Out of the Past

125 Years Ago

Oct. 5, 1882

Last Friday about midnight, the ice-house over Batt's brewery beer cellar caught fire and burned to the ground.

Last Friday as Mr. Joseph Snyder was driving his team, attached to a load of hay, up the hill near the foot of Canal Street, one of the team, a bay horse, dropped dead. Mr. Snyder's brother produced another horse and the hay was brought to Main Street. But when turning the corner, the load upset, the box not being fastened, and he sustained a sprained ankle. (Editor's note: Canal Street is now known as North Cayuga Street.)

The first tombstone in the new Williamsville Catholic Cemetery was erected last Saturday by the Wackerly brothers, to the memory of their mother, Mrs. Magdalena Wackerly.

Some fine pickle-cucumbers were being sold in Williamsville yesterday by Mr. N.C. Ellison of the Transit. (Editor's note: "Transit Station" was the early name of what is now known as East Amherst.)

"A daily paper says a Coney Islander was shot in the brawl. Now, what part of the human anatomy is that?"

"While a preacher was visiting Philadelphia, some brother clergymen noticed he was not carrying a watch, and asked how he managed to time himself while delivering a sermon. 'Oh, simple enough,' he replied. 'I keep right on until the revolvers begin to click, and then I know it is time to stop.'"

100 Years Ago

Oct. 3, 1907

A special election has been called in Williamsville on Oct. 29 for the purpose of voting money for the purchase of a site and the erection of a new Village Hall and hose house, the amount not to exceed $5,000.

The Williamsville Study Club will open its season with a meeting at the home of Mrs. Peter Grove.

Adam Hinkley has purchased the Rinewalt property opposite the Williamsville Driving Park.

75 Years Ago

Oct. 6, 1932

Williamsville High and Amherst Central will play at Snyder this Saturday. The schedule called for the game at Williamsville, but the Amherst Central management wish to have the Blue and White on hand to participate in the dedication of their new football field.

The banks will close all day next Wednesday, Columbus Day.

On Saturday night of this week, at 8 o'clock, the first exhibition of professional boxing in Amherst will be staged. Neumann Hall will be all set for the affair when the contestants step through the ropes.

With a family of fourteen children intact, Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Wetzel, well-known residents of this community, will arrive at their golden wedding day, next Monday, October 10.

50 Years Ago

Oct. 3, 1957

All schools in the Williamsville Central District will be closed today and tomorrow in an effort to end the flu epidemic which is prevalent here.

Bids are due Oct. 14 for the construction of an addition to Amherst Police Headquarters for an office for Chief Herbert E. Zimmerman.

Golden brown, fluffy pancakes, luscious with butter and syrup - just as many as you can eat - will be the main attraction of the Amherst Kiwanis Club's pancake festival to be held on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Williamsville High School cafeteria.

From the Cradle Roll: A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Roth, Reist Street, Sept. 17, 1957, at Millard Fillmore Hospital, Leo Francis.

25 Years Ago

Sept. 29, 1982

Supervisor Jack Sharpe yesterday submitted his 1983 budget to the Town Board. It calls for a tax increase of $3.96 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. "It is a budget that presents a far brighter picture than I thought possible," he said.

The cornerstone-laying ceremony for the new Amherst Presbyterian Nursing Center, 310 Bassett Road, will take place on Sunday, Oct. 17.

Bernie Weber kicked a 35-yard field goal to give UB a 14-13 victory over the University of Rochester on Amherst-Clarence Day at Rotary Field last Saturday.