Gravitations

Out to Lunch

2011-07-26T17:45:00.000-04:00

I've been focusing my attention on my new job at WRFA-LP, which I started on July 18. Things are going well but between the job and various other side projects, I don't think I'll have time to keep up with this blog for at least the rest of this summer. More details as they are available.

Thanks for stopping by!

-jason

2011 Scandinavian Folk Festival

2011-07-17T10:59:00.001-04:00

The replica Viking Ship "The Norseman"

In late June I was asked to help write/edit and distribute press releases for the 2011 Scandinavian Folk Festival, which wraps up today (July 17) in Gerry, NY. It was a challenging project because the organizers wanted to have the press releases appear in regional media outlets that I typically don't work with or have any connections with. Still, we were able to get the information out to plenty of news agencies, including a couple Buffalo area television stations.

Here's a link to one of the releases I wrote and distributed, which appeared in - or was used by - several media outlets. In addition to the media releases, I was asked to serve as admin for the event's Facebook page, which went over very well.

Yesterday we went to the festival to hangout and enjoy some Scandinavian culture and I brought my video camera along. A Below is video I shot of the headline musical group of the festival, The Rockridge Brothers - they performed four separate times at the festival and did a fantastic job. If you ever get a chance to see them or listen to some of the band's music, please do so.

All in all I had a great time helping to promote the festival and look forward to assisting again next year if called upon.

Chautauqua Star Column: Bemus Point - Stow Ferry

2011-07-08T12:27:00.004-04:00

Here is the latest column I wrote for the Chautauqua Star and Bulletin Board newspaper. It involves the Bemus Point - Stow Ferry on Chautauqua Lake, which is celebrating its 200th year of service this year. Don't forget, If you have an entertainment story you'd like to promote in my column, feel free to contact me. Otherwise, here is this week's column.

Gravitations: 200 Years of Ferry Service on Chautauqua Lake

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY, July 7, 2011 - This weekend is the bicentennial celebration of the Bemus Point – Stow Ferry, so I thought it would be a good time to share my experience in learning about the history of the ferry.

It was two years ago this month that I was working on a story about the ferry for the Chautauqua Star. It was meant to be part of a series of articles we were writing featuring various destinations and attractions from throughout Chautauqua County.

It was mid-July and I went to the town office of North Harmony (were Stow is located) and asked the clerk if she knew were I could get my hands on a couple of past images of the vessel. Eager to help out, she said that not only could she show me a few photos, but she would also introduce me to the man considered the foremost expert of the ferry - Arthur Thomas, who happened to be working at his desk in the building that day.

READ MORE

Chautauqua Star Column: Previewing Independence Day

2011-06-30T10:09:00.006-04:00

I started writing a weekly entertainment column for the Chautauqua Star and Bulletin Board newspaper. I figure it's a nice way to help promote various people in the Chautauqua Region while also trying to keep my writing skills some-what sharp. I decided to use the name of my blog - "Gravitations" - as the name of the column.

In this week's column I discuss various happenings on Independence Day, including the Blue Heron. I also give a shout out to Thee Audience, one of the regions fine musical acts. And don't forget, If you have an entertainment story you'd like to promote in my column, feel free to contact me. Otherwise, here is this week's column.

Gravitations: Independence Day Musings

The Blue Heron Music Festival

The 4th of July is upon us, which means it’s time once again to celebrate our country’s birthday. When you really think about it, you couldn’t ask for a better time of year to celebrate. Sometimes I wonder if the founding fathers planned to sign the Declaration of Independence the fist week in July just so future Americans would be able to fully mark the occasion with parades, fireworks, barbecues, outdoor picnics and live musical entertainment. Surely they must have had some forethought, because having an Independence Day celebration any other time of the year would seem un-American.

Anyway, there’s a whole lot of entertainment happening once again during the long 4^th of July weekend, starting with an event that is now celebrating it’s 20^th year in operation: The Great Blue Heron Music Festival in Sherman, N.Y.

The first Blue Heron took place in 1992 on a small piece of privately owned land in Sherman with a handful of local and regional musicians and their fans getting together the first weekend in July. Since then its grown to become the most anticipated annual music event in Chautauqua County, with thousands of residents and visitors coming to the Sherman area.

My first Blue Heron experience was in 1995....

Chautauqua Star Column: Crypticomp Vol. 2

2011-06-24T09:24:00.002-04:00

As mentioned in my last blog, I started writing a weekly entertainment column for the Chautauqua Star and Bulletin Board newspaper. I figure it's a nice way to help promote various people in the Chautauqua Region while also trying to keep my writing skills some-what sharp. I decided to use the name of my blog - "Gravitations" - as the name of the column.

This week's column featured the Crypticomp Project by George Moore, a local musician and artist from Jamestown. And don't forget, If you have an entertainment story you'd like to promote in my column, feel free to contact me. Otherwise, here is this week's column.

Gravitations: Underground Music Comes to the Surface with Crypticomp Vol. 2

JAMESTOWN, N.Y., June 24, 2011 - If there’s one thing that can be said about Crypticomp Vol. 2, it’s that this isn’t your mom and dad’s music – unless your mom and dad happen to like Mastodon, Slayer, Melvins, or Slayer.

Aimed at music fans who enjoy exploring different songs and sounds associated with metal music, Crypticomp Vol. 2 is an album that certainly achieves its mission of bringing the underground component of metal to the surface. Featuring 24 different tracks from both local and regional artists (and even some from as far away as George, Florida and the United Kingdom), the album provides listeners an eclectic mix of metal, including stoner, doom and sludge sub genres. In addition, there are also some electronic and experimental noise tracks.

“It’s pretty much bands from all over,” says George Moore, a Jamestown-based musician and artists who’s spearheading the Crypticomp project. “In the first [Crypticomp album] we had mostly local bands. We do have a few local artists in this one as well, but there’s also bands from Buffalo, Erie, a couple from Florida, and there’s a few U.K. bands on there too. I was talking to Holly Roar Records [United Kingdom] and they were cool enough to let me use some of their bands.”

Assisting with the creation and production of the album was Jamestown native and musician Rob Fiasco. Together with Moore the two comprise the musical duo known as the Cryptic Yeast (Myspace/Facebook).

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Chautauqua Star Column: Para-Con 2011 Preview

2011-06-17T10:30:00.000-04:00

This week I started writing a weekly entertainment column for the Chautauqua Star and Bulletin Board newspaper. I figure it's a nice way to help promote various people in the Chautauqua Region. I decided to use the name of my blog - "Gravitations" - as the name of the column.

Also, If you have an entertainment story you'd like to promote in my column, feel free to contact me. Otherwise, here is the first column what I hope to be a long and ongoing series in Star.

Gravitations - Para-Con 2011 Preview

JAMESTOWN, NY, June 17, 2011 - Later this year more than a dozen groups and noted individuals who specialize in the paranormal will be descending on Chautauqua County for the first ever Jamestown Paranormal Convention. The event will take place October 8, 2011 with all proceeds going toward the fight against breast cancer.

Organized by the Jamestown Paranormal Investigators, Para-Con 2011 will have something for everyone, including presentations and guest speakers who specialize in ghosts, UFOs and even Bigfoot. But this event isn’t just for those who truly believe in the supernatural. According to JPI spokesman Mike Pollaro, skeptics, along with those who simply want to learn more about the paranormal, are also encouraged to attend.

I recently did an e-interview with Mike to get more details about the event, as well as find out what the JPI team has been working on in the past few months.

READ MORE

The Chautauqua County Silk Industry

2011-05-27T21:41:00.001-04:00

Here's something interesting from the history books: for about 30 years, Chautauqua County had a flourishing silk industry. Apparently silk production in Chautauqua County began in the late 1820s by a man who is more famous for his role in grape production. Within ten years a "cocoonery" was in operation along the Chadakoin River in Dexterville (East Jamestown). A detailed history of the Chautauqua County silk industry can be found in a book entitled "The Conquest of Chautauqua" (1932) by Arthur Wellington Anderson - County Historian.

The raising of silk worms, and the reeling of silk was introduced in this county by Elijah Fay, of Brockton, in 1827, when he brought from the East the mulberry trees, prepared for the production of silk. The industry spread slowly at first, but rapidly over the county in the 30's and 40's. About the year 1845, it began to decline, and was probably nearly extinct by 1860.

- Chapter XII: Highlights in County History -The Silk Industry in Chautauqua County (p. 357)

Anderson does a thorough job providing as many details as possible about the silk operation in Jamestown. He explains that the Dexterville Silk Company was located on East Second St. on the east side of the Dahlstrom's plant north of the Chadakoin River. This roughly puts the operation across the street from where the Puzzle Lounge (1065 E. 2nd St.) currently sits. For a short period of time, there was even a monthly newspaper entitled "Chautauqua County Silk Journal."

The manager of the silk farm was Edwin P. Lord, "whose identity the author has been unable to establish. He first appears in 1841 as manager of the Dexterville Silk Company plant. In the spring of 1842 he moved to Ripley, and was there in 1843. In 1841 he was married to Miss Rachael Mather, of Sugar Grove, Pa."

The book also cites a lengthy article from the Jamestown Journal, printed in spring of 1902. below is a transcribed copy of the original article:

Jamestown Journal, April 18, 1902

Silkworm Industry
It Thrived at Least Sixty Years Ago At Jamestown
     One of the first plants of its kind in the country-O. E. Jones and Levant L. Mason tell a Journal reporter something about the work as they recall it.

     A Statement which has recently appeared in the press to the effect that the silk raising industry was introduced into this country about 40 years ago and started in Georgia, is incorrect. Just when the valuable worms in silk wrappers came to this country we are not prepared to state, but it was certainly more than 40 years ago for at least 62 years ago Jamestown had a thriving silkworm ranch where after much riotous living mulberry leaves the rubs wrapped themselves in their silken mantles and went to bed for an eternal after-dinner nap.

     Not many of the present generation of men and women remember the ancient industry of our city and the name of the man or men who owned the plant has passed from memory, but there are a few veterans still living who have a clear recollection of the institution.

     Orsino E. Jones is one of the men who, looking back to his early childhood, recalls a picture of the silkworm plantation.

     "My attention was called to this matter," said Mr. Jones, when interviewed, "by the statement in the papers that the first silkworms were grown in Georgia 40 years ago. Now I remember perfectly well when there was a silkworm growing enterprise flourishing in this city. I was only a boy at the time but the picture of the building where the worms were kept and the big field of mulberry bushes on the opposite side of the street is as clear in my mind as it was then. A large force of boys and girls were employed picking the mulberry leaves and carrying them to the house, where the were fed to the worms. I was in the place often and saw the worms eating the leaves and then winding themselves into their cocoons. As I remember it these cocons were shipped away with the worm still inside. The cocoons were in shape something like an egg, only, perhaps, a little longer and slimmer.

     "The building stood on the flats, along the Chadakoin, not far from East Second Street, and about where Flagg Avenue is now located. The mulberry bushes occupied a field on the opposite side of the street and always looked fresh and thrifty. I do not remember the names of the persons who owned the establishment, nor the causes that led to an abandonment of the enterprise. I only know that it apparently flourished a number of years and was then given up. I think Levant L. Mason can tell you more about the enterprise than I can."

     Mr. Mason was found at the Bee Hive jewelry store and when asked what he could remember about the silk raising industry in Jamestown replied: "I do not remember much about the business in detail because I knew very little about it. I was only a boy but I have a clear recollection of the establishment in a general way. The building where the worms were kept and where they did their work was a long barn-like structure, two stories high and stood on the right hand side of East Second Street as you go toward Falconer, nearly midway between East Buffalo Street and the old Jeffords farm, now the Woodlawn Dairy. Around the building grew a few mulberry bushes and on the opposite side of the street was a large field of them. They were big thrifty looking shrubs in spite of the constant pruning of their leaves which were picked by boys and girls and carried to the feeding house. A fresh supply had to be secured every day but apparently there were many more than enough leaves to supply the demand, for those which were plucked could hardly be missed from the foliage. I think the silk growing establishment must have flourished more than 60 years ago. In fact I am sure it did, because it was here before my father moved his family out of the village in 1837."

Chautauqua County Historical Society Fundraiser June 11, 2011

2011-05-24T10:28:00.002-04:00

The Chautauqua County Historical Society is holding its annual fundraiser on Saturday, June 11, 2011. Here is a press release I put together for the organization to help promote the event.

Historical Society Fundraiser Set for June 11 in Westfield
“Re/Union” will Preview Upcoming Civil War Exhibit

The Chautauqua County Historical Society is inviting residents and supporters of local history to attend its annual fundraiser Saturday, June 11 in Westfield. “Re/Union” will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the historic McClurg Museum in Moore Park – located at the corner of Routes 394 and 20 in the village.

“This is our single biggest fundraising event of the year,” said James O’Brien, the President of the Chautauqua County Historical Society. “We hope to see a lot of familiar faces as well as some new ones during the evening.”

The fundraiser will feature hearty hors d’oeuvres along with music by local musician John Hamels. There will also be a preview of an upcoming Civil War exhibit at the Museum entitled “The Art of War: Images of the Civil War from the collection of the Chautauqua County Historical Society.”

The new exhibit will primarily feature various artwork and photographs associated with the Cushing family of Fredonia. Several members of the family took part in the Civil War, including Alonzo and William Cushing. Alonzo lost his life in the Battle of Gettysburg while defending the Union position against Picket’s Charge. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for conduct. William became a hero of the north and was known as “Lincoln’s Commando” after leading a daring nighttime mission to sink the Confederate ironclad CSS Albermarle in 1864.

“2011 begins the 150th anniversary of the Civil War so we wanted to tie that in with our annual fundraiser,” O’Brien explains. “We have several photographs and images from our Cushing Collection and we are excited to share them with the public. Anyone who attends the fundraiser will get a sneak preview of the exhibit.”

The cost to attend “Re/Union” will be $50 per person with all proceeds going to support the McClurg Museum operations, an all-volunteer organization.

For tickets and reservations, call 326-2977.

About: The Chautauqua County Historical Society was established in 1883 and is the oldest historical society in Chautauqua County. Since 1951, the organization has been based out of the historic McClurg Mansion (built in 1818) in Westfield, N.Y.   Annual Membership rates start at just $20. All members are given free access to the museum year-round and a subscription to the quarterly "Time Lines" newsletter. For more information, call 716-326-2977. .

# # #

Photo Caption: Fredonia resident William Cushing was one of four Cushing brothers to serve in the Civil War. He was dubbed “Lincolns Commando” after sinking the Confederate ironclad CSS Albemarle in 1864. He and his family will be the focus of an upcoming exhibit form the Chautauqua County Historical Society, which will be previewed at the June 14 Fundraiser. (Image courtesy of the U.S. Naval Historical Center)

Press Release for Chautauqua County Historical Society

2011-05-04T12:48:00.003-04:00

I was recently named a trustee of the Chautauqua County Historical Society, something I view as both an honor and a privilege. I think I was approached to serve as a trustee for a couple of reasons. One being my interest in local history and also my experience with media and marketing.

One of the first things I've set out to do since becoming a trustee is to establish a social media presence for the historical society. Below is a press release I wrote announcing the organization's presence on Facebook. Remember that any news regarding your business or agency, even something as common as a starting a facebook page, can often times be parlayed into a press release.

Follow the Chautauqua County Historical Society on Facebook

The McClurg Museum, Home of the Chautauqua County Historical Society

WESTFIELD, N.Y., May 3, 2011 - Fans of local history will be happy to know Chautauqua County’s oldest historical society now has its own Facebook page. The Chautauqua County Historical Society launched its Facebook Page a few weeks ago and since then dozens of people have started to follow the organization.

The historical society hopes to use its Facebook page to share historic images from Chautauqua County’s past, as well as keep residents updated on various events, including the annual Antique Show (July 16 & 17) and the Antique Book and Paper Show (July 30)– both of which will take place in Westfield. Details on upcoming lectures, exhibits and fundraisers will also be provided.

In addition to a recently launched Facebook page, the Chautauqua County Historical Society also has its own website (McClurgmuseum.org) and its own blog (mcclurgmuseum.org/blog), where this year’s “Bicentennial Biographies” are being posted. Fans can also follow the historical society on Twitter (@McClurgMuseum).

To follow the Chautauqua County Historical Society on Facebook, simply go to www.facebook.com/ChautauquaCountyHistory.

The Chautauqua County Historical Society was established in 1883 and is the oldest historical society in Chautauqua County. Since 1951, the organization has been based out of the historic McClurg Mansion (built in 1818) in Westfield, N.Y.

Annual Membership rates start at just $20. All members are given free access to the museum year-round and a subscription to the quarterly "Time Lines" newsletter. For more information, call 716-326-2977.

Press Release for Infinity Intermedia

2011-05-03T15:14:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine - Scott Dietzel - recently asked me if I could help him get the word out about his services involving Internet marketing. For those that don't know, Google Adwords is changing the way local businesses can reach out to both current and potential customers. However, managing a Google (or any other online) ad campaign isn't as easy as it sounds. As a result, many businesses are looking to work with online advertising consultants. Scott is currently one of the few people in the Chautauqua County area who has the ability (and resources) to put together an effective online advertising campaign for local businesses. Below is the press release I wrote for him.

Infinity Intermedia Helps Area Businesses get Noticed Online

Local Internet advertising company provides businesses 'Presence with a Purpose'

JAMESTOWN, N.Y., April 12, 2011 - Since the arrival of the Internet, local businesses from throughout the United States have been looking for ways to get noticed online. For many, it’s been a struggle to not only locate a website that will target their consumer base, but also make room in their budget to pay for the cost of advertising on multiple sites, which often times means competing against national companies.

Recently, however, the arrival of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter has provided local businesses with a cost-effective way to market themselves. But as effective as social media websites may seem, they can be somewhat limited in helping a business attract a steady and constant stream of new costumers. As a result, hundreds of local businesses in the Chautauqua County area continue to struggle to get noticed online.

All that is about to change.

Infinity Intermedia, a local digital marketing company based in Jamestown, N.Y. has created an effective online advertising model for local business with the help of AdzZoo, an international company specializing in online marketing. They’ve developed a system that helps businesses get noticed online and it starts with Google, the world’s most popular and widely used website.

Scott Dietzel

“Google is starting to understand the value of promoting small, locally owned businesses,” says Scott Dietzel, Infinity Intermedia President and Internet marketing consultant. “With our help, we can get a business noticed on Google’s search engines or on AdWords, which is Google’s advertising platform.”
According to Dietzel, AdzZoo has developed a geographic-based advertising system that fully utilizes Google AdWords, allowing local businesses to show up on just about any website that uses the Google AdSense as a way to show the consumer targeted-relevant advertisements.

“We’re capable of designing and implementing a complete, geo-targeted online advertising campaign for local businesses,” he says. “That means we can get a particular business to appear in a search query, if that search was conducted within a 5, 50, or even 100 mile radius of the business’s location. We can also run statewide and multi-state campaigns.”

As a result, Dietzel says just about any business or agency in the Chautauqua region, from restaurants and hotels to car dealerships and realtors, would benefit from partnering with AdzZoo. That includes any company or business that caters to the growing tourism industry.

“People today use the Internet more than ever before to get information. This is especially true when they are going on vacation or visiting a place they’ve never been to before,” explains Dietzel. “The first place they go to learn more about their destination – where to stay, what restaurants are in the area, where to go for entertainment – is online.”

Currently, Dietzel says many local businesses are missing an opportunity to get noticed. “Right now, there’s a lot of local businesses in Chautauqua County that don’t have a way to get noticed,” he says. “Simply having your own website or Facebook page doesn’t do a lot to attract new customers. But because we work with AdzZoo, which has developed a local search engine optimization system, we can provide those businesses presence with a purpose.”

Dietzel is encouraging anyone interested in learning more about getting noticed online, whether it be through advertising on Google Adwords or running a campaing on Facebook, to visit his company online at www.GetFoundOnline.Co.

“While search engine management is big part of what we do, it’s not the only thing,” says Dietzel. “We provide other services as well including mobile text marketing, web hosting, copywriting, and even social media management. And we offer free initial consultation.”

For more information on AdzZoo, contact Dietzel at (716) 934-8529 or send an email to scottdietzel@AdzZoomail.com.

The Audience on WRFA-LP in Jamestown April 14

2011-04-13T12:20:00.002-04:00

Here is a press release I wrote to promote tomorrow's appearance by Thee Audience on my radio show "Turn it On." I figured here is as good a place as any to post it, so here you go.

