Out of the Past

125 Years Ago

April 5, 1883

Tuesday afternoon the people on Main Street were treated to a little excitement by a first-class runaway. The horse was owned by Mr. Ed. Shimer, of Shimerville, and started from Mr. Peter Horey's shed. It was finally caught about two miles east of the village.

It is our duty this week to chronicle the sad intelligence that Mr. David Long, an old and honored resident of this village, died at his residence on Main Street on Saturday evening at 9 o'clock after a long and complicated illness. In his youth, he was a leading member of the Reformed Mennonite Church. By occupation he was a farmer and for many years, proprietor of the Williamsville Nurseries.

The ladies of the village make use of their leisure moments by quilting quilts. Mrs. John Hoffman has completed seven, which her mother, Mrs. Gayling, who is seventy-two years old, has pieced (together) during the long winter months.

Mrs. Peter Williams is very ill.

The death of a boy in Hornellsville, 17 years of age, is attributed to the use of cigarettes.

The coffee blight, after causing serious ravages in the Fiji Islands, has spread to Brazil.

"Whenever you see a man coming out of a country drug store, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, you may know that the town is suffering under a combined attack of malaria and the license law."

100 Years Ago

April 2, 1908

A new fire district, known as Fire District No. 1 and comprising the territory around Eggertsville and Main Street to the City Line, has been formed. Elected fire commissioners were Joseph Seitz, Charles Leedham and Eugene P. Ouchie while John Berkes was elected treasurer. A system of fire hydrants will be installed.

During a severe electrical storm last Saturday morning, the barn on the property leased by Mr. Loos, north of the village, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The barn was owned by Edward Fogelsonger.

75 Years Ago

April 6, 1933

James Chalmers, a leading figure of Amherst some thirty years ago, died at his home in Ocean Park, Calif. on Wednesday, March 29, 1933. He was the founder of the James Chalmers Sons Gelatin business in Williamsville in August 1872. In selecting a site for the manufacturing plant, he was influenced by the natural springs on what is known as the ledge. (Editor's note: the plant was below the escarpment near today's Essjay Road.)

The Village Board has adopted an ordinance which would prohibit any type of marathon walking or dancing contests. There were rumors of an endurance contest of some type at Glen Park.

50 Years Ago

April 3, 1958

Five Amherst and Clarence churches are participating in an Easter morning sunrise service to be held at 6:00 a.m. at the Clarence Park, formerly the Buffalo Automotive Club grounds.

John E. Elak will be named village clerk at the annual reorganization meeting of the Williamsville Village Board next Monday evening.

While making a routine check in an Amherst bowling alley parking lot early last Sunday evening, Patrolman Loyal Carr spotted two men stealing hub caps from a parked car. They were arrested after running into the building.

All box seats have been sold for opening day of the Buffalo Bisons season.

25 Years Ago

March 30, 1983

The steeple from the original Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on Transit Road stood alone briefly in a corner lot of the Amherst Museum last week, awaiting the arrival of the 129-year-old church structure as part of a two-day move.

Alfred E. Anscombe of Eggertsville has been named chairman of the Buffalo Convention Center Management Corp.

From the Blotter: "Real estate agent reports finding cigarettes and cold beer inside an East Amherst home."