Thompson, B. Delores.  "Restoring a Landmark," Jamestown (NY) Post-Journal, 21 March 1987.
        The Post-Journal website:  http://post-journal.com/

COMING:  NEW HISTORICAL MARKERS

FOR JAMESTOWN

By B. Delores Thompson

     For most of Jamestown's residents, the 1986 centennial celebration ended some time ago.  Six of them, however, continue to meet every Wednesday morning in Mayor Carlson's conference room.

     Beginning in June 1986, they have spent countless hours seeking out the high points of Jamestown's history--those sites, events or people that stand head and shoulders above everything and everybody else in the development of Jamestown as a city.  It has not been an easy task.  Nevertheless, the committee has arrived, without coming to blows, at 12 affirmative decisions.  Twelve additional historical sites have been selected to add to the 25 selected by the Centennial Commission of 1927 (Jamestown's incorporation as a village) and by the New York State Education Department during the 1930s.

     The project began to take shape in my mind several years ago when I surveyed the existing markers for the state education department.  Jamestown's 100th birthday as a city provided the excuse to undertake the project in earnest.  It needed a proper committee, a group of experts who were knowledgeable about different aspects of the area's history.  Assembling this group was the easiest part of the project:  Jennie Vimmerstedt, long-time reporter for The Post-Journal and leading citizen in many activities; Pauline MarLette, retired Charles Street and Fletcher principal and active in many community organizations; Daniel F. Lincoln, former Jamestown city historian, Fenton Historical Society curator and county legislator; and Harold G. Griffith, whose work in the advertising business has brought him more in touch with Jamestown's history than almost anyone else in town.  Several weeks after the discussions began, Norman P. Carlson, formerly town of Busti historian, was invited to join the group, lending expertise on the French and Indian aspects of our history.

     One former member of the original committee, Cornell E. Seaburg, died in August.  His enthusiasm for the project had been an inspiration to everyone.

     Mayor Steven B. Carlson and Russell E. Dietrick, Jr., director of parks, recreation and conservation, are ex officio members of this committee.

     In making its selections, the committee weighed carefully numerous suggestions.  The 12 final selections are, the committee believes, irrefutably vital in the city's history.  Along the way the committee has met and dealt with missing information, misinformation and conflicting information.  We have used our best collective judgment and are content to accept any criticism for the decisions we made.  

     The wording used for each description is that which is to appear on the marker.  The locations of the signs are indicated on the maps below.

THE NEW MARKERS

     The committee is unanimous in its belief that recognition should be given to the French and to the Indians who knew Chautauqua County and Jamestown before they were settled in 1801 and 1810 respectively.  Thus, two new markers honor this aspect of our heritage:

     DE LONGUEUIL EXPEDITION --Baron de Longueuil in 1739 led a force of soldiers and Indians from Montreal down the Chadakoin to the Mississippi.  The expedition engineer, Chaussegros de Lery, made the first professional map of Chautauqua Lake, the first use of the word Chautauqua.

     INDIAN CAMP -- Part of the Cornplanter band of Seneca Indians camped on this hillside and adjoining river terrace in the period between the Indians' sale of their land in 1797 and their final retreat to the reservation in the 1830s.

___   ___   ___

     Also from this period, the missing marker for the  Celoron expedition is being replaced with minor changes in the original wording.

     CELORON EXPEDITION -- Capt. Pierre Joseph Celoron de Blainville in 1794 with a force of 213 soldiers and Indians traveled down Chautauqua Lake and the Chadakoin River to the Allegheny and Ohio rivers, renewing the French claim to the watershed.

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     Three of the new markers recognize early and important sites or events in Jamestown's history:

     FIRST CONGREGATION -- First Congregational Church, organized June 16, 1816, Jamestown's first religious society, met at Main and Fifth streets, where a church built in 1829 served until this Gothic edifice was erected in 1869.  This is the oldest church building in Jamestown.

