Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Fire!! - That Motorcycle Place / Kohl's

A few years back I had been wandering around Lockport looking for I don't remember what, and had stumbled upon an old building filled with motorcycle parts. From there I found a website with interior photos and info (links here and there for old blog posts labeled "Weird Tales parts 1 and 2" and more links).

What prompted this here post was the headline currently on the Buffalo News page...Fire :( From the current article: "

"LOCKPORT – Thick black smoke can be seen for miles and a number of roads in the City of Lockport have been rerouted as crews attempt to put out a fire this afternoon at the old Kohl’s Cycle Sales at 71 Gooding Street.
A number of fire crews have been called to the scene of the fire which is reportedly spreading toward a nearby railroad trestle and is dropping hot ashes into Scalzo Park.
The fire at the building was reported after 1:30 p.m. today.
Two ladder trucks could be seen dousing the building with water. Heavy fire could be seen inside the building at about 2 p.m.
City employees who happened to be in the area saw some young people running away from the scene just before the time the fire was reported, according to City Lockport Fire Chief Thomas J. Passuite.
The building, which is vacant, is owned by the city. It was originally constructed in 1875 and it covers 53,360 square feet. The assessed value of the structure is $50,000, according to city assessor Harry Williams."
 Update (of sorts): Many more photos and a fascinating story  about the "motorcycle graveyard", including the fact that a lot of the bikes (on semi-solid ground) had been mostly removed before the fire: http://dcclassiccycles.dynamitedave.com/graveyard.html and here http://rosatiphotos.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/motorcycle-graveyard-a-last-visit/ .

Clarence Teacher Rosalie Schmidt-Karkula RIP

Mrs. Schmidt was one of my English teachers back in the day. May she rest in peace.

From the Clarence Bee:

"Mrs. Schmidt-Karkula was a teacher for 42 years, 36 of which were at Clarence High School, where she served as head of the English department for many years.  She retired in 1990.

She also was involved with the Clarence Women's Club and the Contemporary Club.

Mrs. Schmidt-Karkula was a Eucharistic minister and member of Our Lady of Peace Church."


SCHMIDT-KARKULA  - Rosalie (nee LaDuca) July 2, 2013, of Clarence, NY, 87, wife of the late Stephen Karkula; beloved mother of Edward Schmidt (Karen Koepsell), Marilynn Schmidt, Gregory (Elizabeth) Schmidt and Brian (Michele) Schmidt; loving grandmother of Joe Clarke, Michael Ward, Kimberly Evans, Andrew Schmidt, Jeffrey Schmidt, Anthony Schmidt, Jonathan Schmidt and Halle Schmidt; also survived by four great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday July 8, 2013 at 10 AM from Our Lady of Peace Church, 10950 Main St., Clarence. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (http://www.alzfdn.org). Arrangements by SHEPARD BROS. FUNERAL HOME.