Olean Then and Now

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Dear Reader, From time to time it is important to acknowledge and appreciate the history of our communitiy to give us perspective of the world that we live in today. Our history can humble us. Our history can make us long for “the good ol’ days” or make us realize how lucky and fortunate we are. Each person who picks up this piece will have a different reaction, based on their own perspective, experiences, and life. That is the beauty of history, we take from it what we want, and hopefully learn from it. This publication is by no means meant to be a full chronological account of the history of the Olean area. Rather, it is meant ald r to serve as a glimpse, small flashbacks to various times over the course of our past. It is my e sH ime T . hope that the stories, articles and photographs on the following pages will bring back old ve lean ecti 16 O rsp rved. e memories and help strike new conversations.

P ©20 e es cal tori ights r s i y H I hope and anticipate that you will enjoy reading this special publication. lr db Now 6 Al uce e n & v. 201 rod of th e p Sincerely, h e T No er ion ere ay b ermiss ein w ns m r Chelsea Place n o p s he zati atio ten blic t writ photo organi ant for u p Special Sections Manager d u f e an m no tho this and

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P.S. I would like to extend a special thank you to everyone in the community who stopped into my office to share their photos and stories, I thouroughly enjoyed our conversations and the perspective you were able to provide me.

PUBLISHER: JIM BONN EXECUTIVE GROUP EDITOR: JIM ECKSTROM ADVERTISING MANAGER: JUSTIN PARKES CIRCULATION MANAGER: NICHOLE FINNERTY

ON THE COVER Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa: 1900 Ashford School. Notice the flag with 46 stars.

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

EDUCATION

By TOM DINKI

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias, NY Circa 1920• Delevan High School Graduation

lean City historian Dave Deckman looked down at a black-and-white, early 20th century photograph of about a dozen young boys dressed in kepis and holding toy rifles outside the now closed Boardmanville Elementary School.

The boys were probably learning about the American Civil War that had taken place just 40 or so years before, Deckman theorized. Because the boys were so young, their teacher had more than likely dressed them in uniforms and given them toy rifles for a recreation and photo to keep the boys interested in learning about the war.

“That was the only war they knew,” said Deckman, adding that World War I was just on the horizon at that time.

Along with our idea of war, education has changed quite a bit since the beginning of the 20th century. From curriculum to discipline to technology to the amount of students in the

O

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

classroom, few aspects of education have remained the same over the decades. Olean has certainly been no stranger to those changes — with elementary school closings and mergers, new middle and high school buildings and even a high school shooting that was one of the first of its kind in the U.S. Olean City School District officials both past and present say there’s been both improvements and setbacks to education over the years. On one hand technology has given teachers and students information at their fingertips, and students are graduating high school with dozens of college credits; on the other hand, it may be more difficult to discipline and set a student on the right path, and interferences from both the state and federal government have never been higher.

Yet they can agree some things have always stayed the same — like school traditions and the No. 1 goal of setting up students for success.

LOUIS NICOL SERVED AS Olean High School principal from the early ’70s to his retirement in the early ’90s. In his Front Street home he keeps some remnants to remember those days. He has lists of things like all the OHS principals, photographs and even something from well before his time: the program for the original 1937 dedication ceremony of OHS’s then new and current building. He said he’s glad he kept it all.

An OHS graduate himself, Nicol can remember the days the district had about 13 schools at its peak in the 1950s, as well as his days as principal when he oversaw a building of 1,200 students.

“Now they’re lucky they get 700 kids,” Nicol said. OHS had 786 students last school year, according to the New York State Education Department.

Throughout the years as the middle school formed, the population dwindled and THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

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EDUCATION people became more mobile, elementary schools like Boardmanville and North Hill closed. The district is only four buildings now — the high school, middle school and Washington West and East View elementary schools.

Current OCSD Superintendent Dr. Colleen Taggerty was hired in 2008 and never experienced running a district with double-digit buildings. She can say however that running a smaller district allows a superintendent to get to know his or her schools on a more personalized level.

In fact, both Taggerty and Nicol say there both advantages and disadvantages to the way education is now.

THE INTERNET has given students easy access to information. It’s also expanded what teachers can do in the classroom.

“There’s so much more information at the fingertips of all of us that we can learn about the past and we can get the most updated info that’s happened right now,” Taggerty said.

“So we can inform ourselves as educators and then inform students what's going on in the world, as we’re living it.”

Nicol, although he retired before every student had a cell phone and used the internet, said technology can aid students’ education and that schools are holding their students back if they don’t give them technology in the classroom.

Taggerty does however feel that technology can have its disadvantages, and educators are still trying to figure how to educate kids

4 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1904 Delevan High School

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1937 Grades 1-3 at Transfiguration Parochial School on Walnut St. in Olean.

Photo courtesy of: Louis Nicol Circa 1987 (From left) Olean City School District principals Joe Mahar, Jon Baker and Fred Nichols, Nick Patrone, school principals George Pancio, Lou Nicol, Doris Norton, Fred Brace, Larry Miller and John Aceti.

Photo courtesy of: Louis Nicol Circa 1937 Olean High School on the opening day of its new building.

Photo submitted by: Theresa DiPietro Circa 1930 Miss Klink's kindergarten class at School 6 located at 10th and Reed St. in Olean learned about occupations.

Photo submitted by: Sylvia Baer Circa 2011 50th Class Reunion of the 1961 graduation class of Archbishop Walsh High School. It was the first class to graduate from the school.

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

EDUCATION with it in the best way.

“We need to learn to understand a little bit better in terms of the social ills that comes along with it,” she said. “We need to help those families help us to educate the children on that so it doesn’t bring negatives on them without them even realizing it.”

One of those negatives is social media and cell phones in school. Nicol believes school Photo courtesy of: Olean City School District should “clamp down” more on students using Circa 1916 Former Olean High School building. them in school. If he taught today, he would have students put their phones in a basket at the front of the class unless he had a way for them to use the phones educationally.

ANOTHER MAJOR CHANGE to school has been security. Violence in schools and potential threats have made all schools shore up their security measures. OSCD is even considering installing the Rapid Responder program to insure its schools’ safety and emergency preparedness.

“Now we have to manage schools very, Photo submitted by: Darrin Cornell, Wellsville very differently, whereas in the past it could Circa 1935 Edwin M. (Darrin) Cornell with students at be more open door: ‘Come on in, come in and Oswayo School in Oswayo, PA. visit, be a part of our school,’” Taggerty said.

“And now we have security processes we have to put in place to ensure the safety of students and staff.”

There weren’t nearly as many as regulations when Nicol served as principal. Since there weren’t procedures, it was often up to him and other administrators what to do when the fire alarms went off and even during Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias bomb threats. It was often just a student pullCirca 1914 East Otto High School

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

Photo submitted by: Theresa DiPietro Circa 1930 Miss Klink's kindergarten class at Schook Six located at 10th and Reed St in Olean learned about Native American history.

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1968 Mrs. Louise Budaj’s kindergarten class at Transfiguration Parochial School in Olean with Principal Sister Valerian.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1910 Chart Class at Little Valley High School

THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

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EDUCATION

ing a prank to get out of school.

“Usually they gave us a time, like, ‘It’s going to go off at 9 o'clock,’” he said. “We’d look around, check around and say, ‘We going to take a chance or are we not going to take chance?’ Well yeah let's not react to it.’ So we wouldn’t say anything, 9 o'clock would go by and nothing happened. That happened several Photo courtesy of: Portville Historical and Preservation Society times. Sometimes we didn’t take the chance Circa 1907 (and) we emptied out. Sometimes the police Portville High School Senior Class. The principal was Professor Mabon. would bring in a dog around the school.”

He remembers things like bomb threats and sometimes even riots being a regular occurrence during the nation’s period of unrest around the time of the Vietnam War. “You had all the riots at the college areas, especially in California. It sort of started to come down ... into my area here,” Nicol said.

“But that was a tough time. As I look back, it wasn’t an easy time to be principal.”

Of course, Nicol’s hardest time as principal came in 1974, a when a student shot and killed Photo submitted by: Joreen Cornell, Olean Circa 1939 three people and injured another 11 from the Students of the one room school house, Portville, NY high school's third-floor windows.

No students were in the building due to it being winter break, however Nicol and several administrators and staff were. Nicol remembers leaving the school to run an errand and returning during the firing. Instead of driving the way he normally would up North 3rd Street, he instead drove down Reed Street to get back to OHS. One person ended up being killed on North 3rd Street.

Photo submitted by: Joreen Cornell, Olean Circa 1939 “Why I wasn't that guy and went the other One room school house, Bedford Corners, Portville, NY

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Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1907 Ten Broeck Academy, Franklinville

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1910 A group of children in front of the Machias school

Photo courtesty of: Portville Historical and Preservation Society Circa 1905 Portville High School Glee Club

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

EDUCATION way, I don’t know,” Nicol said. “I don’t know.”

After first approaching the third floor landing and hearing gunshots, Nicol, as well as other staff, hid in the boiler room for the duration of the shooting. Anthony Barbaro, an honor student, Nicol said he couldn’t believe was the shooter, was eventually apprehended with tear gas.

Nicol said the healing process for students was made “smoother” by the fact they weren’t in school that day.

“We offered to help, psychological help. …

I didn't have to do as much as you have to do now,” he said. “Kids took in stride, I was surprised. Life went on.”

THERE PLENTY OF GOOD TIMES as well for Nicol, like outdoor graduations at Bradner Stadium and dances every Friday night with a live band at the high school.

While the graduations are indoors and there’s no longer a dance every Friday night, Taggerty is glad OHS has kept some of its traditions, like Homecoming dances and working on floats for the Homecoming parade.

Nicol said despite some traditions staying on, he’s not sure schools are the “hub” for students’ anymore. In his day, all activities a students could do came through their school, but now students find more and more activities and opportunities away from school.

Taggerty agreed, but doesn’t necessarily find it to be a bad thing.