The Audience on WRFA-LP in Jamestown April 14

JAMESTOWN, NY, April 13, 2011 - One of the premiere music groups in Chautauqua County have a busy schedule the next couple of weeks. On Saturday April 16, Thee Audience will be playing an all-ages show to support National Record Store Day on April 16 ( 3 p.m.) at Townhouse Records (Fourth St., Jamestown). The following weekend, the band will do split the bill at Mojos (Second St., Jamestown) with Triggers, a band from Pittsburgh. That show will take place on April 22, beginning at 10pm.

Thee Audience

To talk about the upcoming shows along with their forthcoming, yet-to-be-titled new album, the members of Thee Audience (Mark Cooper, Matt Baxter, Ryan Ecklund and Daniel Witherspoon) will appear on the WRFA-LP Radio Show Turn it On.The program airs each Thursday night on 107.9 FM in Jamestown.

The guest appearance by Thee Audience is the first in what is hoped to be a series of guest appearances on Turn it On. Other local musicians, artists, business owners and everyday people of the community are also invited to come on the show. To learn more, email TurnItOnWRFA@gmail.com or follow on facebook.

In addition to their two shows coming up later this April, Thee Audience will also play the Great Blue Heron Festival this July in Sherman, N.Y. They’ve also finished recording several new songs, which will be featured on their new album due out later this year.

In the meantime, copies of their 2007 debut album, Below and Beyond, can be purchased at bandcamp.

Autobiography by Samuel A. Carlson - Meeting Adolf Hitler

2011-04-10T23:44:00.005-04:00

Samuel A. Carlson, circa 1900

Continuing with the post from Feb. 26, 2011 regarding the 1943 Autobiography of former Mayor of Jamestown, Samuel A. Carlson (1868–1961).

I thought I'd jump ahead in the book a little bit and present the passage in Carlson's Autobiography where he discusses his encounter with Adolf Hitler. The meeting took place during the summer of 1933 when Carlson - along with a group of other U.S. mayors - toured nearly every major country in Europe. The purpose of the trip was to promote municipally owned/operated utilities and services.

Carlson first mentions his meeting with Hitler on page 46 of his autobiography. The section is entitled, "Hitler True to Form." I think it was most likely written in 1942 or early 1943. The mayor is, as expected, highly critical of the German leader.

Later in the book there are further accounts of not only the mayor's encounter with Hitler, but also with his trip throughout Europe. I'll have more on that at a later date.

Autobiography by Samuel A. Carlson - Mayor Emeritus

and Comments on His Fifty Years of Public Service

[Page 46-47]

Hitler True to Form

"I was in Germany when Hitler first assumed power. I was privileged to meet Hitler personally. To me, he looked the very past he has played in the present European drama. He has all the earmarks of the type of merciless tyrants we read about in the history of the dark ages. The average German who I met seemed to be stunned and cowed into an acceptance of the Nazi regime. He feared to express any criticism lest he be made to suffer the fate of dissentients who had been thrust into concentration camps. The German school children I saw are now fighting for the idiologies they had been taught (viz., Hitlerized World of Feudalism.)

Carlson met Hitler (above) in 1933

"Regardless of some past differences as to the attitude of English Tories and Royalists, it is simply unthinkable that we should not aid in preventing the invasion of British soil and the attempt of the Hitler Gestapo hordes to substitute the Nazi abomination for English culture and the civilization of which we are a part. We can however fortify and maintain our American civilization against any possible attack now or hereafter.

"Since we are in this war, we must aid in every way to insure victory for U. S. A. But in planning for peace after war, let us keep in mind that all history proves that every attempt to foist upon the world a Super Government has failed. Why? Simply because no government no matter how powerful can make all races and all different nationalities think alike. Conflicts of opinion about religion soaked the soil of the old world with rivers of blood for ages, in an attempt to establish a one minded world. We are winning war victories in distant lands, but have we yet won any political or governmental battles for democracy in any of these old world countries? Are there not already indications that we may be compelled accept Monarchy rule over these lands in place of democracy for which we declared our purpose to wage war?

"Are we not facing the same confusion, complications and intrique [sic] that George Washington foretold in his Farewell Address? Why in planning for peace do we repudiate the Washington, Monroe and Jefferson Doctrines that kept us free and insured progress and international peace until 1917?

"Let us insist that those nations with whom we are asked to unite in Post-War period, first renounce all forms of hereditary or totalatarian [sic] power and adopt the democratic principle of rule. Let us not repeat the blunder we committed in neglecting to aid struggling democracy in span where the present war began."

As I said, there are more details on Carlson's meeting with Hitler, and I'll get to them next time.

BACK TO PART 3

Update: Turn it On Radio Show

2011-04-05T13:50:00.000-04:00

In the next few weeks I'll be focusing once again on my radio show, Turn it On. I sort of put it on hiatus this winter but now I'm ready to put some time and effort into it. With that, I've decided to utilize it more as a weekly Jamestown-oriented program focusing on various things happening in the community. Sort of a late-night radio show for Jamestown area. It will air every Thursday night at 11 p.m on 107.9 FM WRFA or streaming at wrfalp.com.

One of the things I'll be focusing on is getting guests in the studio to not only discuss their projects, but also to also select some of the music on the playlist. I'll be giving more details in the coming weeks, but for now you can follow the show on Facebook & Twitter. Podcasts will also be made available immediately following the show.

That is all.

Email: TurnItOnWRFA@Gmail.com
Turn it On on Facebook

Twitter: @TurnItOn_WRFA

Old Jamestown - Alonzo Kent

2011-03-29T16:14:00.001-04:00

While doing research, I came across a series of articles that appeared in the Jamestown Evening Post from November 1919 through February 1920. The were simply entitled "Old Jamestown" or "Old Jamestowners" and dealt with the early history of the city.

This specific article involved Alonzo Kent, came to Jamestown at the age of 22 with a mere 50 cents in his pocket. But in due time, Kent became a very prosperous businessman, owning the Kent House Hotel in Lakewood and the Kent Mansion in Jamestown, which was the first brick home built in the city. No expense was spared when this Italianate mansion was constructed. Today, the Kent Mansion serves as the home of the Robert H. Jackson Center.

An early sketch of the Kent Mansion

Old Jamestown

(Jamestown Evening Post – Jan. 13, 1920)

About 1830 a quiet, plainly dressed young man appeared at the "Jamestown Temperance House" informing the proprietor, Willard Rice, that he was short of money, but willing to work and was looking for a place to locate. Rice promptly told him to stop there until he found a job and to pay for his lodging when convenient.

Within a very short time the stranger and Landlord Rice's eldest daughter had formed a genuine friendship. She soon learned that the young stranger was an excellent penman and her interest led her to organize a writing school with this stranger as the teacher. The school was successful, practically all of the young people of the community becoming enrolled as students.

In January, 1834 Miss Mercy Rice, the landlord's daughter who organized the school became the bride of the young teacher and thus Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Kent started together on the highway of live and founded a family that has been prominent in Jamestown affairs from that day to this.

Mr. Kent first engaged in business in the dry goods trade and later he established the Jamestown Bank, which after the war became the First National Bank, with which he was identified for many years.

The Lost Works of Shakespeare?

2011-03-26T13:22:00.006-04:00

Some say that William Shakespeare wrote more plays and sonnets than are currently available. The claim is that these "lost works" have unfortunately been forgotten over time, although there is still a small group of individuals who are aware such works exist.

Until now, the general public has never seen any of these writings. However, a sonnet has recently surfaced and it has all the tell-tale signs of the great Bard of Avon. While this work was purportedly written more than four centuries ago, it is amazingly similar to a work that was released in the early 1980s. See for your self...

Bill Shakespeare

The Impervious Forest

'Tis akin to an impervious forest which forces one to ponder
What prevents one's own mind from going asunder
'Tis akin to an impervious forest which forces me to ponder
What prevents one's own mind from going asunder

Shards of glass scattered throughout the lot
Denizens relieve thine own bladders upon the stairwell, 'Tis obvious they care not.
I can tolerate thy stench within thy air no longer, nor thy village's cacophony
Alas! Mine own lacking of resources prevents my leave. I have no choice in the matter.
Vermin scurry within thy front chamber, and the breese infest thy corridor behind,
Drunkards prowl dark places betwix dwellings possessing axes to grind.
Lo! I made attempt for leave tho I was prevented to travel in due course

For the village constable made success in his labor to reclaim my riding horse.

Prithee thee make no attempt to taunt such unsettling circumstances for mine own disposition remains precarious
I labor intensively so mine own sanity is not vanquished

'Tis akin to an impervious forest which forces one to ponder
What prevents one's own mind from going asunder
'Tis akin to an impervious forest which forces me to ponder
What prevents one's own mind from going asunder

Waiting idly in thine home's entrance, peering through thine window
Be witness to thee hastened journey of carriages, roaring with all the rage of the wind
A mad witch inhabits a sack
Ingesting discarded refuse. In prior times she was the acquaintance of a more gentle fellow.
Her boast was of a seductive dance tripping on her toe,
Twas obvious thy glass jeweled princes had gone mad.
Within the bowels of tavern known for lascivious acts and witnessing thy lecherous men
A desperate effort to weave bold tales for acquaintances afar
Her recourse brought her to the town seeking charitable giving
Forced to acquire a whore's keeper, she'd proven ill successful in attempts at self-living

Prithee thee make no attempt to taunt such unsettling circumstances for mine own disposition remains precarious
I labor intensively so mine own sanity is not vanquished

'Tis akin to an impervious forest which forces one to ponder
What prevents one's own mind from going asunder
'Tis akin to an impervious forest which forces me to ponder
What prevents one's own mind from going asunder

Apparently there was several other stanzas to this sonnet, but they've yet to be released to the public. Stay tuned....

Old Jamestown – Chautauqua Lake Dredging

2011-03-25T21:15:00.003-04:00

While doing research, I came across a series of articles that appeared in the Jamestown Evening Post from November 1919 through February 1920. The were simply entitled "Old Jamestown" or "Old Jamestowners" and dealt with the early history of the city.

The following deals with the first dam on the Chadakoin, built sometime in the 18th century by French soldiers, prior to the Revolutionary War.

Old Jamestown

(Jamestown Evening Post – Jan. 6, 1920)

Seneca Chief Cornplanter

Dredging the Chautauqua Lake outlet through Jamestown, which has not yet been finished and possibly never well be, is a task almost one hundred years duration. It was first begun in 1822, when an attempt was made to deepen the channel. At this time there was discovered a row of white plank piles driven firmly into the earth across the stream.

Cornplanter, the famous Indian Chief, informed the early settlers that these had been driven in order to raise the water in the lake so as to permit troops to pass down the lake and hence on down the river to Pittsburgh. The town of Ellicott was the site of an important Indian village long before the Revolutionary War. It was located in what is now the town of Kiantone and on the Prendergast flats. This was in the later years of the 17^thCentury. It was one of the granaries of the of the Five Nations.

When the French soldiers passed down the Conewango river on their was to Fort Duquesne, Cornplanter was only 18 years old; nevertheless he led a party of 16 Indians to the defense of the fort, embarking his warriors at what has been known as Oxbow Bend on the Conewango, about a mile north of what is now known as Fentonville.

The Wednesday Blog - March 23, 2011

2011-03-24T14:40:00.004-04:00

In January of this year I started the Wednesday Blog in hopes of keeping everyone updated on some of the more interesting happenings that are taking place in the greater Jamestown area. I did this because A) I think it's important that I continue blogging on a regular basis to showcase my skills (or lack thereof) and B) I get invited to an awful lot of events on Facebook and figured this would be as a good a place as any to share them.

Andre sniffin' the pine

But I soon learned that keeping up with a Wednesday Blog is more difficult than I initially thought. And to be honest, A) I'm getting way too busy with all kinds of other projects to find the time to write an adequate blog detailing various events from throughout area and B) Dave Emke from The Jamestown Post-Journal already does a pretty good job of this each Thursday in the paper's Arts/Entertainment Section. A third reason is that the weather is getting warmer and I've been spending more times outdoors. I even took Andre (Left) out and he was very happy to be outside as it was the first time for him in nearly four months.

So with that, I've put the blog on Hiatus the past few weeks, and have instead used this space to share stories and posts related to local history, along with the occasional press release that I've been working on. But now that I've got a couple of minutes to spare, I figure I'll offer a run-down of a couple of things going on in and around the greater Jamestown/Chautauqua County area.

Amazing County / Bicentennial Celebration

The Amazing County promotion that was started in 2010 by the the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation is continuing this year, providing assistance in the Bicentennial "Passport to History" promotion spearheaded by the Chautauqua County Historical Society. Amazing County will use its facebook page to update its 600 followers (and counting) on all the news and information involving the Bicentennial and related events.

I've been asked to help play a role in this by serving as one of the administrators for Amazing County on Facebook. As such, I've been busy updating the events calendar and providing daily posts to help raise awareness (and hopefully excitement) about some of the events. I'll also help with uploading photos and other content throughout the year, so it should keep me busy and "in the know" when it comes to the year-long Bicentennial celebration.

If you're into local history and celebrating a major milestone like the county's 200th birthday, you may want to consider following Amazing County on Facebook to stay in the loop. It will remain active until at least November of this year.

Roger Bryan & The Orphans Return to Jamestown
The Buffalo-based Roger Bryan & the Orphans will be playing Mojos in Jamestown on March 27. I've seen these guys a couple of times now and they never disappoint in their mission to deliver quality, original music to the masses. I'm not a music critic and I've never been very good at describing what a band sounds like or what kind of a journey the listener embarks on upon first hearing a band play. I'll just say that they provide a quality sound at an affordable price and that's good enough for. Here's a video if you feel inclined to learn more.

The equally talented Ghost Shirt from Colombus, Ohio will also be in town performing. So if you're looking for something to do on Saturday night, stop by Mojos. If I see you there and you mention reading this on my blog, I'll let you buy me a beer.

Speaking of Mojos, they finally got with the program and started their own Facebook page, so make sure you make follow and stay up to date on all that is happening there.

Thee Audience in Thee Burgh
In relation to local music, I'd like to ask anyone in the Pittsburgh area to check out Thee Audience, who is playing at Howler's Coyote Cafe. If you've never heard them, here's the bands debut album. They will soon be releasing a new CD as well.

Daniel Barry Land Surveyor in Lakewood Celebrates 25 Years in Business

2011-03-21T12:42:00.002-04:00

Regional Land Surveyor Dan Barry is celebrating his 25th Anniversary in business this year. He asked me to write and distribute a press release noting this impressive milestone. Below is the release, in its entirety.

# # #

Daniel L. Barry Land Surveyor Reaches Impressive Milestone

Land Surveyor provides 25 years of service in both New York and Pennsylvania

Daniel Barry

LAKEWOOD, NY - Dan Barry of Lakewood is celebrating an impressive milestone. It was 25 years ago in March that Barry started his land surveying business. Since then, he’s seen his company expand from a one-man operation to the inclusion of two other employees. He’s also made a name for himself in both Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. His work has included everything from residential and business-related projects to larger, topographic survey projects for municipalities and boundary line surveying projects in the Allegheny National Forest.

While Barry’s business has now been in operation for 25 years, he’s actually been involved with surveying for 38 years, and it all started with a conversation he had in high school.

“I got into this totally by accident,” explains Barry. “My senior year in high school my guidance counselor asked what I was going to do when I finished high school. I said I was going to go to college, but still wasn’t sure what I was going to study. He looked over my records and saw that I was strong in math, history and science, so he suggested I should study to be a surveyor, and I said, ‘okay.’ That was about it.”

After graduation, Barry studied land surveying for two years at Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks. He received an Associate’s Degree in land surveying in 1973 and returned to Chautauqua County, where he began a five-year apprenticeship with local surveyor George Dimas. Between 1978 and 1984, Barry worked for Jerry Erickson and Michael Rodgers. It was during that time period that he also became a licensed land surveyor for New York State in 1981. After working for Dimas for two more years, Barry made the decision to start his own business in 1986.

“For the first nine years I really focused on developing a customer base,” Barry says. “I was also working as an estimator and project manager for Ken Eckman Excavating in Frewsburg, NY. We did site work and demolition for the Wal-Mart Plaza in Lakewood, NY, which was the biggest project I’ve ever been involved with."

In 1988, Barry became licensed to survey in Pennsylvania. By 1995 he was so busy with surveying projects that he left his position with Ken Eckman Excavating. For the past 16 years, he’s focused solely on projects associated with his surveying business.

Any Project, Any Time, Anywhere in Western NY & Western PA
Since starting out on his own in 1986, Barry has worked on a variety of different land surveying projects throughout Southwestern New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. With each one, he’s always been able to provide the highest quality of work at an affordable cost to his clients.

Surveying a section of the Cohocton River in Cohocton, N.Y.

“I own a real estate company and own a lot of real estate personally also,” explains Tom Turner, one of Barry’s clients in Lakewood, NY. “I’ve used Dan for all of our personal work and referred him to clients for years. He is on time, on budget, and his work is always very well done.”

In addition to residential and business properties, he’s also worked with various local attorneys, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), local developers, foresters, municipalities, and the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as several different architects and engineers. His most recent list of projects includes a wetland survey at Goose Creek and Chautauqua Lake in the Towns of Busti & North Harmony. Barry also recently did survey work for a new Tube Coaster being built at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville.

One of Barry’s most memorable projects was surveying larger tracts of land in the Allegany National Forest in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Another was working for the NRCS along the Cohocton River and surrounding wetlands area in Cohocton, NY. “Working outdoors, in the middle of nature is always rewarding,” Barry says.

Besides Barry, the company also has two other employees. Joseph McGraw, his crew chief, is also a licensed surveyor in New York and is working toward getting licensed in Pennsylvania. Joe has been with the company since 2003. Brian Kearney is his survey technician and has been with the company since 1998.

An Ever-Changing Business
Over the years, Barry has seen quite a few changes in surveying – most notably with technology. But because he has nearly 40 years of familiarity with surveying equipment, he and his staff know what the appropriate tool is for each individual project, ranging from compass and tape to the most state of the art GPS equipment.

“It’s amazing to see just how far technology has advanced since I’ve been doing this,” he says. “We use a Real Time Kinematic GPS instrument that allows us to get accurate measurements – down to the centimeter. It’s far more expensive to use the instruments, but the trade-off is it takes less time to do the work.”

Some of the services that Barry provides include surveying residential properties, minor and major subdivisions in New York and Pennsylvania, accident surveys for court cases (and court room testifying), issuing flood certificates, gas and oil well plats and staking, construction staking, topographic surveys for engineering or land development projects, line marking for timber harvesting and farm surveys.

“Working with new people and in different places is really what I like best about this job,” Barry says. “It never gets old. I’m always going someplace else and working outdoors, so I couldn’t have picked a better career than the one I’m in right now.”

A complete list of services can be found at his website, www.danbarrysurveyor.com. For more information, call (716) 763-1254.

The Kind Thrifter is Open for Business in Jamestown

2011-03-13T12:08:00.003-04:00

I had the chance to meet up with local businesswoman Amy Heglund earlier this month to talk about her new store in Jamestown. Heglund, who previously worked as a manager of the Humane Society's Second Chances thrift shop, recently opened a new store on the southeast corner of Main and 5th Streets.

The Kind Thrifter is a consignment shop that sells used household and clothing items donated by the community, with proceeds going to various non-profit organizations and other local causes. What's even better is that the Kind Thrifter is the only consignment shop that is open on a regular basis in downtown Jamestown, filling a much needed niche for low-income city residents who may not be able to make it to similar shops located one or two miles from the downtown.

Because of the way Heglund has it set up, people on fixed-incomes aren't the only ones who will benefit from The Kind Thrifter. In fact, there are a total of four distinct groups:

City residents in need of affordable clothing, appliances and other household items
Community members from throughout the area interested in finding great deals on vintage clothing, music, household wares and other hard-to-find items
People and businesses looking for a place to donate their used clothing, furniture and appliances
Various non-profits and local causes in need of revenue to continue their operation/mission

Image from The Kind Thifter's Facebook page

During its opening week, I stopped by the store and was impressed with the selection of items it had to offer, considering it was only open for less than a week. Naturally, I went to the music section and found a cache of old vinyl records, nearly all in good condition. I purchased three records, including the Clash's Combat Rock, Sonic Youth's EVOL and Live Rust by Neil Young & Crazy Horse.

Since only being open for a couple of weeks, several organizations and causes have already benefited from The Kind Thrifter. They include The Arts Council of Chautauqua County and the Roller Girls of Chautauqua County. In addition, Heglund says she'll try to help out as many different causes as possible in the coming weeks and months.

