Town of Concord NY Historical Society - Springville, NY - Pop Warner - 1908 Great Race

HOME GREAT RACE GIFT SHOP CONCORD BICENTENNIAL LYCEUM MEETING SCHEDULE CRAFT GUILD CLASSES HISTORY TIMELINE BECOME A MEMBER NEWSLETTERS CONTACT US CONCORD MERCANTILE MINUTES Concord NY Historical Society - History Timeline AREA CONTACTS Village of Springville 5 W. Main Street Springville, NY 14141 716-592-4936 Ambulance 716-592-3900 Fire Control Center 716-592-9323 Fire Department 716-592-2825 Sheriff's Department 716-592-5444 Department of Public Works Superintendent 716-592-3790 Electric Division 716-592-2310 Streets Division 716-592-4412 Waste Water Treatment Plant 716-592-4552 Water/Sewer Division 716-592-4722 Town of Concord Assessor 716-592-4947 Building Inspector 716-592-3004 Clerk 716-592-4948 Highway Department 716-592-4892 Justice Court 716-592-9898 Sheriff 716-662-5554 Supervisor 716-592-4946 LINKS Carol Goodson's site Pratham Road Cemetery Town of Sardinia Springville Area Chamber of Commerce TIMELINE and EVENTS 1800-1824 • 1825-1849 • 1850-1874 • 1875-1899 • 1900-1924 • 1925-1949 • 1950-1974 • 1975-1999 1818 Eaton Survey of the Village of Springville 1800 - 1824 1807 - Christopher Stone becomes the first settler in the Town of Concord after Purchasing 796 acres for $1575.00 from the Holland Land Company. Later in the year another settler, John Albro, joined him. 1808 - Samuel Cochran obtains land and becomes the first permanent settler in the area. 1810 - David Stickney opens the first hotel adjacent to the Village Green. - Anna Richmond taught the first “common School” in a log barn just north of the village. - A “state” road is laid out from Buffalo to Olean following (from north to south) approximately Route 391, Sharp Street, Sibley Road, Vaughn Street and Route 39 (east). 1812 - A company of volunteers depart the area for service against the British in the War of 1812. - David Leroy, “a famous and inveterate fiddler”, settles in the village. - The first town meeting is help at the home of John Albro. Thomas M Barret is selected supervisor. 1813 - Rufus Eaton constructs the first saw mill on Spring Brook north of Franklin Street. 1814 - The first gristmill is built by Benjamin Gardner on Spring Brook south of Main Street. - John Russell and Samuel Bradley build a woolen factory on South Buffalo Street. 1815 - Our Village is unofficially named, “Fiddler’s Green” by David Stickney. 1816 - Congregationalists organize the first church in the village. 1818 - Rufus Eaton hires a surveyor to map the village. 1819 - The first liberty pole is raised at the Four Corners, a mile east of Springville. (This site served as an assembly point for 4th of July celebrations for many years there after). 1820 - Springville's first Postmaster Rufus C. Eaton is commissioned. - Father Hall organizes the Methodist Church and the first meetings are held at the Liberty Corners schoolhouse. 1821 - Samuel Lake builds the first store on Main Street on the northeast corner of Main and Buffalo Streets. - A village cemetery is established at Franklin Street and West Streets(Central Avenue). The cemetery is eventually moved to Maplewood and today is home to the tennis courts and spray park. 1824 - Rufus C. and Elisha Eaton build a hotel, the Springville House ~ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ~ 1825 - 1849 1826 - Rufus C. Eaton helps organize the First Baptist Church. 1830 - Springville Academy begins operations with the first high school in Erie County. 1834 - Official incorporation of the Village of Springville occurs on April 11. The first village elections follow in May. 1835 - Construction of the Springville Mill by Manly Colton. (ensuing years saw the mill change hands many times; from Manly Colton to Rufus Eaton, to others, to Mr. Shuttleworth, to Bertrand Chaffee, and finally to the Bray family). 1839 - Elk Street is constructed. 1841 - The Congregationalists vote to change their affiliation and organize the First Presbyterian Church. 1842 - Springville’s first fire department is organized as the Hook and Ladder Company. 1843 - Chapel Street is laid out northeast of the old park on land donated by Rufus Easton. 1844 - Local Whig party members hold a rally at the Springville House. 1844 - 1848 - Our first newspaper, the SPRINGVILLE EXPRESS, is published. ~ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ~ 1850 - 1874 1851 - 1852 - Springville and Boston Plank Road Company constructs a turnpike between the two communities and operates it for 10-12 years. 1853 - Old Congregational Church, no longer in use, is purchased by the Roman Catholics and the Springville parish is established. 1855 - 1856 - The newspaper, THE AMERICAN CITIZEN, is published in the village. 1858 - The Methodist Church reaches an agreement with Springville Academy to operate the school in exchange for use of the building for religious services. - W.A. Ferrin publishes PENNY WEEKLY for several months. 1861 - 1865 - Numerous Springville volunteers serve the Union in the Civil War with the majority being in Company A of the 100th New York State Volunteers and Company F of the 116th New York State Volunteers. 1863 - Horace Greeley speaks to the Erie County farmers in Springville on September 24. - Methodist Church is constructed at the northwest corner of Buffalo and Franklin Streets. 1864 - Springville Rural Cemetery (now Maplewood) is dedicated. - Augustine Ferrin founds THE CHRONICLE. 1867 - Springville Academy becomes “Griffith Institute” in consideration of a substantial donation given the school by Archibald Griffith. - A free Baptist Church is formally organized on May 26. - A new daily stage, managed by T. Perkins, begins operating between Springville and Cattaraugus. - The new Springville National Baseball club plays at the new fairgrounds on June 1. - The Springville Journal is started by Walter W. Blakeley and his wife, the former Mary Lowe, and has continued publications every since. 1868 - Fire destroys buildings on the south side of Main Street from Pearl Street to the present site of the Springville Dry Cleaners. 1869 - Plank walks are laid all along the south side of the Main Street business district. - A Circus with 180 animals performs in the village. - A school is established on Hammond’s Hall to teach velocipede (early tricycle) riding. 1871 - Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church is organized. 1872 - Republicans raise a liberty pole on the corner of Cow (Mill) Avenue and Pearl Street. Pole is torn down that same night the Ku Klux Klan. - S. R. Smith Cheese Factory produces the second largest cheese in the country (2975 pounds) for display at the International Exposition in Buffalo. - The Central Park Menagerie, International Circus and troupe of Iroquois Indians all perform in Springville on June 27. ~ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ~ 1875 - 1899 1876 - The Hall’s Opera House is erected and the village limits are extended. - C.J. Shuttleworth builds a millpond of 4.7 acres by raising South Buffalo Street to form a dam. 1877 - H.G. Leland purchases the Springville House and renames it the Leland House. 