Out of the Past

125 Years Ago

July 20, 1882

A dispatch from Springfield, Ill. says that Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln, widow of President Lincoln, died at the residence of her sister, Mrs. A.W. Edwards, at 8:15 o'clock Sunday evening of paralysis. She was 64 years old.

Notwithstanding the grumbling and fault-finding on account of wet and cold weather during the spring and summer, the prospect of an abundant harvest of wheat and spring crops is favorable.

With commendable enterprise, Mr. J.D. Long, assisted by Mr. E.B. Miller, has opened up the stone quarry east of Mill Street, which has lain idle for the past thirty years. We are informed that the stone taken from this quarry is of a good quality and thoroughly reliable.

Joseph Heading, a farmer living on the Transit Road, was struck by the 9 a.m. Lockport train at Tonawanda last Friday and considerably hurt.

"It may be occasionally right to take a bull by the horns, but it's always well to keep in mind that the horns belong to the bull."

"Jesse James once thought seriously of going through college; but the idea of howling around at night, changing street signs, disconnecting telegraph wires and greasing railroad tracks was so repugnant that he concluded to go west and become a respectable highwayman."

"She may dress in silk or she may dress in satin, she may know the languages Greek and Latin, she may know fine art, may love and sigh, but she ain't no good if she can't make pie."

100 Years Ago

July 18, 1907

Main Street from the Buffalo City Line to Clarence will soon be changed from one of the dustiest highways at this end of the state to one without dust. Contracts have been let for treating the road with Tarvia, a tar preparation, which makes it waterproof.

John Lehn, 83, one of the pioneers of Williamsville, died at his home on July 12, 1907.

75 Years Ago

July 21, 1932

The medals, ribbons and other insignia which decorate the breast of John T. McKenna of Mill Street are so numerous that one cannot resist asking for which they stand. "That's a long story," he replies. Beginning in 1898, when as a buck private, "Mac" enlisted at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War and had 35 years of service to his country.

Townspeople were pleased to read of the designation of Carl H. Burkhardt of North Long Street as director of physical education in the Buffalo elementary schools.

Members of George F. Lamm Post 622 will hold a basket picnic on July 31 at Walker's Grove.

Another link to the past is broken in the passing of Emanuel C. Long, one of our pioneer residents. He fell asleep on the morning of July 17, 1932, the end coming as peacefully as he lived his life.

50 Years Ago

July 18, 1957

The formation of a sewer district which would serve parts of the towns of Amherst and Clarence was discussed at a recent meeting of the Erie County Sewer Agency.

Wing Commander Kenneth H. Running, Royal Canadian Air Force medical officer, and Mrs. Running, the former Emily Whittman of Williamsville, will be presented today to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

25 Years Ago

July 14, 1982

A dispute between Amherst's Government Study Committee and Supervisor Jack Sharpe over the needs of Amherst Town Court has broken out into open warfare. The Committee ruled out erecting a new building in favor of "utilizing its present facilities to minimize court congestion and maximize service to the public." Sharpe has long favored moving the court to a new facility adjacent to the new police headquarters.

Firefighters from three Amherst companies responded as part of Monday night's general alarm fire at the Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo.

The Amherst Symphony Orchestra Women's Committee has planted three shrubs in Glen Park near Main Street in memory of the late Mrs. Helen Faxlanger, a long-time committee member and supporter of the free concert concept.