Heglund serves as the only full-time employee at the Kind Thrifter. The rest of the individuals working at the store are there as volunteers and she encourages anyone interested in helping the Kind Thrifter achieve its mission of serving the community to stop by or contact the shop.

Anyone wishing to drop off donations can do so during regular hour of operation (Tues. through Sat. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). And in case you missed it, The Kind Thrifter was also recently featured in the March 3 issue of Chautauqua Region WORD magazine. Here's a link to the PDF of that issue.

Location: 8 E. 5th St., Jamestown NY 14701
Hours: Tues - Sat: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Contact: thekindthrifter@gmail.com, (716) 969-6656
Facebook Page
Website: www.thekindthrifter.com

Old Jamestown – The Blind Horse Dance

2011-03-07T08:53:00.003-05:00

While doing research, I came across a series of articles that appeared in the Jamestown Evening Post from November 1919 through February, 1920. The were simply entitled "Old Jamestown" or "Old Jamestowners" and dealt with the early history of the city.

The following article deals with the first dance in Jamestown back in 1816. It would be referred to for years afterward as "The Blind Horse Dance."

Old Jamestown

(Jamestown Evening Post – Jan. 7, 1920)

The Allen Tavern - Built in 1815 at the Southwest Corner of Main and Third Streets, burned in 1852. It's not known if this is the structure that hosted the "Blind Horse Dance," but it was built during the same time period.

With dances held almost every night in the year, and often half dozen of them on the same evening in 1920, it may be of interest to speak briefly of the first dance held in the village. This was a New Year’s ball, held on Jan. 1, 1816. A large hotel was in process of erection at the corner of Main and Third streets, and the “ballroom” was finished in haste for this party. Invitations had been sent for miles around. The ballroom was on the ground floor.

While the merry company was engaged in the popular dances of a hundred years ago, some “rough necks” who were not invited got hold of an old blind horse that was loose in the community, led it to the door of the dance room, and at a propitious moment when the floor was crowded with dancers, burst open the door and gave the blind horse a slap which sent him waltzing into the middle of the floor and the dancers as quickly waltzing out of range. It is reported that he “danced down the center, with a pace quickened by the music, in a straight line, with no ‘allemand’ either to the right or the left, scattering dancers and finally bringing up short at the fireplace in the opposite end of the room.” The first dance in the village was long remembered as “the blind horse dance.”

In Memoriam: William Broadhead - Part 2

2011-03-06T10:57:00.002-05:00

Last month I posted some information about William Broadhead, one of the most well-known manufacturers in Jamestown's history. The text came from a booklet various newspaper articles detailing the life of Broadhead. It was published shortly after his death.

Here is another article about Broadhead, this time published two days after his death in the Jamestown Morning Post. That day's editorial from the Post can be found below the article.

JAMESTOWN'S FIRST CITIZEN

Jamestown Morning Post - May 23, 1910

WILLIAM BROADHEAD, a resident of Jamestown for nearly 67 years, and one of the pioneers in the industrial activity of Chautauqua County, died at his residence, 130 South Main Street, Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock, aged 91 years. He celebrated his 91st birthday on February 17th at Passadena, California, where he spent the winter in company with is two daughters. He passed away peacefully with the members of his family present and his death will be mourned by the entire city as thousands of its inhabitants knew him personally and many more had seen the familiar figure on the streets for over half a century.

Mr. Broadhead and his daughters returned from California early in May. At that time he was in excellent health and spirits. He contracted a severe cold and complications developed which ended in his death on Saturday. The end had been expected for several days.

One Wednesday, May 11th, Mr. Broadhead was at the worsted mills, where he had spent so many years, for the last time. He did not leave his home after that day, his vitality growing gradually weaker until the end came. His mind was keen and clear to the last and he answered the last summons with a confidence that he had done all that he could in the struggle of his life.

Mr. Broadhead was a shrewd business man and made many profitable investments in addition to the worsted mills. He erected numerous business blocks in the city, was a director and vice president of the First National Bank and was one of the leading promoters of the Jamestown Street Railway which his son Almet N. Broadhead now controls. About a decade ago Mr. Broadhead built the Meadowbrook Worsted Mills at Falconer. The large mill was conducted in connection with the Broadhead Mills in this city.

Mr. Broadhead's large manufacturing interests naturally made him a believer in a protective tariff and consequently he was always an ardent Republican, although he never sought nor held public office.

On February 15, 1900, Mr. Broahead was signally honored by his fellow citizens at a great banquet given in the Sherman House in honor of his 81st birthday, which was to come two days later. The most prominent men of Jamestown sat down at the banquet tables and noted men came from other places to honor the Jamestown manufacturer and city builder. About 150 men were in attendance. The banquet was one of the notable events in the city's history and it is still vividly remembered by all who were present.

Mr. Broadhead's worth as a developer of great enterprises that had exerted powerful influences in the growth of the city were referred to by brilliant speakers. Judge Jerome B. Fisher was toastmaster, and the following men responded toasts: Lynn Tew Sprague, Ex-mayor Eleazer Green, Frank W. Stevens, Edward Appleyard, Rev. Dr. Albert L. SMalley, James L. Weeks, Representative Edward B. Vreeland, Rev. Elliot C. Hall, Edwin A. Bradshaw, Arthur C. Wade and Supreme Court Justice John Woodward.

At the First Methodist Church yesterday morning the pastor, Rev. Dr. Horace G. Ogden, made an appreciative reference to the useful service for the community rendered by Mr. Broadhead, a former member of that church.

At the First Congregational Church yesterday morning, the minister, Rev. Dr. Charles H. Small spoke very tenderly of the passing of Mr. Broadhead. The Broadhead pew was draped with purple gauze and a wreath was placed in the seat usually occupied by Mr. broadhead.

WILLIAM BROADHEAD

Editorial from the Jamestown Morning Post - May 23, 1910

When William Broadhead died, the pioneer era in the industrial history of Jamestown may be said to have closed. He had outlived most of the men who had been associated with him in establishing the textile industry in this city, though he was himself well along in life when he entered upon that larger career as a manufacturer which was to give him and his family a national instead of a local reputation.

It was to his foresight and business sagacity that the rapid industrial growth of Jamestown is largely due, for he was connected with the first two worsted mills and his sons have so wisely managed the family interests that they have made the Broadhead name known far and wide as synonymous with business enterprise and integrity. It is exceedingly rare for the members of one family to engage in so many kinds of business with such uniform success. William Broadhead was justly proud of this great business development achieved in less than forty years and Jamestown is proud of his having lived and labored in the city, to which his coming meant so much.

William Broadhead was an Englishman of the old school, a man who loved his native land to the last, though he became a good citizen of this country, to which he removed in 1843 at the early age of 24. He and some of the older members of his family were the forerunners of that sturdy company of English artisans who have contributed so largely to the prosperity of Jamestown. In old Yorkshire, he had learned the weaver's trade as an apprentice, but had later worked with his father in the village smithy until he decided to try his fortune in the new land of promise beyond the sea. So it was that iron products rather than textiles first occupied his attention. He manufactured scythe snaths, grain cradles, axes and forks, and later with his sons engaged extensively in the clothing and merchant tailoring business.

A visit to his native village of Thornton in 1872, where he witnessed the remarkable growth of the mills in which he had worked as a boy, determined him to engage extensively in the manufacture of dress goods. It is not often that a man comes to the great work of his life when he is past his fiftieth year, but William Broadhead was exceptional in many respects. With all the energy of a youth, he united his own capital with that of others and the result was that within two years there were two worsted mills in Jamestown, instead of the one at first planned, both of which have made Jamestown goods famous through the length and breadth of the land. Later, the Broadheads engaged in extensive street railway enterprises. They built business blocks, established the Rose Gardens, and in every way showed their interest in the home town.

It was a builder of business concerns that William Broadhead will be longest remembered. He had the vision for large undertakings which made him willing to risk his money to make them successful, and such citizens are a great benefit to any town.

The personality of William Broadhead was so familiar to all our citizens that it needs no comment in a Jamestown newspaper. Both in private and public life, he was a good citizen. He was devoted to his family, church, and his city. In his rugged old age, prolonged far beyond that of most men, he resembled one of the oaks of his native England, which seems to grow stronger as the blasts of winter break around them. He had wrought well and faithfully and he rests from his labors in the "peace that passeth understanding."

Chautauqua County's First Bar Room Brawl

2011-02-27T11:58:00.007-05:00

Recently, I've been reading "The early history of the town of Ellicott, Chautauqua County, N.Y." by Dr. Gilbert Wilkinson Hazeltine (1816-1893). Printed in 1887, this book gives an outline of the early history Chautauqua County as it pertains to Jamestown and surrounding area. The town of Ellicott was set off from the town of Pomfret in 1812. It initially comprised not only the present area of Ellicott, but also the present-day towns of Poland, Kiantone, Carrol and Busti, along with the current city of Jamestown.

In addition to offering some lively and colorful stories regarding the early settlement and development of the southeastern area of the county, Hazeltine also provides some details about the establishment of the county government, including one of the first court cases heard in county court back in the summer of 1811.

The story involves what could be the first bar room brawl ever to take place in Chautauqua County. It happened in Mayville with no fewer than 16 men, several of whom were scarred for life. One guy had his thumb bitten off and the plaintiff in the subsequent court case was scalped and laid up for two months afterward. The two factions were the area's early pioneers vs. a contingent of keelboatmen who were transporting supplies. It was the culmination of a series of prior altercations, including one incident where Capt. James Dunn, Portland's first settler, had his eye gouged out by a keelboatman by the name of "Valentine."

A quick aside - as many folks already know, back in the early part of the 19th century before the arrival of the railroad, Chautauqua Lake was a vital waterway that assisted in moving various commodities such as grains, salts, gunpowder, etc. between the Great Lakes and the Allegheny and Mississippi waterways. Often times the contents was hauled in keelboats, which were found to be the vessels best adept at navigating the shallow streams and creeks of the upper Allegheny River basin. The keelboat operators would often rest in the evening at a tavern (also used as a hotel) in one of the communities along the way. In this particular account of "fisticuffs," the community was Mayville, which served as the entrance way to Chautauqua Lake for transporting supplies along the old portage road from Westfield on Lake Erie.

Samuel A. Brown - a lawyer, not a fighter

The account of the fight comes from Hon. Samuel A. Brown (1795-1862), the first attorney to set up a practice in Jamestown. Brown would later become the county's District Attorney, served as a state assemblyman (twice) and the founder of the Jamestown Acedemy, in addition to being one of the area's first historians. Despite the fact that he didn't arrive in the area until 1818, a full seven years after the case was tried, it's still safe to say his account is fairly accurate.

Below is Brown's account of the fight and the subsequent lawsuit between the defendant (James Akin, future town Justice of Ellicott) and the plaintiff (Jack, a keel boatman from Pennsylvania), as written in Hazeltine's book. A time later, the two would meet again and all was apparently forgiven, with Akin assisting Jack in repairing his boat.

Depending on your point of view, it can be either unsettling or reassuring to know that such incidents have been taking place in Chautauqua County for as long as there have been people living here and booze being served here.

# # #

The first court of common pleas was held during the following June [1811]. One of the trials at this first court we will give in Hon. Samuel A. Brown's own words:

"At this court a trial was held between Esq. Jack of Pennsylvania and Esq. [James] Akin of Ellicott, for an assault and battery. Violent animosity had prevailed for some time between the southern boatmen, and the Yankees; all the inhabitants of the county were known by that name, regardless of the place or the nation which gave them birth. Capt. [James] Dunn of this county had been gouged; that is, one eye pulled out by a boatman named Valentine. This ill will had now arrived at a crisis, and was settled by a regular fisticuff' fight in a bar room at Mayville. Some eight or ten were engaged on each side, and the fight was desperate. Caleb Thompson of our own town had his thumb bitten off.

James Akin Esq., and Esq. Jack personally engaged; the one a magistrate in Pennsylvania, the other was afterwards a justice in the town of Ellicott. Whether their fitness to be lenders in this fray, fitted them for the official stations they afterwards held, I cannot speak with accuracy, as the event is too remote, and too much involved in the legendary stories of that day. Akin knocked Jack blind in a few moments; the skin and flesh on his skull fell lose over his eyes and he could see to fight no longer, when his party took him from the battle ground. He was laid up about two months.

His [Jack's] cause was tried at this court, and the jury gave him a verdict of $80, allowing him his medical bill, and time actually lost, but no 'smart money,' as the jury doubtless considered the sport equalled the smart. After this encounter the Yankees and the boatmen lived in perfect harmony."

We have the following anecdote relating to this same transaction:

The next spring Jack was having his boat repaired at Work's mills [Falconer],—a fellow boatman having run into him at Slippery Rock, (Dexterville [East Jamestown]) for which offense Jack had knocked him, in Brown's language, nearly blind.

Akin met him there and saluted him with the name that he commonly went by, "How are things running with you Esq. Jackass?" and offered his hand.

"Running down [heading down river], as soon as we can get the salts* on. Rome [Jerome, the name of the other boater] pulled his old Durme [Durham - the name of a keel boat maker] on to us up at the Rock [Slippery Rock] and busted Old Sal's [for "Sally Jack", the name of his boat] starn, and we had ter draw her load, and have Neddy (Works) put a patch on to her. It made me durned sick and I just lifted Rome by his skulp [scalp] and his starn and put him where he would have drown-ded hadn't his pard [partner] hooked him out. Well, Jakins [Akin's nickname among boatmen] seeing its you, I'll hand a paw, but it was durned mean to gouge a Durmes Bower's [Boat Captain] skulp off in a pleasant little rounder for gill cups**. But I don't hold animose agin anyone [animosity against anyone], and as you don't grudge, well gill up [Drink Together], friendly, and begin anew. Jakins, when I come back after fall rise [in the fall], we'll gill up friendly. I don't hold animose as long as you don't grudge."

Ref: "History of of the town of Ellicott..." - Chapter 3, Pages 50 - 52

*"Salts" was the boatman's name for Onondaga salt,—usually carried on light keel boats, named after the maker, Durham,—pronounced hy the boatmen as if spelt Durme. Rome was the nickname for Jerome.

**"Rounder for Gill Cups" means to fight in the tavern. Gill Cups were tin cups used to hold a boatman's drink of whiskey.

An illustration of a keelboat navigating a rough waterway

Autobiography by Samuel A. Carlson - Part 3

2011-02-26T10:35:00.013-05:00

Continuing with the post from Nov. 8, 2010 regarding the 1943 Autobiography of former Mayor of Jamestown, Samuel A. Carlson (1868–1961).

Much of this passage deals with the establishment and improvement to Jamestown's water system. In addition there is mention to Carlson's efforts to establish a Natural Gas Plant and a Telephone Plant. I think one of the most interesting parts of this section, however, is Carlson's feelings on partisan elections, and his endorsement for the removal of party affiliation on the ballots. This portion of the section can be located at the end under the sub-heading, "Non-Partisan Election."

Samuel A. Carlson, Circa 1900

Autobiography by Samuel A. Carlson - Mayor Emeritus
and Comments on His Fifty Years of Public Service

[Page 9 - 12]

Municipalization of Water Supply

In 1890 a movement was begun by municipal ownership advocates to establish a municipal water plant. The taxpayers voted in favor of building a new plant and bonding the city for $250,000. On November 5, 1894, I introduced a resolution to sell bonds for the purchase or construction of a water plant. The proposition was deadlocked by a tie vote and remained deadlocked in the Council for several years. In the meantime the water question became a political issue i local elections. And our pioneer efforts paved the way for the final municipal triumph.

In 1896 the Board of Public Works, consisting of Orsino E. Jones, John Conway, and the writer, having caused test wells to be driven in the Cassadaga Valley and having obtained options on a new source of water supply, recommended the establishment of a municipal plant. George W. Jones, a pioneer surveyor, was then city engineer. In 1899 Mayor Henry Cooper appointed a Citizens' Committee, consisting of Arthur C. Wade, Almet N. Broadhead, John T. Wilson, Charles M. Dow and A. J. Peterson, to negotiate with the water company regarding the purchase of the plant by the city.

In 1902, under administration of J. Emil Johnson, the Citizens' Committee and the Board of Public Works, then consisting of E. B. Crissey, Andrew J. Butts and the writer, were combined into one committee to continue negotiations with the private water company. John F. Witmer, a hydraulic engineer, was engaged to assist in preparing the estimates of cost, etc. Most of the details were handled by the writer as Secretary of the Board.

The water company in the meantime submitted two propositions, one to sell its plant for $764,000, and the other to reduce the rates twenty-five per cent in consideration of a renewal of its franchise. Engineer Witmer reported that the water company's plant could be duplicated new for $350,000, but recommended purchasing purchasing the private plant at an agreed appraisal. The Citizen's Committee and Board of Public Works recommended that that the city offer the private company $500,000. The water company declined this offer, but finally expressed its willingness to accept $600,000.

Heated arguments were carried on through the newspaper columns by citizens and officials regarding the merits of the various propositions. Some preferred renewing the franchise, others favored purchase of the plant at the company's offer, while others preferred building a new plant upon the ground that the water company's mains would necessarily have to be replaced with new mains. Annual Income then about $90,000.

But although the price proposed to be paid for the plant at the that time seemed excessive, yet the taxpapyers at a special election held in 1903 approved the proposition to by $600,000 for the plant. This investment, however, proved a financial success from the very start. F. W. Stevens, D. W. Immel and John F. Jones were active in reorganization of the system.

After 1908 the water plant underwent a complete alteration and improvement. Frank O. Anderson was the guiding spirit and chairman of the Board of Public Utilities while the new reservoir on English Hill and the new pump station in the Cassadaga Valley were erected.

There are ten deep wells and nine shallow wells in the present water system. The shallow wells have thus far been sufficient to supply the needs of the city, which are about 2,600,000 gallons daily. The water from these wells is syphoned by a gravity system into a large receiving well 50 feet deep and 30 feet in diameter. There are three centrifugal steam turbine driven pumps with a capacity of 5,000,000 gallons each every twenty-four hours. These pumps force the water through 24-inch mains to a million and a half gallon reservoir at the Buffalo Street station. From the Buffalo Street reservoir the water is forced to the English Hill reservoir by electrically driven pumps. When the English Hill reservoir is full these pumps stop automatically while the reservoir continues to supply the city by gravity until the water reaches a low level, when the pumps automatically resume operation again.

So perfect is this system that only two men on a shift are required at these stations. The water with its artesian well purity costs the people only a cent and a fraction for each 50-gallon barrel. The plant, including the 130 miles of mains, now represent an investment of $3,000,000, with less than $250,000 of bonded debt. All extensions, operation costs, and payments of principal and interest on bonds are made entirely from water revenues.

A Proposed Municipal Telephone Plant

Some years ago it will be recalled that two telephone plants operated in this city. An Independent system had been granted a franchise by the Council on condition that the city might purchase the system anytime upon the payment of cost plus 10%. Mayor Carlson had just been elected on a platform which among other things pledged the acquisition of the Home Telephone System. The Council however differed. They passed a resolution granting an increase of rates. This was vetoed by Carlson. Later a similar resolution was again passed and again vetoed on the ground that the city should avail itself of the option to buy the plant and that the people should be permitted to vote on this proposition before any increase in rates as granted. Much bitterness and misunderstanding grew out of this controversy. Finally the two telephone concerns effected a merger into one System over the Mayor's veto.

A Gas Plant

About six years ago Mayor Carlson received proposals from Independent Natural Gas producers to supply gas to this city at reduced rates. The mayor urged acceptance of these propositions and advocated the construction of a Municipal plant unless the private system was taken over by condemnation proceedings as permitted by act of the legislature of 1934. A referendum election was held and Carlson urged the people strongly to approve the proposition. The returns of the election revealed a majority vote in favor of a Municipal Plant. Subsequently the private Company reduced its rates amounting in the aggregate to some $87,000, saving the community as a whole. This was one result which the movement for a City Plant produced.

Non-Partisan Election

As a rule badly governed cities are partisan controlled. While efficiently managed cities are non-partisan controlled.

This was the reason Mayor Carlson advocated non-partisan elections. There is, however, one improvement that should be made and that is a provision whereby candidates would be elected without any "grouping" of names on one ticket. Nothing but the names of the candidates should appear on the ballot precisely as done on School Election Ballots. This would facilitate independent voting and induce the voter to select a candidate because of his own merits rather then because he belongs to some particular group or faction.

