Frenchy's / Leo's / Marvin's Tavern

Back in my day the bar at the corner of Goodrich / Wolcott / Delaware Roads was called Frenchy's from about the 1920's on. The property was also the site of an early post office 1873-1893.

 It was then Leo's for about 20 years, and then Marvin's....now it is no more. The building, which was over 100 years old, more or less went up in smoke on December 15, 2013. Supposedly it's a total loss ($400,000+), but maybe not....time will tell.

 (the story/video on WGRZ)

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/ .

1812 Mound in the Meadow 2012

The War of 1812 is all the rage now, as well it should be. The war started 200 years ago this week and Western New York was a large part of it. As I wrote last year, there are 300 soldiers from that war buried in the middle of Ring Road, Delaware Park....about where hole #4 of the golf course is.

Last year Steve Cichon lead a processional out there to honor the soldiers buried in the Mound in the Meadow.  This year he spearheaded an additional memorial which ended up being placed outside the Zoo as it borders on the Park (the now closed gate #7, I think).

Good spot, really. As soon as you see it, about face, and there's the original boulder in the near distance.

After the ceremony dedicating the marker, we had flags to put around it, but it didn't seem right. So I asked Steve if we were allowed to go out to the monument, and he didn't see why not, seeing as it's a public park, Memorial Day, and those are war dead out there. That viewpoint may not have been universally shared (especially by golfers and their groundskeepers), but off we went. Started as a trickle, and turned into a steady stream.

The War of 1812 reenactors marched out too. Would have been even cooler if a fog had swirled in, but, as it were, they were impressive crossing the greens, and paying tribute.

Next year we should have a 21 gun salute, not that I know the proper procedure for 200 years after the fact. All the runners/walkers/joggers might hit the dirt too.  Maybe a few fireworks instead :)

Devil's Cave in Harris Hill (Pt 2)

The Niagara County historian had posted a link to an article in the Buffalo News regarding the underground caves in Lockport. That was the necessary boot to the posterior to scan the copies of a file on Devil's Cave in Harris Hill that that had been donated to the Clarence Historical Museum shortly after I had originally written about the cave here on the blog.  Scanner issues were the original problem, then flat-out procrastination...

Even with a new scanner it can be hard to read some of the newspaper articles on this site (click on them to enlarge), so I loaded them on to Flickr also, which has a better "make bigger" feature.

The opening to Devil's Cave was located around the middle circle behind Nativity, and runs from approximately the old stagecoach stop (left) to a sinkhole behind Samuel's Grande Manor (I redrew google map as the one provided didn't scan well). It had been written about in scattered pieces throughout the years, and the articles, along with a personal observation/commentary, are presented here.  Very intriguing!

Thanks for sharing!!!

Kodachrome: 1950's Buffalo

Back a while I had posted about my grandfather's cousin, William Robert.  I also mentioned that there were more slides than I had posted, and that they had gone to a good home. They are now online at Steve Cichon's Staff Announcer!  He did a massive amount of scanning on tweaking, and I'm so glad that he gave them "life" again! Thanks Steve :)

I was so busy posting and reading the comments on Facebook that I almost forgot to post the link here...Here's a sample of Michigan and Genesee...Now go see the rest!

Save St. Adalbert Basilica!

Despite being self-sustaining, Bishop Kmiec has ordered the shutdown of St. Adalbert Basilica on Stanislaus Street.  The last day as a full time church is scheduled for this upcoming Sunday. The people strenuously objected, much to the dismay of those who prefer to believe that demographers and the bishop can do no wrong.  As fast as the signs went up, some people felt a need to tear them down.  Ha...missed one...

Painting for Preservation did its last Art-In to bring attention to the plight of the devastated parishioners, and as a show of support. You can read about it in the Buffalo News, as well as view a few pictures here. Note the scaffolding...the people haven't given up.

It was a beautiful day, and wonderful homemade food and music were provided by the parishioners for all to enjoy. The keyboard player also played the sax, and as I was wandering down a side street she let loose with a plaintive solo that just seemed fitting, echoing through the quiet neighborhood.

There is an Ethiopian Orthodox Church across the street, and a few streets over I spotted some new domes peeking up over the houses. Later on I went over to check it out...

...and did a little research once I got home. While the main church is now a mosque/school (other building appears unused), the Holy Mother of the Rosary Polish National Cathedral was built in conjunction with St. Adalbert...sort of...Seems that back in the day the parishioners got in a bit of a battle with each other, things got ugly. Then the Diocese tried to dictate the outcome...some things never change. From my favorite church history site (click on link to read the rest):

The seat of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese of the Polish National Church, former parishioners of St. Adalbert's Church on Stanislaus Street founded the church after a period of discord resulted in their departure. Throughout the early years of St.Adalbert's, constant turmoil existed among the immigrant congregation. Some of the members were at odds with the Catholic Diocese over who controlled the property and buildings which they had built and maintained through their contributions. On 27 July, 1895 after an extended period of violence and bloodshed, the church enlisted the assistance of police in having thediscontented parishioners removed from church property. After their dismissals, they banded together and purchased property on Sobieski Street. On 8 August, 1895 they celebrated their firstmass on the vacant lot.

