two horses and seven pigs were burned to death. The Kabel family was at their summer home when the fire broke out. Help arrived first with the Williamsville Hose Co. as the street car company ran a car carrying the firemen and a flat car carrying the hose cart. Shortly after, a hose cart arrived from Buffalo.

75 Years Ago

Dec. 10, 1931

The Rev. Eugene L. Stowell, pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Ascension of Snyder, has resigned his pastorate to accept a call to the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Rochester.

Charles Marquart, who lived on the French Road for many years, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1931. His passing was a great shock to the community.

50 Years Ago

Dec. 6, 1956 An accident on the Millersport Hwy. at Sheridan Dr. early Sunday morning resulted in the discovery of 37 gallons of moonshine. A Buffalo man was stopped there to allow his car to cool down. It was rammed from behind by another vehicle, causing the trunk to open, revealing the untaxed moonshine. Patrolman Edward Schultz and Norman Scull held the suspect for agents from Buffalo.

Clesson H. Field, engineer for the Town of Amherst for 25 years, will retire about Jan. 1, 1957. Mr. Field drafted the building code and administered it for a number of years until the work became too great for his office and it was divided.

The resignation was accepted of Douglas P. Hall as a member of the Amherst Board of Assessors before effective last Saturday, Dec. 1.

The Amherst Town Board this past Monday evening refused to rezone the Howard Wik property on North Forest Road so that a $200,000 swim club could be built there.

25 Years Ago

Dec. 9, 1981

A plan to close either the Eggert or Harlem Road schools was favored by most people who spoke at Monday's public hearing held by the Amherst Central School District.

Tomorrow marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of a U. S. Post Office in Getzville. The first postmaster was Jacob Getz. His land included a large building that served as a store, social hall, and later the first Getzville Post Office.