Non-partisanship has given our people 25 different kinds of municipal service, such as Police, Fire and Health protection, Welfare, Sanitation, Street Lights, Fire Hydrants, Parks, Hospital, Recreation, Labratory, Garbage Collection, Street Flusing, Snow Removal, Highway Maintenance, Publication of Assessment Roll. All at a cost of less than 5 cents per day per capita.

In addition Artisian Well water and Electric Service is supplied at rates among the lowest in America.

BACK TO PART 2

MEETING ADOLF HITLER

In Memoriam: William Broadhead - Part 1

2011-02-26T09:09:00.008-05:00

I was doing some research for the Bicentennial Biographies project and came across a booklet detailing the life of William Broadhead. Broadhead was born in England in 1819 and moved to Jamestown, N.Y. when he reached adulthood. In his life, he became the city's leading industrialist - employing thousands of residents at the Broadhead Mills operation on First St. in Jamestown and later the Jamestown Worsted Mills operation on Harrison St. He died in May, 1910 and it may have been one of the few times in the city's history that nearly all operations came to a halt to pay tribute to one individual.

The book, "In Memoriam - William Broadhead" was published in 1910, and was a compilation of various newspaper articles and tributes from local organizations and businesses detailing Broadhead's life. I thought it was rather interesting (not to mention lengthy), so I thought I would share as much as I could transcribe.

Because of the time I've spent transcribing, it would be a shame if this documentation is already found somewhere else on the Internet for all to see. Regardless, Enjoy.

William Broadhead

Born February 17, 1819

Died May 21, 1910

The first article in the booklet was taken from the Jamestown Evening Journal, and was published the day Broadhead passed away. Much of the article reprints a biography of Broadhead that originally appeared in Obed Edson's "History of Chautauqua County" - printed in 1894.

One of the things that always fascinates me is the style in which news articles were written a century ago, especially when referencing a recently deceased member of the community. The tone is far more indulgent compared to what would be used today, and the vocabulary usage is much more extensive.

But besides the mechanics of the text, the actual content of the article (both that which was written by the newspaper's writer - I assume the sitting editor - and Edson's biographical sketch) paint a picture of man who gave greatly to the city and who helped to ensure it would undergo its own micro industrial revolution. He was a benevolent industrialist if there ever was such a thing, and this article, which appeared on the day of his passing, says as much.

GRAND OLD MAN

Jamestown Evening Journal - May 21, 1910

WILLIAM BROADHEAD, Jamestown's grand old man and foremost manufacturer, surrounded by the members of his family, passed quietly away at his home, 130 South Main Street, this afternoon at 1 o'clock, aged 91 years, 3 months and 4 days. His death was not unexpected for it has been practically known for several days that the end was near. One week ago last Wednesday, May 11, he was at the Broadhead Mill, where so much of his life and energy had been expended, for the last time, and then for but a short period. From that time until the hour of his death he gradually failed. The cause of his death was given as heart failure.

Mr. Broadhead is survived by four children, Shelden B. Broadhead, Almet N. Broadhead, Miss S. Flora Broadhead and Miss Mertie M. Broadhead; one adopted daughter, Mrs. A. T. Usher, and three grandchildren, A. Harrison Reynolds, Mrs. George L. Maltby and William A. Broadhead, all of Jamestown. His wife died January 17, 1908.

The news of Mr. Broadhead's death was received throughout the city with genuine sorrow for all who knew him respected him for his sterling qualities and splendid character. Few men who have ever made Jamestown their home will be missed as will William Broadhead.

To few men are given the years of health and activity that were allotted William Broadhead, one of the pioneer manufacturers of Jamestown, and fewer still have made better use of those years. Although he had long since passed the Scriptural span of life, almost to the end he maintained his mental and physical vigor in a marked degree and he answered the final summons with consciousness that he had done his part in the struggles of life.

William Broadhead was a man who will be missed in the community. To him in a large measure is due the fact that Jamestown is today a progressive and prosperous manufacturing city, for it was he who started the textile industries here in a large scale and had it not been for his energy and courage, the development of our industrial enterprises would have been much slower. There are many in the city who can remember when he started the industry which has grown to such large proportions, and they will recall the discouragement under which he labored and the predictions of disaster which were freely made by pessimists.

But Mr. Broadhead came of the sturdy English stock which never gives up, but which stubbornly and persistently sticks to the task at hand. He was confident that there was a splendid opportunity for the development of a large manufacturing industry, and his confidence was justified by the results. The work which he began was taken up and continued by his sons, who had the advantage of his counsel and experience to the end of his life.

Obed Edson's "History of Chautauqua County" gives the following comprehensive sketch of Mr. Broadhead's life:

"Successful manufacturers are public benefactors, and merit the gratitude and praise of their countrymen. The nation that produces the most in proportion to its numbers will be the most prosperous and most powerful. The United States possesses all natural advantages for the attainment of a result so desirable, and it is the part of patriotism to turn these advantages to the best account, to differentiate the industries of the people, and to give employment to all classes of mind and capacity. The citizens of Jamestown have great reason to congratulate themselves that circumstances early brought William Broadhead to become identified with the place, for through and by him the principal factors of its present and future prosperity have been inaugurated, employment has been given to hundreds, and to such an extent that he can justly be termed a benefactor to the entire community.

"William Broadhead was born in Thornton, Yorkshire, England, February 17, 1819. When but a lad he was apprenticed for a year to learn the trade of a weaver, and then began working in the smithy with his father and continued with him until he became of age. Believing that the prospects were better in this country than in England Mr. Broadhead emigrated to America in January, 1843, going first to Busti, where his uncle, Rev. John Broadhead, was living. Seeing that Jamestown offered a much more favorable opening for a good mechanic, he sought employment here and found it in the shop of Safford Eddy. But Mr. Broadhead was too ambitious to remain long a day laborer. Ever on the lookout for something more profitable, he soon formed a partnership with Adam B. Cobb, whose daughter, Lucy, he had married in 1845. The firm of Cobb & Broadhead, scythe snath manufacturers, continued nine years, when it was dissolved, Mr. Cobb continuing to make snaths and grain cradles, and Mr. Broadhead purchasing an axe factory, began to manufacture axes and forks.

"When his eldest son, Sheldon B., was about 20 years of age, Mr. Broadhead opened a clothing store, taking this son into partnership with him, and a few years later he gave his younger son, Almet N., an interest, under the firm of William Broadhead & Sons. Their business increased rapidly until they soon had the largest merchant tailoring establishment in the county, drawing patronage from Dunkirk, Warren, Salamanca, and other nearby towns.

"In 1872, Mr. Broadhead, accompanied by his wife and eldest daughter, visited his native place to find the little village developed into a thriving manufacturing town. His early interest awakened when as a boy he learned to weave at a handloom, was rekindled by the signs of prosperity and success due to these mills, and he returned to Jamestown thoroughly impressed with the feasibility of establishing a mill for manufacture of dress goods. While he had by industry, economical habits (never having used tobacco in any form, and being most temperate in all things), close attention to business and successful investment in real estate, acquired considerable property, he felt that so large an undertaking required more capital than he could command and so he proceeded to interest some of his moneyed townsmen in his project and the result was the formation of the firm of Hall, Broadhead & Turner, William Hall to assist Mr. Broadhead in furnishing the money. The alpaca mills erected by the firm continued for one year and a half to be owned by them, when Mr. Broadhead retired. A short time afterward he built a mill for the manufacture of similar cloth, having for partners his two sons.

"When the mill was full established, William Broadhead & Sons turned their attention for the time to the manufacture of ladies' dress goods. Their salesmen traversed nearly every state in the Union. As Mr. Broadhead foresaw, these mills have contributed immeasurably to the growth and prosperity of the city. Much of the rapid increase in population is due to their continued demands and skilled workmen. The good wages and steady work have attracted hither family after family of intelligent and industrious English people who have proved themselves most acceptable citizens. William Broadhead & Sons have ever since been carrying on business in different lines and in gigantic enterprises. Almost an isolated instance in the history of one's life we find here father and sons a unit in purpose and business. Their success has been a constant commentary upon their good management and the good will that pervaded the establishment. Fairly well educated for business life, these sons were more than an experiment, they were successes from the first, interested in each others' welfare and both feeling it a duty to guard well their father's interests, they were bound by the strongest earthy ties and are exemplifying in conduct what they proposed in words. Mr. Broadhead is politically an ardent Republican and a strong protectionist, believing that policy to be even more necessary for the welfare of his workmen than for his own interests, from his knowledge of the conditions of the millhands in England under free trade.

"In his native town, Mr. Broadhead belonged to the Wesleyan Methodist Church and was superintendent of the Sabbath School. On settling in Jamestown he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church as the nearest like the Wesleyan. During the exciting period before the Civil War, when the Methodist Episcopal Church took a stand in favor of slavery, a number of staunch abolitionists, among them Mr. Broadhead, left the Church and formed a Wesleyan Society. When after some years, the church building having been destroyed by fire, the organization was given up, Mr. Broadhead became a member of the First Congregational Church, where he is an active member, contributing liberally to its support. To Mr. and Mrs. Broadhead have been born six children: Shelden Brady, who married in 1870, Mary Woodworth; Herwood, who died at the age of seven years; Almet Norval, who married in 1886, Margaret Allen Bradshaw; Mary T., who married in 1878, Adna H. Reynolds Jr., and died in February, 1894; Stella Florine and Mertie M.

"We are privileged to extract a manuscript history of the Street Railway Company of Jamestown, written by C. R. Lockwood, the following concerning Mr. Broadhead:

"'We remember the elder Mr. Broadhead as an industrious and persevering mechanic early at and late from his work, making every moment count for something in upbuilding for himself a position for honesty and industry. In the social world he was regarded with favor, and in the church was looked upon as among the faithful and substantial. Favoring local industries and educational interest his contribution for them were to the fullest extent of his ability. Hall, Broadhead & Turner erected Jamestown's first alpaca mills in 1873. Whoever will read the records of intervening time, will find something of merit resting upon the ability, perseverance and home respect of William Broadhead. Had his efforts been changed, as he was solicited to do, from Jamestown to Pittsburg [sic], Philadelphia or New York, what of Jamestown? Today we are prospering in population, in business importance and position more than dollars and cents can represent, through the efforts, love of home and firmness of character of William Broadhead. Older inhabitants are ready to verify this. The record of our departed village and present city show it, and compeiting municipalities admit it. Though controlled by different owners most of the worsted mills of Jamestown with all their wealth and importance, owe their origin to this one man and the unwritten history of Jamestown will reward with its memory and unreserved respect, him who has been and yet remains its benefactor.'

"Mayor [Eleazer] Green concluded his address to the visiting Sons of St. George in July, 1894, thus:

"'I cannot, however, close this talk to Englishmen without saying a word of one who came from the little island over the sea that once claimed so many of you as her sons. Coming has he did, over fifty years ago, when little more than a boy in years, his stock in trade was a strong healthy English body, and active brain, sound common sense, untiring industry and a will, a determination that would not fail. For the first few years after his coming, the anvil rang from the vigorous blows of his strong right arm. During this time he wooed and won a beautiful woman who was in full accord with all his efforts and all his ambitions. Meanwhile his brain was actively planning for the future. The blacksmith shop could not hold him always. Other avenues of industry opened. Opportunities were grasped. One industry after another was successfully conquered, each more extensive than its predecessor and each demonstrating more clearly his superior business ability and foresight. Many of the dwellings upon our hillside and many of the business blocks upon our streets are the result of his efforts. Factories giving employment to hundreds of people were erected by him and his sturdy sons. Our street railway harnessed the lightning at their behest and numerous other enterprises were given life and vigor through their assistance. And during all these years this man was the same cheerful, quiet gentleman that he is today; generous, unobtrusive and yet fearless as he is just; a man who, like the patron saint of your worthy order, would die for his convictions. Some time when justice shall write the history of Jamestown and its benefactors and shall inscribe their names, the history of their good deeds and of their efforts resulting in our growth and prosperity where future generations may read, one man will then be given the credit belonging to him; one name will stand out bold and clear, it will be the name of him who was once the young Englishman and is now the loyal American - William Broadhead.'"

Let us Celebrate.... Presidents Day

2011-02-21T10:42:00.004-05:00

Last year when I was still writing full-time for the Chautauqua Star, I did a commentary on President's Day. Here it is again, in case you missed it the first time.

Pres. Zachery Taylor - Bad Ass

The middle of February has arrived, and that can only mean one thing – President’s Day! I know most people associate the middle of the second month with cupids and hearts and candy and all kinds of other mushy things. But for my money, no day in February is more important than the day we get to honor all of our nation's past leaders.

We celebrate President’s Day in February because two of our most noteworthy presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, were born during this month (Washington's birthday is Feb. 22 while Lincoln's comes Feb. 12). For a time, both days were honored as legal holidays in many states, although Lincoln's Birthday never achieved "National Holiday" status like Washington's did.

In 1972, President Richard Nixon combined Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays into the federal holiday known as "President’s Day." It would be celebrated on the third Monday in February, regardless of which day it fell on. Personally, I'd prefer to have both birthdays celebrated separately, in addition to having a "President’s Day" for all other Commanders-in-Chief. But I guess if it was OK by President Nixon, it's also okay by me.

The reason I'm such a big fan of Presidents' Day isn't because it affords me the opportunity to get a great trade-in on my 2001 Chevy. It's actually because it gives us all an opportunity to learn more about our past leaders. With that, here are 10 little-known facts about some of our past commander-in-chiefs.

President Thomas Jefferson spoke six different languages
James Madison was the shortest president, at 5 feet 4 inches tall. And he weighed the least, just 100 pounds.
While serving as a young courier during the Revolutionary War, Andrew Jackson was captured and taken prisoner by the British, making him the only U.S. President in history to ever have been a Prisoner of War.
Jackson was also wounded in a duel at the age of 39, and carried the bullet, lodged near his heart, to his grave. He died at the age of 78.
William Henry Harrison, ninth president, died in 1841, 32 days after he was sworn into office. He had pneumonia.
Before becoming our 12th president, Zachery Taylor had an illustrious military career. During the War of 1812, he had only 15 men under his command, but was still able to repel a raid of nearly 600 gun-toting, British-led American Indians at Fort Harrison.
Franklin Pierce memorized his entire inaugural speech - 3,319 words.
President Grover Cleveland answered the White House phone, personally.
William McKinley was the first president to wear campaign buttons.
While he's known as the youngest president to ever take office (at age 42), Theodore Roosevelt was also the youngest person to ever become a New York state representative when he was elected at age 23 (for reference, I spent the majority of my 23rd year still in college, making sandwiches at the Spruce St. Sub Shop in Morgantown, W.V., and trying to solve Final Fantasy VII on my PlayStation).
President William Howard Taft is the only president to have also served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. But even more interesting, he's also the only president to ever get stuck in the White House bathtub.

Uncle Sam by Steve Darnall and Alex Ross

2011-02-19T18:48:00.005-05:00

Friday I went to Chautauqua Comics in Jamestown and picked up some stuff to read. I'm not nearly as avid a comic book reader/collector as I once was, but once in a while I still find time to head down to the shop and see what is available.

This time I stumbled upon a hardcover of the Uncle Sam graphic novel. I remember hearing about it a few years back but never got around to picking it up and reading it. On Friday, it was just sitting there with a few other books. Since I couldn't really find anything else that caught my eye, I decided to buy U.S.

Uncle Sam was published by D.C.'s Vertigo line originally released in 1997. It is a cautionary tale about the direction the United States is heading in as it approaches the 21st century. In addition to the current state of the union, the book also exposes many of the unpleasantries associated with our country's past, from the way the Native Americans were treated in the 19th century to the civil rights movement of the mid 20th century (along with many other unjustices), the book does a magnificent job in exploring the myth of how our country was founded and how it got to where it is today.

While the book was writen nearly 15 years ago, it still holds up in our post-9/11 world and addresses many of the issues we continue to struggle with. Written by Steve Darnall and artwork provided by the very talented Alex Ross, this is one graphic novel that transcends the entire genre. It's definitely not your grandpa's comic book.

Check it out if you can or feel free to borrow it from me if you want. It's not pretty (the truth is never meant to be), but it's definitely something any American who's ever questioned our country's past, present or future should probably consider reading.

Wednesday Blog - Feb 16, 2011

2011-02-16T22:06:00.007-05:00

Earlier today I stopped by Townhouse Records on 4th St., Jamestown to get some vinyl. I try to get down there at least once a month to add some new albums to my collection. Every Wednesday Townhouse has 50-percent off all used vinyl, so I make it a point to stop by in the middle of the week. But I'll probably also be stopping by later this week, as several new albums arrived in the shop as I was checking out. I'm not sure what they were, but Baxter told me they will probably be priced and put out in the coming days, so chances are I'll make a return trip Friday or Saturday. The only thing better than buying old vinyl is new vinyl.

For a look at the albums I bought earlier today, check the end of this here blog.

Chautauqua's Got Talent II - The Reckoning
Last month local entertainer and Executive Director of The Crown Theater, Angelo Giuffre, asked me if I'd be interested in sponsoring his latest project, "Chautauqua's Got Talent - Season 2." I was more than happy to help out and as a result, I will be putting together the press kit for the winner of this year's competition.

For those who don't know, the competition, now in its second year, is a talent competition featuring individuals and groups from throughout Chautauqua County. It's chief sponsors are Big Time Productions (Giuffre's entertainment company) and The Post-Journal.

This year's event will take place at The Jamestown Savings Bank Arena and will run every Monday from Feb. 21 to March 21, starting at 7 p.m. The even will feature a variety of singers, dancers, musicians, comedians, jugglers, acrobats, magicians, lion tamers, and a host of other entertainers. They will all be competing for a cash prize along with a promotional package. Much like The TV show "America's Got Talent," this contest will have a judge’s panel that will offer constructive criticism, but the audience will decide the winner. Giuffre will serve as host and the results for each stage of the competition will be in The Post-Journal the day after each performance.

Besides a press kit from myself, part of the promotional package also includes a promo DVD and photos provided Joel Marsh Productions and their own website. The cash prize is sponsored by Lutheran Social Services and the Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation.

Tickets will be on sale at Jamestown Savings Bank Arena and The Labyrinth Press Company Café, $6.00 presale $7.00 at the door per night, or $20.00 for a pass to all nights.

I look forward to following the competition during the next several weeks and eventually finding out the winner. In the meantime, I encourage you to stop by the Ice Arena each Monday night, starting next week, and witness a bevy of bountiful talent from the Chautauqua Region.

Shakespeare on 3rd

The Arts Council for Chautauqua County is hosting a Shakespeare Night this coming Saturday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Reg Studio Theater.

An open microphone night in honor of The Bard, this event is free and open to the public. Community members are invited to share their love of William Shakespeare through readings, soliloquies, sonnets and more. No prior experience is necessary. People of all ages are encouraged to attend. For more information, send email to criggle28@gmail.com or call 664-2465, extension 227.

I think I'll stop by and check this one out and maybe even recite a passage or two from my favorite Shakespeare character, Angus.

Benefit for Baby Luke Kirschman

As I've mentioned in my past two Wednesday blogs, a group of area musicians is teaming Saturday, Feb. 19 to help out the family of a local child in need of serious medical help. Baby Luke is the two-and-a-half year old son of Stacy and Jeremy Kirschman. He has a digestive tract disorder and his parents are trying to get him qualified on a transplant list, so he can receive a new stomach and small intestine. To help raise money for the family, a benefit show will take place this Saturday at Mojos, starting at 9 p.m.

According Jamestown musician Cindy Haight, the show will feature severeal local music artists, including Smackdab, Hot Stenogroher and Nate & Kate. Haight will also perform.

"There will be a $5 cover and a 50/50 drawings," said Haight on the fundraiser's facebook page. "There is also a Chinese Auction with donations by Suburban Blend, Chautauqua Institution, Forte, Jones 212 Bakery, Evergreen Outfitters, Ashville General Store, and more."

A rundown of the Chinese Auction Donation List can be found here.

A second fundraiser for Luke is also scheduled Sunday, March 6 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Morton Club in Jamestown. Bands include Tara Eastman, Dirty Mountain Duo, Big Leg Emma and Two for Flinching. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. There will be food, a Chinese auction, 50/50 tickets and a raffle.

Townhouse Records Purchases - Feb. 16

As noted above here's the albums I purchased at Town House records earlier today.