1878 - Springville and Sardinia Railroad is organized in May and construction is started in July. - Last stagecoach comes to Springville. 1879 - Leland House is rebuilt. - Griffith Institute graduates 10. - The Hook and Ladder Company is officially reorganized as the Independent Engine Company. - All buildings between Buffalo Street and the Blakeley House (opposite Leland House) burn, including Hall’s Opera House. - The Springville and Sardinia Railroad is providing daily passenger and freight service. - S.B. Gaylord’s new hall, the largest in the county outside Buffalo, is completed with seating for 1200. 1880 - A telegraph lime is strung from Springville to Sardinia. - Semi-Centennial celebration of the Springville Academy is held at the school. - The Springville Public Library is established in the Journal office. - The American Hotel, located at the corner of Main and Buffalo Streets, is sold to Peter Nenno for $6,500. - Matthew Metzler, a wagon maker on Pearl Street, ships a brewster road wagon to California in November. - The LOCAL NEWS begins publications under the management of J.H. Melvin. - Census shows Springville’s population at 1227. - Shuttleworth and Morse Manufacturing patents new milling machinery – Patent Bolt, New Process Steam Exhauster and Meal Cooler. 1881 - Village charter, as amended, is approved by the legislature and signed by the governor. - The “Little Darling” locomotive of the Springville and Sardinia Railroad, found inadequate to handle Springville snow, is sold to a railroad in Iowa. - A post of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) is organized in August. - Former Vice President Colfax, appears at the Opera House on Dec. 28. - Grand Mask Ball is help at the Opera House on April 1. - American Rapid Transmit Company sets up telegraph operations in the village. - Springville holds a memorial service for President Garfield at the Opera House. - Workers strike at the canning factory for higher wages. An advance of 15 cents per 100 cans was granted. - Leland House awning is broken down by a run-away team with a load of barrels. 1882 - Messers, Woodward and Myers complete construction of six houses on Woodward Avenue and start on two more. - A new fire company – Fountain Hose Company – is organized. Village orders “hand fire engine” for $650. - Charles Thurber opens a blacksmith shop on Pearl near Main. - Bodies from the Franklin Street cemetery are removed to the Springville Rural Cemetery (Maplewood). 1883 - The Farmer’s Bank of Springville is organized and opens in October. - The Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad completes a branch line from Ashford to Buffalo passing through Springville. - Two new streets are laid out at the West End – Albro Avenue and Forest Street. - George Engel begins a jewelry store in the village. - Village renames West Street and Central Avenue. 1884 - Village request residents to help construct a park at the corner of Franklin and Central Avenue. - Bell Telephones are installed in the village. - A $6 prize is offered for a 5 mile roller skating race in the village. Winner finished in 24 minutes. 1885 - A liberty pole is raised on the corner of Main and Pearl Streets under the supervision of C. J. Shuttleworth. - A small portion of Main Street is first to be supplied with running water using wooden mains. 1886 - An 1886 directory proudly enumerated 114 area businesses including: thirteen general stores, seven hotels, four saloons, three livery stables, four billiard saloons, two cigar manufactories, seven blacksmith shops, three wagon shops, four millinery shops, three tailoring shops, two coal yards and a marble shop. - Street name signs are installed and house numbering is started. 1888 - Village board approves the lying of a gas line in the village. 1889 - Glenn S Warner graduates from Griffith Institute. - J.H. Borden commences a tanning business in Springville. - Peter A Weismantel enters into business operating the Blacksmith, Wagon and Sleigh Building Shop. 1890 - The Monday Club of Springville is formed by a group of local women. - Great balloon ascensions take place from Dygert’s Driving Park (on corner of Elk and Cattarugus Streets) This is one of the first ½ mile tracks in the state. - The Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad holds excursions to Buffalo, wild west shows and the Bradford-Kinzua Bridge. - John McGraw (later of the New York Giants baseball team) plays two games for the Springville Semi-pro team. The game at Gowanda draws over 2,000 fans. 1891 - Dr. Ralph B. Waite creates the Antidolor Manufacturing Company, which soon began the production of a “local anesthetic” for the painless extraction of teeth. - The monument donated by David S. Ingalls to honor the the Civil War dead, is erected in Fiddler’s Green Park. - St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is organized. 1892 - J.P. Meyers donates land jointly to the Fire Company and the Civil War Veterans. Construction of a fire station soon follows on this South Buffalo Street site. 1893 - George D. Conger, N.H. Fiske, Nelson Washburn, George Hess, J.P. Meyers and H.P. Spaulding attend the reunion of the New York veterans of the Battle of Gettysburg at the battlefield in June. 1894 - The village water works erects poles for the distribution of electricity generated at their S. Buffalo Street building. Among the first places to use electric lights are the Leland House, Presbyterian Church, and the fireman’s building. - Firemen’s Ball at the Opera House attracts 127 couples. 1895 - Glenn S Warner of Springville accepts a football coaching position at the University of Georgia for a salary of $35 per week. - 500 residents of Buffalo accept invitations from the Springville Board of Trade and the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad to be their guest on a tour of Springville. 1896 - Census of the village places the population of 2,280. - New arc lights are placed on Main Street. 1897 - Poverty Ball is held at the Opera House to benefit the poor of Springville. - A new industry – The Springville Manufactory – locates in the Herbold & Kessler Planning Mill. - An extreme dry spell in October causes numerous forest fires in areas surrounding Springville. - An earthquake shakes the village on June 3rd. - New Universalist Church is dedicated on December 16th. - Construction of a village power dam commences on Cattaraugus Creek. Once completed, the dam proves to be short lived, as it burst one day after it was closed. A stronger replacement was erected in 1899. 