“I see it as a collective whole in that what the school may not be able to do for the child,

Photo submitted by: Joreen Cornell, Olean Circa 1922 St. Elizabeth's Academy graduating class Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1973 First Holy Communion at Transfiguration Church

Photo courtesty of: Portville Historical and Preservation Society Circa 1911 Portville High School Senior Class Photo submitted by: Joreen Cornell, Olean Circa 1939 Bedford Corners School House in Portville class picture

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1940 Ellicottville High School

OTH Archive photo Circa 1910 Bolivar High School

Did you know these important dates in education history...

1635 Boston Latin School becomes the first public school it is the oldest existing school in the U.S. today 1783 Noah Webster finishes A Grammatical Institute of the English Language 1856 The first kindergarten in the United States is founded by Margarethe Schurz in Watertown, WI 1918 Mandatory school attendance laws are in place in every state Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

1926 The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is administered for the first time 1958 Congress passes the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) 1976 Apple Inc. releases its first personal computer 1996 The Box Tops for Education program is created by General Mills 2009 The Common Core State Standards Initiative is launched THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

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EDUCATION they can do outside of school and vice versa, and what they're not getting outside of school they can get inside of school. So I see it as a partnership, not as a competition,” she said. “There truly are more opportunities for students to engage in both social, athletics and community, whether it be drama and arts or volunteer work, than ever before.”

AS FAR AS THE FUTURE of education when it comes to state and federal regulations, both Taggerty and Nicol said they are unsure.

Nicol, who has served as a board member for Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES during his retirement, said there are too many changes and so many changes to things like curriculum are not good for students.

“I don't know the way education is going to go. I personally don't like the way it’s going right now. The state education department really doesn't know where it's going, what's working, what’s not working, they change considerably at the state department,” he said. “It bothers me that so many changes each year that once you have algebra, then you have another type of math — what's the right one? I don’t know. It will all settle one day, but I kind of feel bad for kids right now.”

Taggerty called the increase in regulations the most significant change she’s seen during her career. While she said some regulations are good and that’s it’s great to have high standards, the issue is not all regulations fit all schools and not all schools have enough funding.

“When they go above and beyond and regulate in such a way it takes a significant amount of money to do more than what the regulations calls for … they need to provide the funding sources to support that,” she said. “They continue to impose regulation after regulation without the proper funding so that we’re constantly moving in a compliance manner rather than being able to really looking and assess what we’re doing with our children.”

Some things have stayed the same for the better however. Both Taggerty and Nicol never liked being in their offices — they wanted to be walking around the school engaging with students. Taggerty even picks a classroom each year she can walk into at anytime and feel comfortable. ✦

8 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1910 Chart Class Little Valley High

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1928 St. Bonaventure's Devereux Hall

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

By KELSEY BOUDIN

Photo submitted by: Port Allegany History Heritage Club Circa 1890 • Working on the Western New York and Pennsylvania Raildroad.

The locomotive had a wooden frame and works made $1.50 a day.

he Olean Evening Herald at the time was calling its proud city “An Epitome of American Achieve-

T

ment.”

The year was 1908, the centennial of Cattaraugus County, and there was much to celebrate. Olean and surrounding areas were booming, using the prime location and the bounty it offered to their benefit. It was affectionately known as “The City of Natural Advantages.”

Looking around at the time, the nearby hills would’ve been almost entirely clear cut for the timber industry. The rock under those hills sustained the largest oil industry in the world then.

“And nobody was running a close second,” said city historian Dave Deckman.

It’s a different reality now, a city clinging to its industrial identity, while slowly adaptNov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

ing to the 21st century. Among other major employers, Dresser-Rand is still here — it was Clark Bros. back then.

Behind Dresser in North Olean, a massive solar-power array called “Solean” is taking shape, as is the adjacent Olean Gateway project, which aims to bring a new hotel, restaurant and retail complex to the formerly contaminated brownfields left behind after the Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. moved in the mid-1950s.

Nearby, there’s more optimism today in places like Napoleon Engineering Services, where employees, among other more-routine responsibilities, are manufacturing bearings that could someday help lift SpaceX to Mars.

And have a look over at Jamestown Community College’s campus downtown, where the new Manufacturing Technology Institute is proof, area leaders say, of efforts toward

economic revitalization. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul stood at the MTI center’s ribbon cutting ceremony in September and said she would promote it to the rest of the state as “a model … on how we’re doing it right.” Hochul also attended a similar grand-opening ceremony for Alfred State College’s Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing Center in Wellsville just last week.

IT’S BEEN OVER two centuries since the Hoops brothers established that first settlement along the Allegheny River in 1804.

Today, those who aren’t actively looking to the past could easily miss just how prevalent “doing it right” once was in the oil-boom city of Olean.

Frayed and browned with age, the pages of a county centennial souvenir publication coordinated between the Olean Evening Herald and Cattaraugus Union of Salamanca THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

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MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY highlighted in great detail the hometown businesses in 1908.

“In the front rank among those cities which have attained a high position in the industrial and commercial world, Olean, the ‘City of Natural Advantages,’ must be named and commended for its progressiveness,” an introduction to the publication reads.

“Standing as it does, in the eighth year of the 20th century, the greatest and grandest of civilization, it is one of the most important cities in the country, and the story of its development, progress, industries, advantages and resources, present a subject of vivid interest to all whom the activities and gains of business area a (necessity) or have a charm.”

OIL WAS KING. “One of the most interesting chapters in the history of Olean is written in oil,” the souvenir publication reads, noting Vacuum Oil Co., which was later known as SoconyVacuum, “represents this mammoth industry in Olean.”

Clark Bros. adjusted to the oil boom after originally making saw blades for the area’s lumber business, Deckman said.

“That’s when they got into compressors and pipelines,” he added. “The very first pipeline ever went from Olean to New Jersey.”

There were hundreds of other businesses that established their own niches. Far too

10 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum Circa 1900 Delivering mail to the Delevan Post Office with hackney horses.

Photo submitted Students of the 2016 Summer S.T.A.R. program at Olean High School participate in a Mindstorms Robotics class.

Submitted by: Darrin W. Cornell, Wellsville Circa 1910 Employees of Ontario Knife Company on Empire St. in Franklinville

Photo courtesy of: Olean Bartlett House Circa 1900 A blacksmith’s shop on East State Street, near where Bradner Stadium stands today.

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY numerous to list, many of them would be lesser known or nearly lost from memory today.

The Close brothers were known for their bicycle shop on North Union Street. But in the 1890s, F.B. and F.A. Close also constructed one of the first automobiles made in America, Deckman said. The famed Henry Ford wouldn’t begin mass producing cars on an assembly line until 1913.

“Of course, this was a bicycle shop. They were obviously interested in the mechanics,” the city historian said. “Stories like that, people just eat up. Then the internal combustion engine came along, and then Henry Ford got into it. When he started mass producing them, that changed everything. But thousands of different people made automobiles before that.”

W.C.A. Quirin’s Tannery in East Olean was one of the largest of its kind in the country, the publication states. Employing 250 “skilled workmen” at the time, the tannery’s products were world famous.

“At the Quirin Tannery is manufactured the finest grade of glove and satin grain, kangaroo calf, dongola and enameled leather for fine shoes, the processed used being the bark, mineral and combination tannage,” the centennial publication says. “This tannery was established in 1888, at which time the output did not exceed 100 hides a day. Now it exceeds 1,200 hides daily.”

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

Photo courtesy of: Olean Bartlett House Date unknown A print advertisement for the former Clair Manufacturing Co. Inc.

Photo by: Deb Wuethrich Oct. 14, 2016 Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul at a ribbon cutting at Alfred State College’s Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing Center on the Wellsville campus.

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1909 Erie Railroad depot on Pine St. in Olean. Wisniewsky’s liquor store can be seen in the background.

Photo submitted by: Darrin W. Cornell, Wellsville Circa 1890 John Henry Sr. and Jr. standing in the doorway of the blacksmith shop on North Main St. in Franklinville. It was located where the Firehouse Liquor Store is located today, the house next door still stands.

Photo by: Tom Dinki Circa 2016 A local student is shown a job at DresserRand, a Siemens Business, during Manufacturing Day on Oct. 7, 2016. The celebration helps to foster an interested in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

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MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY Incorporated in 1894, Olean Glass Co. on Buffalo Street back then employed another 250, manufacturing a “superior quality” of machine- and hand-blown bottles of various styles and colors, among other products, the publication notes.

Myrick Machine Co., established before the Civil War, manufactured power transmission machinery, wood-splitting machines, lumber trimmers, iron and brass castings, and more at its facility at the corner of East Sullivan and North Barry streets. Purchased from Myrick & Company by Alfred and E.M. Tothill, it continued operating under the same name.

“No industry of Olean has a wider reputation or a higher standing in the industrial world than the Myrick Machine Company, one of the largest establishments of its line in the United States,” the 1908 souvenir reads.

Kreidler Bros. Co. handled well-established makes of carriages, wagons and sleighs, and also manufactured livestock harnesses at 214 W. State St. “The days when the farmer earned his bread by the sweat of his brow have been practically blotted from the calendar and he now tills his soil, harvests his crops and performs almost all of his work with the aid of labor-saving machinery,” the Olean Evening Herald publication states.

At the corner of River and Pine streets in North Olean, Empire Mills made approxi-

12 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1900 Rural Delivery #2 loading mail in Gowanda. The Post Office was a popular gathering place.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1900 Queen City milk bottling plant, Lime Lake

Photo submitted by: Barbara Richetti Strauss, Olean Circa 1960 Rocket Oil Company delivery trucks.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1907 Franklinville Canning Co. employees

Photo courtesy of: Olean Bartlett House Circa 1950 The former Daystrom Furniture Corp. Daystrom was founded in Olean in 1934 and manufactured affordable furniture for the middle class. The company moved to South Boston in 1962 and company ceased operations in 1996.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1909 Ellicottville Condensed Milk Factory

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY mately 250 tons of feed and meal per day.

J.P and C.H. Felt of Emporium, Pa., bought the Olean mill in 1899 — they also owned the Emporium Milling Co. — and operated under the name Felt Bros. until the company was incorporated in 1906. “The mills are run for the greater part of the year, both night and day, and twenty skilled workmen are employed,� the publication states.

