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, marking a somber chapter in local transportation history.

— 1947: Frewsburg consolidated its schools, forming the Frewsburg Central School District.

December 16

— 1786: An agreement between New York and Massachusetts settled territorial claims over western New York, a significant step in shaping the region’s governance and land rights.

— 2003: The North Main Exit Mall in Ellicott welcomed shoppers, adding to the area’s retail landscape.