1898 - Corporal J.D. Rhodes of Springville is wounded in Cuba while serving with the Rough Riders. - Glenn S. Warner is chosen head football coach at Cornell University. 1899 - Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad establishes Cascade Park on a site overlooking Cattaraugus Creek. - 20th Century Club is founded at a meeting held at the home of Marion Dunbar. ~ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1900 - 1924 1900 - Village curfew is imposed for those ages 16 and under: 8:00 pm from October to March and 9:00 pm for the remaining months. - A band of gypsies passes through Springville on there way east. - Torchlight parades and ox roast highlight the presidential campaign activities in Springville. 1901 - William Jay “Young Pop” Warner becomes the only G.I. Football player to become a college All-American in this sport. - Concord purchases its first voting machines. 1902 - Dr. Ralph B. Waite owns the first automobile in Springville. - Calista Godard presents Godard Memorial Hall to the Town of Concord, - Lyceum Course organized by Ira W Smith and William E Bensley. - The Citizens National Bank is founded on July 1st. - Village board approves installation of a cannon in Fiddler’s Green Park. 1904 - Bernard R. Ferry purchases the Leland House from Richard and Lewis Gates. - Carl and Maurice Simon start a clothing business in the village. - St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church opens its new parochial school. - C.J. Ellis Real Estate Business is established. 1905 - Fiddler’s Green Dancing Club holds one of their series of dances at Richmond'’ Hall on Friday, January 27th. 1906 - Construction starts on Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad. 1907 - Otto Luther assumes operation of the Brookdale Inn on Buffalo Road, one of Springville’s leading entertainment centers. - All unmuzzled dogs running at large are ordered shot due to rabies scare. - Coles Bros. Circus appears on June 8th. 1908 - New School built on Academy Street site. It is regarded as one of the finest school buildings in New York State. - Springville Grange organized in March and receives its official charter the following month. - George Schuster of Springville wins the New York to Paris Race in a 1907 Thomas Flyer ( 169 days: 13,341 land miles). 1910 - Cascade Cider Company completes production and ships out five carloads of boiled cider (400 barrels). 1911 - Old Home Week and Fireman’s Convention are held in July 1911. 1912 - Main and Buffalo Streets are bricked. - E. Steinmetz starts a cigar factory on Smith Street. - Jim Thorpe visits Springville with Pop Warner and continues his Olympic Training while here. - Town of Concord Centennial. - The first movies in Springville are shown at the cheese factory. - Influenza epidemic closes all schools, lodges, clubs, churches, and the theatre on October 12th. 1913 - U.S. Cavalry unit passes through Springville in July. - First Baptist and the Free Baptist Churches merge to form the Baptist Church of Springville. 1914 - Frank Folts exhibited a 13’ corn stalk with a 6-½ circumference. - Katzman Building remolded into a movie theatre. 1915 - Borden Company installs an ice plant. 1917 - Snow and ice down trees placing over 800 phones of the Federal Telephone Company out of service. - Youngsville Radiator purchases Case Brothers property for $30,000. This plant is now Robinson Knife. 1917 - 1918 - Numerous Springville residents serve in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War I. - Springville Public Library sends 700 books to soldiers and sailors. - On November 11, all bells and sirens went off in the village at 4:00 am to announce the end of World War I. 1918 - Theodore Sikaras first enters business in Springville. Eventually he becomes the operator of Teddy’s Candy Kitchen at 157 Main Street. - First electric meters are installed. 1919 - G.I. budget totals $31,062.50 for school year 1919-1920. 1920 - C.J. Ellis Company Real Estate reorganized to become Ellis Bros., Inc. - Bryon Walters opens a drug store on the corners of Mechanic and Main Streets. - Springville Girl Scouts founded at a meeting held in the home of Mrs. P.L. Pease on October 20th. 1921 - Fred J Ferrin enters into the harness manufacturing business. His shop was located for many years at 6 Mechanic Street. - Springville’s population stands at 2,800. - The village purchases its first motorized fire truck for $12,000. 1922 - Walling Brothers of Springville manufacture hypodermic needles. - G.I. Football Team completes an undefeated season by winning all 13 games without being scored upon. - Dr. Ralph B Waite and Glenn “pop” Warner head a group in founding the Springville Country Club. - John H. Graff forms a partnership with Sheldon Elderkin to sell Chevrolet cars and trucks in the village. - Springville Hatchery opens for business on Franklin Street. 1923 - Huge fire destroys five buildings at the Springville Canning Factory. - Decoration Day marked the formal opening of the Springville Country Club. - William Jennings Bryan delivered his greatest lecture “The World’s Greatest Need” to an audience of over 800 at Godard Memorial Hall on July 5th. - Southernwestern Association Volunteer Firemen’s Convention is held in Springville. - Concord Candy Company opens on Main Street under the management of Harold E. Pratt. 1924 - Fats vs. Leans – They heavy boys clashed with the slim ones in basketball on March 6th and the fats walked off with a 7 – 0 victory. - A skip day was help on March 27th, at G.I. in response to students demand to satisfy their appetite for taking in the sugar bushes, Several teachers chaperoned parties of the younger students. - Springville Businessmen’s Association formed at a meeting at the Concord House on May 8th. - Fire causes $20,000 damage to the third floor of the Waite building on June 5th. - Village Motor Vehicle Ordinance establishes a 15-mph speed limit and a 5-minute parking. - Winfield H Smith Inc. (Pulley Works) moves from Buffalo in September to their new Factory in Springville. - August 7th marks the opening of the new Pantheon Theatre. ~ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ~ 1925 - 1949 1925 - Famous sports personalities come to Springville to honor Pop Warner at a banquet on January 16th. - A total solar eclipse takes place in January. 1927 - Salzers Lumber moves to W. Main Street from their original Mill Street site. 1928 - A.C. Adams enters the automobile and General Electric Appliance business in the village. - Universalist Church Society (upon disbanding) donates their building as a new site for the Springville Public Library. 