Local companies at the time benefited from an extensive network of railroads, including the Pennsylvania and the Pittsburg (sic), Shawmut & Northern. Many manufacturers established on land parcels abutting railroads to set up their own sidings to ease the transport of their wares. “Olean was the hub, and it still is, of the county. This is where they had a lot of industry, not only in the city limits but around the area,� Deckman said. “It centered in this area for the industries and education, as far as places like St. Bonaventure. It all fit in together. Hinsdale at one time was right up there with Olean. Really, you have to wrap your arms around the whole area. It all interlocks as far as the whole industrial story.�

INDUSTRY TODAY STILL has a strong foothold in the Olean area, though many have packed up or consolidated elsewhere.

Back at Napoleon Engineering Services — which once started in the garage of its president and chief engineer, Chris Napoleon —

Photo courtesy of: Portville Historical and Preservation Society Circa 1900 Herbert Keyes' blacksmith shop which adjoined Nagel's woodworking shop at 26 Temple St. in Portville.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1907 Franklinville Canning Co. Railyard and Buildings

OTH Archive photo Circa 1910 A Model-T Ford with runners on the front for snow.

Photo courtesy of: Olean Bartlett House This old newspaper photo shows the former Carley Heater Co., which once sat on North Union Street near where Olean Center Mall is currently located.

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean February 8, 1945 Letterhead of the National Ammunition Company in Eldred, PA.

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THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

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MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY outer space has long been one of numerous niches. It has parts on the International Space Station and on SpaceX rockets.

And now, NES is on board with efforts to reach — and possibly colonize — Mars someday.

“It will take research, development, and a hearty dose of acceptance of the risk associated with it,” Napoleon told his employees. “I’m the first to admit that it’s hard to grasp Musk’s goal particularly when, at times, our daily lives present so many challenges. But I’m glad that NES and our employees are along for the ride. I’m sure there will be setbacks. Space travel is risky business and manufacturing in support of it is, as well.”

Also in and around Olean, the local Dream It. Do It. chapter (DIDI-WNY) is aiming to foster an interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (S.T.E.A.M.) in local school students. Those kids will someday fill the jobs of the future.

“It is so important that we introduce our young students, parents and teachers to 21st century advanced manufacturing in our area and see the changes made over the past few years,” said Evelyn Sabina, DIDI-WNY project coordinator. “When community members tour the manufacturers, they see that safety is number one, the facilities are clean and that technology is in the forefront.” ✦

14 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo by: Kelsey Boudin Employees of the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad work in late August to transport a steam turbine and generator skid weighing more than 300,000 pounds that was manufactured by Dresser-Rand, a Siemens Business.

Photo courtesy of: Olean Bartlett House Circa 1900 The showroom of the Close Bicycle Factory.

OTH Archive photo Circa 1900 An oilmen shooting an oil well.

OTH Archive photo 2016 The Manufacturing Technology Institute on the Jamestown Community College in Olean sits on the former Knights of Columbus property at the intersection of Hamilton and North Barry streets.

Photo courtesy of: Olean Bartlett House Circa 1890’s One of the first automobiles manufactured in the late 1890s by the Close brothers of Olean.

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

HEALTHCARE

By KATE DAY SAGER

Photo submitted by: Port Allegany History Heritage Club Circa 1890 • Working on the Western New York and Pennsylvania Raildroad.

The locomotive had a wooden frame and works made $1.50 a day.

hen considering medical care and its history in the Olean area, current residents may believe Olean General Hospital was the only game in town at the turn of the 20th century and later.

In fact, there were other medical facilities in the community that included the former Mountain Clinic on East State Street, the former St. Francis Hospital on West State Street as well as the Rocky Crest Sanitorium for treatment of tuberculosis patients in the Rock City area.

According to information provided by the Olean Historical and Preservation Society, Olean General had its humble beginnings in a two-room clinic on North Barry Street.

Archival material state the hospital “grew out of the desire of a group of young women to contribute something useful to the city.”

W

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

The women, who were members of St. Margaret’s Chapter of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Olean, organized a fair to begin fundraising for the clinic. The three-day fair raised $2,500 and boosted enthusiasm for the hospital. On July 13, 1898, the women saw their dream become reality when the New York Board of Charities granted a charter for incorporation to Olean General Hospital.

Documents state the first clinic on North Barry Street was an emergency institution, “merely a place where accident cases could be taken, a doctor and nurse summoned and first aid given before the patients were taken to their homes.”

Documents state the next hospital was erected at First and Coleman streets and was opened Nov. 12, 1902. The structure, which currently exists as a private home,

had 14 rooms, with the first floor containing a private room furnished by St. Margaret’s Chapter in memory of Nettie Watson Bell.

Also found on the first floor was a women’s ward with three beds, an operating room thoroughly equipped by the physicians of the city, the reception area, a dining facility, preparatory rooms and a kitchen.

The second floor contained private rooms and a men’s ward that also had just three beds.

The hospital was moved to its present Main Street location in 1912, and called Higgins Memorial. That structure was made possible through the donation of land and finances by the family of the late Frank W. Higgins, former governor of the state.

During its first year, the hospital cared for 783 patients and performed 463 operations.

THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 15

HEALTHCARE Through the years, various additions were made to the building.

In 1962 and 1963, a new $2.8 million expansion program was completed for the present Olean General on Main Street. The addition increased the size of the institution by 27,000 square feet. A new emergency department was enlarged five times the size of old facility, and expansions were made to the X-ray department, surgical suite, pharmacy and snack bar and gift shop areas. Also added at the time was a new conference room, a central record storage area, purchasing department and emergency power generator. Coronary care and intensive care centers were also added to the second floor.

A look at the modern services provided

by Olean General, under the Upper Allegheny Health Systems umbrella, was provided by Janene Dunn of the medical center’s marketing and communications department. Olean General integrated with Bradford Regional Medical Center under the Upper Allegheny system in 2009.

In 2000, Olean General underwent a major renovation and expansion at the hospital campus.

Now, it boasts a number of advances in health care that have included the addition of an electrophysiology program, a center for wound healing and hyperbaric medicine, a clorox UV system, advances in heart care and creation of the Gundlah Dental Center,

16 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

OTH Archive photo Circa 1960 An ambulance parked on Olean St. in Bolivar, NY.

OTH Archive Photo Circa 1990 Mercy Flight founder and president Doug Barker and Volunteer Board member Sister Sheila Marie Walsh. A Mercy Flight base was established at the Louis Magnano Heliport on the campus of Olean General Hospital in 1998.

Photo courtesy of: Olean General Hospital Circa 1912 Breaking ground for the Higgins Memorial Hospital, now Olean General Hospital. The hospital was made possible when Clara A. Smith made a land donation for the hospital in memory of her brother former N.Y. State Governor Frank Wayland Higgins. A later gift of $36,000 by the Governor’s wife, Kate C. Higgins, in memory of their son, Orin; served as the foundation for the new Olean General/ Higgins Memorial Hospital, which included a 28-bed residence for nurses of the hospital.

Photo submitted by Cole Memorial Circa 1930 Mr. Charles Cole was a wealthy salesman who made his fortune with the Rochester Time and Recording Company (which later became IBM). He returned to his hometown of Coudersport in the 1920’s where few in the community knew of his wealth until upon his death, he gave his money to establish a community hospital.

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

HEALTHCARE among other services.

This spring, a new affiliation was announced by Upper Allegheny administrators who said they had signed a letter of intent to affiliate with the Kaleida Health system. The move is designed to strengthen and enhance healthcare in Southwestern New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania.

OTHER clinics and hospitals that provided care for the community, but eventually closed, included the former St. Francis HospiOTH Archive photo tal on West State Street.

Circa 1990 Incorporated in November of 1936, Dave Thompson, Art Burdick and John Woodard of the Bolivar Volunground was broken for the facility in May teer Fire Department with the departments first set of Jaws of Life. of 1937. According to archival material from the historical society, The Rev. Mother Dominica Enright of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany had long dreamed of a Catholic hospital in the Olean area to serve the needs of the laity and Sisters of the Congregation.

When the building was formally opened in 1938 it had the capacity for 103 beds and 20 bassinets. The five-story building housed facilities for medical, surgical and pediatric OTH Archive Photo services. A laundry was later added in 1951.

Circa 1920 The St. Francis Hospital Guild began in Fire Chief L.G. Rogers in his "Fire Chief's Car" 1948 as a small group of women of all faiths who were “dedicated to bringing comfort and joy to the sick.” In 1958, the hospital established the St. Francis Hospital School of Practical Nursing and graduated hundreds of OTH Archive Photo students over the years.

Circa 1915 A new addition that included renovations Higgins Memorial Hospital in Olean

OTH Archive photo Circa 1950 Dunn's Drug Store in Bolivar, NY. At the time the photo was taken the store was a Walgreen Agency Drug Store.

Photo submitted by: Cole Memorial Circa 1967 Charles Cole Memorial Hospital opened at its current location on Route 6 just outside of downtown Coudersport on Oct. 1, 1967.

OTH Archive Image Circa 1950 St. Francis Hospital in Olean, was located at 2221 West State, now a vacant lot near Little Caesars.

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THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 17

HEALTHCARE was built in December of 1965. The upgrades included new facilities for the laboratory, the central supply room, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, a dental clinic and the gift and coffee shop. The new facilities also made it possible to double the enrollment at the nursing school.

The hospital completed another $2 million renovation program in 1978. The project included the opening of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center as well as a 10-bed psychiatric unit. In addition, the operating room, intensive care unit and pediatric unit were Photo submitted by: George Pancio, Olean all relocated and completely rebuilt. Major Circa 1999 Photo submitted by Cole Memorial Marcia and Paula Pancio were honored with plaques for saving a renovations were also done in the maternity Circa 1940 young boy's life when he went unconscious on a sidewalk in Olean. The former Coudersport Hospital was located in downtown Couderunit and the emergency room, and patients’ sport until the 1960’s when it moved to its current location on Rt. rooms were updated and redecorated in 6 and became Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, now Cole Memorial. parts of the hospital.

