Out of the Past

125 Years Ago

Dec. 22, 1881

Don’t forget the raffle at Mr. Peter Horey’s next Saturday evening. Turkeys, chickens, ducks, etc.

Schuyler Bigelow, who broke his arm some time ago, and his little sister, who has been suffering with acute rheumatism for several weeks, are both getting along nicely.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Brelos of Clarence have commenced moving to Williamsville, where Mr. Brelos has recently erected a paint shop, and intends to build a dwelling house in the spring.

Mr. John C. Root has again put his neck in the matrimonial halter, after being a widower for a little over a year.

The largest turkey we ever saw was raised by Horace Wilder, of Clarence Hollow. It was weighed yesterday in J.D. Long’s store and turned the scale at 33 and three-quarter pounds.

Do not forget the children on Christmas Eve. Remember the disappointment that would await them, at early dawn on Christmas morning, were they to creep out of bed and down the stairs and find the stockings empty and that Santa Claus had not been at their home. Let there not be a single little heart made unhappy through neglect.

“Dialogue between two newsboys in Boston outside a conference of clergymen: ‘What’s the meaning of so many clergymen being here together?’ His comrade replied, ‘They always meet once a year to exchange sermons with each other.’”

100 Years Ago

Dec. 20, 1906

Mr. Warren Frick dressed the champion porker last week. The pig was eight months and two weeks old and weighted 313 pounds.

Frederick Frankhauser of Snyder was so overcome by the cold while taking a load of hay to the city that he fell from the seat, landed under the wagon wheels, and was killed.

75 Years Ago

Dec. 24, 1931

The community Christmas Eve festivities will be held this evening in front of the Village Hall. This follows a custom of several years standing, which brings together people from all over the town. The Christmas tree has been placed, all strung with colored lights, and around this the program will be held. On Christmas morning, the committee from Hutchinson Hose and the Williamsville Exempt Firemen’s Association will take Santa Claus to visit the Methodist Home for Children, the Goodyear Home, the Blocher Home, the Holy Family Home, St. Mary of the Angels, Sacred Heart Academy and SS. Peter and Paul convent to let all who are living there know that they are not forgotten.

As night broke into day on Thursday, Dec. 17, 1931, life passed from Mrs. Catherine Burkhardt, thus fulfilling her oft-expressed wish that the end would come quietly and take her unaware, with no prelude of helplessness.

An urgent appeal is going out to towns and rural communities near Buffalo for coal or wood stoves to be donated to the Buffalo Goodwill Industries to keep needy families warm this winter.

50 Years Ago

Dec. 20, 1956

The Amherst Recreation Committee has advised the Town Board that it desires to make an early start on the Thruway-Royal playground.

Patrolman Edward Hehr has been elected president of the Amherst Police Club. He succeeds Det. John Walsh.

25 Years Ago

Dec. 16, 1981

Social Security programs, long-term health care and an end to mandatory retirement received a great deal of support at the recent White House Conference on Aging, said Kirsten Milbrath, Amherst director of services for the aging.

Glen Colton of Boy Scout Troop 299 received his Eagle Scout award at the St. Pius X Church Hall on Sunday, Dec. 6.

Coach Jim Johnson’s Flames, host of the Long John Silver’s Charity Basketball Tournament, are ready for Monday night’s tip-off at ECC North.