From new ball fields at Forness Park to a grenade disposal, from the first car seen in Olean to a major bust at Allegany State Park, here’s a look back on the week that was 125, 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago in this edition of Turning Back the Clock.
1900
May 26 — George W. Lesley will give a tight rope performance this evening, near the city hall, commencing at 7 o’clock sharp. He claims the world championship on the high rope, slack wire and trapeze.
May 27 — In the window of Charles Morris’ millinery store is an immense straw hat. It is what is known as a short backed sailor with Tam O’Shanter crown. The hat is about three feet in diameter and contains over a mile of plaited straw.
June 1 — The first automobile that ever rolled through Olean’s streets was the subject of much interest last evening. The two people riding in the car are taking a trip through the country. They spent the night in the Olean House.
1925
May 26 — The largest seizure of alleged intoxicating wines and liquors made in the city since the advent of prohibition was accomplished by members of the Olean police force last night. Approximately 600 gallons of alleged intoxicating wines and liquors were secured in a raid on the home of Gatano Dossi, 1302 East State Street. No arrests were made. The confiscated goods consisted of five 50 gallon casks of alleged wine, a vat containing 250 gallons of mash, 140 quart bottles of alleged wine, 10 gallons of alleged distilled spirits in kegs and jugs and one gallon of alleged apricot brandy.
May 27 — Vigorous steps are being taken to stop the dumping of refuse on East State Street. The matter was brought to the attention of the city council at its meeting last night by Alderman Loftus, who urged that a special resolution be passed that would specifically forbid dumping on ground adjacent to that particular thoroughfare. Alderman Wallen also testified to the bad condition as the result of promiscuous dumping.
1950
May 26 — Gasoline is safe if handled properly. About 60 Socony-Vacuum employees learned that lesson at a demonstration at the “Vacuum” cafeteria Thursday afternoon. The demonstration was staged by the Ethyl Corporation as part of the Vacuum’s training program for its foremen and firefighters. During the demonstration, an Ethyl field engineer showed that only 12 drops of gasoline formed sufficient vapors to blow the paper roof off a model plastic tank.
May 27 — One of several ball diamonds in Forness Park was lined out by YMCA officials Thursday afternoon. This diamond will be used by the YMCA church, women and girls’ softball league, in which there are eight teams. The park is located south of East State Street near Forness Pond. At least four ball diamonds, two for softball and two for hard ball, are about ready for use by the city’s young people. Mr. Forness has been developing the project for more than a year, and he has personally directed the bulldozing and grading work at the 52-acre site.
1975
May 27 — The Olean School Board received notification from Washington Friday that the United Railway Association has approved abandonment of the 1.1 mile Penn Central spur located on the Thatcher site. This clears the way for the purchase of the track area by the board with the right-of-way to become playground space for the new junior high school under construction there.
May 28 — Sixth-nine persons were arrested and many more were evicted as Allegany State Park police cracked down on persons who helped make what was described as “one of the wildest weekends ever” in the park. Sgt. Paul Bozard, in charge of the 13-man park police force, said, “We could have made 690 arrests if we had the personnel.” It was explained it was easier to just evict some persons because of the time involved making arrests. Many arrests were drug-related, police said. In addition, three cabins were extensively damaged and shots were reportedly fired from a van moving along Route 1.
2000
May 29 — Bomb Disposal Squad officers with the Erie (Pa.) City Police Department successfully disposed of a World War II hand grenade a Bradford, Pa., woman found in her attic Sunday. Kane-based state police reported the woman was cleaning her attic when she found the grenade. Without disturbing it, she contacted state police. A state police helicopter brought the disposal squad to the area and the grenade was disposed of underground.
May 31 — What do an endangered freshwater clam, a nice spot to put a camp along the Olean Creek and an 82-year-old building have in common? They all have the potential to delay construction of the new $14 million Olean water filtration plant. Olean Community Development Director John Sayegh said Tuesday that the rayed-bean mussel, a freshwater clam, has been found in the Olean Creek near the construction site. Under state law, the city has to take steps to protect it. No one is sure what protecting the mussel will cost. Sayegh said estimates range from $15,000 to $20,000. And the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation has ordered Olean to perform an archeological survey of the proposed construction area, believing it may once have been settled by Senecas. The cost for the survey is expected to be between $3,000 and $4,000. Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation has also prohibited the city from demolishing the existing 82-year-old plant as part of the project, deeming it eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
