Out of the Past

125 Years Ago

April 20, 1882

Last Saturday, the Town Board of Amherst met for the purpose of awarding contracts for building the new stone bridge on Main Street in the village and deciding the width to be built. There was a general feeling among the contractors that if the specifications were written differently, more favorable figures could have been made. The Board rejected all bids and is advertising for new ones.

On last week Wednesday, a happy event occurred in the north part of Amherst. The occasion was the marriage of Barbara, daughter of John Graff of Amherst, to Michael Meal, of Pendleton. A merry time was enjoyed into the wee small hours.

We are indebted to Mr. Robert Burt for a handsome present of some very fine duck eggs.

"A wicked boy got into a fight with his uncle, and biting off his nose, swallowed it. He was brought before the police court, his uncle appearing against him. 'This is your nephew, is he?' asked the magistrate. 'I think I detect some resemblance.' 'Yes,' replied the uncle, 'he has my nose.'"

100 Years Ago

April 18, 1907

The State has denied a franchise to the Buffalo and Rochester Traction Co. to operate a trolley between the two cities via the Depew line.

Burglars visited the cigar and confectionery store of Edward Hoehn in the street car waiting room at Main Street and the City Line early Tuesday and stripped it of everything of value.

75 Years Ago

April 21, 1932

Amherst ordinances regulating rendering works and piggeries will be tested in court, according to a resolution passed by the Town Board. The Amherst Grease Refining Co. will be the defendant in the case, the firm now operating a piggery on the former Steel farm, Campbell Boulevard.

The old fire hall at Eggertsville, a landmark for 24 years, is being demolished. Morris Reimann of Springville Avenue has the contract. Dedication of the new building will be on May 24.

Cooking and baking secrets - how every woman enjoys hearing about them. Any woman will have that privilege this Friday and Saturday, for a cooking school is to be conducted by Miss Irene Little at Hoak's Electric Store in Williamsville.

The Rev. A.P. Schilke's new telephone number is Crescent 10161. Kindly make a notation as it is not in the directory. Rev. Schilke is pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church.

Whenever in succeeding years the long-established hostelry here known as the Mansion House is mentioned, there will come to mind Ernest Zabel, its host for a quarter of a century. Mr. Zabel died Saturday evening, April 16, 1932.

50 Years Ago

April 18, 1957

A gift of a 10.2-acre site has been offered to the Sweet Home Central School District by the Peterson Realty Co. at Dexter Terrace and Forbes Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda. To accept the site, the district must build a school on it.

Erie County Civil Defense officials have announced that all air-raid sirens in Erie County, including Buffalo, will be tested for five seconds every Wednesday at 12:00 o'clock noon. There is no cause for alarm.

Malley Typewriter Service advertises the new Smith-Corona Pacemaker for $159.50.

25 Years Ago

April 14, 1982

More than 120,000 people have passed through the doors of Amherst's Marriott Inn since its opening a year ago, according to Marketing Manager Paul Carolan.

Williamsville village trustees and mayor will get $500 pay increases, the first increases in 10 years, if the village's budget is approved.

John and Myrtle McGee, resident managers of the 330-unit Public Storage complex at 3671 Sheridan Drive, are working together to make a new business succeed. John has been a member of four area volunteer fire companies.