1930 - Griffith Institute Centennial and Old Home Week are celebrated at a banquet for 750 and the Cascade Park Pavillion. - Layne Water Company drills a well for the village on the Village Athletic Field (now owned by G.I.) - Peter A Bifarella engages in the theatrical business as owner and operator of the Pantheon Theatre. 1931 - Benjamin Minowitz operated the 5 Cents to a Dollar Store on Main Street. - Elevated Water Storage tank (tower) built on a site near Franklin Street. 1933 - The Griffith Institute Orchestra wins first place at the state musical contest in Syracuse. The band places third inn its division. 1934 - Springville Travelers Motorcycle Club is organized with 13 charter members. - Rotary Club of Springville receives its charter on January 29th. - Glad Tidings Tabernacle Church is established. - Springville Field and Stream is organized. 1935 - Dr. Maurice O’Connor founds the Springville Clinic. - Formation of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Springville Fire Department takes place. - G.I. Varsity wins the Niagara Frontier Class A Basketball Championship and its victory over Akron. 1936 - Village constructs a new fire department hall on Franklin Street. 1937 - Webster Krise opens a meat market at 169 Main Street. - Springville Foundry started by Leon Zimmer and Clarence Gilbert. The Company later became the Abrasive Shot & Grit. - Bertrand Chaffee Hospital initiates care for the elderly on property provided by the Chaffee Estate. - Springville’s Post Office building is completed. 1938 - George Woodruff assumes management of the Market Basket store on Main Street. Mr. Woodruff holds the unique distinction of being informed by the War Department that he was killed in action and buried in France in October 1918. - Field and Stream Cabin is erected. - Village completes replacements of wooden water mains with those made of cast iron. - Christian and Missionary Alliance Church is formed 1939 - New York State Public Service Commission grants permission to the Edwards Motor Transit Company, Inc. to operate a bus route between Springville and Buffalo. - Kessler and Gentner Auction is organized and their barn is completed the following year. 1940 - Wading pool is built in the Franklin Street Park. - With the death of E.N. Thurber, the SPRINGVILLE NEWS suspends operations after 40 years. 1941 - Incorporation of the Springville Historical Society takes place. - School centralization is completed as Griffith Institute unites 34 districts in nine towns, forming the state's largest geographical district. 1941 - 1945 - Active participation by Springville citizens both on the home front and overseas, in World War II. - Cascade B&O Railroad Bridge guarded against wartime sabotage. 1943 - The Springville War Council recommends for special citation, Mr. and Mrs. Olin Brink, for the faithfulness in performance of duty at the Observation Post on Cattaraugus Street. - Village is having a second water well drilled on North Central Avenue. - Youth Incorporated in founded by Leo Schlade and George Whitehead. 1944 - Mrs. Flora C. Haven of 60 Main Street receives word that her son, Capt. Hugh Haven, had been decorated by the president of Brazil for work he had done in the design of their destroyers. - The local Civil Defense conducts a “Blackout” on the first Sunday of March. 1945 - Prisoners of War serve as laborers at the Springville Canning Company Factory. 1946 - Gray’s Mill on Main Street is destroyed by fire. - Lions Club of Springville is organized on September 27th. - Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is incorporated as a non-profit institution and a Board of Director’s is activated to represent the service area. 1947 - Under the leadership of Dr. Ralph Waite, funds are raised for an addition to Chaffee Hospital. - Springville Airport opens. (Now School Bus Barns) - New Joylan Theatre is completed. - 57 Passengers and Crew of the B&O Railroad are marooned in Springville during the March Blizzard of 1947. 1949 - The G.I. Band under the direction of W.H. Camp is acclaimed the outstanding band in Western New York at the Spring Festival held at Amherst Central School. ~ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ~ 1950 - 1974 1950 - American Legion Post 431 moves to the log cabin on S. Buffalo Street from their previous meeting site over Walters Pharmacy. - A Baltimore and Ohio freight train is wrecked north of the Buffalo Street crossing. - Ground breaking for the new school on Buffalo takes place on April 20th. - Lutherans begin construction of a new church on the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue. - Chaffee Hospital is enlarged with the first addition being made to the original Chaffee homestead. - Albany approves a new sewer system and treatment plant for Springville on December 28th. - Don Blakely and his father George form a partnership in running Wells News Stand. 1951 - Springville Historical Society reorganized as the Concord Historical Society. - Karl (Tom) Kluckhohn of Springville represents Colgate University in the East-West Football Game in San Francisco. - Bob Johnson purchases the Luss Bros. Garage on West Main Street. - G.I. Concert Band is judged the finest in the state at the Music Contest held on May 18th and 19th in Hamburg. 1952 - Springville Sports Boosters is organized. - First Annual Sports Night is held on January 17 at the Lutheran Church. - Springville Moose is dedicating their new building on Buffalo Street on April 27th. - Springville acclaimed as the smallest community in the U.S. to be operating an educational broadcasting station by the Educational Broadcasters meeting in Columbus, Ohio in April. - On May 2, Harry S. Gray of the Springville Roller Mills celebrates his 50th year in the retail feed business. - John J. Ellis and Curtis S. Bates form a law partnership. - Four Springville golfers see a “wolf” near the course on July 13th. - Citizen’s Bank celebrates its 50th anniversary on July 19th. - James Wolf becomes the first local casualty of the Korean War on October 12th. 1953 - Springville Rough Riders assist in rounding up stray cattle in Zoar Valley for owner Mr. Conklin. - Weismantel Brothers sell their furniture business to Witter-Davis. - Concord Historical Society purchases the Bianca Bemet Homestead at the corner of Main and Franklin Streets utilizing funds provided by Mr. And Mrs. Glenn “Pop” Warner. - George Dell opens the Red and White Super Market on Main Street. 