Chairmen of the Board - In Session (1970)

Miles Davis - Four & More (1964)

Miles Davis - In a Silent Way (1969)

Sly and the Family Stone - Dance to the Music (1968)

Ike & Tina Turner - Working Together (1971)

Tweet of the Week
"Clown cars would be funnier if they were running in the garage with the door closed." - @jaymohr37

The Wednesday Blog - Feb. 9, 2011

2011-02-10T08:24:00.005-05:00

I've been working in Hancock, N.Y. (Gateway to the Upper Delaware River) since Monday and there's been no time to write a Wednesday blog. I will simply remind everyone that the first of two benefits for Luke Kirschman is Feb. 19 at Mojos. Please try to attend and help support the family. I posted some more details, including a list of cool stuff that will be available for Chinese Auction, at StarNewsDaily.com. The Post-Journal also has an article in it's Thursday edition.

There is a lot of entertainment happening this weekend. Here's an article by Dave Emke saying as much.

The only problem is that Dave failed to note that Discidium will be playing this Saturday, Feb. 12 at Mojo's. Neocracy will also perform. I'm thinking he's been busy enjoying the outcome of the recent Super Bowl and simply forgot to see who was playing at Mojos on Saturday.

Here's a video I shot for Discidium last year. I was goofing around with the graphics and the audio isn't the greatest and there are probably tons of Discidium videos out there that are better than this one, but I figured I had to show something on today's blog just to help fill space.

Star Wars Images

2011-02-05T20:31:00.002-05:00

I was looking at the Star Wars Blog Flickr Page and saw some pretty cool images and art. Check it out.

Sci-Fi Mashups

“Han Shot First” by Florian Bertmer

Art by Rob Jones

“A Linch Pin Droid” by Kevin Tong

Art by Olly Moss

Art by Tyler Stout

“A Wretched Hive” by Martin Ansin

“Palace” by Tom Whalen


Source: One Cool Thing

Han Solo's Other Ride

The Empire Stikes Chess

Art by Tyler Edlin

The Wednesday Blog - Feb. 2, 2011

2011-02-03T10:55:00.009-05:00

I hope nobody notices that my Wednesday blog is really a Thursday morning blog. I've been staying very busy with various projects and work, not to mention shoveling (literally tons of) snow, so I really didn't have a chance to crank this thing out until now. Regardless, happy belated Groundhog's Day.

The next seven days could very well be the most exciting seven days in all of 2011. Okay, I might be stretching it a bit, but there is a boatload of events, activities and happenings going between now and next Wednesday, including the biggest day in sports and a pretty cool birthday celebration for Chautauqua County.

Super Bowl XLV

Pittsburgh's James Harrison

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be taking on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday in Super Bowl XLV. I've been a Steelers fan for as long as I can remember (all the way back to the early 80s), so I'm obviously going to be rooting for the black and gold.

The outcome of the game will come down how Pittsburgh's O-line handles the attacking Packers defense. The Steelers' front five have been shoddy for much of the season, and with center Maurkice Pouncey unlikely to play, the door is wide open for Green Bay's DT B.J. Raji and OLB Clay Matthews Jr. to get to Ben Roethlisberger. Even though Ben has the ability to escape the blitz and make something happen down field, the team will still need to focus on running the ball successfully, and they should be up to the task. The Packers were ranked 18th against the rush during the regular season. That's good news for the Steelers' RB Rashard Mendenhall, who should get a lot of touches throughout the game to help keep the pressure off of Big Ben.

I have a feeling that Green Bays running game will be non existent (Pittsburgh's D is ranked first against the rush in both the regular season and the post-season), so Aaron Rodgers will be throwing early and often. As long as Pittsburgh's James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley can pressure the GB QB, I'm confident Pittsburgh's secondary can do their part and Packers won't be scoring nearly as much as people think.

This game is going to be close, but I'm going with the Steelers to win an unprecedented 7th Vince Lombardi Trophy. Final Score - Pittsburgh 23, Green Bay 20.

Chautauqua County Bicentennial

Tuesday, February 9 is the official 200th birthday of Chautauqua County. It was on that date in 1811 that a group of early settlers, pioneers and the like met in Mayville to find out who would serve as the county's first group of elected officials. The New York governor and four legislators selected the county's first officers, including a judge, justices of the peace, clerk and coroner. The same day, the town supervisors of Chautauqua and Pomfret (the only two townships in the area at that time) shed their Niagara County guardianship, and became the fledgling municipalities of the new Chautauqua County.

The Chautauqua County Historical Society has a variety of events planned for throughout 2011, including a Bicentennial Birthday Celebration Feb. 9 and Chautauqua Suites in Mayville. From 7 to 9 p.m. refreshments and a birthday cake will be served along with a reading of a bicentennial proclamation. A reenactment of the first county meeting will also take place.

In addition to all that the county historical society has to offer, I've also been volunteering my time toward the Bicentennial Biography project, and will continue to record and post new biographies of notable indivduals throughout much of this year.

Entertainment Happenings
Phantasm & Kilimanjaro

Phantasm

Jamestown-turned-Philadelphia-alt-rock-band Phantasm will return to the area this weekend for three shows. The Post-Journal's Dave Emke provides a thorough write-up of the band in today's paper. As for performances, the group will play along with Kilimanjaro at The Crooked I in Erie, tonight at 9 p.m. The group will also play EBC West in Fredonia on Friday night (10 p.m.). And Saturday night they will be at the Gateway Center, 31 Water St. in Jamestown, doors for the all-ages show will open at 5 p.m.

There's a bunch of other stuff going on this weekend too. I'll defer once again to Dave Emke's weekly entertainment column in the P-J.

Benefit for Baby Luke

SmackDab will Baby Luke benefit on Feb. 19 at Mojos

Luke is the 2 1/2 year-old son of Stacy and Jeremy Kirschman. He has a digestive tract disorder and they're trying to get him qualified on a transplant list for a new stomach and small intestine. To help raise money for the family, a group of musicians, lead by Cindy Haight, will hold a benefit show on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Mojos.

There will be a $5 cover and 50/50 drawings. There is also a Chinese Auction with donations by Suburban Blend, Chautauqua Institution, Forte, Jones 212 Bakery, Evergreen Outfitters, Ashville General Store, and more. Performers include Cindy Haight, Nate & Kate, Hot Stenographer and SmackDab.

A second fundraiser for Luke is also scheduled Sunday, March 6 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Morton Club in Jamestown. Bands include Tara Eastman, Dirty Mountain Duo, Big Leg Emma and Two for Flinching. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. There will be food, a Chinese auction, 50/50 tickets and a raffle.

Infinity Fundraiser
Don't forget, Jones 212 Bakery and Cafe is selling cupcakes throughout February to help raise money for the Infinity Performing Arts Group. See my prior blog for more details.

This Week on Turn it On
I was all set to do an album of the month for February, featuring Mission of Burma's 1982 epic album Vs. Unfortunately, I just found out this morning that there's new broadcasting rules in place that say streaming radio stations can't play more than three songs in a row by the same artist. This sucks. As a result, I'll have to redo my show and will probably just play a bunch of songs from that era.

Tune in tonight at 11 p.m. on WRFA-LP, 107.9 FM to find out what I play.

Tweet of the Week
"If Costco is just a grocery store on steroids, then Wal-Mart is just a 7-Eleven with type 2 diabetes." - @ConanObrien

Jones 212 Bakery Teams up with Infinity throughout February

2011-01-31T19:57:00.004-05:00

Last November, I became a member of the board of directors for Infinity Visual & Performing Arts Center. For those who don't know, Infinity provides music, dance, and art education to youth from throughout Chautauqua County at an affordable rate. Not only does the program offer classes and instruction students may not otherwise be exposed to during regular school hours, it also provides a safe after-school environment for kids and young adults.

Much of the funding for Infinity comes from education grants from federal and state programs, in addition to local foundations. But those dollars are becoming harder and harder to come by, so Infinity is always looking for new ways to bring in donations from the community.

Sean Jones and his fundraising cupcakes

This brings us to Jones 212 Bakery & Café in Jamestown. Owned and operated by fellow Infinity board member Sean Jones, the cafe features both baked goods and an ever-changing, always appetizing menu in the heart of downtown Jamestown at 212 Pine St., Jamestown, NY.

For the entire month of February, Jones 212 Bakery & Café will be selling freshly made cupcakes and donating half of the proceeds to Infinity. It's a tasty way to help support a great cause. The delicious cupcakes will be available for breakfast and lunch, so if you're downtown at all during February, stop by the cafe and buy a cupcake or two, or four or eight!

Hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The newly expanded Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Center is located at 115 East 3rd St., Jamestown. For more information about Infinity call 664-0991 or visit www.infinityperformingarts.org.

The Wednesday Blog - Jan. 26, 2011

2011-01-26T21:56:00.006-05:00

How this week's weather made me feel

I hope everyone enjoyed the cold weather earlier this week. I know I did, especially when the thermostat dropped down to -15F Monday morning. I love stepping outside, breathing through my nose, and feeling my snot turn to ice and having my nostrils frozen shut. But by Tuesday, the sub-zero cold left the area and the temp got up to +20F - that's what people in Jamestown call a real warm spell. I'm not really sure what the temperature is going to be this weekend, but considering we're still in January, I'm going to guess it's not going to feel like summer anytime soon, but 20 above is far better than 15 below.

Besides the recent cold weather, the other big news of the week is the Pittsburgh Steelers beating the New York Jets. Now they get to play Green Bay in the Super Bowl. I'll hold off on any predictions until after the game is played, as all great prognosticators do.

With that, here's some stuff going on this weekend if you're bored and looking for something to do.

The Bluesman Cometh - Fernando Jones in Concert

Jan 28 - Infinity Performing Arts

Jan 29 - Reg Lenna Civic Center

21st Century Bluesman and 2008 Keeping the Blues Alive award recipient (education) Fernando Jones, a self-taught musician, is in Jamestown this week teaching students at Infinity Performing Arts. On Friday night, he'll sit in on an open jam session at the Infinity Cafe and on Saturday Night, he'll perform at the Reg Lenna Civic Center.

Fernando Jones began performing, playing the guitar, and writing songs when he was only four years old. He currently is the director of the organization "Blues Kids of America" and has worked with students throughout the country. Jones has also been a professor at Columbia College in Chicago since 2005. Last year he was featured in Eric Clapton's Crossroads DVD, Dateline NBC, and was interviewed by the publisher of Downbeat Magazine for Musicians Studio. In Chicago, he's the go-to guy for all things Blues.

Tickets for the main performance Saturday night at the Reg Lenna are just $10 Adults and $8 for Seniors and Students. Seating in General Admission. The ensemble performance at the Infinity Cafe runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday evening.

Breaking Laces vs. Thee Audience + Flip Cup Battle
Friday, Jan 28 - Mojos

Breaking Laces from Brooklyn, NY

Breaking Laces (Brooklyn, NY) will make their long awaited return to Jamestown this Friday night, performing with Thee Audience (Jamestown, NY). Don't quote me, but I think the last time BL was in town was two and half years ago, so its nice to see them back in town after an extended hiatus (I think).

The band's bio on facebook says a lot about them, but the first graph sums it up best:

Breaking Laces is a three-piece acoustic rock band out of Brooklyn NY with a sound that has stylistic debts to such artists as Death Cab for Cutie, Snow Patrol, They Might Be Giants and the Lemonheads.

Besides having their own homepage and facebook page, Breaking Laces has several professionally produced music videos on their Youtube page, along with live performances, interviews, and some skylarking too.

In addition, I also found this review written by The Post-Journal's Nick Dean about 37 moons ago.

Thee Audience has been involved in some recording sessions in recent weeks, so I'm sure they'll have more details about the release of new material during the show, or at least on their facebook page.

Urban Literary Trail Submissions Reminder

The Arts Council for Chautauqua County is hosting the first annual Urban Literacy Trail in downtown Jamestown later this year. As a result, they are now accepting submissions from residents throughout the area from now through Feb. 9.

The Arts Council For Chautauqua County is accepting submissions for “3rd Street Canvas – An Urban Literary Trail”, an initiative that will display the writing of community members on buildings and other structures on and around Third Street in downtown Jamestown. The goal of the project is to give the community an opportunity to participate directly in a public art installation created from their own writing. The 3rd Street Canvas project will be the first art installation of this kind in Jamestown.

More details, including how to submit an entry can be found here. For more info on various art events throughout Chautauqua County, check out this month's issue of Arts On Fire.

Infinity Provides Music Lessons for Adults

If you've ever had the urge to learn how to play an instrument, but never got around to signing up for lessons, you may want to consider the Infinity Performing Arts new adult lessons program, starting next month.

Just a few of the classes we will be offering include:
Private Instrument Lessons
Art As Revolution Lecture Series
Figure Drawing
Steel Drum 101
Dance- Saba, Hustle, Cultural Dances

If you are an adult interested in taking classes please contact the Infinity studio for more information! 664-0991.

This Week on Turn it On

I don't have the playlist figured out yet, but I think I'm gonna feature music from the Kinks, Love, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and the like. Tune in to Turn it On Thursday night, Jan. 27 at 11 p.m. only on WRFA-LP 107.9 FM.

Tweet of the Week

"And peolpe think I'm nuts? On my drunkest most f**ked up day I've never thought a manequin was my wife." - @DarrylTalley, commenting on the TV show "My Strange Addiction."

So it Goes...

2011-01-25T12:24:00.002-05:00

Today is Jan. 25 and some folks on Facebook have requested users make their status "So it goes..."

They've chosen January 25 specifically, because that's the anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Bulge, the motivating scene which prompts the opening of Kurt Vonnegut's incredible novel "Slaughterhouse Five," from which the great quote comes.

According to the creator:
"It's supposed to make people think about what's going on in the world right now. The phrase suggests a kind of defeated hopelessness - that all the death and violence and suffering that occurs in the world has already occurred and will always occur. It's the inevitability of human error.

"But, saying 'so it goes' does more than just take note of all the bad shit in the world that is happening, or has happened, and may (probably) happen again. It also gives us breathing room to stop and reflect on how things could happen differently. Saying it makes people stop, and think. We can then use that as a starting point to say, 'perhaps we CAN change the way IT goes.'"

National "So it goes..." Day is an experimental, viral Art Marketing Project conceived by Organ Grinder Productions.

It was 15 years ago when I first read "Slaughterhouse Five" and although I've forgotten much of the book, the overall message has not been lost. I also tend to use the expression "So it goes" at least once a week, although that may be attributed to the song by Nick Lowe (who I am sure borrowed it from Vonnegut) as much as my reading the book "Slaughterhouse Five." Either way, thank you Kurt Vonnegut... and Nick Lowe.

Another reason why I'm not nearly as big a Star Wars fan as I once thought

2011-01-22T11:43:00.007-05:00

I am a big Star Wars fan. Or at least, that's what I thought. But somewhere between the release of The Phantom Menace and the Clone Wars animated movie, I came to the realization that I'm not nearly as big a fan as I should be. There's an entire legion of folks out there who should be commended for their fanatical devotion to the greatest movie franchise in the galaxy.

Today, we pay tribute to those badass fans who display their loyalty to Star Wars in one of the most expressive ways possible: tattoos (because nothing says "Star Wars Fan" quite like a life-size portrait of Darth Vader on your back). Enjoy.

X-Wings on my shoulders make me happy (Source)

Jar Jar's face must be on the front, close to his heart. (Source)


The force (of gravity) is strong with this one (Source)

At least he has his priorities straight. (Source)

So wrong, yet so right. (Source)

Sith Stamp? (Source)


Yoda's lightsaber placement makes me uncomfortable. (Source)

About to show her "Forest Moon of Endor" tattoo (Source)

This is awesome. (Source)

Worst tattoo ever. (Source)

The Wednesday Blog - Jan. 19, 2011

2011-01-19T20:37:00.004-05:00

Anyone Remember Charles?

Charles, Niteline Columnist from 1993 - 2003

Years ago, the Niteline magazine in Jamestown, N.Y. (a free, weekly entertainment newspaper for the uninitiated) used to have a guy named Charles who would write about various local and regional events, people, happenings, and other random musings on a weekly basis. To conclude each column, Charles would do a P.S., then a P.S.S., then a P.S.S.S, etc., offering a quick thought on entertainment or a birthday shout-out to various people from throughout the area.

"Charles" was actually the brainchild of Jeff Clark (Read More Here) who used the character in other media as well. To be honest, and no offense to Jeff, but Charles was kind of annoying, but for whatever reason his column was always the first thing I read when a new issue came out. You can almost say Charles was Jamestown's first entertainment blogger - years before the word "blog" was even around.

Today, Niteline magazine has two regular contributors/columnists. Radio personality Lee John, who writes about national entertainment news sprinkled with occasional stories from his life; and Rick Elardo, the Crescent Inn owner/bartender who does a brief sports write up and gives the weekly pool league scores from the Jamestown area. Both guys do an adequate job (although Rick never lists me on the "Perfect Scorers" list for Tuesday Night Pool League... guess I must've done something to make him angry), neither really focuses on local events, entertainment, and just the random things that people may want to know about.

So in honor of Charles, the long-lost writer from the Niteline, I'll do my best to fill you in on what's happening in the greater Jamestown area each and every Wednesday right here on this blog.

Sans the annoying P.S.'s. Enjoy.

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Local Musician Remixes John Legend / featuring the Roots

Local musician Cale Hawkins, who's currently in his second semester at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, recently entered an online remix contest at indabamusic.com.

Participants are asked to remix a John Legend/Roots track, with the top 20 tracks get critiqued by John Legend himself. As of this writing, Cale is in 5th place out of more than 350 entries.

Complete contest details and rules can be found here, and the widget below will take you to Cale's remix of the song "Shine" and let you vote. No purchase necessary.

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All Decks on Hand - Opening Reception
Jan 22 @ Arts Council for Chaut. Co.

From the Media Release:
Active Artists Alliance, Arts Council For Chautauqua County and Suburban Blend have teamed together to present "All Decks On Hand - Sk8 Deck Art Show". The exhibition will open with a public reception Friday January 21 at 7p.m. in the new 3rd on 3rd Gallery at 116 East Third St. in Jamestown.

“All Decks On Hand” showcases the art of local, regional and national graphic designers on skateboard decks. The work has been graciously donated by each of the artists, and will be offered for sale as a fundraiser for improving the public skate park in the city of Jamestown. There will also be an after-party for the opening, downtown, with live music and surprises, and more details to be announced.

The exhibition will remain open through March and is the latest collaboration between local business and the art community. The 3rd On 3rd gallery is located on the floor above the Wright Gallery in the Arts Council - Reg Lenna Civic Center building.

"All Decks On Hand" is made possible by support from Suburban Blend, Active Artists Alliance, Arts Council For Chautauqua County & The New York State Council On The Arts State & Local Partnership funds.

The gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.

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Waiting for Superman - Winter Movies Series
Jan 21 & 22 @ Reg Lenna Civic Center

The Reg Lenna Civic Center will begin showing a series of movies this weekend as part of its new Winter Movies Series. From the media release:

Arts Council For Chautauqua County is pleased to announce a Winter Movies series at the Reg Lenna Civic Center.

The series begins with Davis Guggenheim's documentary Waiting For Superman. As he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying drop-out factories and academic sinkholes, methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems.

"Waiting For Superman" shows on Friday, Jan. 21 and Saturday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. A discussion following the movie will be announced during the Friday showing.

As part of the series, patrons can choose to donate $20 to the "Twenty for 20 Campaign" and receive two tickets to the movies and a chance to win $100. Proceeds benefit general operations for the Arts Council For Chautauqua County's artist services and educational programs. Learn more by visiting www.artscouncil.com.

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Live from the Infinity Cafe - The Infinity Big Band
Jan 21. @ Infinity Cafe

Join the Infinity Big Band as it performs live in the Infinity Cafe at 115 E. 3rd St. The Infinity Big Band is a part of the Infinity Performing Arts Program. It began about four years back and is constantly changing. The current band is mostly high school students with a handful of college kids from all across Chautauqua County and elsewhere. Many of us have little in common off the stage, but once we're all together, there's no stopping the fire that ignites!

Show starts at 7 p.m. and continues until 8:30 p.m. No Cover. Donations for Infinity always accepted.

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Hot Stenographer w/Terrordactyl
Jan 21 @ Mojo's

Jamestown's own sludge/stoner metal outfit Hot Stenographer will be playing at Mojo's on Friday, Jan. 21. In addition, Terrordactyl will perform. I don't know much about Terrordactyl, but Baxter from Mojo's recently commented via Facebook, "Terrordactyl is a two-piece band in the style of [Death from Above 1979." Sounds good to me.

