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.

December 13 — 1996: The closure of 4 in 1 Screwdrivers marked the end of Jamestown’s hand tool manufacturing industry.

December 12 — 1832: Heman Bush secured a 999-year lease on the Busti Mill tail race, ensuring water rights for the mill’s operation. — 1947: The Torch Club of Jamestown, an intellectual society, was formed. — 1997: Weather radio relay station WXL 52 went live near ...

December 9 — 1897: Celoron Post Office was established, enhancing communication and services in the growing village. — 1972: Jamestown’s official seal was updated to remove the depiction of stack smoke, symbolizing a shift in industrial identity. December 10 — 1897: ...