1954 - Dr. Donald J. Meechan, Dr. Richard A. Loomis and Dr. Edmund S. Rothchild join in the formation of the Concord Medical Group. - Will Davis retire after 65 years of banking service, first with the Farmers Bank and in later years with the Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company. - Warner Museum and Historical Building is officially dedicated on May 27th. - The Frontier Glove Company opens its plant on North Street on July 8th. - Funeral services are held for Glenn “Pop” Warner at the Weismantel Funeral Home. Burial follows in Maplewood Cemetery. - Community Park is developed on Buffalo Road near Route 219. - $100,000 fire occurs at Robinson Knife works. - $46,565 addition is authorized at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital. - Frank Pitillo bowls a 300 game at the Springville Lanes – the first perfect game ever recorded in the village. 1955 - St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church dedicates its new building on Sunday October 9th. - Springville Masons celebrates their Centennial year. - World War I veterans organize as the “Springville Barracks”( branch of the National Work War I organization) - Cascade Rebekah Lodge celebrates its 50th birthday. - The American Red Cross for exceptional service honors two Springville men, Leon J. Oyer and Webster M. Krise. - Warren Smerczak wins the senior men’s tennis championship for the third consecutive time by defeating George Gundlach. - Evangelist Clarence Shrier holds a tent meeting at the Springville airport. - Veterinarian David D Dygert opens an office on Vaughn Street. 1956 - Allen Folts sells Walter Pharmacy to George Welch in January. - Anthony Frelock catches a 7 lb. Brown trout measuring 27” in Cattaraugus Creek on April 23. - Alan Manchester wins first place in the Western New York FFA Speaking contest held in the high school on April 11th. - G.I. varsity baseball team clinches the league championship with its 8 – 7 victory over Holland. - Mike Parco, Springville Country Club Professional, is the only Buffalo District golfer to earn a berth in the National Open. - Charles Feldman opens Charlie’s Delicatessen in July. - Snowstorm strands numerous motorists on Thanksgiving Day – School bus is used to help in the rescue operation. - Edwin Kuhn opens his new Rexall Drug Store. - Ron Farner assumes management of the Mobil Gas Station on Franklin Street. 1957 - David L. Carlstrom is the first from the Springville area to attend the Air Force Academy. -------- He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1961 and went on to have a long career in the Air Force, retiring as a colonel in 1985 while stationed in Griffiss AFB in Rome, N.Y. It was somewhat fitting that he returned to upstate New York to live after leaving a week after high school graduation in 1957 to go to basic training. He ended up moving to Syracuse, NY, after that where he lived until the end of 1994. However, in 1995 he moved to the Boston, MA area. - Lions Club brings the Mills Brothers Circus to Springville on July 23rd. - Guy K. Protector, owned and driven by Dewitt Dygert of Springville, sets a world record of 2:01 for aged trotting stallions on a one half mile track at Saratogo on July 17th. - John Hunchar purchases Wells News from the Blakelys on August 1st. - A Lucy Bensley Day is held in September to honor her for 54 years of service to the community. - Henry Joslin, G.I. senior, is chosen as a High School All-American in football by the Wigwam Wisemen of America. - The new elementary school is dedicated on North and Newman Streets on November 10th. 1958 - Winsmith Inc. produces speed reducers to be used in construction of Atlas and Titan missiles. - Bill an Marge Little purchase the Winship Pharmacy from Robert Winship in November. - Youth Incorporated begins operating out of their new Youth Center at the Smith House on Buffalo St. - Sprigville Jaycess are officially chartered on May 8th. Stanley Krezmien is elected as the first president. - Dash Dairy opens their new dairy bar in the old M&M building on Main Street. - Telephone Company erects a new building on West Main Street. - Nu-Way Market commences operations in its new building on Mechanic Street. - John Graff completes 50 years as a businessman in Springville. - Jay Bicknell wins his second straight Springville Junior Tennis Championship. - Methodists perform a Consecration Service for their new building on November 9th. 1959 - “Grampa” Harold Olmsted, Springville artist exhibits at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in April. - New York Telephone completes change over pf Springville to dial service on January 18th. - Jay Ingerson of Springville is selected to attend the 3rd annual “National Pop Warner Scholars Pilgrimage to Independence Hall” from June 20-27. This honor is presented to those considered to be the best young athletes in the United States. - Thomas John Gentner is the 5000th baby to be born at Chaffee Hospital. - Roswell Park Memorial Institute conducts an open house at its Springville facility to show its new Biological Research Laboratory. - Springville Manufacturing moves into a larger building located on North Street. 1960 - 200 people stranded in the village by a snowstorm on February 25th. - Lanny Brown of Springville appears in the first live concert ever televised directly from the stage of the famous Eastman Theater in Rochester. - Springville Jaycees sponsor their first Children’s Easter Egg Hunt at Fiddler’s Green and the Wading Pool Parks. - Springville Jayncees receive their charter and Mrs. Dyar Haddad is elected first president. - New phone extension LY 2 is established in the village. - Community Pool operated by Youth Inc. is opened on August 20th. - The League for the Handicapped is organized under the leadership of Betty Cooke on August 11th. - Chaffee Hospital holds Open House on November 27th to exhibit the new maternity, kitchen, dining, lab, x-ray and EKG facilities. 1961 - Springville area ministers organize a Ministerium with Rev. S. Berney as president. - The Springville Harness Horsemen hosted the Western New York organizations meeting in March. - Harvey Cole becomes the new manager of the Speedimat Laundry of Buffalo Street. - Springville Municipal Electric Department begins receiving New York State Power Authority electrical energy on May 24th. - William Bensley is elected president of the New York State Farm Bureau Federation on November 15th. 1962 - The Town of Concord celebrates its Sesquicentennial. - Fiddler’s Green Manor Nursing Home begins operations in its new Main Street facility. - Springville Manufacturing completes an addition of 1500 sq. feet to its North Street plant. - Martin Peterson sells his machine shop to a corporation formed by Arthur A. Reed on March 3rd. - June 23rd marks the beginning of nationwide direct dialing in Springville. - J. Wilson Bement commemorates his 53rd year in business on Main Street. - Don Champ, a member of the Springville Rough Riders, was acclaimed Grand Champion at both the Little Valley and West Valley Horse Show Competitions. - Lucy Bensley retires in October as head librarian of the Springville Library after nearly 60 years of service. 