A major change occurred at the hospital when the facility was sold to Olean General in 1991 and officially renamed Olean General West. The site was abandoned by Olean General in 2000 and was later demolished in 2002. Today the site remains undeveloped.

THE FORMER Mountain Clinic Hospital on East State near Barry Street, met a similar fate.

Formally opened in March of 1918 by Dr. William H. Mountain, the four-story brick clinic contained 35 beds. Mountain was OTH Archive photo joined by his brother, Dr. Stephen Mountain Circa 1960 Photo submitted by: Gerald Johnson, Olean in the practice. Archival material states Circa 1960 The entrance of St. Francis Hospital on West State Street. The statue that space demands grew so rapidly that an The front facade and garden of Olean General Hospital is now in the St. Francis Heritage Garden at Olean General Hospital.

18 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

HEALTHCARE addition to the main building was made the following year.

Historic documents state William Mountain “had in mind, an institution to treat those afflicted with a curable malady, disease or injury in a most efficient and honorable manner, without regard to race, creed or color.”

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean The facility offered surgery, obstetrics, an Circa 1941 Photo courtesy of: Olean General Hospital Estella Pockalny’s American Junior Red Cross X-ray department, a laboratory, dental care, Circa 1935 membership card Olean General Hospital a physio-therapy program as well as services provided by a number of physicians in the community. A training school for nurses was also available.

The hospital was closed in 1968 by Dr. Robert E. Mountain, who was the son of William Mountain. At the time, Robert Mountain cited the “impact of sociological change and the increased role of government in medical Photo submitted by: Cole Memorial Hospital Circa 2015 care” as the reasons for closing.

An aerial view of Cole Memorial Hospital much of the facilities buildings and Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County The building remains empty on East State expansions were made possible through contributions made by Mr. Cole’s widow Edith Museum, Machias Street.

Pinney and her second husband G. Howard Irwin.

Circa 1913 ANOTHER FACILITY that offered speC.H. Fords drug store in East Otto, NY cialized care for people afflicted with tuberculosis was the former Rocky Crest Sanitorium on Route 16 in the Rock City area.

The facility was opened in 1916 to promote public health for the care of patients with tuberculosis. The sanitorium was deemed to have an ideal location where it OTH Archive Photo was believed the cool mountain air aided the Circa 1910 OTH Archive photo recovery of TB patients.

Circa 1910 Olean "Auto Fire Truck No. 3" and "Chemical Engine Wagon No. 2". Chemical engines During its early years of operation, the used a combination of baking soda and sulphuric acid to pump water quickly onto a fire. Olean "Auto Fire Truck No. 5" at Fire Building No. 3

Did you know these important dates in healthcare history...

1857 1887 1895 1921 1927 1928 1945 1950

Louis Pasteur identifies germs as cause of disease First contact lenses developed Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovers X rays Earle Dickson Invented the Band-Aid First vaccine developed for tuberculosis Sir Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin First vaccine developed for influenza John Hopps invented the first cardiac pacemaker

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

1964 1978 1983 1984 1985

First vaccine developed for measles.

First test-tube baby is born HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is identified Alec Jeffreys devises genetic fingerprinting method Willem J. Kolff invented the artificial kidney dialysis machine 1996 Dolly the sheep becomes the first clone 2006 First vaccine to target a cause of cancer THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 19

HEALTHCARE sanitorium was aided in its functions by Lilla Clarke Wheeler of Portville, recognized as the founder of the Cattaraugus County Health Department, the first such organization in the state.

Wheeler, who received her education at Vassar College, became interested in public health work and helped organize the fight against tuberculosis throughout the state.

Described as a pioneer in the field, she devoted the rest of her life to that work, documents state.

Wheeler contributed to the fight against tuberculosis in Cattaraugus County by becoming a member and officer of the Olean Tuberculosis Committee in 1909. She also played an important role in the establishment and direction of Rocky Crest Sanitorium.

Archive materials state the sanitorium “project was stimulated by the Olean and Cattaraugus County Tuberculosis Associations and supported from county tax funds.”

The sanitorium was described as a “cornerstone in the tuberculosis program for many years” before it was closed in 1950.

“Lack of modern facilities and inadequate staff necessitated sending patients to Mount Morris Tuberculosis Hospital where these were available,” historic documents state.

The building was later sold and renovated to serve as an apartment building known as Rocky Crest Acres.

In August of 1999, the 14-apartment structure caught on fire, reportedly at the hands of an arsonist. Newspaper accounts state the fire, which destroyed the building, was the second time the structure had caught on fire. The first fire, which was contained and did not cause much damage, occurred in September of 1993. ✦

20 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo submitted by: Olean General Hospital Circa 2016 Olean General Hospital installed a new digital sign outside of their facility in the summer of 2016.

Photo submitted by: Cole Memorial Circa 1930 The Coudersport Hospital was located at the former Dean Sanitarium in downtown Coudersport.

Photo submitted by: Olean General Hospital Circa 1929 Olean General Hospital “Higgins Memorial”

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

SPORTS

By JIM MELARO

Photo submitted by: Judie Balcerzak Circa 1958 Coach Joe DeCerbo and the East Olean midget football team

T

his assignment had to do with history. To be more precise, it’s about how people in the Olean area lived over the past 100 years or so and how sports played a role in their lives.

A daunting task … but I will try.

AS A SPORTS writer, my first inclination was to look up information about teams, leagues and players who may have found their way onto the Times Herald sports pages over the years.

After receiving some suggestions from facebook friends, I realized that utilizing Google might help.

BINGO! I entered the phrase ‘Baseball players in Olean, NY, 1940’ and came up with the name Fred Howell.

Sadly, it was his obituary. It appeared on Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

our pages in late September of 2014.

But scanning through his life-long list of accomplishments, I quickly realized that there was more to recreation in the Olean area than just sports.

While Fred was a talented baseball player — he pitched in the Little League World Series and was once a player for a minor league team associated with the Philadelphia Phillies — he was also a drummer, dancer and singer.

THAT BEING considered the first pitch, I will now attempt to cover a whole lot in a small space.

Back in the day, baseball teams dominated summer fun as teams comprised of employees were once sponsored by local businesses — Clark Bros., Felmont Oil, Daystrom Furniture — or fraternities such as Knights of Columbus, Elk’s, Eagles, American Legion,

Pulaski Club Moose Club and Vet Vikings took to fields now paved over for the sake of urban expansion.

Fields such as PRR (where the Olean YMCA building now exists) and Rocket Park (where Good Times is now located) along with Cedar Park and First Street Park.

Softball games used to take place on fields located behind School No. 8 (where the Tops parking lot) and Polo Field (that one is still there).

Guys like Billy Bush, Doug Lemmer, Casey Jones, Motor and Mego Anastasia, Joe Duffy, Bail Kolkowski and Ron Wilson added flair to the excitement on the field.

TIM KENNEY, the Director of Athletics for St. Bonaventure University, has done a remarkable job in a very short amount of time to bring the SBU campus up to the national THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 21

SPORTS standards by which many fans today measure success.

But there was a time when athletes at the small Jesuit-run school were immortalized in black and white photography.

Picture in your mind if you will, baseball legends and Hall of Famers John McGraw and Hugh Jennings, football coach Hugh Devore and quarterback Teddy Marchibroda, who once led SBU when the Brown and White would tackle some of the nation’s best teams at Forness Field.

And,of course, SBU basketball.

From the days of the 99-game win streak in the Olean Armory to the Atlantic 10 Championship won by the Andrew Nicholson-led team in 2012.

Bob Sassone, Whitey Martin, Eddie Donovan, Sam and Tom Stith, Paul Hoffman, Bob Lanier, Larry Weise, Glenn Hagen, Greg Sanders, Earl Belcher are part of the fabric woven into a tradition-rich program.

When the Bonnies called the Armory home, fans had to make a decision. Either sit downstairs where you could reach out and grab the uniform of a player running down the court of sit upstairs where the view was better. But if you sat upstairs, you had to deal with a cloud of cigarette smoke … this was the days before smoking was banned in public venues like the Reilly Center.

BOWLING was a common pasttime for many with action unfolding at a number of

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1908 Little Valley High Basketball Players

Photo submitted by: Ruth Bixby, Olean Circa Nov. 4, 1942 Ruth Stoner Bixby attended the Portville vs. Olean Football game.

Portville won 27-6. "I don't give a hoot for football now, but I liked it when I was young and knew the boys," Bixby said.

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1945 Transfiguration High School basketball team.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1913 Olean YMCA

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SPORTS ‘houses’ strewn throughout the city.

From Coral Lanes, Eagle’s, Truman’s Lanes and Bowlean Lanes, the city had its share of top competitors.

Ed Nicoletta and Ron Threehouse waged a friendly, yet fierce, rivalry over many years.

Jim Quirk and Bob Wiley often found their way to Buffalo where they would compete on a then-popular TV show called ‘Strikes, Spares and Misses’ hosted by the former radio voice of the Buffalo Braves, Chuck Healy.

Olean had it’s own version of Healy, Bill Button, who split his spare time as a radio DJ by either handing out shoes behind the counter at Coral Lanes or announcing softball games at Marcus Park.

AS NOTED above, dancing was quite popular on the social calendar in the early years.

From the Christopher Columbus Lodge and Elk’s Club to the Olean Armory, Gargoyle Park and the small dance floor at Paul’s Steakhouse, it was not uncommon to find many a couple cutting a rug while listening to tunes belted out by some of the best musicians in the area.

Bob Easley’s Band, Johnny Gabriel’s Band, Pat (Piccirillo) and the Satelites, Al Cecchi and his Orchestra, Joe Rosetti’s Band and Johnny A and the Townsmen entertained more than one generation of Oleanders over the years.

In the late 1950s, Duke Ellington and his band performed or the St. Bonaventure prom

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

Photo courtesy of: Portville Historical and Preservation Society Circa 1904 Portville Girls basketball team

Photo submitted by: Judie Balcerzak Circa 1965 East Olean football team

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1919 Little Valley High basketball players

Photo submitted by: Judie Balcerzak Circa 1963 Baseball All-Stars from Olean

THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 23

SPORTS in the Olean Armory.

