Out of the Past

125 Years Ago

April 12, 1883

Tuesday evening, the yearly meeting of the Williamsville Cemetery Association was held for the purpose of electing trustees and officers.

The Ladies of the Methodist Church will give a pie social at the residence of Mr. George Hartman on Friday evening of next week.

Miss Emma Good will teach the summer term of school in District No. 6, Swormville.

Mr. Philip Wendling has sold his farm of about 40 acres to Mr. George Pfister for $116 per acre.

The adulteration of all sorts of food is common now. A chemist in New York is trying to make fruit without consulting nature and should be suppressed. It is said he can make apple sauce out of chemicals, which cannot be distinguished from the genuine article. If apple sauce is going to lose its integrity, in what can we trust?

"A little girl, aged nine, called her father to her bedside the other evening. 'Papa,' said the little diplomat, 'I want to ask your advice.' 'Well my dear, what is it about?' the father replied. 'What do you think would be best to give me on my birthday?'"

"A boy paid his first visit to one of the public schools the other day, and as he came home his mother inquired, 'Well Henry, how do you like going to school?' 'Oh,' he replied in an excited voice, 'I saw four boys get licked, one girl got her ears pulled, and a big scholar burned his elbow on the stove. I don't want to miss a day.'"

100 Years Ago

April 9, 1908

The Great Lakes Construction Co. of Buffalo is putting its machinery together on the farm of William Dorenfeld of Pickard's Bridge in order to begin digging the barge canal through the farm.

E.C. Bucher, who for the past seven years has conducted the Getzville Hotel, has disposed of that property to Benjamin Black of Swormville and will devote his time to his telephone interests.

Work has been started on the redecorating of the interior of SS. Peter and Paul Church. Leo Frohe, prominent Buffalo decorator, is in charge.

75 Years Ago

April 13, 1933

The sale of 3.2 beer, legalized by the government, will proceed in Amherst at present with no restrictions beyond those of soft drink ordinances.

R.L. Huck, 5498 Main Street, advertises spring wall paper in a wonderful assortment of new patterns and colors. Phone 223.

Officers of the Williamsville Fire Department include A.H. Herman Jr., chief; Richard Bitterman, first assistant chief, and Albert B. Brown, second assistant chief. Lloyd Carmer is mechanic.

In the fullness of 88 years, Mrs. John Duethorn entered into rest at her home in Swormville last week Wednesday, April 5, 1933. She was highly esteemed by a wide acquaintanship.

50 Years Ago

April 10, 1958

The newly-decorated Transit Valley Country Club was severely damaged by soot shortly after 7:00 p.m. this past Monday evening. Delayed ignition of an oil-burning furnace was the cause.

Otto Striejewske has been re-elected chief of the Eggertsville Hose Company for his fourth consecutive term.

Cornerstone laying ceremonies will be held next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock for the Suburban Religious School Annex of Temple Beth Zion on Sweet Home Road.

Miss Bonnie Bird, a senior at Williamsville Central School, is a candidate for "Presidential Scholar" at St. Lawrence University.

25 Years Ago

April 6, 1983

Eggertsville firefighters battled a $85,000 house fire at about 4 a.m. last Saturday at 92 Capen Boulevard. Police officer Richard Klein helped rescue a man from a second floor window.

Edward (Buckets) Hirsch retired last Thursday after 30 years of service with the Amherst Police Department. He was a member of the Buffalo Bills football team in the old All-American Football Conference from 1947-49.

The Amherst Major Pee Wees will host the U.S. Nationals this weekend at the Audubon Rink.