We continue our travel through time as we visit 1950. It's the middle of the century, the halfway point. Let us begin the journey.

        Changes continue in all areas except the presidency - Harry S. Truman is at the helm and makes a landmark decision in June - to send troops to fight the Korean War, familiarly referred to as the Korean Conflict. This year is also the year Truman orders the development of the Hydrogen Bomb.

        Less stressful events nationally include the invention of the Xerographic copying machine and "All About Eve" is chosen Best Picture. Also receiving academy awards are Jose Ferrer as best actor for his performance in "Cyrano de Bergerac" and Judy Holiday as best actress for her role in "Born Yesterday."

        This is also the year that sees the New York Yankees win the World Series, Detroit Red Wings take home the Stanley Cup and Johnnie Parsons flagged as winner of the Indianapolis 500.

        Locally, the Gowanda Free Library celebrates its golden anniversary. Board members at this 50-year moment in time include Dr. Henry Allen, president; Mrs. William Muir, treasurer; and Mrs. Marvin Simon, Mrs. Norman Kempf, Mrs. Louis Palcic, Hugh McDonald, J. A. Hunter and the Rev. Merl Schiffman, trustees.

        A mass protest also takes place against the Erie Railroad and its use of coal to power locomotives through Gowanda. Citing a smoke nuisance, protesters demand dieselization to alleviate the billowing black clouds and their residue.

        Gowanda State Hospital has a change in leadership in the fall as Dr. Charles Buckman is promoted to assistant director of the Department of Mental Hygene and Dr. Erwin Mudge is appointed acting director of the Gowanda facility.

        After months of planning and construction, opening ceremonies for Tri-County Memorial Hospital on Memorial Drive are henl Nov. 25.

        In the classified section of the Gowanda News, an advertisement reads: For sale: Land, buildings and permanent fixtures of the Tri-County Memorial Hospital located at 84 Chestnut St. with frontage on Torrance Place, suitable for rooming house. The frontage on Torrance Place may bid separately. Possession may be had when new hospital opens. Address all bids to Tri-County Memorial Hospital, Gowanda, NY.

        Also making headlines at that time is the announcement by Myron Dunlavy, manager of New York Telephone Company, that the number of telephones in Gowanda has increased from 1,642 to 2,709 over the last five years.

        Other breaking news of 1950 is a report by Gowanda merchants that states sales of television sets are good.

        An article attesting this declaration runs in the "Gowanda News" noting "...excellent black and white programs are availanle today ..." It is also assumed that " ...the only color television sets available today are, in a sense, experimental sets developed only for laboratories and demonstration purposes."

        As 10-inch and 12 1/2-inch pictures are considered obsolete, consumers opt for 16-inch screens.
        Another column in the local paper, "Behind the Scenes in American Buisness," reports the things to come, "A doll with a hundred faces; made of rigid plastic sheet, its features can be changed by merely whiping off its face with a tissue and drawing a new one."

        Also proposed are "Transparent shoes to replace the X-ray now used by shoe stores in getting a correct fit for children's feet, and made on the same lasts used for leather shoes."

        Along a cultural tone, Mrs. Sadie Tesch offers accordian, guitar and piano lessons, as well as rental and sales of instruments at her West Main Street home. Gowanda Unit 409 American Legion Auxiliary presents the play "It's A Date" at the high school auditorium. Tickets for the production are $1 for adults and 40 cents for children and students.

        During the Nov. 16 presentation of the two-day event, winners of the Tiny Tot Contest are declared. Contestants vying for the title are: Boys - Michael Cook, Bobby Gill, Dale Carman, Leonard Strauss, Jackie Eggen, Robert Stelley, Tommy Sharrow, David Kuhs, Gordon Gates, Paul Danahy, Brian Perrigo, Larry Rogers, Jerry Rogers, Mike McAlpine.

        Harry Scott Campbell, Richard Stout, Billy Vance, Ricky Robinson, Timmy Witherell, Carlton Berg, Ronald Ellis, Gregory Shaw, Willard Irving Rogers, Danny Huch, James Law, Alan Craig Winship, Douglas Johnson, Danny Goran, and David Vogel.