The Carl Wisniewski Orchestra once featured a young tenor by the name of Lou Russo, who would go on to be a crowd favorite when he sang the National Anthem before SBU home basketball games at the RC and would then stick around for a lively version of Frank Sinatra’s hit tune ‘New York’ at halftime.

THESE thoughts don’t include things such as neighborhood gangs (our North Olean group included Jim Fidurko, Karl Neff, Paul Pavlock, Joe Harenda, Richard Splawski, Joe Pockalny and the Rogozinski and Kendzior boys).

The softball games, the H-O-R-S-E competitions battled on driveway baskets and don’t forget the late summer tradition of raiding gardens (Yes, I’m guilty!).

Some will recall time spent quietly pondering their daily problems while hunting and fishing.

Many of the people who have been mentioned in this story have passed on.

Strangely, though, if you listen carefully enough, you can still hear the cheers if they hit a home run at Marcus Park, toppled a 300 at Truman Lanes, sank a 20-foot set shot from the corner in the Armory or sang a love ballad on stage at the CC Lodge.

Thanks for the memories … and keep them coming. ✦

OTH Archive photo Circa 1950 Bolivar Golf Glub

Photo submitted by: Judie Balcerzak Circa 1961 Olean football team OTH Archive photo Circa 1928 Richburg girls basketball team

(The writer would like to thank the following for contributing to this story: Jon Baker, Jeff Pavlock, Rick Fie, Dennis Ambuski and Paul McKeown).

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Photo submitted by: Judie Balcerzak Circa 1960 Coach Joe DeCerbo East Olean Midget Football

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THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

SPORTS

OTH Archive photo Circa 1928 Richburg boys basketball team

Photo submitted by: Doug Perkins, Salamanca Circa 1973 Section 6 Basketball Championship game held at the - now demolished - War Memorial arena. The teams were the Cattaraugus Big Red, who went undefeated that season, vs. the Silver Creek Knights.

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

OTH Archive photo Circa 1977 Ann’s Beauty Shop team from Bolivar. They started in 1960. Ann Saunders was the team sponsor.

The team is show in this photo at a tournament in Rochester, NY.

OTH Archive photo Circa 1966 Eldred Terrors varsity football team

OTH Archive photo Circa 1960 East Olean midget football team

THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 25

SPORTS

Photo submitted by: Judie Balcerzak Circa 1960s Blumenthal's East Olean midget football team

Photo submitted by: Elaine Niver Dwyer, Olean NY Circa 1925 Friendship NY High School basketball “Second Team.” Glenn Niver was a freshman.

The team went 7-7, their record was inscribed on the back of the photo.

26 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

LIFESTYLES

By DEB WUETHRICH

Photo courtesy of: Deb Wuethrich Circa 1960 Cuba’s “singing lawman” Bob Flower organized country jamborees at the Cuba Lake Pavilion in the early 1960s with live shows broadcast on WWHG. Pictured are musicians JoAnn Brown (Gaudet), Jerry Steadman, Bob Flower, Jimmy Clemens and Bernie LaFever.

ime flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind,” notes American author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Thomas Hardy adds, “Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change.”

Every age leaves its mark. In every era, people toil at specific tasks, enjoy certain pastimes, wear different styles of clothing and respond to the events of their day. Whether it was then—or now—our times are somehow woven together like a tapestry where colored threads connect us.

There’s something timeless in this region Twin Tiers residents call home. To go back eons, our “then,” includes geologists reporting the rocks were formed here about 320 million years ago, leaving one of the largest exposures of quartz conglomerate in the world. Visitors come from all over to view

“T

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

this wonder at Rock City Park between Olean and Bradford, PA. Native Americans have long lived in the valleys and hills of these Allegheny Mountains and settlers began arriving around the time of the Revolutionary War. Some came to farm but the oil and timber industries also flourished. Railroads sprung up to accommodate these businesses, as did new communities.

The one that grew up around Olean Point was at one time called “Hamilton,” after the statesman Alexander Hamilton. In 1923, however, the city received formal recognition as Olean. The early 1900s still held shadows of the past but also brought surprising changes. The once booming oil industry dwindled as enterprising individuals discovered oil could be brought up easier in Texas and Oklahoma, and timbering took down a lot of old forest

and needed reforestation.

These and new industries helped build the growing city. Area buildings are depicted on post cards from the 1920s. Sites include the Mountain Clinic, the Armory and later, the Masonic and Olean House structure, along with impressive stone churches. “Uptown” scenes show our heritage of shops and businesses that have come and gone. Post cards often reveal shadows of days gone by.

Herbert and Mary Etta Thayer and their four daughters, Amy, Alta, Elva and Lily, lived on what was known as the Shepard Farm in Pleasant Valley at the turn of the century. When they posed for a photo on the farm, it was formal with the patriarch wearing a suit—and a stern face—and the women in long, high-collared, flowing dresses with pinned up hair.

In a cap and uniform, Frank Brown THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 27

LIFESTYLES delivered mail to the farm by horse and buggy. Amy became smitten and the couple professed their feelings using penny post cards. In 1912, they were married, continuing their lives together at the farm for a time.

They raised four children and Frank later dug graves and tended to the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Another way to assess lifestyles of earlier times is through yearbooks. Olean High School’s 1945 Congress leaves a reminder of the struggles and costs of war with its theme, “Olean Around the World.” The school mourned the loss of President Franklin. D. Roosevelt, and 17 pages salute former students and faculty serving in the military, several who’d lost their lives. Some chuckle when they see hairstyles and eyeglasses of the time, and photos of manual typewriters, old style telephones and school nurses in full, white uniforms and caps provide period references.

World War II took people, especially young men, away from Olean. Sometimes others found their way here. Mel Cunningham arrived at St. Bonaventure to enroll in the US Army’s ASTP school. After the war, the Indiana native returned to claim his bride, an Olean girl named Dolores Silloway, and a new lifelong home.

The 1950 Congress was called its “Mid Century Edition.” A foreword compared “Then and Now” from 1900 vs. 1950, noting, “Since 1900, half a century has passed, and styles have changed a-plenty. Constant, however,

28 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1920 Main St. Portville Photo submitted by: Joreen Cornell, Olean Circa 1930 Sawdust covered the floor at Nenno's Meat Market in Olean

Photo submitted by: Helen M. Zaleski, Olean Circa 1950 Employees of Loblaw Grocery Store which was located at 2801 West State St.

Photo submitted by: Joreen Cornell, Olean Circa 1930 Nenno’s Meat Market Allegany, meat delivery horse cart

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias 1919 Trolley crossing a bridge in Salamanca

Photo submitted by: George Pancio, Olean Circa 1989 Santa and Mrs. Claus on the rooftop was an Olean tradition for many years at George Pancio’s home on Main St.

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

LIFESTYLES within the American scene, has been human nature with its eternal pursuit of liberty and happiness.” Joe Forness served as Editor In Chief at the OHS Tell-O-Scope, the school newspaper. A group that called itself The Atomic Energy Class planned the “hops” and senior party.

Just as young people today can’t imagine a world without the constant connection of smart phones, social media and the Internet, others once could not have conceived of a day when most families would own radios, televisions and automobiles, let alone computers Photo submitted by: Ruth Bixby, Olean Photo submitted by: Jean Davis, Allegany Circa 1950 Circa 1960 and modern technologies. Innovative ideas At former The Castle Restaurant, Crowd at outdoor mass, exploded into practical inventions, changing Ruth and Leonard Bixby, for a banquet for St. Bonaventure Cemetery Leonard’s workplace. how people live, work and enjoy leisure time.

Some believe today’s access to virtual reality is a detriment versus enjoying real breathtak- Photo submitted by: Mary Getchel, Bradford, PA Circa 1938 ing scenes and personal encounters, but most Magician Harry Blackstone show toured the area. would not trade the conveniences such discoveries bring to our modern day.

For entertainment, area residents watched movies at the Palace or Haven Theater, joined bowling leagues or attended musical gatherings such as country jamborees organized by Cuba’s “singing lawman” Bob Flower who once had his own local radio show.

On select Sundays, Flower brought area bands together at the Cuba Lake Pavilion for a musical broadcast. The pavilion also hosted teens who loved rock and roll in the 50s and 60s.

Photo submitted by: Joreen Cornell, Olean The region has also known hard times, Circa 1930 Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias from Depression days to floods such as the Nenno’s Meat Market, Magdelene Karl Nenno, 1909 one that put much of the city underwater 111 W Main St, Allegany, NY East Otto July 4th parade

Did you know these important events in history...

1863 1917 1920 1929

Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclaimation The U.S. joined World War I Women were granted the right to vote The stock market crashed beginning the Great Depression which lasted 10 years.

1941 Pearl Harbor attacked, U.S. joins World War II 1945 Scientists built first atomic bomb 1950 Korean War began Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

1954 Brown v. Board of Education ended racial seperation in schools 1955 Vietnam War began 1963 John F. Kennedy assassinated 1969 Apollo 11 landed on the moon 2001 September 11th attack on the World Trade Center 2008 Barack Obama elected as first African American president THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 29

LIFESTYLES in 1942. For years, one woman repeatedly told her children how her family lived in a Shawmut caboose after the flood. Her father worked for the railroad. In 1972, history repeated itself, but with less severity since dikes were then in place.

Happier events also brought Olean notoriety. The high school hosted Miss New York State pageants in the 60s-70s. The pageant produced a Miss America, Tawny Godin, in 1976. “We used to fill up the auditorium,� said Cunningham, now 94. When he adopted Olean after the war, he not only worked at Dresser Industries for many years, but became active in the community, serving in a leadership role with the pageant. “After Miss New York was crowned, some of the winners stayed with us until the Miss America pageant and my wife, Dolores, traveled to events with her as a chaperone.�

Society may have changed with technology now spawning more entrepreneurship than ever, but people who lived then, and now, have always enjoyed the splendor of our surroundings. Modern trips involve cars or a bus over carriages and trains, but popular destinations were to view timeless, natural wonders of Letchworth and Allegany State Parks, Niagara Falls and Rock City Park.

