The Charming Small Town In New York That Was Home To Lucille Ball Once Upon A Time
By Christy Articola|Updated on April 15, 2024(Originally published August 26, 2022)
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
You may not know much about Jamestown, New York. This south-central small town in New York is not as populous as it once was, but it’s still quite charming and it’s a great place to visit. Many people don’t realize that it was also the birthplace of world-famous comedienne, actress, and producer Lucille Ball, and it’s also her final resting place. Read on to learn more about the wonders and allure of Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, NY.
Jamestown, New York is considered a city, but with a population of just over 28,000, it's really a big small town.
Way back in 1911, Lucille Ball was born here to Henry Durrell "Had" and Desiree Evelyn "DeDe" Ball. The family moved often during her childhood and left the area when Lucy was very small. However, after her father died at age 27 when she was just 3, she and her mother and siblings moved back to the general area to be near her mother's family.
When Lucille Ball died in 1989, her cremated remains were first interred in Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. However, her family knew that she always wanted to be buried near her mother, so in 2002, her remains were relocated to Lake View Cemetery in Jamestown.
Today, you can visit the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum & Center for Comedy in Jamestown. Also, Jamestown's Little Theatre was renamed the Lucille Ball Little Theatre in her honor, and the street she was born on was renamed Lucy Street.
Jamestown is a great place to visit even if you're not a big Lucille Ball fan or if you are unfamiliar with her work. The downtown area is lined with many shops and restaurants.
There are numerous abandoned buildings around town due to the population decline, but most are well-maintained. Jamestown residents take pride in their hometown.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church has stood on Main Street since 1892. This church is an excellent example of Late Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival architecture. It replaced a former church in this location, built in 1854, that burned down.
There are numerous historic sites to visit around town. The Robert H. Jackson Center was established to advance the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Jackson, who began his career in this area.
Even though Jamestown can be quite cold in the wintertime, it's still a great destination. People from Jamestown are friendly and welcoming and look forward to your visit.
Did you know that Jamestown, New York, was Lucille Ball’s hometown? Some people may try to tell you that there is nothing to see or do in Jamestown, but those people are wrong. In fact, it’s impossible not to love this place. Plan your visit to this charming small town in New York today! You’ll be glad that you did.
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