Show starts at 10 p.m. Cover charge. 21 and up. Be there.

Hot Stenographer Podcast from a Feb. 2010 Show at Mojos can be found here. (Courtesy of WRFA-LP)

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The Hot Batch with Tiny B.
Jan 22. @ Mojo's
The whitest blues player you'll ever see, Tiny B, will be performing alongside The Hot Batch, from Watertown, NY. View more info on this here thread, courtesy of Chautauquaamp.com.

Show starts at 10 p.m. with Tiny B. The Hot Batch hits the stage around 11:30 p.m. 21 and up. Cover Charge.

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Jamestown Java & Classic Jamestown Meeting
Jan. 25 @ Coopers Cafe
An open meeting for anyone interested in local history and nostalgia and organized by members of the Jamestown Java group and Classic Jamestown group on Facebook. The meetings feature local residents discussing history and sharing stories from the past. Come and listen to the speakers they've got lined up, and sip on some coffee or espresso and eat a pastry or two. Limited menu- only the front will be open. Dutch treat as always.

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cooper's Cyber Cafe, 102 E. 3rd St.

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Other Upcoming Events
Jan. 28 - Breaking Laces vs. Thee Audience @ Mojo's
Jan. 29 - Fernando Jones at the Reg Lenna
More details next week. Maybe.

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This Week on "Turn it On"
I don't have the playlist figured out yet, but I think I'm gonna feature music from Black Sabbath, Queens of the Stone Age, Mudhoney, and Jamestown's own Hot Stenographer. Tune in to Turn it On Thursday night, Jan. 20 at 11 p.m. only on WRFA-LP 107.9 FM.

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Twitter of the Week
"I'm so sad that I could listen to Radiohead." - @MichaelSalamone

AFC Championship: Pittsburgh - Jets Preview

2011-01-18T10:07:00.009-05:00

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the AFC Championship game yet again. In fact, this will be the eighth time in 17 years they've made it to the title game (they also appeared in 1995, 96, 98, 02, 05, 06 and 09). While that appears impressive on the surface, let's not forget the Steelers only won three of those seven games, so it's not like it's a given that they'll win this Sunday against the New York Jets.

Despite Pittsburgh being 3 1/2 point favorites, I think New York actually has more momentum coming into this one, especially with big wins against both Indianapolis and New England. This week, they'll go for the Trifecta in an attempt to make it to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1969.

While Pittsburgh is my favorite team, I can't help but show some respect for the Jets. They're brash, tough-talking approach to the game is similar to the way many of the Pittsburgh players conduct themselves, especially during their 2005-06 Super Bowl run (Joey Porter ring a bell?). And when you really think about it, New York is a lot like that Steeler team five seasons ago:

Big Ben will see plenty of Gang Green on Jan. 23

Both the '05 Steelers and the '10 Jets were 6th seeds going into the post-season, having to play all three playoff games on the road.
The Steelers were known primarily for their defense to help keep them in the game. The Jets are known to use their defense to help keep them in the game
Both teams are personified by their head coaches (the Steelers had Bill Cowher, the Jets have Rex Ryan)
The Jets have a second-year quarterback in Mark Sanchez, who's role is to manage the game rather than win it. The '05 Steelers had a second-year quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger) who's role was to manage the game, not try to win it.
Both teams use multiple running backs throughout the game (the Steelers used Willie Parker and future Hall-of-Famer Jerome Bettis, Jets use Shone Greene and future Hall-of-Famer LaDainian Tomlinson)
There's a large contingent of fans who have a severe dislike for either/both teams

As for the game itself, there's no doubt in my mind it's going to be close. But I think the Steelers will get the victory and advance to win an unprecedented seventh Vince Lombardi Trophy. Their defense will be too much for the Jets to handle and will help Pittsburgh win the turnover battle. So long as Pittsburgh doesn't allow any big plays (Similar to the Brad Smith kick-off return we say when these two met in the regular season) they should get the W and advance to Super Bowl XLV.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 17, New York 13

Radio Project to Feature 200 Notable Individuals from Chautauqua County

2011-01-05T19:50:00.010-05:00

Below is the Media Release I wrote for the Bicentennial Biographies project, set to begin Jan. 10 on eight different radio stations in Chautauqua County, - SE-93, WJTN, WRFA, WQFX, WKSN, WHUG, WBKX and WDOE.

I'm excited to that it will soon be hitting the airwaves and I encourage you to tune in and check them out. From what I understand, WDOE will air them during the morning show while WJTN will air them during the noon news hour at 12:25 p.m. and SE-93 will air them at 12:05 p.m.

For a sneak preview of one of the PSAs, CLICK HERE.

'Bicentennial Biographies' PSA Project begins Jan. 10 and continues throughout 2011

Chautauqua County will celebrate a major milestone throughout 2011 with its 200th birthday. To celebrate the bicentennial, historical groups and societies all over the county will be involved in a variety of events and promotions throughout the year.

One promotion that will be ongoing throughout the entire year is “Bicentennial Biographies,” a public education project that will feature 200 notable individuals from the county’s past. Each weekday a different biography will be broadcast as a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on participating local radio stations, giving details about the individual, some of whom have not only left an indelible mark on Chautauqua County History, but also national and world history.

In an effort to create the most comprehensive and thought-out list possible, organizers teamed up with local historians to determine the 200 people to be featured. The biographies will not only include those born in Chautauqua County, but also those who moved elsewhere to make their mark in the world as well as the adopted sons and daughters who were from outside of the county but eventually found their way here and, as a result, helped to shape a particular community or even the entire county.

“We wanted this to be an all-encompassing list,” explained county historian Michelle Henry, who has helped to coordinate the project and ensure people from all corners of the county would be featured. “Early settlers, community leaders, business leaders and native sons and daughters are all included.”

Henry said there are already some obvious choices as to who will be included on the list, including James Prendergast, Horatio Brooks, Reuben Fenton, and Lucille Ball. But there are also many other important individuals people may not be aware of.

In addition to Henry, several other local historians have offered input on the list. It was then finalized with the help of Jack Erickson and John Paul Wolfe, both from the Chautauqua County Historical Society. Consultant Jason Sample also assisted in compiling the list, along with providing a brief description of each individual.

Starting on Jan. 10, the biographies will be broadcast on participating radio stations in both the north and south county. Radio stations from both Media One Group, LLC in Jamestown and Chadwick Bay Broadcasting in Dunkirk have agreed to take part in the program, along with low power station WRFA-FM in Jamestown. It will be up to the discretion of each radio station as to when the PSAs will be broadcast.

Transcripts of each biography will also appear after they air on the historical society’s website - www.mcclurgmuseum.org.

Bicentennial Biographies is just one of several projects and events that are taking place throughout 2011 to help celebrate the county's 200th birthday. A kick-off event is planned for Feb. 9, which is the official birthday of the county. It was on that date in 1811 that the governor and four legislators selected the first officers of Chautauqua County were selected.

To learn more about the events planned for the County Bicentennial or to make a donation to help offset the costs of the celebration, contact Ms. Henry's office at (716) 661-7857, or the historical society at 326-2977.

Chautauqua or "the Place of Easy Death"

2010-12-18T15:17:00.003-05:00

While doing research for the Bicentennial Biographies project, I was reading Andrew Young's "History of Chautauqua County, New York" (1875). The opening chapter, which was written by historian Obed Edison, tells of Chautauqua County's history prior to settlement by the white man. The entire section is fascinating, but I was especially intrigued by telling of the origin of "Chautauqua" - so intrigued that I figured I'd share it on my blog. Enjoy.

Vintage Map of "Chautauque" County

The name Ohio, or La Belle Riviere, was applied by the French to that portion of the Allegany, extending up from Pittsburgh as far, at least, as Franklin, as well as to the Ohio proper. It is probable that the Connewango, Chautauqua lake and outlet, and perhaps that part of the Allegany below the mouth of the Connewango to Franklin, were called by the French the Tchadakoin, as inscribed upon this leaden plate [see 'Lead Plate Expedition' in this link], and that, in process of time, this appellation was retained only by the lake. The word underwent various changes in its orthography also, until it came to be spelled "Chautauqua."

Evolution of "Chautauqua"

On a manuscript map of 1749, made by a Jesuit in the Department de La Marine in Paris, it is spelled "Tjadakoin," and the Chautauqua creek that empties into Lake Erie in the town of Westfield, is called the Riviere Aux Pomes, or "Apple river."
In the translations of the letters of Du Quesne, [pronounced Du Kane], governor-general of Canada, to the French government in 1753, found in vol. 10 of Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New York, it is spelled "Chataconit."
In Stephen Coffin’s affidavit, sworn to before Sir William Johnson in 1754, "Ghadakoin."
In the French of Capt. Pouchot, in his history of the French and English war in North America, written before the American Revolution, and in the map accompanying it, the name of the lake is spelled "Shatacoin."
On Powell’s map of 1775, and Lewis Evans’ of 1755, it is written "Jadaxque."
Gen. Wm. Irvine, who visited Chautauqua prior to 1788, writes it "Jadaqua."
On the map made by the Holland Land Company in 1804, it is "Chataughque."
After the settlement of the county, until the year 1859, it was spelled "Chautauque," when, by a resolution of the Board of Supervisors, passed October 11th of that year, at the suggestion of Hon. E. T. Foote, it was changed to "Chautauqua," that its pronunciation might conform to the pronunciation of the word by the Indians, at the time of the first settlement of the county.

Seneca Chief Cornplanter

Various significations have been attributed to the word Chautauqua. Among others, it is said to mean, "the place where one was lost," or the "place of easy death," in allusion to a tradition of the Senecas. Cornplanter, in his celebrated speech against the title of the Phelps and Gorham tract, alluding to this tradition, says: "In this case one chief has said he would ask you to put him out of pain: another who will not think of dying by the hand of his father or his brother, has said he will retire to ‘Chauddauk-wa,’ eat of the fatal root, and sleep with his fathers in peace."

Dr. Peter Wilson, an educated Cayuga chief, communicated to O. H. Marshall, Esq., the following Seneca tradition:
"A party of Senecas returning from the Ohio in the spring of the year, ascended the outlet of Chautauqua lake, passed into the lake, and while paddling through it, caught a fish of a kind with which they were not familiar, and they threw it into the bottom of their canoe. Reaching the head of the lake, they made a portage across to the Chautauqua creek, then swollen with the spring freshets. Descending the creek into Lake Erie, they found, to their astonishment, the fish still alive. They threw it into the lake, and it disappeared. In process of time the same fish appeared abundantly in the lake, having never been caught in it before. They concluded they all sprang from the Chautauqua lake progenitor, and hence they named that Lake, "Ga-ja-dah’-gwah, compounded of two Seneca words Ga-jah, 'fish,' and Ga-dah’-gwah 'taken out.' In process of time the word became contracted into Jah-dah-gwah; the prefix Ga being dropped, as is often the case."~

Other meanings have been assigned to the word. Chautauqua has been said to signify "foggy place," in allusion to the mist arising from the lake; also to mean "high up," referring to the elevated situation of the lake; while it is said that Horatio Jones and Jasper Parrish, early Indian interpreters, well versed in the Seneca tongue, gave its meaning to be "a pack tied in the middle" or "two moccasins fastened together," from the resemblance of the lake to those objects.

The following lines and note are from the pen of Col. Wm. H. C. Hosmer, of Avon:
"Famous in the days of yore,
Bright Ja-da-qua was thy shore,
And the stranger treasures yet
Pebbles that thy waves have wet;
For they catch an added glow
From a tale of long ago.
Ere the settler’s flashing steel
Rang the greenwood’s funeral peal,
Or the plow-share in the vale
Blotted out the red man’s trail.
"Deadly was the plant that grewNear thy sheet of glimmering blue,
But the mystic leaves were known
To our wandering tribe alone.
Sweeter far than honeyed fruit
Of the wild plum was its root;
But the smallest morsel cursed
Those who tasted, with a thirst
That impelled them to leap down
In thy cooling depth, and drown.
"On thy banks, in other hours,Sat O-wA.NA wreathing flowers,
And, with whortleberries sweet,
Filled were baskets at her feet.
Nature to a form of grace
I-lad allied a faultless face;
But the music of her tread
Made the prophet shake his head,
For the mark of early doom
He had seen through beauty bloom.
"When a fragrant wreath was made,Round her brow she clasped the braid;
When her roving eye, alas
Flowering in the summer grass,
Did the fatal plant behold,
And she plucked it from the mould;
Of the honeyed root she ate,
And her peril learned too late,
Flying fast her thirst to slake
From thy wave, enchanting lake.
"Then was gained the treacherous brink,Stooped O-WA-NA down to drink;
Then the waters, calm before,
Waking, burst upon the shore;
And the maid was seen no more.
Azure glass in emeralds framed,
Since that hour Ja-da-qua named,
Or ‘the place of easy death,’
When I pant with failing breath,
I will eat the root that grows
On thy banks, and find repose
With the loveliest of our daughters
In thy blue engulfing waters."

"These lines allude to a beautiful Seneca tradition that lends an added charm to Chautauqua lake, in the state of New York. A young squaw is said to have eaten of a root growing on its banks, which created tormenting thirst. To slake it she stooped down to drink of its clear waters, and disappeared for ever. Hence the name of the lake JA-DAQUA, or the place of easy death, where one disappears and is seen no more."

Bicentennial Biographies Update

2010-12-05T13:49:00.009-05:00

I've been busy the past few weeks with a project out in Delaware Co. NY but I thought I'd take a little bit of time this Sunday to offer an update on Chautauqua County's Bicentennial Biographies project. Basically, we are going to feature a brief biography of 200 noted individuals from throughout the county's 200-year history. The biographies will first be broadcast as PSAs on local radio, then published online for anyone wishing to view and comment. All biographies are being assembled by myself, County Historian Michelle Henry, and various town historians from throughout the area. We are making good progress and are confident the first biography will air on January 10, 2011.

To help build interest in the project, here are the first five people to be featured during the first week.

Amos & Chloe Sottle - Irving - First permanent white settlers in county (1796)
McHenry Family - Westfield - First Settler of Westfield area (1802)
James & John McMahon - Westfield - Early Settler and Developer (1802)
Alexander McIntyre - Mayville - First Settler on Chaut. Lake (1804)
William Peacock - Mayville - Surveyor, local pioneer and first resident agent of Hol. Land Company

Some publicity will be forthcoming later this month for press, radio, and television so keep an eye out for that. However, we don't plan on announcing all 200 names at once. Rather, we'll roll them out when day at a time, to help maintain interest in the project (and other Bicentennial-related events) throughout 2011.

For anyone interested in learning more about local history, I recommend becoming a member of any number of local historical societies in the area. The County Historical Society also recently started blogging, and you can find them all here.

Viking Trader Sails Off into the Sunset

2010-11-11T19:46:00.003-05:00

If you were born in Jamestown, N.Y. there's a good chance you've got at least a little bit of Swede in you. During the late 19th century and much of the first half of the 20th century, Jamestown, N.Y. was a primary destination for thousands of Swedes who immigrated to the U.S. from the old country.

One of the businesses that's made a name for itself in celebrating the area's rich Swedish Heritage is the Viking Trader Gift Shop, which opened in 1974 just three miles east of Bemus Point on Rt. 430. But now, after 36 years in business, the little shop that features everything Scandinavia will be closing its doors at the end of this year.

To help spread the word about the closing, I helped the shop's owner - Gale Svenson-Campbell - write a press release announcing the closure.

But don't fret - Gale will still be around operating her other business, Express Apparel.

In the meantime, don't forget to stop by the shop between now and the end of the year to take advantage of some great deals on various merchandise.

The following is the press release, in its entirety.

Sailing Off into the Sunset

After 36 years in Business, Viking Trader Closes its Doors

Gale Svenson-Campbell first opened Viking Trader in Bemus Point in 1974

When Gale Svenson-Campbell opened a retail store specializing in all things Swedish, she had no idea it would grow into one of the more popular gift shops in Chautauqua County. But ever since 1974, Viking Trader Gifts on Route 430 in Bemus Point has become just that - a favorite destination for both area residents and seasonal visitors.

Now, after 36 years in business, Viking Trader will be closing its doors following the upcoming holiday season.

“I can’t say that I’m thrilled with closing my store that I’ve had for my entire adult life, but I am not sad either. To be in business this long is a good feeling,” says Svenson-Campbell, who cites the recent economy and growing competition, both online and at larger retail stores, for her decision.

Despite closing Viking Trader, Svenson-Campbell plans to continue operating her other business, Expressive Apparel, which specializes in screen printing for shirts, hats and other related apparel.
“I really enjoy the screen printing, and have developed a large group of clients through the 20 years I’ve been doing this,” she says.

The shop has made a name for itself offering Scandinavian items

Filling a Niche
Svenson-Campbell says there were a couple of main reasons why she opened Viking Trader. One involved her family heritage, while the other was to fill an apparent need in the Jamestown area.

“My dad was born in Sweden and came over in 1923 when he was a little boy, so I’m first-generation Swedish,” she explains. “Following the death of my grandfather, my dad and I went to Sweden in 1973 and I saw a lot of unique Swedish items and gifts. Around the same time, we attended a Swedish event in Jamestown and realized there was little related to Scandinavian heritage that could be purchased to commemorate the event. So after coming back from Sweden I got the urge to open my own shop. The original theme was Scandinavian imports and hand-crafted gifts.”

Some of the more popular Swedish-related items that have been available at Viking Trader include Vikings, Dala horses, tomten (elves that live on the farms in Sweden), and various prints from Swedish artist Carl Larsson. Various imports and items from other Scandinavian countries (Finland, Norway and Denmark) have also been made available.

In addition to the Scandinavian-related items, Viking Trader has also offered other merchandise over the years, including crystal and glassware, stationery, Chautauqua lake items, and other seasonal accessories. Cards, jewelry, mugs, toys, books and a Christmas room can all be found in the shop.

“My theme has always been Swedish-related items and things Swedish people like, such as sailing, flowers, and nature,” Svenson-Campbell notes. “We also sell some Christian-related items and animal-themed items. And we’ve been known for our greeting cards.”

Throughout the years, Viking Trader has also made its mark in a variety of different locations. It had a satellite location on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution for the past 20 years. Another retail shop was also located in downtown Jamestown for a period of time. And Viking Trader has made its presence known at several events and festivals, including the annual Scandinavian Folk Festival and the What’s New Fair. All this is in addition to its permanent location on Route 430, just to the east of Bemus Point.

Moving Forward
Despite the closing of Viking Trader, Svenson-Campbell will continue to own and operate Expressive Apparel on a full-time basis at the Rt. 430 location.

“I’m retiring from retail, but I’m not retiring from running a business,” she explains.

Expressive Apparel, which she and her late husband started in 1990, has grown to include a number of returning clients over the years. Some of them include the Mayville July 4th Committee, Hogan’s Hut, Lutheran Social Services, the Blue Heron Music Festival, many jobs for Maple Grove High School, along with dozens of others.

“We strive to offer a quality product at affordable rates,” Svenson-Campbell says. “The turnover is also pretty quick. We can get an order completed within two weeks of it being placed.”

Expressive Apparel will also continue to have long-time Viking Trader employee Karen Johnson on board to help with the screen printing operation.

As for the Viking Trader, Svenson-Campbell says that even though she is closing the shop, she’s willing to let someone continue the tradition. “My ideal scenario would be for someone to buy the Viking Trader name, reputation and mailing list, and continue to have a Scandinavian presence in the Jamestown area. I will work on that in the coming weeks. We may also have space to rent to another business.”

Svenson-Campbell also says that Viking Trader will remain open for the upcoming holiday season with various sales and specials being offered to customers. Anyone wishing to learn more can stop by the shop or attend the 55th annual “What’s New Fair,” scheduled to take place Nov. 13 & 14 at Jamestown Community College.

Viking Trader is located on Route 430, three miles east of Bemus Point. It is open 7 days a week- Monday thru Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m.

Customers can also view Expressive Apparel’s complete line of shirts and other apparel at www.expressiveapparelstore.com.

For more information call (716) 386-6043 or visit www.vikingtradergifts.com or www.expressiveapparelstore.com.

Autobiography by Samuel A. Carlson - Part 2

2010-11-08T17:23:00.015-05:00

Continuing with the post from Oct. 31 regarding the 1943 Autobiography of former Mayor of Jamestown, Samuel A. Carlson (1868–1961).

Here, Mayor Carlson discusses the first time he was elected mayor of the city and his unwillingness to toe the party line. He also talks about the city's purchase of the local Niagara Power System, under his administration, which led to an enormous savings to the city while also providing affordable electricity to every resident in Jamestown.

