Member Pages Chautauqua County Historical Society - Member Activities - Chautauqua County - New York - USA
Wood Brick Streets - Jamestown, New York
Chautauqua County, New York, USA
This bit of history coming to an end inspired me to put this member page together...
On May 31, 2007 the City of Jamestown Department of Public Works Street Crews began uncovering a history mystery. It was known that at one time wooden blocks/bricks were used to pave a section of Pine Street between 5th and 6th Streets. The mystery was whether or not the wood bricks were still there. Unfortunately the discovery that they are there is diminished by the fact that now due to street reconstruction, the wooden bricks are being removed.
Looking South West from Pine Street Just North of W.5th Street
St. Lukes Church in background, George H. Ahrens Home to right (now Burgett and Robbins Attorneys Offices)
Jamestown, New York June 1, 2007
Story by noted local historian (now gone...) as it appeared in the Jamestown Post Journal in 1979.
Soon to be landfill.
The bricks are of hardwood and measure 2.5" x 3" x 6". They were treated with coal tar creosote as a preservative and still smell of it!