1963 - Dr. Sheridan C. Waite opens a dental office in the Waite Building in January. - January 16th marks the selection of Thomas Krezmien as Manzano Air Force Base Athlete of 1962. - The Springville Masons honors Ira Williams and Omar Georgia for 60 years of service. - Chaffee Hospital records the birth of triplets to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sullivan of Springville. - Universal Match Corporation acquires Winsmith Inc.. - Kiwanis Club Sponsors Springville’s first Pageant of Bands on May 25th. - Violent winds on May 10th topple trees, down power lines and damage roofs and auto. - Governor Rockfeller participates in groundbreaking ceremonies at the Nuclear Service Center on June 13th. - Mr. And Mrs. Delotus Babcock celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on May 30th. 1964 - Dr. Leonell Strong leaves the Roswell Park Labs in springville for a new position with the Salk Research Center in California in April. - Thomas J. Kenney retires as Village Clerk after nearly 30 years of service. - Drs. Roland Whitehead and Richard Boese open their Springville Animal Hospital on Waverly Street. - Jeff Kearns of Springville hitchhikes to California in less than three days. - The Springville Masons presents Dr. Ralph B. Waite the 70-Year Pin in July. - Jack Yellen, Springville songwriter, appears on Channel 7’s “Dialogue” program on July 18th. - Dyar Haddad purchases Miller-Frank Insurance Agency on August 1st. - Golf professional Ange Alberico of Springville and his partner win the George McLean Memorial Pro-Pro Invitational at Endicott. - Richard White bowls the first 700 series ever recorded in the village when he rolled games of 198, 245 and 269 for a total of 712 while at Concord Lanes. - George Schuster is called to Reno, Nevada on March 5th to supervise reconstruction of the Thomas Flyer he helped drive in the 1908 Round the World Race. - Smith & Smith Inc. on Franklin Street, manufacturers of amusement rides for forty years, is sold to the Acme Diamond Casting Corporation. - Walter G. Mason buts the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Store at 25 East Main. - Art Benson purchases Lindstrom-Schrader Ford Agency on October 5. - St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on East Main Street is completed and dedicated on September 20th. 1965 - With the completion of the new addition, the high school is officially dedicated on March 7th. - Carol Faye Goodson of G.I. earns second place in the New York State Betty Crocker “Homemaker of Tomorrow” contest. - G.I. graduates depart for Peace Corps Volunteer service: James Brucker to Columbia and Ronald Neureuther to Nigeria. - First annual “Pop” Warner Day held on October 16th. - Monday Club commemorates its 75 anniversary. - Springville has the first telecommunication system to send radioactivity data directly to Albany. - Official opening of the Springville Country Club’s 18 hole golf course and new clubhouse occurs on August 12th. 1966 - Nuclear Fuel Service begins processing nuclear wastes at its West Valley facility. - Presbyterian Church celebrates its Sesquicentennial. - January 31 marks the worst snowstorm to hit Springville in many years – 6 to 9 feet drifts in the village. - The Buffalo Harvard Club honors artist Harold L. Olmstead of Main Street, Springville as their “Man of the Year” - Winsmith completes $1,000,000 expansion in April. - Maurice Simon, Springville’s oldest businessman, sells his interest to his son, Robert and retires from Simon Bros, after 62 years of service. - Louis J. Reed sells his insurance agency to Ellis Brothers in August. - Miss Eleanor Gale of G.I. is nominated for the National Teacher of the Year Award. - Clem Heim wins the Class C State Trap Championship at the tournament held in Bridgeport, N.Y. 1967 - G.I. attracts 2,500 for the first night football game on September 16th. - William E. Bensley of Springville is elected to the New York State Constitutional Convention. - The Lowe Family marks its Centennial Year of publishing the Springville Journal. - Ground breaking is held for the new addition to Chaffee Hospital. - Karl Godart is honored for more than 20 years of service to our community. - Robinson Knife Company knives are displayed in Moscow as part of an Industrial Design U.S.A. Exhibit coordinated by the U.S. Information Service. - Mayor Paul Frank is elected President of the Erie County Village Officials Association in April. - David Gray of Springville receives the Air Medal for heroism in combat while serving in Vietnam. - Clifford E. Hughes is elected Chairman of the New York State Teachers Association Council in June. - Rev. Norman Douglas, of the Methodist Church, has his mystery story “ The Washing Machine” published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine in September. - Mr. And Mrs. Lee Edwards establishes the first annual Springville Treasure Hunt. 1968 - The electric scoreboard is erected at Pop Warner Field. - Buffalo Evening News Athlete of the Year Award for 1967-1968 is presented to Bruce and Brian Huckle. - Bob Johnson participates in the Bob Hope Desert Classic as a guest of the Chrysler Corporation. - Lucy Bensley passes away on January 15th. - G.I. wins another Division II basketball championship. - Bomb hoax closes the high school on April 1st. - G.I. High School establishes a state record when all three of its music organizations (band, orchestra and chorus) achieved an A VI rating at the New York State Music Association Contest Festival held on May 10-11th - Marine Midland Bank dedicates its new bank on North Buffalo Street and donates the old bank building to the village. - Benjamin Minowitz retires after 37 years in the retail business. 1969 - Eric Gnannm G.I. senior, wins first place in the quarterfinals of the American Legion Oratorical Contest held at John F Kennedy High School on January 9th. - Gerry Knapp ties for first place in his decision of the Turkey Slalom Skiing Races at Vail, Colorado. - The Jan-Feb. issue of Steelways magazine refers to one of the inventors of barbed wire, Isaac Elwood, who was born in Springville. - The Erie County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs chooses Webb Coons of Springville “Sportman of the Year”. - Marine John M. Ellis becomes Springville’s first fatality of the Vietnam War. - James F. Murray retires as President of Winsmith Inc. - “Old” G.I. is closed – double sessions to start in 1970. - Toll free dialing for the Buffalo Metropolitan area commences in Springville on September 21st. 1970 - Governor Rockefeller appoints William E. Bensley Executive Director of the New York State Agriculture Resources Commission. - G.I. ‘s High School Orchestra performs at the National Music Educator’s Conference in Chicago on March 8th. - Dennis Heinz is Springville’s second causality of the Vietnam War. - Japanese representatives of the Seiki-Kogyosho Ltd., a gear-motor and speed reducer manufacturer, observe operations at Winsmith. - Members of the Rotary Foundation Group Exchange from District 104, England visits the Springville Rotary Club in May. - Ron Hess of the G.I. track team sets a new ECIC record in the 880 with a time of 1:58:1. - Springville archers Bob Fiedler, son Paul Fiedler, and Pete Kader captures 8 medals at the National Field Archery Association Tournament in Illinois. - Springville Girl Scouts celebrate their 50th anniversary. - The Springville Athletic Scholarship Committee is founded. 