Samuel A. Carlson, Circa 1900

Autobiography by Samuel A. Carlson - Mayor Emeritus

and Comments on His Fifty Years of Public Service

[Page 5 - 9]

Merit Recognized

In recognition of his attainments in the field of municipal government, he was several years ago elected a life honorary member of the New York State Conference of Mayors, in which he was a leading figure.

Refering [sic] to some of the public Improvements championed by Carlson in the pioneer days, here is what The Jamestown Journal said editorially Feb. 21, 1894.

The man who worked in an out of season, to whom a large share of the credit is due, is Samuel A. Carlson. His sledgehammer arguments fell in all places at the right time and no one seemed to be able to stand against them. He was armed with an array of facts and figures, and so well grounded in his position that it was impossible to shake him.

In reference to Mayor Carlson's connection with the early development of the electric plant, the following editorial appeared in the Morning News of April 16, 1895,: "The people remember that it was through the efforts of Mr. Carlson, as Chairman of the Lighting Committee, that the work of extending the municipal lighting plant, which had already been ordered by an emphatic vote of the people, was brought about, after a delay of nearly two years, caused by the obstructions which were placed in the way by the representatives of private corporations."

On May 1, 1943 The Post-Journal said: editorially

OUR MAYOR EMERITUS

The whole town might well pause for a while today and give thought to the community service performed by Former Mayor Samuel A. Carlson who made his entry into public life just a half century ago and is still active in it. A studious youth deeply concerned in the problems of municipal government, he was, back in 1893, at the age of 23, elected a member of the old Common Council from the Fourth Ward, in which he was born and has always lived, and then in turn he became a member of the Board of Public Works, mayor for 26 years and, since his retirement from that office, has served on the Board of Public Utilities.

Down through this long span of years, he has made a contribution to the life of Jamestown which entitles him to the deep respect of all of our people, regardless of differences in community politics and policies. No one can question that the fact that at all times he has sought with intense sincerity and downright honesty of purpose to serve his native town to the utmost of his ability, and that he has succeeded in accomplishing a great deal of lasting value is true beyond the shadow of a doubt. In certain phases of city government he has pioneered movements which have eventually become generally recognized a a vital significance in local history. Especially is everlasting credit due him for his part in the establishment and the development of the city electric light an water systems, which will always remain a monument to his civic leadership.

Mayoralty Election of 1908

It was early spring of 1908 that the writer was first elected mayor. My opponents were the late ex-Mayor O. F. Price, H. E. V. Porter, then President of the City Council and president of the Jamestown Business College, and the late ex-Alderman John C. Swanson.

In the mayoralty campaign I advocated municipal ownership of all public utilities and stressed especially the necessity of enlarging the city-owned electric plant so that the current from the plant could be made available to all households at low rates. I favored also strict non-partisanship in the administration of public affairs and proportional representation not only in election choices but in the matter of appointments to the various boards and departments of the city government.

After my election to the mayoralty, I was approached by the political leaders of the community, who presented a slate containing the names of persons whom the dominant political faction desired to have appointed to various important positions in the "mayor's cabinet." But when the writer politely informed them that he had been elected upon a platform pledged to nonpartisanship [sic] in city affairs, they replied that "that was a good thing to talk about while out of office but a poor thing to practice while in office." One of the delegation, a man of wealth and influence, then arose and assuming an attitude of intimate friendliness said, "Sam, you can't afford to play a lone hand if you are thinking of future political success." "Well, gentleman," I replied, " I am sorry I cannot entirely endorse the slate you have submitted. There are, however, some who I shall appoint but most of the names I regard as disqualified for the positions to which you have recommended them."

"But they are good workers for the party of which you were the nominee," said one of the politicians in the delegation, "and we cannot keep up the party organization unless we reward the active workers."

"Yes," responded the writer. "I know that is the old-fashioned political doctrine that has always been preached by those who believe that 'to the victor belong the spoils,' but I have been elected fora two-year term and during those two years I am going to put into practice an entirely differently doctrine. May aim will be to carry out a spirit of tolerance in harmony with the precepts of true democracy and to extend to both radical and conservative a fair hearing in conformity with the biblical injunction, 'Prove all things and hold fast that which is good'.

"I regard the running of a city as a matter of business, not politics, and I intend to begin my administration by appointing to office men who possess the highest qualifications regardless of political, religious or other connections."

This declaration of policy was not very pleasing to the old-time politicians and for a quarter of a century I have had arrayed against me the so-called 'political machine'. Notwithstanding this opposition, I have been elected twelve out of fourteen mayoralty election contests, (serving one four-year and eleven two-year terms), and have continued to play the 'lone hand' with absolute independence of thought and official action. Having declared in my pre-election campaign that my appointments would be made on the basis of fitness and that the proportional representation would be given to minority groups of citizens, I accordingly appointed my opponent, ex-Mayor Price, the city's first mayor, to the office of city treasurer so that he could act as a "watch dog" in behalf of those citizens whom he represented in the election. I appointed Professor Porter as chairman of the Civil Service Commission and I secured the appointment of Mr. Swanson as superintendent of paving and sewer construction, since that was in line with his experience. And on all the various boards and commissions the writer selected men having professional or technical qualifications and leaders in industrial and civic bodies.

During the twenty-six years of my incumbency as chief executive I sought to carry out the non-partisan policy which I adopted when first elected.

Niagara Competing System Acquired

For a period of some twenty years of Mayor Carlson's administration the city plant was up against the keen competitive opposition of a powerful Niagara Syndicate. This corporation resorted to litigation and various other tactics, characteristic of private utility corporations in an effort to obstruct the expansion of the municipal plant. Mr. Corey, its President, offered in 1926 to sell additional current to the city at a price equal to the cost of production by our own plant equipment, providing the city would enter into a ten year contract substantially agreeing to take the same amount of current from the Niagara Falls plant that would otherwise be produced by increased machinery at the municipal plant.But this proposal was rejected by Mayor Carlson and the Board because such a contract would have resulted in eventually crippling the municipal plant. In the next election Mayor Carlson was defeated for re-election. The succeeding political powers sought to replace a majority of the Board with new members but their plan failed.

At the next election in 1929 the writer was again elected on a platform to proceed with expansion of the plant. Shortly thereafter the Niagara Company concluded to sell its Jamestown distribution system to the City at a price of $750,000 which was negotiated by the then Chairman of the Board, Karl Peterson. The City secured by this transaction the annual revenue of the private company which was about $400,000, and also its franchise.

$20,000,000 Saving to the City

Today [1943] the Jamestown Municipal Plant is worth $7,000,000, all paid without any tax levies. It has an annual revenue of more than $1,000,000. It returns to the city about 15% of its revenue as a voluntary tax contribution.

It also returns to the consumers from 10 to 20% in dividends based on amount consumed.

It has a surplus of $2,000,000 which is invested in U. S. Bonds. These achievements have been attained notwithstanding a low rate for service ranging from 3 1-4 cts. per K.W.H. down to 9 mills. per K.W.H.

Compared with rates in most cities this city has saved about $10,000,000 during the last twenty-five years and adding the value of the water and electric plants, there has been a gain to the community of more than $20,000,000. And I predict that in the not distant future the plant will supply heat to all homes.

The present [1943] members of the Board of Public Utilities are Alfred C. Davis, Samuel A. Stroth, Samuel A. Carlson, J. Algot Larson, Paul Anderson, M. R. Nelson, Clifford Holt, Charles Strandberg, Clayton Johnson, Superintendent and Thomas McKee, Secretary.

New York Times Comments

Referring to the purchase of the local Niagara Power System by the City, The New York Times in commenting August 16, 1931, said, "The name of Samuel A. Carlson becomes closely identified from the beginning with the development of municipal electricity in Jamestown, and he is the man who gives the personal human interest to most of the governmental history of that city for a longer period than is covered by the average memory of the present generation."

GO TO PART 3
BACK TO PART 1

Album of the Month: The Raincoats

2010-11-04T15:57:00.001-04:00

I have a weekly radio show on WRFA at 11 p.m. on Thursdays called Turn it On (taken from the Flaming Lips song of the same title).

For the most part, I've just been putting together a playlist, merging all the songs together in a single file, and putting it on the air. But to change things up a bit, in August I decided to do an "Album of the Month."

On the first Thursday of each month, I'll play an album in it's entirety and also give some basic details about the artist, when and where it was recorded, and the reception/legacy. Basically I'll be regurgitating the wikipedia page.

This week, I'll be featuring The Raincoats by The Raincoats, released in 1979.

Tune in at 107.9 FM in Jamestown or listen to the live stream at www.wrfalp.com. Show starts at 11 p.m. Thursday night.

Autobiography by Samuel A. Carlson - Part 1

2010-10-31T19:34:00.011-04:00

Last week I was visiting a few local antique shops and came across a signed copy of the Autobiography of former Jamestown Mayor Samuel A. Carlson (1868–1961). Carlson was the longest-serving mayor in Jamestown's history and he compiled an impressive 50 years of public service to the city. As a result of his various municipal projects,including the effort to provide affordable electricity to the residents and businesses within the city, he's considered one of the most prominent and influential people in Chautauqua County's history and is one of the 200 people who will be featured in next year's Bicentennial Biographies project.

To celebrate his milestone of 50 years in public service, and at the urging of various friends and colleagues, Carlson wrote and published his autobiography in 1943, printed by the Liberty Printing Company of Jamestown, N.Y.

Since several people have told me they'd be interested in reading the book, I thought it may be best to offer as much of the biography as time would allow on my blog. So from time to time I'll enter passages of the book. Also, anyone interested in borrowing the book and reading it can do so by contacting me. It's only 72 pages long, making for a fairly quick read.

Samuel A. Carlson, Circa 1900

Autobiography by Samuel A. Carlson - Mayor Emeritus
and Comments on His Fifty Years of Public Service

[Page 1 - 4]

BEGINS CAREER

     Samuel Augustus Carlson was born in the city of Jamestown, October 26, 1868 on what is known as English Hill. His parents, John Frederick and Matilda Charlotta Carlson, immigrated from Askryd, Jönköpings Län, Sweden, to America in 1867. His mother died during his infancy, and three years later his father married Louise Hedstrom. Mr. Carlson was educated in the public schools of this city. At the age of 14 he became a member of the YMCA and its debating society and has continued his membership in the YMCA to this day. He is a 32nd Degree mason and a member of a number of other leading fraternities. He has two brothers, John E., and D. Lawrence, of Jamestown and one syster [sic], Mrs. Ruby Erickson of Los Angeles, Calif.

     In 1891 together with his father and brother, Charles, he purchased a furniture factory from his uncle, Samuel S. Carlson, which was then located at the foot of Willard Street.

     In 1893 he sold his interest in the business and assumed the management of the Swedish Weekly, Vart Land (Our Country), which was originally organized in 1872 and then called “Folkets Röst” (People’s Voice). This publication was in latter years published partly in Swedish and partly in the English language. Its publication was suspended about ten years ago [1933]. The files of this publication which virtually contains the history of the Scandinavian settlements in Western New York and Pennsylvania have been donated by Mr. Carlson to the Swedish Museum at Philadelphia.

     On June 21, 1893, shortly after his election as councilman, Mr. Carlson was married to Freda S. Hendrickson. They have a son Wendell LaVern, who is a Radio Engineer in the Field of Research and Defense.

Press Comments

The Post-Journal of May 1, 1943 said:

     As Mayor Emeritus Samuel A. Carlson sits back in his easy chair in his second floor den at his home, 37 Maple Street, this evening, he can scan the vista of 50 years since he first became a figure in the public life of Jamestown back in 1893 and see bound up in his career, much of the life of this native community. And Sam was born here, and strange to relate his birthplace on English Street, on English Hill, in the very heart of that section in which the English pioneers first mae their home in this community.

     Asked as to what he considered his most outstanding achievements during his entire public career, he replied that there were two:

     1. Promoting the movement for the municipal electric light plant until it became a reality. Also water and Hospital service.

     2. Appointment of men to the Board of Public Utilities who were sufficiently qualified to make the water and light plants the marked success which they have been.

     When he was first elected mayor he devoted a portion of his time to his private business, holding an interest in the Vart Land Publishing Company, publishing a weekly newspaper, and being engaged in the insurance business as well, later he relinquished these conceptions and devoted his entire time to the mayoralty of office.

Sums Up Work

Looking back over the years, his thoughts may be framed in these words: “I have often been misunderstood; I have doubtless often misjudged my critics, but that is a part of the political game and in many of my actions I have made mistakes, although on the whole I have been vindicated in my main efforts and, after all, that is the real test.”

Mr. Carlson was first elected Alderman on the issue that he would champion a proposal to inaugurate municipal commercial lighting. He was re-elected in 1895, having been endorsed by Republican, Democratic and People’s Party. A few months after his election hew was appointed by Mayor Eleazer Green as commissioner of public works, serving in that capacity for 10 years. In 1908 h was elected mayor on the pledge promising expansion of the city electric plant, which had been operated on a small-scale basis up to that time by the Council. He served one four-year term and 11 two-year terms as mayor. He served two terms as president of the New York State Conference of Mayors and is now [1943] serving his fourth year as a member of the Board of Public Utilities.

Speaker and Writer

During the past 50 years Mr. Carlson has delivered speeches, and written articles totaling more than 5,000, mostly on public utility questions. The public record shows that it was Mr. Carlson who first introduced most of the initiatory measures in the early stages of the public utility movement in this city. He often fought alone against bitter opposition. It was Carlson who in a large measure molded public sentiment in support of this movement. It was Carlson who latter as mayor selected the business, professional and engineering personnel by whom the municipal utilities were developed to the present momentum of successful operation.

The movement to build a plant to light some of our principal streets encountered much opposition back in the early days when the late M. George Martyn played a leading part in that role. But the real big municipal battle began after Mr. Carlson, then a youthful alderman, introduced in May, 1894 a resolution to sell bonds for the purpose of procuring machinery with which to produce current to be sold to the people of the city, the first experiment of its kind to be tried in America.

Face Opposition

But even after the commercial equipment had been installed, it took many years before a majority of the Common Council, then in control of the plant, could be elected who could be counted on to wholeheartedly favor a continuous expansion to meet the increasing demands for municipal current. The result of this slow-moving policy was that up to the year 1908 the plant, then valued at $136,000 had only 150 consumers and a revenue of less than $44,000. It was in that year that Mr. Carlson was first elected mayor after having launched his candidacy on a platform declaring for the purchase of larger units of generating electricity so that greater and cheaper production of energy could be supplied to the citizen consumers. Soon after Carlsons’s election and the educational effect of his campaign, a bond issue was ratified by the taxpayers of a larger addition to the City Plant. Seeking increased revenue from industrial plants Mayor Carlson succeeded in enlisting the services of Frank O. Anderson, then a leading industrialist, as a chairman of the reorganized Board of Public Utilities which had assumed the functions previously performed with little progress by politically-minded alderman who had failed in making the plant a formidable competitor of the private company. It was the business ability and mechanical skill of Mr. Anderson and also that of the late Karl Peterson, assisted by Engineer Louis Klauder, that developed the municipal system up to the high efficiency momentum which it has attained in recent years and now continued under the capable chairmanship of Alfred C. Davis, engineer and financier. All of these men were non-political appointees of Mayor Carlson. None of them could have accomplished what they did unless they had been previously appointed by the mayor. Millions of dollars have been saved for the people as a result of Carlson’s early efforts and services in bringing about low rates and the present plant values for the city.

The public records show that Mr. Carlson and the late M. George Martyn were the pioneers in the movement that led to the establishment of the municipal electric and water plants in this city.

Highlights of Career

     Some of the highlights in Mr. Carlson’s public career include his advocacy of street pavements at a time when there was nota single foot in the city; his paving plan was approved by a referendum after all other plans had been rejected. His proposals for a municipal hospital and public market, both now in successful operation; his introduction of the plan for paving and sewer construction by the city; the confiscation of coal from the Erie Railroad at the time when there was a serious shortage here; efforts to establish a municipal gas plant; movement to bring about the establishment of a municipal milk plant.

     During the first World War, he served as chairman of the local draft board, which embraced the entire city.

     A signal honor came to him in 1933, when the Carl Schurz Foundation of Philadelphia chose him as a member of a group of 17 Americans to conduct study and research in European cities to stimulate good will between the peoples of the two countries. He was the only mayor so chosen and was named chairman of the group. Upon his return from Europe he wrote a book, “The Sage of a City and a New Concept of Government.

GO TO PART 2

Ralph Brown Honored by DAR

2010-10-19T10:03:00.002-04:00

Senator Cathy Young was in Jamestown Saturday (Oct. 16) to help honor a local recipient of a national award from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Retired Randolph Resident Ralph Brown was presented with the organization’s National Community Service Award for his effort to help raise awareness about veterans and their families through the Real American Stars project.

Ralph & Jamestown DAR Regent Sharon Terwilliger

Ralph & Sharon with his Award

Ralph, Senator Cathy Young, Alice Brown & Sharon

Oct. 13, 2010

2010-10-13T18:12:00.000-04:00

Buying a new camera tomorrow so these may be the final photos from my Canon PowerShot A40. (2002 - 2010)

Tree in Autumn

Jo & Andre

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

The Great Wolf Hunt in Chautauqua County

2010-10-08T10:24:00.006-04:00

I recently became a member of the Chautauqua County Historical Society. One of the perks of the membership (in addition to free admission to the McClurg Museum in Westfield) is receiving the quarterly newsletter, TimeLines. The current issues has a small article regarding the wolf hunts that took place in Chautauqua County during the pioneer days. Coincidentally, I also wrote a brief article about the Wolf Hunt of Chautauqua County as described in History of Chautauqua County by Andrew Young (1875). I never got around to publishing the article until now.

Journey through the woods and forests of Chautauqua County today, and its highly unlikely you’ll encounter a wolf. But this wasn’t always the case. While some speculate that "wolves" encountered during the pioneer era were more often than not coyotes, it can't be denied that wolves were native to our area of the country and posed a significant threat to not only livestock, but people as well. This is why no one - man, woman or child - ventured from their houses at night without a torch or weapon for their protection.

When it comes to the menace of wolves in Chautauqua County, it’s believed no town suffered more than Stockton. Judge Bugbee (Judge was his first name, not his title or occupation), who would serve as town supervisor in the 1850s and whose family was one of the first settlers in the Stockton area, wrote an extensive description of one of the several “great wolf hunts” that took place in Stockton during the 1820s in an attempt to rid the forest of the beast once and for all.

Bugbee said the Cassadaga swamp area, located south of Cassadaga lake, served as a secure retreat for the wolves, where during the daytime they could quietly digest the mutton from the night before. It didn’t take long before the local inhabitants, whose livestock was being decimated by the wolves, put forth an effort to fully exterminate the animal from the area.

The battle ground was selected nearly east of the fork of the Cassadaga and Bear creeks. The plan of battle was a simultaneous attack from four divisions upon all sides of the swamp at once. Before going into the swamp, each division had chosen its place of rendezvous: The east at Sinclairville, the north at Cassadaga village, the west at Delanti (now Stockton village), and the south at South Stockton.

Four lines were created from all sides and prepared by blazing trees and lopping brush. Each line was a mile and half in length and formed a square area into which the men would attempt to drive the wolves out. There was no mention of the exact number of men, but it’s estimated that it was well over a thousand.

At mid morning, the men were all upon the ground, forming a continuous line and encircling a good portion of the swamp. The signal for advance was given and the lines moved forward in splendid order, growing more compact until they arrived on the battle grounds, forming a square about one mile in circumference. A signal was given and each man fired into the area. After the first discharge, the deer and rabbits within the lines became frantic and made their escape of the area. After all the game had been dispatched that could be seen, a committee of three or more was sent within the inclosure, to search under old logs and fallen trees to see if any game had fled to any of these places for safety. After the return of the committee, the men, by orders, moved towards the center of the inclosure, bringing in the game. This specific hunt yielded two large wolves, one bear, several deer and other small game.

Three other hunts were conducted following the same process, yielding several more animals. The wolf pelts were turned in and bounty collected and the money was used to buy ammunition and whiskey for subsequent hunts. The state offered a bounty of $20 for a full grown wolf and half that for a young one and the county gave the same bounty and most if not all towns gave a $10 bounty. Making a total of $50 for a full grown wolf. Thus, hunting wolves not only secured the safety of livestock, but also generated much needed revenue for the residents.

