This page should have loaded in it's own window.Click here to close it to return to the previous page.

Gowanda PennySaver News - August 10, 2008

1898 GOWANDA SEMI-CENTENNIAL

The village of Gowanda celebrated the 50th anniversary of incorporation on Aug. 8-9, 1898. A busy schedule of events was presented, including a loan exhibit of antiques and historical artifacts, the raising of a liberty pole, ascension of a hot-air balloon, a gathering of pioneers and their descendants at the Opera House, and a grand ball in the evening. The first day was rainy, which left the streets muddy for the parade, but the second day was sunny and the crowd was the largest ever seen in the village. A newspaper article said, “The sidewalks were so packed with people that it was necessary to take the street if one desired to get to another place.”

The law firm of Thrasher & Leonard issued this commemorative postal cover for the celebration. Also shown here are photos of the parade on Monday, Aug. 8, one looking through the iron bridge on Main Street, and the other showing the parade on Jamestown Street approaching the village square. In the latter photo, the three-story white building on the right was the Union House, later to become the Martin Hotel. It burned in 1946.

Photos courtesy of the Gowanda Area Historical Society.

The Gowanda Area Historical Society museum is open Thursdays
from 1-4 p.m. at Chestnut and Commercial streets.