1971 - George Schuster Sr. celebrates his 98th birthday on February 4th. - The Enser family acquires the ownership of the Leland House. - The village erects Newman Street water tower. - Erie County celebrates its sesquicentennial. - Lutheran Church celebrates its 100th anniversary. - Conrad Meinecke, ex-scout official, dies at 87. - E. Richard Lowe receives the New York Press Golden Plaque Award for half century of service. - League for the Handicapped moves to larger facilities at the Methodist Church. - Tornado hits the village on August 22nd. 1972 - Dance marathon is held at the town hall – winner goes 3,237 minutes. - Artist Harold Olmstead passes away on March 19 at age 85. - Ames Plaza opens on October 12th. - G.I. wins the Section VI, Division 8 football championship. - The Lavender Lantern on Mechanic Street opens for business in November. - Gordon J. Salzler is elected a Director of the Retail Lumbermens Association in January. - Charles Whitmer and Robert Schlageter win the Inter-State Teachers Double Bowling Championship at the tournament held in June. - William J. Weismantel of the Springville Kiwanis is chosen Lt. Governor of the Niagara Frontier East Division of Kiwanis International for 1972-1973. - Rick Rudolph of G.I. wins the Billy Kelly Award for Division IV as the outstanding athlete. - Jud Strunk is featured in the Andy Williams Road Show on its current tour through the southern states. 1973 - Dyar “Pat” Haddad is named to the Insurance Salesmen Magazine’s 51st All-Star National Life Insurance Honor Roll. Pat was sponsored by the Thomas Jefferson Insurance Company - after two years of personal production over the million dollar figure. - Mahl Brothers complete their new Auto Care Center on Rt 219. - Acme Market opens at Ames Plaza - G.I. football teams are ranked 2nd in the state after completing its second straight unbeaten season. - St. Aloysius Church buys “Old G.I.” in March and the building is razed in April. - Zoar Motel Park Begins operations on May 6th. - Dr. Reza Ghaffari opens his new Springville Health Care Center. - Dr. Gerald Daigler starts his pediatrics practice in the village in July. - Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company erects its new bank on Mechanic Street. 1974 - The area is saddened by the death of Msgr. Herman J. Zimmerman on March 15th. He had served as pastor of St. Aloysius Roamn Catholic Church for many years. - The old M & T Bank at the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets is demolished in late March to make way for a new mini-park. - The Springville Field and Stream wins the Club of the Year Award for 1973 at the annual banquet of the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen Clubs in February. - Jennie B. Richmond Chaffee Nursing Home is completed and begins admitting patients. - Firemen dedicate a memorial marker at the Fire Hall to all former members of the department. - G.I. varsity football team finishes 7-0-1 for a total record of 23-0-1 for three seasons. - A windstorm in April takes the roof off of the Zoar Motel. ~ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ~ 1975 - 1999 1975 - G.I. contingent of 23 basketball shooters captures first place in the Erie County shoot for Youth on February 8th. - Christine Weidinger, one-time Springville resident, appears in das Rheingold as a member of the Metropolitan Opera of New York City. - Larry Wegner, formerly of Springville, and John R. Andrews of 106 West Main Street participate in the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, - Elizabeth Brown, G.I. orchestra director, is elected president of the New York State School Music Association. - The Springville Masonic Lodge presents William Schaper with a 50-Year Service award. - Construction begins on Shuttleworth Park located on the site once occupied by the MillPond behind the stores. - Christopher Stone Chapter of the DAR organized on October 17th. - G.I. Griffins clinch their fourth straight football championship with their 35-0 victory over Pioneer. 1976 - The Chamber of Commerce plants Linden trees in the business district. - Bandstand in Fiddler’s Green Park is replaced with a new gazebo in May. - Springville celebrates the Bicentennial of the United States. - Plans are finalized for the construction of Colonial Park Apartments beginning in the spring of 1977. - New York State Mastitis Control Laboratory opens at Roswell Park Labs in the village. - New Middle School on Newman Street opens on September 8th. - Nuclear Fuel Services announces it decision to suspend operations in the nuclear reprocessing field. - Train derailment occurs near Eaton Street in October. 1977 - Blizzard of ’77 hits the area: 20’ drifts near Springville. - Cindy Shea captures the first place in the State Regional Bowling Finals in the Girls 15 and under division on March 13th. - The Cattaraugus District of the Boy Scouts of America presents Albert Coia Sr. the highest honor that an adult scouter may receive – District Award of Merit – in April. - Mezzo-soprano Letty Snethen, a member of the Festival Singers of Canada presents a benefit concert for the Chaffee Hospital in the high school auditirium on June 4th. - Jill Kotvis serves a 5-month internship as a research assistant for Congressman Jack Kemp. - James Oatman purchases the Smith Funeral Home and the Weismantel Funeral Home in September. - Tim Decker, of Springville, is named Golf Professional at the Casenovia Golf Club near Syracuse. 