Similar hunts were coordinated in areas throughout the county and by 1830, most if not all of the native wolf population was eradicated from the county.

Listening to:
Monster
By Steppenwolf
- 1969

Press Relase for The Real American Stars Project

2010-10-05T10:20:00.008-04:00

I've been working with Ralph Brown in Randolph, N.Y., helping him raise awareness about his Real American Stars project. Ralph has been anxious to get the word out about the project and his products, and for good reason - he's invested a lot of time and money into getting the project off the ground.

When it comes to initiating a publicity campaign, timing is everything. A news agency or media outlet will be much more receptive to your story/feature/press release when it ties in with another event. Because Ralph's project involves honoring veterans, we've decided to wait until October to begin his initial publicity campaign, with Veteran's Day only a month away.

Ralph will also be receiving an award from the Daughters of the American Revolution later this month, so the publicity campaign will also help raise awareness about that recognition as well.

The following is the release, in it's entirety. If it piques your interest, please feel free to visit The Real American Stars website and pass this information along to anyone else who may be interested.

Honoring the Real American Stars
“Land of the Free, Because of the Brave”

With Veterans Day just around the corner, a retired veteran from Western New York is reminding Americans about a truly patriotic way to honor those who’ve served our country.

Ralph Brown of Randolph, N.Y. began the Real American Stars project in 2009 as a way to pay tribute to not only past and present service men and women, but also their immediate family members.

“I wanted to develop a lasting, special way to not only honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation, but also the countless mothers whose sons and daughters went off to war and never returned home,” Brown says.

As a result, Brown designed and created The Real American Stars, a series of blue or gold metallic stars with inscriptions that identify an individual with ties to military service. The “Gold Star Vet” is used to identify a soldier who gave the ultimate sacrifice, while the “Blue Star Vet” identifies all those who’ve served in the military. In addition, there are also blue and gold stars designed for the mothers and wives of all those who've served this nation currently or in the past.

Each star is 3.5 inches across from point-to-point and just over 1/8 inch in thickness. All the stars are made of aluminum and electronically plated to prevent weathering. In addition to the main inscription, each of the stars is also inscribed with the words, “Honor,” “Courage” and “Glory,” which was the motto of the 18th Combat Engineer Battalion, which Brown was a part of during the 1950s.

“These stars are designed to get the attention of anyone in visual eyesight of them,” says Brown. “That’s especially important for the Gold Star vets, mothers, and wives who’ve had to endure an unimaginable sacrifice for our country. They deserve to be recognized whenever possible.”

Brown says the stars were initially designed to be placed on the headstone of anyone who served the country and any mother whose child served or wife whose husband served. But the stars can also be placed on a vehicle, on a mailbox, and near the entrance to a home.

The star is a permanent symbol of honor visible to all who enter a cemetery or a home,” explains Brown. “It can really be placed anywhere a family wishes to honor its family member who is or was in the military. I’ve even seen some placed on vehicles.

Initially, anyone interested in purchasing the star had to do so by calling or emailing Brown. But that all changed in September with the unveiling of a new website, www.TheRealAmericanStars.com. Here, costumers can stop by and order as many stars as they want and have them shipped to any location throughout the country.

Each Real American Star costs $24.95 - an affordable price considering the stars are designed to last a lifetime, even when placed outdoors in the most extreme weather conditions.

“These are durable products that will last for a long time,” Brown says. “We use a special adhesive that will help keep the stars on the headstones for years so families don't have to worry about them falling off. They're also made of aluminum so they are weather resistant.”

Brown adds that the stars are a fitting tribute for any mother or veteran.

“These mothers are the salt of the earth,” Brown says. “They should be honored for raising the warriors who've defended our country. I'm doing this because I think Americans should appreciate what they’ve got and how they got it. Freedom isn't Free.”

Because of his involvement in starting up the project at time in his life when most others his age are focused on enjoying their retirement years, the Jamestown, N.Y. Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will recognize Brown and The Real American Stars project on Oct. 16 during a formal reception at their Prospect St. headquarters.

To learn more about The Real American Stars project or to place an order, go online to www.therealamericanstars.com or call The Real American Stars office in Randolph, N.Y. at (716) 358-6442.

Townhouse Records

2010-09-30T11:32:00.003-04:00

Just got word that Townhouse Records in Jamestown has changed its hours of operation to just Friday and Saturday (although it may also be open randomly or by appointment Mon - Thur.) According the Facebook Page, co-owner John Bell says "We're not closing and are working hard to establish a better solution in the near future."

For those that don't know, Townhouse Records is one of a handful of places to purchase both new and used vinyl in all of Chautauqua County. I did a story on the business a while back and I try to stop by and pick up some new records whenever time/money allows. It is a great resource for fans of any genre of music and I urge you to stop by and check them out if you are in downtown Jamestown some weekend. Even if you don't plan on buying anything, the nostalgia value alone is worth it.

In addition to a wide selection of vinyl, Townhouse also sells CDs from area artists, along with various audio equipment, including turntables and record cleaning supplies.

You can also search their inventory and purchase records at the official Townhouse website and follow Townhouse on Twitter and Facebook, so be sure to do so if at all possible.

For additional info or to get a specific question answered, email jon@townhouse-records.com, or send a message via Facebook.

ChautauquaAntiques.com Press Release

2010-09-29T16:47:00.006-04:00

Part of what I do involves writing press releases to help promote an upcoming event or a business announcement. Such was the case earlier this week, when I sent out a release promoting ChautauquaAntiques.com, an online resource for all things "Antique" in Chautauqua County.

Local Antique Dealers Now Have a New Home on the Web
ChautauquaAntiques.com provides details on local shops, dealers, and more

Are you a fan of “The Antiques Roadshow” on PBS? Does your idea of a fun weekend include visiting local flea markets and antique dealers? Do you wish there was more information out there about local businesses that sell antiques?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then you’ll want to check out ChautauquaAntiques.com, a new website devoted solely to antiques and antique dealers located throughout Chautauqua County.

ChautauquaAntiques.com is the county’s only online resource when it comes to antique collecting - whether it be furniture, tableware, jewelry, time pieces, or any other type of collectable. Not only can you find frequent blogs from various local contributors, but a complete listing of every antique dealer throughout the county can also be found in the store directory, along with information on local flea markets, antique-related events, local museums, and more.

“I noticed there really isn’t an online presence when it comes to learning more about antique dealers in our area,” explains the website’s creator and area resident, Elizabeth Gleason.

Gleason’s appreciation for all things antiques began at a young age and carried on through college, where she studied art history and archeology, eventually receiving a degree from the University of Buffalo. For the past decade, she’s been involved with her own web design business, but still managed to find time for antique collecting. “I’ve enjoyed collecting antiques and visiting various shops for some time, so it only made sense to create a website that can be used by both dealers and collectors.”

ChautauquaAntiques.com already contains a listing of nearly 50 different antique dealers from throughout Chautauqua County in its online directory. In addition to the businesses from within the county, the website will also feature dealers and events from neighboring counties, including Cattaraugus and Erie Counties in New York and Warren and Erie Counties in Pennsylvania.

“The name of the website is ChautauquaAntiques.com, but I realize there are many other dealers outside of the county in nearby communities and we’ll be happy to feature them in our directory as well - free of charge,” says Gleason. “The goal is to create the most comprehensive listing of area antique dealers and stores throughout the region and so far we’re off to a very good start.”

As mentioned earlier, local museum can also be featured on the website. They need only send in their press release, photos, or event information and it will appear on the website, free of charge. The same applies for any not-for-profit group that wishes to utilize the service offered by ChautauquaAntiques.com.

Gleason also welcomes local dealers to submit information to be posted on the website, including upcoming events and festivals. Guest blogs about antique collecting are also encouraged, and businesses to have an option to advertise with the site if they’d like to increase their exposure.

“When you advertise on the site, you not only receive prominent exposure throughout the website, but we’d also write a feature and place it on the website,” explains Gleason, adding the content would also be shared with the people who follow ChautauquaAntiques.com on Facebook, Twitter, and other related media.

For more information, visit ChautauquaAntiques.com or send an email to info@ChautauquaAntiques.com. You can also stay up-to-date with the website by following it on Facebook and Twitter.

Brick is Red

2010-09-20T20:43:00.015-04:00

Courtesy of S. Holland (via Retro Jamestown on Facebook)

Brick streets. Let's talk about 'em.

The well weathered brick streets of Jamestown can be found in just about every neighborhood throughout the city. While many of the streets have held up well, there are quite a few that have become the bane of several local residents' existence (especially anyone who's ever lived on Linwood).

Last Fall (October, 2009), the city unveiled a historical marker on Allen St. devoted to the brick streets of Jamestown. It was placed at the Allen St. location because that's where all the bricks came from. Typically, some details about all Jamestown's historical markers in the city can be found here at the city's website. Unfortunately, they've yet to post details about the newest historical marker. So here are some details from a story I wrote for the Chautauqua Star (Many of the details for this article were provided by Jamestown City Historian, B. Deloris Thompson).

Historical Society Honors City's Rich History of Bricks

Brick streets may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Jamestown, but somewhere between Lucille Ball and Johnny’s hot dogs, they’re sure to be on your top 10 list. That’s because even though it’s been nearly 70 years since the last brick street was laid in the Pearl City, you still can’t drive anywhere in the city without running into a brick street. In fact, even today, more than 50 miles of exposed brick streets can be found within the city limits.

During the first half of the 20th century, bricks were used to make a large majority of streets in the city – and nearly every single brick came from a single business within the city: the Jamestown Shale Paving Brick Co. It is said Jamestown Shale produced as many as 15-million bricks per year at its peak (that’s over 135 tons of bricks every day). Many of the bricks produced were used locally for a variety of purposes, including the brick streets. The remainder was shipped all over the U.S. to markets eager for the quality bricks produced here.

The company was founded about 1893 by Judge Jerome B. Fisher, who continued as president of the company for about 25 years. John Mahoney was the Superintendent.

In the beginning, clay was used to produce the bricks. The first clay was dug from a site in Falconer that soon filled with water. The next site was located on New York Ave. in the Town of Poland, which also filled with water over time. The site is now known as Clay Pond (and, if you’re one to believe in local lore, a backhoe used to dig the clay from the sight is still sitting at the bottom of the deep pond).

Once the second sight filled with water, it was decided to use the shale found in abundance in the stone quarry on Allen St. just across the river from the kilns that were used to produce the bricks. This, of course, necessitated a basic change in the production method of the bricks.

Rather than molding clay into bricks and baking them, the shale had to first be pulverized into a fine powder, and then mixed with water before it could be baked in the kilns to form bricks. Despite the extra step, the company found that the bricks made with the shale from the stone quarry on Allen St. were actually stronger than the ones made from clay.

Incidentally, the shale used from the Allen St. location is referred to as the "type locality" for the geological stratum known as Ellicott Shale. It is an excellent fossil hunting area and has been studied often by geologists. To this day, over a quarter mile stretch of Allen St. between Buffalo and Willard Streets in Jamestown features steep embankments, some as high as 50 feet, that were the result of that area being quarried for its shale deposits.

The company prospered for the next several years and sometime between 1918 and 1920 became part of the Broadhead family's numerous enterprises, where the plant continued to prosper for anther 15 years. Then, around 1935, the operation closed for good, due to the deterioration of the kilns and the machinery (and perhaps the lack of capital in the midst of the great depression).

However, many of the bricks they produced remain in use in Jamestown in its streets, sidewalks, and buildings, attesting to the quality and durability of the unique product this significant Jamestown enterprise contributed to the area’s history. Even when walking nearly the old sight of the factory (presently occupied by Dawson Metal) one will find bricks scattered about the area – remnants of a business than long ago ceased to operate.

To commemorate the company and Jamestown rich history with bricks, the Jamestown Historical Society recently unveiled the city’s 63 historical marker, which will be located on Allen St., across the river from where the plant once stood.

City officials also say that a large number of bricks from Jamestown Shale (approximately 750,000) are still waiting to be used. Some will be used by the city’s road crews to patch up brick streets that have deteriorated over the years through the city’s “Brick Streets Preservation” program. Others can actually be sold to local residents, and Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi says the price is ~~20 cents~~ 25 cents apiece for city residents and ~~40 cents~~ 50 cents apiece for non-residents.

As stated earlier, brick streets can be found in just about any neighborhood in Jamestown. But some of my favorites locations are on and around Lakeview Ave., adjacent to the Lakeview Cemetery, Glasgow Ave. on Jones Hill, and Pine Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets.

This story originally appeared in the Chautauqua Star & Bulletin Board - October 29, 2009

Chautauqua County History

2010-09-14T09:29:00.005-04:00

I'm currently helping the Chautauqua County Historical Society with a project to help promote the county's upcoming bicentennial (Chautauqua County was incorporated in February, 1811). It's called "Bicentennial Biographies" and will feature the 200 most notable people from Chautauqua County over the past 200 years. Once our list is completed, the Bicentennial Biographies will be produced into one-minute radio PSAs, with a new one airing each day on radio stations throughout the county. They will also be available online on and possibly in the local newspapers.

The purpose of the project is to not only educate area residents on local history, but also promote interest in learning more about these people and their accomplishments. I always find it interesting that there really isn't an effort in public schools to teach local history, even though many of these children will stay in the area throughout their adult lives and would obviously benefit from knowing even a little bit about the past, especially if they will be involved in shaping the future.

It should be noted that not all of the people on the list had a significant impact on local history. Some were sports figures, entertainers, politicians, and industrialists who were born in Chautauqua County but made a name for themselves elsewhere. Still, these people have contributed significantly to community pride and serve as great examples of just how far you can get in life, even if you happened to be born and/or raised in Chautauqua County.

With that, I've decided to volunteer to the CCHS and assist them with this project. Joing in the effort has been County Historian Michelle Henry along with Jack Ericson and John Paul Wolfe from the Historical Society. Several county historians have also offered input. So far we've got about 150 people selected to appear on the 200 list. We've got about 75 more names to choose from and are currently awaiting feedback from historians throughout the county to determine the final 50 people to appear on the list.

In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of some of the individuals who made the cut:

Lucille Ball (Celoron, NY)

William Cushing (Fredonia, NY)

Reuben Fenton (Jamestown, NY)

Robert H. Jackson (Frewsburg, NY)

General George Stoneman (Busti, NY)

Albion Tourgee (Mayville, NY)

As I said, we will have a total of 200 individuals, so the list will be rather extensive. I'll keep you posted on the progress of the project in the weeks and months to come. The first PSA is planned to hit the airwaves by January 12, 2011.

For more details on the early settlement and history of the county, check out this link to Chautauqua County and Its People, a book written in 1921.

Bark Park Renovation

2010-09-08T22:31:00.003-04:00

This week's issue of the Chautauqua Star & Bulletin Board will feature my article about the Chautauqua County Humane Society and the renovation that's taken place at the Bark Park - an outdoor, fenced-in area intended for dogs to get some exercise while they wait to get adopted.

Volunteers Krista Thorsell (holding Jax) and Jacob Welling

For a while, there really wasn't much to do in the park besides play fetch, run around a little bit, and, well, bark. But this year, volunteer Krista Thorsell came along and decided to do something about it. Krista developed a plan to make the Bark Park an enriching and enjoyable place for the dogs, giving them plenty to do so they can get the most of their time while enjoying the outdoors.

My article has more information, and I'll post a link to it as soon as it gets online. I would have simply posted the article here on this page, but I wrote the story specifically for the Chautauqua Star, so that's where you will find it first.

This week's issue comes out on Sept. 9 which, coincidentally, is also the same day the Humane Society will commemorate the newly renovated Bark Park and thank Krista and the other volunteers for making the new park a reality.

More details at the Humane Society Website.

Exploring the Past with Ancestry.com

2010-09-03T10:23:00.006-04:00

Ancestry.com. Let's talk about. It's one of the most marketed websites in America, and for good reason. Millions upon millions of archived documents can be found in its database, it's easy to use, and, most importantly, you have the ability to access research from other people on the site. For just $30 a month you can become a member and also cancel at any time.

With that, here's a column I wrote at the start of this year regarding my experience with genealogy and how Ancestry.com helped me learn a little bit more about my family history.

The Blood of Leif Erickson Flows through Me (Maybe)

Last November I decided it was time to do some family research and the reason had nothing to do with all those Ancestry.com commercials you see on the history channel. It had more to do with the passing of my grandfather, Roy Roman, who also happened to be the last of my living grandparents.

I see no family resemblance

One of the things my grandpa told me while growing up was that he was a direct descendant of Leif Ericson. As you can imagine, this was a wonderful and exciting thing to hear for a kid who was all of 11 years old. After all, as I had recently learned in school, Leif Ericson was one of the more well-known figures in world history, having been a famous Viking explorer and is regarded as the first European to land in North America, some 500 years before Christopher Columbus. I remember thinking to myself, "this is awesomer than awesome!"

I remember asking my grandpa how he knew we were descendants of Leif Ericson. He said some of his cousins had a professional trace our family tree back to Finland, and from there they were able to trace their lineage back to the time of the Vikings and eventually Leif Ericson.

A Family Tree would've been a great thing to bring in for show-and-tell at school, so I asked him where this family tree was located (I figured it was just a simple piece of paper that said something to the effect of "Leif begot Thorkell, Thorkell begot Bjorn, Bjorn begot War Claw,” etc., etc., and so on until it got to some guy who begot my grandpa).

Unfortunately for me, my grandpa explained that the family tree was actually nearly a hundred pages long and he never got a copy. And since he wasn't really close to his cousins (who lived somewhere across the country) there was no way he could hand over the evidence. "It's true," is all I remember him saying.

Over the next 20 years the claim that my family was descended from Leif Ericson eventually drifted further and further out of memory. Sure, I would occasionally think about it, but I figured it was just one of those things you hear growing up and that unless it could ever be proven, there really was no point in sharing the information with anyone else.

But when my grandpa passed away this past November, I got to thinking about the stories he would share and of course one of them was his claim that we were direct descendants of Leif Ericson and I began wondering that maybe there was a way I could solve this mystery once and for all.

That's when I started doing some research on the Internet. I was hoping that maybe by chance a distant relative had this family tree my grandpa had talked about and had transcribed it online. But I was hitting dead ends no matter how hard I tried, and that's when I decided I might as well pony up the money and get an account at Ancestry.com (the online genealogy research Web site).

Just like they say in those commercials, I couldn't believe what I found out once I got an account. Apparently, my great grandmother on the Sample side of the family can be traced all the way back to the original Plymouth Colony (and even back to 9th century England). I also found out I was mostly Swedish, German and English, with some Irish and Fin thrown in for good measure.

Hozial (Morey) Sample.

Most interesting of all, my last name should be "Morey." I learned my great, great, great grandfather Hozial Sample (born in Randolph, NY) was actually the son of DeForest and Martha Ann Sample Morey. Sadly, Martha died when Hozial was only 3, and DeForest left Randolph and moved out west. Obviously, one can only speculate on the circumstances, but Hozial was left behind to be raised by his grandparents, Jacob and Clarinda Hoyt Sample. As a result, he assumed his mother's maiden name of "Sample" which was passed down the line to me.

But despite all the research and new information I found regarding my family ancestry, when it came to doing research on my grandpa Roman's side of the family, I again hit a dead end and never was able to find any connection or information regarding his Scandinavian heritage.

So even though I still can't prove that the blood of perhaps the greatest Viking of all time is flowing through my veins, I can't say my research effort was not in vain. I was able to learn some pretty interesting things about my family and where they came from and I'll probably try again to find the elusive Roman-Ericson connection in a couple more years from now.

The original version of this column originally appeared in the Chautauqua Star & Bulletin Board - January 21, 2010

Album of the Month: Cold Beer on Hot Night

2010-09-02T15:26:00.002-04:00

I have a weekly radio show on WRFA at 11 p.m. on Thursdays called Turn it On (taken from the Flaming Lips song of the same title).

Lately, I've just been putting together a playlist, merging all the songs together in a single file, and putting it on the air. Not a whole lot to it. But to change things up a bit, I've decided to do an "Album of the Month." On the first Thursday of each month, I'll play an album in it's entirety.

This week, I'll be featuring Cold Beer on a Hot Night by Tom Waits, recorded in Sydney, Australia in March, 1979 (or 1977 or 78). This is one of my favorite albums ever and I never get sick of hearing it, especially "Burma Shave" and "I Wish I was in New Orleans."

Tune in at 107.9 FM in Jamestown or listen to the live stream at www.wrfalp.com. Show starts at 11 p.m. Thursday night.