Jan. 19 — 1870: Counterfeiters were discovered operating in the area of Panama Rocks, adding to the site’s lore as a place of mystery and intrigue. — 1960: Elizabeth Packard, widow of J. Ward Packard of the Packard Motor Company, passed away. The couple were renowned philanthropists ...

January 13 — 1838: Seven prisoners escaped from the Chautauqua County jail in Mayville during the night. — 1872: The Dunkirk Library Association was formed, fostering literacy and education in the region. January 14 — 1925: Early graves were discovered on West 7th Street in ...

January 5: --- 1970: The last regular passenger train passed through Jamestown, marking the end of an era for rail travel in the region. --- 1987: The demolition of the St. Elmo Hotel at Chautauqua Institution began, a significant change for the area’s historic landscape. --- 2007: Darl ...

Dec. 25 — 1808: Joseph Thayer, the first person to drown in Chautauqua Lake, marks an early tragedy in the area’s history. Dec. 26 — 1897: The Dunkirk Post Office was robbed, one of the many criminal incidents that punctuated the county’s history. Dec. 27 — 1817: The ...

December 15 — 1873: Fredonia women took a stand against alcohol, marching to close saloons in a movement that would help birth the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, a pivotal force in the temperance movement nationwide. — 1893: A tragic rail accident near Dunkirk claimed five lives, ...

December 14: — 1900 — The Jamestown High School debate team, known as the Lyceum, held its first debate in Dunkirk, fostering a tradition of academic competition. — 1900 — The Fredonia Normal School was destroyed by fire, a tragic event that claimed seven lives.