Cunningham and his wife leased and operated Rock City Park for years, beginning in the early 1950s. In a guide he tells of the park’s popularity as a resort in the late 1800s

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1937 Helen Pockalny and Ken Little wedding photograph

Photo submitted by: Barbara Richetti Strauss, Olean Circa 1969 Rocket Oil Company, which was located at 722 East State St., was owned and operated by Tony Richetti from 1951 to 1990.

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30 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo submitted by: Joreen Cornell, Olean Circa 1900s Charles Edel, proprietor of Buffalo Club

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Photo submitted by: George Pancio, Olean Circa 1903 Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pancio wedding photo

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1960 The Castle Restaurant, Allegany, NY

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LIFESTYLES and early 1900s. Trolleys and trains brought people to the Bon Air Hotel and dance pavilion. Cunningham also interviewed Charley Conrad who recalled his first trip in 1880 by horse and wagon from Hinsdale. The nine-mile trip one way took three hours.

Current owners Dale and Cindy Smith, who passed their Worth W. Smith Company to Photo submitted by: Mary Ann Sirianni, Olean Circa 1985 their son, Nate, are the first to actually own SS Kresges retirement party the park rather than lease it. “It was always owned by the Bucher family,� said Cindy Smith. Although the Smiths live on a nearby hilltop, they’d never considered buying the property until they accidentally found out it was for sale in 2001. “It was an unusual circumstance and came when we were ready to get out of the hardware business,� Cindy Smith said. The park entrance has moved south from the original Photo submitted by: Mary Ann Sirianni, Olean and the Smiths constructed a large building Circa 1940 Sirianni Motor Sales, now Austin Lock and Key on State street in Olean. on the grounds, which houses park photographs and artifacts. Photos show visitors in formal dress viewing rocks as they navigate the trails below. But the rocks haven’t changed. People still come from all over, such as the family from Virginia who brought relatives from India to visit on a recent fall Friday.

Cindy Smith also has a soft spot for the area’s history. Their building is more than a gift shop, but serves as a museum as well.

Collections include an old-fashioned card file from St. Bonaventure University and a chanPhoto submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean delier from the Castle Restaurant.

Circa 1941 “People remember family reunions and War Ration Book

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Ellen Scott Purses

Photo courtesy of: Rock City Park, Olean Circa 1890 A group of ladies visited Rock City Park

Photo submitted by Barry A. Broughton, PhD, Olean Circa 1920 North End Garage at 705 N. Union St., Olean, was later Ralph’s Supermarket, Grandpa Pratt’s and now AKT Combatives Academy since 2006 years.

Gift Items

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%34!4% 3!,% 3%26)#%3 s "UYING /NE )TEM OR %NTIRE %STATE s "UYING 'OLD 3ILVER #OINS *EWELRY THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 31

LIFESTYLES wedding receptions at the Castle,” she said.

“It was a really special place.” A horse from the park’s former merry-go-round sits high on a wall and there are theater chairs, a sleigh and an old oil engine. “I like old things,” she said.

Dale Smith tells how the trolley system included stops at the park and traveled all over.

“The old Coliseum in Ceres was where they generated electricity for them in the old powerhouse,” he said. “They had big engines running generators so they could power the trolleys.”

The Smiths are in a unique position. They oversee rocks and trails that represent times past and how people interacted at the site.

People still marvel at God’s creation while visiting there. The museum offers a material glimpse of former lifestyles. The Smiths also keep an eye toward the future, holding special events.

Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius said, “Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.”

Our times and practices and styles do change, but we also function in the shadow of our history and those who came before us.

And we’re still, as a 1950 high school writer put it, in “eternal pursuit of liberty and happiness.” ✦

32 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo submitted by: Darrin Cornell, Wellsville Circa 1953 50th Anniversary of Edwin C. and Caroline E. Darrin in Coudersport, PA in Aug. 1953 with fourteen of their 15 children, in-laws and 9 of their 15 grandchildren.

Photo submitted by: Joreen Cornell, Olean Circa 1963 Observing filling gas tanks

OTH Archive photo Circa 1941 A dirt road and railroad track on a double bridge over the Allegheny River in S. Olean.

OTH Archive photo Circa 1914 The Shepard Farm in Pleasant Valley.

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

AGRICULTURE

By RICK MILLER

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1900s Senator Albert Fancher’s farm, pitching hay. He was a gentleman farmer. He farmed in Leon from 1900s - 1930s

griculture has played a big role in Cattaraugus County’s heritage, and it continues today to play an important role in the county’s economy.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2012 Census of Agriculture shows agriculture in Cattaraugus County to be a $100 million business.

Dairy farming is king of the county now, but it hasn’t always been that way. Farmers found the land well suited for grazing, but started with sheep and beef cattle. It wasn’t long before dairy cattle began to push out sheep.

An 1830 Cattaraugus County map at the Cattaraugus County Museum in Machias showed 24,986 residents, 28,644 cattle, 39,509 sheep, 25,478 pigs and 4,990 horses.

A

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

Freedom had more pigs than any other town in the county in the county in 1830, 2,205, and the most horses, 484. Perrysburg had the most sheep, 3,958, and Otto had the most cattle, 2,267.

L.H. Everets’ 1879 edition of History of Cattaraugus County, N.Y. notes sheep farming in the county was quite extensive “until farmers became fully awake to their advantages for dairying and the better profits.” With all those hides, there were 30 tanneries in the early 1830s including three in Yorkshire, and two each in Conewango, Franklinville, Farmersville, Hinsdale, Leon, Otto and East Randolph. A very large tannery, Moench Tannery later sat on the banks of Cattaraugus Creek in Gowanda.

As the number of cows increased, the number of sheep dwindled from a high in 1844 of 68,609 to 17,139 in 1875. Dairy

cows had dethroned sheep as the top animal in the county because they were simply more profitable.

With an abundance of milk, butter and cheese factories sprang up to take milk from all the dairy farms.

A Hinsdale man, Zachariah Nobel made cheese in Hinsdale in 1807 using a primitive, but serviceable lever made from a stump and a straight branch that fit into a notch on a nearby tree. A weight on the end of the branch pressed the liquid from the cheese in their round forms. Nobel By 1841, Welch settlers in Yorkshire and Franklinville “became successful cheesemakers,” Everets reports. There were once dozens of cheese and butter factories located in the county.

Today, one commercial cheese factory remains in the county, Valley View Cheese THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 33

AGRICULTURE Co. on Route 62 in Conewango, which uses milk from local Amish farms in the area. The county’s population of about 3,000 Amish includes a good number of dairy farmers.

The region’s biggest cheese factory is just over the border in Allegany County, where Great Lakes Cheese Co. uses Southern Tier milk to make mostly mozzarella and provolone cheeses.

Farming was big back in the early 1800s when the county as first settled and it remains big today, County Historian Sharon Fellows said as she pointed out various historical tidbits she’d pulled together on agriculture then and now. Copies of old photographs show farmers with steel milk cans stacked on horse-drawn wagons outside the East Otto Cheese Factory, the Cattaraugus Mohawk Milk Plant and Moench Tannery in Gowanda. A former county legislator from Otto, James Ellis, provided many of the original photos Fellows has copied at the museum over the years.

Other documents provide a snapshot in time as to the state of the agricultural community in Cattaraugus County. For example: The 1918 State Agricultural Census for the county shows a number facts many will find interesting including: • Less people on farms than a year ago (during World War I).

• 850 farm hands were needed for 1918, and 1,735 were needed for short periods of

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1940 Work horses at a farm on Deer Creek Rd. in Portville.

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1940 The barn at a farm on Deer Creek Rd. in Portville.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1910 Farming in Mansfield, NY

Did you know these important date in agriculture history...

1819 U.S. food canning industry established 1837 John Deere invents steel plough 1841 Practical grain drill patented 1842 First grain elevator, Buffalo 1844 Practical mowing machine patented 1858 Mason jars invented 1871 Louis Pasteur invents pasteurization

34 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

1892 1928 1941 1954 1959 1980 1994

First gasoline tractor Otto Rohwedder introduced bread-slicing machine Frozen foods become a commodity Number of tractors exceeds horses on farms Mechanical tomato harvester developed Farmers use no-till methods to curb erosion Farmers begin using satellite technology to plan

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

AGRICULTURE time that same year (also war-related).

• 35,000 bushels of potatoes on hand above requirements.

• A 20 percent increase in the use of fertilizers over last year.

• A 100 percent in the acreage of corn to be husked (grain).

• A 40 percent increase in the acreage of winter wheat.

• A 50 percent increase in the acreage of spring wheat.

• Buckwheat and barley show a falling off from last year.

• Other crops including corn for silo, oats, beans, potatoes, etc., are about equal with last year.

A March 9, 1888 article from the Cattaraugus Republican touts the advantages preserving corn fodder by “ensilage,” in silos, a process begun in New England.

Many of today’s farmers still use silos, blowing chopped corn into them to preserve it for feed for their herds throughout the year. More often, many of today’s farmers are using large, long plastic tubes that sit on the ground to make an airtight “silo” for corn and hay.

In a paper titled “History of the Town of Otto” preserved by Ellis, farming was in its infancy in the town in the 1820s and 1830s.

“Finding the climate too cold for wheat, the principal crops were oats, corn, buckwheat and hay,” used for raising cows, pigs and

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1940 Estella Pockalny getting ready to milk the cows at a farm on Deer Creek Rd. in Portville.

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1940 Work horses at a farm on Deer Creek Rd. in Portville.

Photo submitted by: Marion Pockalny, Olean Circa 1940 Michael Pockalny with colt Tommy in Portville.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1950 Borden’s milk truck. Plants in Franklinvile, Elicottville and Delevan

THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 35

AGRICULTURE sheep for meat, milk and wool. Farmers harvested grain with a sythe and cradle before the introduction of the mower in the area in the 1860s.