        Girls - Lynda Ann Gebhardt, Barbara Kuhs, Cathy Hager, Judy Titus; Kathleen Linn Kaluza, Roberta Mendler, Virginia Tutt, Barbara Tutt, Bonnie Stelley, Lois Berg, Gerry Hewitt, Ruth Hammer, Donna Cummings, Peggy McAlpine, Linda Jackson.

        Cheryl Jackson, Karen Campbell, Susie Guziec, Mary Lee Campbell, Marilyn Stout, Patty Witt, Chickie Stelley, Suzanne English, Dale Marie Johnson, Marcia Korosec, Sandra Harrington, Judith Ann Johnson and Jackie Goran.

        Another activity involving youngsters is the selection of Gowanda students for participation in the All-State Sectional Music Festival. Chosen for this honor are Diantha Babcock and Nanette Plummer, clarenet; William Gilray, bass saxophone; Robert Vehar, solo coronet; Gordon Schiffman, trombone; and Mary Jane Minner, baritone.

        Selected for their vocal abilities are Shirley Smith, first soprano; Dorothy Wing, second soprano; Geraldine Bastedo, first alto; Judy Moreland, second alto; Gerald Ackley and William Allen, first tenors; Martin Schindler, first bass; and Clifford Chapman and Richard Nagle, second basses.

        Gowanda music directors, Julia Godden and George Merrill, accompany the students to the festival held in Jamestown.

        Other entertaining moments include Moench Tanning Company's Social Club holding its annual fall dance in November in the club rooms of the Collins Concervation Club, a stage show is hosted by the Future Farmers of Gowanda, featuring Ramblin' Lou, and Santa comes to Campbell's Furniture store at 10 East Main Street.

        Showing at the Hollywood are "Jackpot" with James Stewart, C. Hale, Patricia Medina and J. Gleason, and "Two Flags West" starring Joseph Cotten, Linda Darnell, Jeff Chandler and Cornell Wilde.

        To recharge from all the activities around the area, the Main Diner offers fish fries (blue pike filets, French fries, cabbage salad) for 65 cents, oyster stew with crackers for 50 cents, spaghetti and meatballs for 75 cents and shrimp cocktail for 50 cnts.

        Those making home-cooked meals can choose from numerous specials at local stores. The Market Basket advertises California iceberg lettuce for 15 cents a head, parsnips, three pounds for 25 cents, and two 14-ounce bottles of Heinz ketchup for 45 cents.

        Nu-Way tempts taste buds with their specials: a 12-ounce glass of Peter Pan peanut butter is only 31cents, pure ground beef is 59 cents a pound, Nestle chocolate morsels are 23 cents a package and lobster tails sell for 85 cents a pound.

        A canned goods sale is the big news at Don Campbell's Red and White store. Corn is 19 cents a can, two cans of peas are 25 cents and sliced apples sell for 19 cents a can. Staples are also on special; Gold Medal flour is $1.98 for 25 pounds and, for only 35 cents, shoppers can buy a 15-pound peck of homegrown potatoes.

        For consumers walking to the grocery store to pick up bargans, Armes Brown Bilt Shoe Store is advertizing Roblee slip-on oxfords for only $10.95 a pair. Those driving can check out Seider Motor Sales, at Main and Water streets, where the big news is the "Job-rated" 1/2-ton pickup featuring the "widest seat, biggest windshield and Air-O-Ride." Witt-Anderson Motor Company is also pushing trucks, Chevrolet, equipped with valve-in head.

        Families needing more seating can test drive an Oldsmobile "Rocket" 88, touted as the lowest-priced "Rocket" hydra-matic car!"

        One of the biggest sports announcements of the year is the Football All-Star Selections made in late fall at the annual banquet of the Southwestern Scholastic Football Conference. Coach Howard Hillis participates in the selection.

        Chosen for the first team, from Gowanda, are: Dan Jemison, guard; and Bill Pine, back. Making the second team are: Hank Twoguns, end; and Dick Victor, back.

        These are just a few of the events happening locally in 1950. For the most part, many positive things take place, with countless numbers of residents contributing to the history of the area. Our focus turns to 1951 next week as we edge closer to the year 2000.