1978 - New Highway garage is built on Nason Blvd. With facilities for servicing all village vehicles. - $1,8000,000 expansion begins at the high school. - Miss Sharon Odell is selected as a finalist in the New York National Teenager Pageant in Corning on May 5-7th. - G.I. griffins again go undefeated in football and earn the number 2 ranking in the state. - Victor Manning serves as President of the Southwestern New York Association of Professional Photographers. - Ray and Dave Lipka win the Pierce-Arrow Society’s Vanderveer Trophy for their automobile restoration. - Gordon Rouse, a member of the Springville Fire Department for over 57 years, is honored by this organization at a dinner on June 19th. - Bill Weismantel opens the Concord Coachlight Inne on Main Street. - Governor Carey attends the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Route 219. - First Annual Springville March of Dimes Superwalk is held on May 6th. - St. Aloysius Catholic Church celebrates its 125th anniversary and dedicates its new Parish Hall on September 17th. - Historical marker is dedicated at the Fire Hall to commemorate the centennial of the arrival of the first train at Springville. (Springville-Sardinia Railroad) - The Lutheran Church presents Richard McDonald with the Lamb Award for his service to youth. - Charles E. “Ike” Krezmien assumes owner-ship of Walter’s Pharmacy from George Welch a partner since 1970. 1979 - New Village skating rink opens at the tennis courts on Central Avenue. - Springville area is hit by severe ice storm in February causing trees and power lines to collapse. - Springville Field and Stream Archery Club wins the Western New York Archery Association Championship. - Open House is held for the recently completed Community Village Apartments located on colonial Drive. - First annual Lion’s regatta is held on Cattarugus Creek on June 10th. - Charity Engel Cheiky, formerly of Springville is now serving as president of the Ohio Scientific Company, a producer of over 350 electronic items. - A group of English Boys and Girl Scouts from the Borough of Epsom and Ewell visits Springville on August 13th as the guest of Explorer Post 524. - Area residents gather to honor Dr. Edmund Rothschild at a retirement dinner in August. 1980 - Westinghouse and its subsidiary, West Valley Nuclear Services, commence clean-up operations at the West Valley site. - Ken Barie is elected President of the Supervisors and County Legislators Association for the State of New York. - Calico and Moms clubs honor Springville’s “Penny Man” Rich Seider at an open house held at the fire hall on March 30th. - Jerry King catches a 9 lb 8 oz rainbow trout on April 1st in Eelpot creek to win first place in the Naples Lions Club Trout Derby. - Mayor Paul F Frank resigns his village position to assume his new post as Town Justice, Trustee J. James Neff is named mayor. - Radio Shack opens their new store in Ames Plaza in July. - John Hunchar sells Johnny’s News to Robert Parsons - Springville Academy – Griffith Institute, the first high school in Erie County, marks its 150th anniversary. - Howard Simon retires from Simon Brothers. - Markers are installed at the Eaton Street entrance to the high school to officially designate it as “ Ingerson Drive” in honor of Robert “Coach” Ingerson who passed away in October 1978. - Tony Baker of G.I. wins the Connally Cup as the best high school football player in Western New York. Tony is the first from our school to ever sin this award. - G.I. completes an undefeated football season with its 33 – 6 romp over Depew in Rich Stadium. 1981 - The National Club Football Association for 1980 names Alan DeLisle an All American. - A $150,000 fire at Lamb and Webster destroys the repair shop, 18 tractors and 4 trucks. - Erie County Sheriff’s Department establishes a substation at the former Springville Police Department Headquarters on Franklin Street. - Governor Hugh Carey officially opens the 219 Expressway on August 14th. - The first flight of the Mercy Helicopter takes place to Chaffee Hospital from Children’s Hospital on September 27th. - Jud Strunk – songwriter, performer, humorist, and poet is killed in airplane crash in September. - Rev. Andrew O’ Connor retires after 31 years as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. 1982 - Recognition Dinner is held on January 23 to honor Grace E. Gentner’s retirement from a long, dedicated service to the Town of Concord. - Fred and Caroline Beatty bring McDonald’s to Springville. - Springville Elementary School wins first place in the Western New York Competition for Olympics of the Mind at the Orchard Park Middle School on March 17th. In May, they competed in the World Championships and were judged the “most creative” team participation. - May 21st and 22nd mark the 20th annual Kiwanis Pageant of Bands. - The Springville Jaycees as the “Keyman of the Decade” honors Richard Wendle. - Thomas M. Reynolds becomes Erie County Legislator for the thirteenth district. - Norm and Marcia Dell purchase the Wallace building to house Countryside TV, Sales and Service since 1964. - Ralph Parsons of Child Street retires after 50 years of Scouting. - The Board of Directors of Chaffee Hospital honors Marie Seider for her 32 years of service as Recording Secretary of the Board. - Springville Fire Department commemorates its 100th anniversary with a birthday party on August 15th. - The Springville Journal marks 115 years of publication (1867-1982) - Allen Telaak, of Hamburg, bowls the first 300 game ever at the Concord lanes. - Marion Burns sells the Joylan theatre to Mr and Mrs Kenneth Killingbeck. - St. Aloysius School celebrates its 100th anniversary. 1983 - The Industrial Park on Waverly Street is officially dedicated. - The North Street electric sub-station is completed. - The January issue of “New York Alive” magazine features an article on the Springville Auction. - High School and elementary school teams both place first in the Olympics of the Mind competition held at West Seneca on March 12th. - G.I. High School Orchestra tours Philadelphia from May 26-29th and presents a concert at the Independence Historical Park. - Andrea Roncska of Springville is the top winner in the New York State Class IV Gymnastics Championship Meet in the 15 and over division. - Mr. P’s and the Good Samaritan Shop located in the F Schweizer Building are destroyed by fire on July 2. - Springville Rotary commemorates its 50th anniversary on September 26th - First spent (used) fuel assemblies are returned to the utilities as the cleanup of former Nuclear Fuel Services begins. 1984 - Snow white-outs on March 11 results in traffic accidents involving 12 separate vehicles on Rt. 219 near the Zoar Motel - The Springville Skiing Teams, captures the high school ski racing series championship at Kissing Bridge over 12 other teams. - The Springville Travelers Motorcycle Club marks its 50th anniversary. - Fiddler’s Green Camping Group announce Vera and Dick Randle as recipients of the “Field Directors of the Year “ Award. - April 11th - SPRINGVILLE MARKS ITS 150TH BIRTHDAY. I - History form 1984-2011 is pending. - Information on the Town of Concord's Bicentennial will be coming soon! ~ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ~   © 2009 Town of Concord NY Historical Society All content on this site is property of The Concord NY Historical Society No Content may be used without the permission the Historical Society