The arrival in 1851 of the New York and Erie Railroad gave farmers a new, quicker way of getting their products to markets in Buffalo. This led many farmers to increase their production. The arrival of the railroad in Cattaraugus spurred construction of several cheese factories. In Otto, there were seven cheese factories that processed milk from 2,250 cows and making 18,800 pounds of cheeses.

The increase in cheese factories not only gave farmers an outlet for their milk, it provided feed for a growing number of pigs.

Farmers brought their milk to the factory in steel cans and left with a wagon loaded with whey from cheese making.

In 1841, the Cattaraugus County Agricultural Society was formed in Ellicottville with the Hon. Peter Ten Broeck of Franklinville elected president. The society held annual fairs — starting in Ellicottville — where farmers competed for premiums and bragging rights.

Among the competitions were horses, cattle (bulls), working oxen and steers, cows and heifers, sheep, swine, butter and cheese, domestic manufactures and maple sugar.

Ten years later, the fair moved to Little Valley, where the present day Cattaraugus

36 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1917 Cheese Factory, East Otto

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1900s Senator Albert Fancher dairy farm. Fancher lived in Salamanca, and farmed in Leon. He loved dairy farming.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1900 An old-fashiooned barn raising in Cattaraugus County. Framework of a barn on Lutz’s Corners on the old Crowley Farm shows builder Mike Blatner sitting on the top peak.

Photo by: Rick Miller Circa 2016 An Amish farm sits atop a hill in Cattaraugus County.

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

AGRICULTURE County Agricultural Society continues to run the county fair to this day. At the 1854 fair in Little Valley, Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune delivered the main address, while ladies showed their domestic manufactures at the Congregational Church.

In his History of Cattaraugus County, Everets, citing droyers and cattle dealers, wrote: “Cattaraugus County cannot be excelled in the quality of its grazing or in the quantity of the grass produced to the acre; that the pasture here suffers less from drought, and makes more and better milk, butter and cheese than can be made from the same area in Orange County (N.Y.), Ohio, Indiana or Illinois.”

Everets added: “In view of these facts and of the wonderful progress already made (through 1875) it is certainly not rash to predict that in the near future Cattaraugus will stand in the very front rank among the prosperous dairy counties of the State.”

Fast forward to the 21st century. Robotic milkers and computers are commonplace on many farms. Tractors costing up to $100,000; combines more than twice that.

Instead of one- and two-bottom plows drawn by horses or oxen, giant tractors pull eightand 10-bottom plows. Hay is baled into round bales and enclosed in plastic wrap.

With a population of just under 80,000 people, Cattaraugus County has 1,038 farms, according to the U.S. Department of Agri-

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Photo courtesy of Gladys Laing, East Otto Circa 1889 The East Otto Cheese Factory.

It was here that the 4,500-pound exhibit for the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 as produced. Farmers brought milk in steel cans and left with whey., which they fed to their hogs.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1891 A man stands next to a team of oxen hitched to a wagon in Randolph.

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1920 Oakes & Burger Dairy Apparatus & Supply in Cattaraugus, NY

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THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 37

AGRICULTURE culture 2012 Census of Agriculture. With 197,257 acres, the farms have an average of 190 acres. Some are smaller, some are larger.

Add up all the equipment and farm machinery on farms in the county and the total is about $95 million, that’s an average of $91,600 a farm.

Add up the value of crops in 2012, the latest year for which the USDA Census of Agriculture is available, and it is more than $100 million including nursery and greenhouse crops, livestock and poultry.

In 2012, the census showed, there were 36,378 cattle and calves on 488 farms in the county - including 15,435 milk cows and 2,890 beef cows on 198 farms.

Hogs and pigs totaled 456 on 54 farms (437 or the 456 were sold).

Sheep, which back in the 1850s totaled nearly 40,000, were down to about 1,457 on 52 farms. Chickens numbered 3,071 layers on 81 farms. Another 2,209 broilers were sold on 22 farms, according to the ag census.

Of the major grain crops in 2012, 134 farms in the county grew corn for grain on 9,105 acres, according to the 2012 ag census. Another 14,035 acres were used for corn silage on 168 farms. There were only 634 acres of winter wheat on 10 farms.

Photo by: Rick Miller In the 25 years between 1970 and 1995, This wooden water bucket, once used in a blackCattaraugus County lost more than half of smith’s shop, is on exhibit along with other antiques its agricultural lands, from 400,212 acres in in the Cattaraugus County Museum in Machias.

Print courtesy of: Everets History of Cattaraugus County Circa 1875 Lucius Hubbard farm, Dayton.

Photo by: Rick Miller Circa 2016 An Amish farmer cuts corn in a field in the Town of Machias.

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-. . -. c )& ( c 38 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

')( ./ ."/ *' c 1 ,# *' c - . *' THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

AGRICULTURE 1970, to 194,756 acres in 1995, according to “Cattaraugus County - 1808 to 1995/96” by the late county planner Carol O’Brien.

Most of the loss was the sale of the property for residential purposes, although gravel mining accounts for some for the loss as well, along with taking ag land out of production and classifying it as vacant, according to the study.

The 2012 agriculture census showed the average age of farmers in Cattaraugus County was 58.4 years, which is longer than most farmers lived in the 1800s.

Another interesting fact from 2012 is that so many women are described as principal operators of 163 farms in the county, while men are principal operators of 875 farms. Few women in the 1800s ran family farms in the 1800s.

Also in 2012, 29 farms in the county reported incomes of $500,000 or more, with another 36 reporting incomes above $250,000.

With average production expenses of $83,262 in 2012, farmers in the county had an average net income of $18,275.

Since it is an average, some earned more, some less.

The easily noticeable differences in agriculture in Cattaraugus County between the early 1800s and today’s 21st century farms include farm machinery, the size of farms and the diversity of products farms across

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

Photo by: Rick Miller Circa 2015 Baling hay in the town of Great Valley.

Print courtesy of: Everets History of Cattaraugus County The residence and 250-acre farm of Samuel Harvey of Mansfield, who served as supervisor from 1834-39, and was later justice of the peace.

Photo by: Rick Miller Circa 2016 An Amish farmer plows a field in the spring in the town of Leon.

Print courtesy of: Everets History of Cattaraugus County A primitive cheese press like the one used by a Hinsdale farmer, Zachariah Nobel in 1807. There were once dozens of cheese factories in Cattaraugus County

Photo by: Rick Miller Cattaraugus County Historian Sharon Fellows holds a scythe/cradle used by local farmers in the 1800s before mechanical harvesters.

THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

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AGRICULTURE the county.

To visualize the difference between 18th century farm equipment and that of the present day, one only has to look at the equipment in use by many of the county’s Amish farmers. It is pulled by a team horses, just as the early settlers used.

There are also fewer farms (just over 1,000 today), but they are bigger. Today’s farm equipment is equal to the power of dozens of types of machinery from the 1800s. It allows farmers to be more efficient and to provide more products from the same amount of ground.

The products from today’s farms are also more diverse. With modern transportation and refrigeration methods, products grown in Cattaraugus County can be moved almost anywhere in a short amount of time.

No longer is ice cut from Lime Lake and other bodies of water to keep milk cold.

More farmers are growing for local consumption, whether it be a roadside market, central farmer’s market or grocery stores.

Canticle Farm in Allegany sells shares in its produce entitling shareholders to a portion of whatever ripens at a given time.

Both current “farm to table” examples are a far cry from the subsistence farming practiced by early settlers and pioneer immigrants who grew what they needed from seeds they sowed in their small clearings — wheat and potatoes at first. ✦

40 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo by: Rick Miller This old oxen yoke was once used by Cattaraugus County farmers to pull plows and other equipment after early settlers arrived in the early 1800s.

Photo by: Rick Miller This wooden washing machine from the late 1800s was hand operated with a wheel to stir the clothes. It is on display i the Cattaraughus County Museum in Machias.

Photo by: Rick Miller Circa 2016 A farmer combines wheat in Cattaraugus County

Photo by: Rick Miller Circa 2016 A combine unloads wheat into a truck near Route 353 in the town of Little Valley.

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

RECREATION

By WADE ROBERTSON

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1907 Swimming under the Versailles Bridge in Gowanda, NY.

ong ago, the river that is today called the Allegheny wandered its way from today’s Pennsylvania, joined up with a creek (the Oswayo) and eventually flowed into Lake Erie.

Then, during the last ice age, the huge glacier ground its way southward, stopping over today’s Olean.

The great wall of ice dammed up the river, creating a huge, many fingered lake reaching up the Allegheny itself to Port Allegany, Pa., and the the Tunungwant to Bradford, Pa. Over millennia these lake bottoms filled in with sediment, explaining why all these streams have such very flat bottomlands. The river’s change from a largely mud, sand and clay sediment bottom to only stone is easily seen at the confluence with Oswayo Creek, the glacier’s edge.

L

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

The large, ice-dammed lake grew deeper and deeper until it eventually found the lowest area on the south range of hills, probably the back of a tributary stream, spilled over the ridge and changed the course of the river itself, cutting a new, deep channel flowing south to today’s Pittsburgh.

When the glacier began melting, torrents of water poured down the new river channel, eventually meeting up with the Kinzua Creek. The original river channel became choked with ice and glacier stone and silt. It’s hard to believe that Randolph once sat on the main path of the river.

The wide, flat valleys of Steamburg and the surrounding areas simply filled in with the millions and trillions of tons of silt and dirt trapped in the glacial

ice. The flat areas were the last to melt while many of the surrounding hills were formed by the sediment laden streams flowing off the top of the melting ice.

The Olean area was originally known to the Indians and early pioneers as Ischua up to 1765. The land originally was that of the Wenro Indian tribe, a lesserknown group belonging to the Iroquois Confederacy who fought in the French and Indian Wars during which they became separated into smaller and smaller groups by conflicts, first with the French and later among the Indians themselves.

The Senecas eventually took over their lands.

In those days of immense virgin forests, the Allegheny and its tributaries were the principal means of transportation, usually canoes, some of which were THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 41

RECREATION quite large and could hold 20 people or a ton of freight or more.

It wasn’t until 1779 when Continental soldiers blazed a road to Kittanning, Pa., following parts of what is now Route 16, that Olean first became connected to the outside world of its day by land.

