Out of the Past

125 Years Ago

May 11, 1882

Last Thursday, the Rough and Ready Fire Company held its annual election of officers. Chosen were J.D. Long, foreman, and Peter Horey, assistant foreman.

The law of the land is that pedestrians have the right of way at street crossings. The owners of vehicles should remember this, especially in muddy weather.

"An old man with a head as destitute of hair as a watermelon entered a drug store and told the clerk he wanted a bottle of hair restorer. 'What kind of hair restorer do you prefer,' asked the clerk. 'I reckon I'll take a bottle of red hair restorer. That was the color of my hair when I was a boy.'"

"A boy was asked if he ever prayed in church. 'I always say a prayer like the rest do, just before the sermon begins.' The questioner continued, 'And what do you say?' The boy replied, 'Now I lay me down to sleep.'"

100 Years Ago

May 9, 1907

Efforts are being made to establish a playground in the village. Mr. John Wooster has devoted his entire piece of property extending from just back of his hotel on Main St. and along the creek, securing an ideal campus.

75 Years Ago

May 12, 1932

The Eggertsville Hose Company's new fire hall now stands as a dedicated building. Elaborate ceremonies were gone through Sunday, at which prominent personages were present. The building is ready to begin its functioning. The general contractor, Julius Braun, presented the keys to Charles A. Unger, chairman of the building committee. The program was presented in the banquet hall, where 300 partook of a delicious chicken dinner, a credit to Fritz Renner, chef of the fire company.

Burglars some time Monday night entered Snyder School No. 18 in Harlem Road and were successful in securing upwards of $42.00 in cash. Every desk and filing cabinet in the principal's office was ransacked.

The annual mother-daughter banquet held at the Christian Church on Tuesday evening was enjoyed by about thirty guests. The musical portion of the program featured solos by Mrs. Alvin H. Baker and daughter Dorothy and piano selections by Miss Hazel Miller.

Friends will hear with sorrow of the passing of Frank Spancake, a former proprietor of the old Eagle House in Williamsville.

For Sale: "Pedigreed chinchilla rabbits at 50 cents per month and up. Fine breeding stock. Transit Rabbitry at Swormville, Leonard Bainbridge."

50 Years Ago

May 9, 1957

Two new library buildings to serve the Town of Amherst were recommended by the Amherst Junior Chamber of Commerce to the Amherst Town Board on Monday evening. The cost of the venture, which would replace the present Williamsville-Amherst Free Library and the Eggertsville Snyder Library, would be about $125,000 for each library.

Two 14-year-old boys were caught by the Amherst Police on Monday evening in the basement of an apartment building on Brant Road in Eggertsville. Police said the boys were looking for pop bottles they could convert to money.

Tobias Shank, one of Williamsville's oldest residents, will celebrate his 89th birthday Sunday.

25 Years Ago

May 5, 1982

Three outstanding sports citizens will be inducted, one posthumously, into the Amherst Chamber of Commerce's Avenue of Athletes on May 18. They are Robert P. Barczak, Henry A. Schoelles and the late James E. Peele.

Mrs. Martin Trossman will be installed by her mother-in-law, Mrs. Cyrus Trossman, at the installation and Mother's Day luncheon of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth El.