Fenton History Center

06/16/2026

We are LIVE on YouTube!

Appreciating the Architecture of the First Presbyterian Church at 100 - John Smagner

Constructed 100 years ago, First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown r...

06/13/2026

Catch Collections Manager Matt and Education Coordinator Liz at the Jamestown Farmers Market today until 3pm near the corner of 3rd and Pine! They’re all set up with not only info on the Fenton Museum and Hall House Research Library, but also pieces of our past exhibit “Protest and Pride” on display for the Pride Celebration! Come color and learn from us!

06/12/2026

Robert H. Jackson was the U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Chief U.S. Prosecutor at Nuremberg. Jackson came from a humble background, was largely self-taught, and never ran for political office, yet he became one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century.
On June 12, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Robert H. Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States. The Senate confirmed Jackson’s appointment on July 7, and he took the judicial oath on July 11, 1941. He served until his passing in 1954.

06/12/2026

Little Ken Ayers is back to say THANK YOU!!!! for your donations.

06/11/2026

Little Ken Ayers is back to find out if you gave to the Fenton History Center yet to help take care of his picture. If you donate by 7:16 PM he gets some extra $$ from the pool of gift money at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation! Go to givebigchq.org, search for the Fenton History Center and help Ken out!

06/11/2026

Little Ken Ayers is smiling because its GiveBigCHQ DAY!!!!!
Hop on over to https://www.givebigchq.org, search for Fenton History Center and make Ken's day!

06/11/2026

Opened in 1912 on June 11, the Samuels Hotel was built after the Sherman Hotel was destroyed in the 1910 Gokey fire. It is now the Covenant Manor building. It was built by dry goods merchant Charles Samuels (the owner of the Sherman Hotel). He hired the Buffalo architecture firm Esenwein & Johnson to design a new $325,000 hotel. It opened as the New Samuels Hotel (later shortened to Hotel Samuels or Samuels Hotel). As you can see it was elegant and Jamestown NY's only first class hotel.

06/10/2026

Open since June 10, 1958, the Migliore Funeral Home had been a staple at 415 E. Fourth St. in Jamestown. First operated by Frank Migliore Sr. shortly after returning from World War II and going to school, who later sold it to his son in 1989, the funeral home helped generations of families deal with the loss of loved ones. It closed in 2019. note: Jamestown Post-Journal, Jul 28, 2019, Eric Tichy, City Editor

06/10/2026

REMINDER - Give Big CHQ is tomorrow - visit our page to support our Vets programming, our general operating day-to-day costs and the Chadakoin Valley project (black history in Jamestown).

I’m ready to support Fenton History Center on June 11, 2026 during Give Big CHQ 2026. Learn more about Fenton History Center and all the other organizations participating in Give Big CHQ 2026.

06/09/2026

June 9, 1849 - Johanna Charlotta Johnson arrived in Jamestown - the first Swede. This story has been around for years. The Jamestown Swedes website has the whole story - or as close to the truth as you can get. Check it out.

The history of the Swedes in Jamestown revolves around the dynamics that transformed Jamestown after the Civil War into a bustling indu...