     DEXTERVILLE TAVERN -- Built in 1826 by Darius and John Dexter as a stage coach stop on the Buffalo route leading south to Pittsburgh, this is the oldest building standing in its original location in Jamestown.

     STEAMBOAT LANDING -- From here beginning in 1828, 15 two- and three-decked steamboats plied the waters of Chautauqua Lake, carrying up to a quarter million passengers in a single season to hotel docks and picnic and entertainment sites.

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     Missing  markers from this era being replaced with minor word changes are:

     KEELBOAT LANDING -- Here on the banks of the Outlet in pioneer days was the keelboat landing.  Long, shallow draft boats, propelled by poles, brought cargoes from Pittsburgh and farther south up the Allegheny River to this forest-bound village.

     KEYES' CARPENTER SHOP -- Here in 1816, Royal Keyes, cabinet maker, erected a small carpenter shop.  In its second story, he made simple articles of furniture for the pioneer community.  From this small beginning grew the great furniture industry of Jamestown.

     FIRST WOOLEN MILL -- Here in 1816, Daniel Hazeltine built Jamestown's first woolen mill.  He processed raw wool and manufactured finished cloth for 20 years at this site.  Also, he dyed and finished on shares cloth woven on handlooms by pioneer women.

(two maps showing locations for markers)

See NEW MARKERS,  page 4

NEW MARKERS HONOR LEADING CITIZENS

continued from page 3

     QUAKER SCHOOL -- From 1833 to 1843 on this site Mary E. Osborne, a young Quaker widow, conducted a boarding school for young ladies.

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     Another missing marker which is dated a bit later is:

     FIRST TRAIN -- The first train arrived in Jamestown Aug. 25, 1861, over the newly laid rails of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, culminating a 29-year effort to assure Jamestown's position in the national transportation network.

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     The remaining new markers date from the 1860s  and note people, events,  and sites that have played a major role in Jamestown's development from the advent of the railroad to the present time.  These cover the fields of industry and commerce, education, politics, community services, and recreation and entertainment.

     BROOKLYN SQUARE  -- Called Brooklyn Square since the 1860s, this area had been an industrial and commercial center since 1848.

     (photo of  Humphrey House in Brooklyn Square)  

     BROADHEAD ENTERPRISES -- Here was the home of William Broadhead, industrial pioneer, founder in 1875 of  Broadhead Worsted Mills.  His sons, Almet N. and Sheldon B., continued the textile operations, meanwhile developing city and regional trolley and steamboat lines, amusement parks, commercial rose gardens and brick manufacturing.

ALLEN'S OPERA HOUSE

1881 -- Allen's Opera House

1898 -- Samuels Opera House

1919 -- Shea's Opera House/Theater

1968 -- Little Theatre of Jamestown

     AMERICAN ARISTOTYPE COMPANY -- An ornate brick building here was the office of the  American Aristotype Company, founded in 1889.  Its factories manufactured a fine early collodion paper which helped revolutionize the photographic industry.  The operation was later acquired by Eastman Kodak Company.

     (photo of American Aristotype)

     GOKEY FIRE -- A fire here in March 1910, fought by volunteers, took the lives of two fireman and destroyed the Gokey Shoe Company, the Gokey Building and the Shearman House across Third Street.  It led to a paid city fire department.

     (photo of Gokey fire)

SAMUEL A. CARLSON

1868 - 1961

1893 - 1895 Alderman

1895 - 1904 Board of Public Works

1908 - 1927

1929 - 1933 Mayor

1935 - 1937

1940 - 1951 Board of Public Utilities

     "A steadfast steward of municipal affairs."  Robert H. Jackson, Justice, United States Supreme Court

     FIRST CAMPUS OF JAMESTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE -- Here was the home of Fletcher Goodwill which became the first campus of Jamestown Community College, the first in the United States, approved by New York State February 7, 1950.

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     With this portion of its commitment completed, the committee is now pursuing the more detailed text for a pamphlet, which will serve as a driving-walking tour guide of all 37 historical sites.

10/31/2003