Out of the Past

125 Years Ago

Feb. 2, 1882

This morning the Amherst Town Board met for the purpose of forming a Board of Health in compliance with the new law which says that the Board shall consist of the Town Board and a citizen of the town to be appointed by the Board. This position was filled by the selection of Mr. J.D. Long. The Board also appointed Dr. H.P. Trull as health physician.

A very pleasing time was had at the residence of Mr. Jacob Wenner last Saturday upon the occasion of his sixty-sixth birthday. Mr. Samuel Hummel presented him with a large rocking-chair, accompanied by a neat little speech.

The horse disease known as "pink-eye" has at last reached Buffalo and is causing the street railroad company a great deal of inconvenience. None has been reported in this village or vicinity.

They are playing base-ball in New Orleans, Havana and San Francisco.

"When a woman and a mouse meet, which is the most frightened?"

100 Years Ago

Jan. 31, 1907

Mr. and Mrs. William E. Witnauer of East Amherst celebrated their silver wedding anniversary on January 22.

John Rebstock of Williamsville was in Jamaica at the time of the earthquake and has safely returned to New York.

75 Years Ago

Feb. 4, 1932

The lunch and refreshment stand operated by Archie Reese at the corner of Cleveland Drive and Harlem Road was entirely destroyed by fire early last Friday morning. It was presumed that the place was robbed and then burned. The building was owned by Edwin G. Greiner.

This open winter is doing much to cut down on the cost of snow removal on the highways, and gives promise of leaving a couple thousand dollars unused in the snow and miscellaneous fund of the highway department.

Celebrating a birthday anniversary with a house sounds unconventional, except when that house is part of one's very being, as in the case of Henry W. Hershey. He is delighting in the fact that he is observing the 96th anniversary of his natal day simultaneously with his homestead reaching the century mark. The Hershey homestead stands on Main Street opposite the Village Hall. ( Editor's note: This lot at 5570 Main St. later became the site of the Williamsville fire hall and is now the offices of Hunt Real Estate.)

Amherst Police have received complaints from Bert Allenbach, living on the Chestnut Ridge Road, that someone has been stealing his firewood.

50 Years Ago

Jan. 31, 1957

Senior, Bissell and Bronkie, consulting engineers, have moved to 5757 Main St., Williamsville. The firm is one of the oldest engineering firms in this district and it is fitting that their new offices are in a building which is 106 years old.

A well-known Eggertsville resident and attorney for 40 years, Mrs. Celia Allespach Mueller, 70, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 1957. She is believed to be the first woman to receive the doctor of jurisprudence degree from the University of New York.

25 Years Ago

Jan. 27, 1982

State Assemblyman John B. Sheffer II voiced his "strongest opposition" to proposals by Gov. Hugh Carey to increase the state tax on gasoline and the state fee for vehicle registrations.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 21 in SS. Peter and Paul Church for Mrs. Caroline Deazley, 94, who formerly lived with her parents in the old Evans House where Gen. Winfield Scott had his headquarters during the War of 1812.

Jeremy Voye scored the first goal Friday night for the Amherst Minor Pee Wees in a 4-1 victory over Hamilton in the Kiwanis Invitational Tourney.

From the Blotter: "Forest Stream Road caller reports persons removing wood from field."