In those early days the Allegheny held not only large numbers of smallmouth bass, but trout as well along with the muskellunge, native to the Allegheny Watershed. Muskies of 50 and 60-inches were common back then, but the settlers were not enamored with their numerous bones and usually released them, preferring the Photo courtesy of: Portville Historical and Preservation Society more common trout and bass.

Circa 1890 Interior of John Nagel’s bicycle and woodworking shop in Portville.

River and stream levels were much higher in those days of extensive forest and the waters were pure and unpolluted The early settlers commonly set large nets in river eddies and backwaters, often catching hundreds of fish at a time. Usually they were eaten, or smoked, sometimes rafted downriver and sold, especially in colder weather.

Carp didn’t exist in North America then, but tremendous schools of whiteand red-tailed suckers existed. In the spring when they ran, thousands were OTH Archive photo caught and smoked. Fishermen kept the Circa 1960 fish they wanted and released or sold Cloud 9 amusement park in Olean the others. Every smaller tributary held healthy populations of brook trout up to

42 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

OTH Archive photo Circa 1910 A father and young daughter enjoy the winter snow.

OTH Archive photo Circa 1908 Camping at the Honeoye Valley Temperance Assembly in the Shinglehouse Park

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

RECREATION 20-inches long, though most were around a foot.

The Eastern elk were common throughout the Eastern forest, but by the early 1800s were extinct from all but the northern Alleghenies, and some of the last were in and near the Olean area and Allegheny River, south into Pine Creek.

The elk wintered in the Pine Creek area, migrating northward in the summer. The native deer and elk of those times had a bluish-looking summer coat very noticeable in the sunlight.

Eastern elk were larger than their cousins in the West and excellent eating.

Their antlers commonly reached 6 feet in length and a mature bull weighed 1,000 pounds and a very large bull even more.

Eastern elk were commonly hunted with dogs and would not come to bay until they reached a rock with one high side, preferably on a steep side hill. They’d jump up on such a rock, preventing the dogs or wolves from getting behind them and hamstringing their rear legs. Using the rocks this way they were often successful in defending themselves.

Other methods employed to hunt deer and elk included taking a raft and bright torches down streams and rivers.

The deer and elk would stand, watching the bright light, and many could be shot, when they finally ran from the raft or

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

OTH Archive photo Circa 1980 Two ladies in long skirts preparing to ride bicycles

OTH Archive photo Circa 1967 Little Genesee Garden Club toured Roland’s Garden in Friendship.

OTH Archive photo Circa 1912 A group of tourists visit Little Rock City.

OTH Archive photo Circa 1886 Peckham’s Billards in Portville

Photo courtesy of: Portville Historical and Preservation Societ Circa 1886 John Peckman in his Billiard Parlor and Tobacco shop in Portville.

He sold the best fireworks for the Fourth of July.

OTH Archive photo Circa 1960 Fentier Village in Salamanca

THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

| 43

RECREATION canoe they’d see their own shadows before them and turn and run back to the water.

In this way many more were killed.

Though elk were captured and sold for exhibit, it appears that no one displaying the elk ever thought of keeping breeding pairs — unfortunate, or they may have been saved from extinction. The last Eastern elk was killed Sept. 1, 1877.

Squirrels swarmed the forests. With around half of the trees being chestnut and healthy populations of beech, oak and other nut-bearing trees, squirrels were taken for granted. In the fall when they migrated, settlers would stand on the edge of the river and club swimming squirrels as they came ashore by the hundreds.

Rifles, powder and lead were expensive and often in short supply. Anything that could be trapped or killed without using a firearm was important to the early settlers, who often were close to starvation in the wilderness.

In the first decade of the 1800s, Major Adam Hoops named his proposed village at the confluence of Olean Creek and the river Olean — a natural point for commerce as most travel was by water at the time.

By 1850, Olean became the area’s chief lumber producer, trees and boards being sold locally and rafted down the river to Pittsburgh for sale. An extension of the We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.

Photo submitted by: Doug Perkins, Salamanca Circa 1963 The Perkins boys holding a 46” muskellunge caught on the first day of “muskie” season.

OTH Archive photo Circa 1979 Jubilation Disco Club in Olean

The first YMCA rooms opened on the second floor of the Duke Block Building at 215 N. Union St. (current JCC campus). Facilities included a reading room, social parlor, gymnasium and a boarding house registry. As the Y movement grew in our area, the facility moved to meet the needs of the community. The Y later moved to 130 S. Union St. and finally 1101 Wayne St.

44 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1970 Old Canal Town, Delevan

OLEAN YMCA

THEN 1886 Æ

OTH Archive photo Circa 1908 Camping at the Honeoye Valley Temperance Assembly in the Shinglehouse Park

Still serving our community after 130 years!

NOW 2016 Æ

The Olean Y is the largest branch of the YMCA of the Twin Tiers. It serves more than 7,000 members and program participants and runs a fully-licensed Child Care & Early Learning Center. Membership includes facility use, group exercise classes and child watch. The Y never turns anyone away due to inability to pay.

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

RECREATION Erie Canal made it to Olean, but the same year the railroad was completed, rendering the canal obsolete.

With the side hills and valleys stripped of timber, the wood business switched rapidly over to a new boom, oil. Olean quickly becoming a hub of rail and pipeline oil transport.

The 1920s brought a different flood — Prohibition and the illegal liquor trade.

Local authorities took a lenient view of things and as long as no other lawlessness was associated with booze, it was overlooked. Olean became a Little Chicago and Al Capone was a frequent visitor.

With the forests gone and farms prevalent throughout the region, grouse, rabbits and other small game became very common and were extensively hunted.

The river did draw reasonable numbers of migratory waterfowl, which were baited and shot with 10- and even 8-gauge shotguns, the object being to shoot as many birds on the water with one shot as possible.

By the 1930s the hills were once again green and vibrant and Michigan deer had been stocked to replace the native ones.

The deer flourished in the new-growth forests and rich bottom lands and spread rapidly. Having learned from experience, conservationists established game departments, laws and seasons and with the

Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1920s Auto racing at the Cattauragus County Fair in Little Valley Photo submitted by: Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias Circa 1920s Bathing beauty of Lime Lake

OTH Archive photo Circa 1908 Camping at the Honeoye Valley Temperance Assembly in the Shinglehouse Park

Photo submitted by: Phil Geer, Allegany Circa 1955 Robert Ingalls, Jerry Kenyon, Terry Forrest, and Phillip Geer formed a marching band over the summer to pass the time and practiced in Lincoln Park

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Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

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THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

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RECREATION monies generated by license sales; deer were vigorously protected.

In those early days, concern over the flat terrain in much of Western New York caused the establishment of shotgun-only hunting for deer. The 12-gauge “pumpkin ball,” a one-ounce sphere of lead, became the lethal and only legal deer round.

Hunting clothes were what you had if you were poor — wool long underwear, pants and a warm jacket if you had one were regular deer hunting apparel. Those better off wore the pinnacle of deer hunting clothing, Woolrich red and black checked jackets and pants. The dense wool was heavy, but cut the wind, was warm even when wet and dried on your body. It was survival-quality stuff and still is today.

Shotgun shells developed rapidly and the rifled slug soon made its appearance.

The slug had thick rifling grooves and lands cut on its sides, which spun the slug going out the barrel, stabilizing the big chunk of lead and making it more accurate, sometimes out to 100 yards. Many hunters even today still rely on the rifled slug to take their venison.

Since the rifled slug shot best out of a cylinder-bored shotgun or improved cylinder barrel, shotgun companies began manufacturing shotguns specifically for deer hunting. Perhaps the most famous

46 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

OTH Archive photo Circa 1958 Auto racing at the Roulette, PA raceway

OTH Archive photo Circa 1960 Keith Wedge turkey hunting

OTH Archive photo Circa 1909 Horse racing at a track in Shinglehouse, PA

OTH Archive photo Circa 1975 Joe Dee Starlighters at the Cabaret Nightclub in Olean

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016

RECREATION was the Ithaca Deerslayer pump shotgun.

Its reputation for accuracy and a quick second shot soon made it highly sought after and a treasured heirloom today, especially if it’s an early model.

In early days shotguns, often double barrels, only had a front bead. As the shotguns became more accurate, sights were added and eventually the receivers were drilled for scope mounts. Since most shotgun barrels are removable and not fastened to the receiver barrels, they shifted slightly in orientation shot to shot, with the scope on the receiver — not good for accuracy. Barrels then were designed with an integral tang extending back over the receiver on which the scope was mounted.

It followed naturally enough that shotguns with permanent, rifled barrels, drilled and tapped for scopes, would appear on the shelves. These were deadly accurate, but slugs could only be shot so fast. Sabot rounds were next. Sabots are a 12-gauge plastic sleeve with a smaller bullet inside, usually .45 caliber. These smaller, lighter, but deadly projectiles could be pushed much faster and shotguns suddenly could shoot 200 yards or farther.

After all this technology, we can now hunt with rifles in New York state, which suddenly made all the previous technological leaps irrelevant. As the times do change. ✦

OTH Archive photo Circa 1968 Swimmers at the Moore Memorial Pool in Bolivar

OTH Archive photo Circa 1965 Dewey Olmstead and Jim Kemp holding a stringer of bass on the “singing” bridge on Horse Run Road near Shinglehouse, PA.

OTH Archive photo Circa 1959 Former Bolivar Little League Field

Did you know these important date in recreation history...

1872 1892 1901 1916 1916 1918 1937

Congress established Yellowstone National Park John Muir formed the Sierra Club U.S. Forest Service enacted National Park Service created First campground developed Migratory Bird Treaty Act passed Pittman-Robinson Act placed tax on guns and ammunition

Nov. 10, 2016 • THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD

1950 Dingell-Johnson Act placed tax on fishing tackle and boats 1966 Endangered species act passed 1970 Clean Air Act passed 1972 First Earth Day 1977 Clean Water Act Passed 2005 Wildlife Action Plan enacted

THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

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48 | THEN AND NOW • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

THE OLEAN TIMES HERALD • Nov. 10, 2016