Let's Go Back for May 23, 2014

40 Years Ago, May 15, 1974

Population explosion?

The official population of Grand Island rose from 9,607 to 13,977 during the 10-year period of 1960 to 1970, a substantial gain. But the largest increase in the shortest length of time, percentage-wise, occurred back in 1942 when 50 new families moved into Grandyle Village within a month.

It was in February and March that the first homes in the development near the south Grand Island Bridge were completed and their owners from the mainland took possession.

The houses on Love Road, on 55- and 50-foot frontage lots, were built well within the town's zoning requirements at that time. The price was $4,950, the down payment $500, and monthly payments, $32.50, including interest and taxes.

Sears, Roebuck and Company, the selling agents, experienced no difficulty in signing up buyers after the first ad appeared in the area newspaper in 1941.

... Not many of the original villagers in the 32-year-old section of Grandyle still reside there. ...

30 Years Ago, May 11, 1984

Federal hearing airs FTZ support here

The federal government came to town this week to view firsthand the town itself and sites set aside for a Foreign Trade Zone. Called to air questions and receive statements of support or nonsupport from business and civic organizations for a FTZ on Grand Island, a federal information Tuesday morning in the Town Hall was presided over by John DaPonte, director of the Foreign Trade Zones staff of the United States Department of Commerce.

DaPonte said the department was authorized to issue grants of authority to proposed zones in or adjacent to a U.S. Customs port of entry. Buffalo/Niagara Falls, he noted, was among the top three ports moving merchandise across a border, noting further that 70 percent of this country's foreign trade is with Canada alone.

The Grand Island Foreign Trade Zone, No. 23-G, an expansion of the Erie County trade zone, comprises 282 acres on seven sites within one mile of each other near the Island's industrial park. ...

20 Years Ago, May 13, 1994

Residents oppose plans for Ransom, Stony Point plaza, subdivision

Plans for a subdivision and plaza at Ransom and Stony Point roads were vigorously opposed by nearby property owners at meetings in the Town Hall April 28 and Tuesday evening. ...

At the lengthy April meeting, opposition to the project included its impact on traffic, drainage, school population, safety and sewer facilities. The second meeting, held Tuesday to obtain further comment, drew similar comments from about 38 property owners.

10 Years Ago, May 14, 2004

GIHS to host NFL track championships

Grand Island High School will host the Niagara Frontier League Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 19, and Thursday, May 20. ...

The meet is expected to be very competitive this year because it will determine the overall NFL team title. ...

For this year's championships, Grand Island will use a new, semi-automatic timing system where the starter activates the clock with a "gun sensor," while finish line judges time the race.