After enduring throughout the years, St. Adalbert should be saved and savored, not merely somewhat preserved, to gradually fade away. The faithful should be rewarded, not shunted off to another parish. Multiple priests staff the moneyed...surely some could be spared where the need is greater....Save St. Adalbert Basilica!

Anyway, the Art-Ins are done for the season, however samples of the artistry produced will be on exhibit at the Statler Hotel during the National Preservation Conference.  Until next year...

On Broadway and Michigan

A month ago I attended the annual meeting of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo Group.  This year it was held at the historic Michigan Street Baptist Church, courtesy of its leaders.

We were allowed to tour the church, which still has an active congregation.  In the undercroft area one can view the hollowed out crawl space that once hid those trying to flee to Canada to escape slavery via the Underground Railroad. Just recently I read a local history buff somewhat scoffing that in the land of free free free NY, slaves would have to hide...while I'm no expert, even I know about the Fugitive Slave Act, signed into being by local statue and President Millard Fillmore. It had the effect of calling into question much of what she had written...Canada was Free.

It's kind of hard to visualize from my pictures, but one goes down a few stairs to an area that is a meeting area, office, and a museum/historical area. Down a hallway are the restrooms and a stairway leading up to the sacristy.  It is in the mens room that a panel with an upper section removed has been set up where most likely a false wall had once obscured a deepened crawl space under the stairs.  I think it may extend over to the right also. Perhaps if I had stood on the "facility" I could have gotten a better picture, but that seemed a bit disrespectful, so this will have to do.

Our C4GB leader was enthused about a plan he was to reveal a plan for uncovering, restoring, and initiating new purpose for the Nash Street Armory, also known as the Broadway Barns, home of Buffalo's snowplows. It's behind the church. No pictures...I missed that mini-field trip, but The Buffalo News had some pictures.A student has also written a proposal for the area.  I'm just wondering if anyone seriously asked the residents and keepers of the historic neighborhood what they would like...

Nash Street is also the site of the Nash House, former home of the pastor of the Michigan Street Baptist Church.  I'm not looking any info up, so forgive me for not presenting a more illuminating background

Its side yard, along a heritage marker walkway, also seems to be a scenic place to stay for one who lives in the outdoors. It was kept neat, and it seems to me a bible was on the bench also.

There's an old building next to the church that at one time at least was a rooming house...a faded sign is visible on one side.  It's owned by the City...to bad it hasn't been rehabbed yet.

Right across the street from the church, on Broadway, is the Colored Musicians Club.  With the window open, soft notes of music came tumbling out and taking one back in time. at least in the imagination...musicians are all very well present and accounted for in 2011 also :)

A jazz museum is in the works for the bottom floor...I can't help but think that a jazz/blues museum on a smaller order of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame might be a good use for the Armory site, with a restaurant going into a building being rehabbed on the other corner of Broadway and Michigan.

Maybe it would overwhelm though...Seems to me that someone tried to do something extra in the area regarding the Heritage Trail, but it didn't work out...Combo with the jazz museum?...just thinking...

It's a wonderful area, just steeped in history...a lot of vacant lots where people once gathered...even the buildings and people that are no longer there have left their essence...just listen to the music...

Remembering the War Dead of 1812

On Monday morning at 9:45 there will be a small ceremony commemorating the war dead of 1812.  It will take place in Delaware Park around the rock in the golf course at the Mound in the Meadow:

To raise public awareness of the “Mound in the Meadow” and to honor its buried soldiers, Parkside Historian and Author Steve Cichon will lead a group of volunteers in the planting of 300 American flags near the site on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th at 9:45am. Those interested in attending may access the site by entering Delaware Park’s Ring Road at Colvin Avenue (Enter Park at Colvin and Amherst).

Marked only by a large boulder and sporting a small bronze plaque, the “Mound in the Meadow” marks the location where hundreds of soldiers who died from camp disease and winter exposure were buried in the spring of 1813. The areas that are now Buffalo's Parkside neighborhood, Delaware Park, and Forest Lawn cemetery served as a camp for soldiers poised to invade British Canada early in the War.

Read more about it here.

Wordless Wednesday: A Snapshot in Time

Bristol Home

The Bristol Home, currently an assisted living facility, was part of the Historic Linwood Tour. Located at 1500 Main Street, it was built in the 1840's as a private residence in an Italianate style with various outbuildings.

It was to go through various changes of use until it was bought in 1886 and transformed into the Home for the Friendless. From the booklet that was handed out on the tour:

"It was organized in 1868 with the backing of 21 Protestant churches by Edward Bristol, a concerned Buffalo businessman...However, throughout its history until 1980, the Home was operated and managed by women and overseen by a board comprised only of women. To this day it is run as a not-for-profit facility..."

"The early residents were destitute and friendless women who were helped to find work, then to working and professional women, alone for a time or for life, and now to the aging-well."

Life was especially hard for a women on their own back then. Even if married they were considered "property" and were not able to vote.  If alone, they were unable to be hired for most jobs. Many took to the streets doing whatever it took, and many also fell into the bottle.  Bristol Home was a second chance place, offering training and a safe haven.  Some had a hard time adjusting to polite society, thus the rules and regulations (click to enlarge, not that it helps much):

Many of the early social reformers were women, such as Maria Love, who was born in Clarence NY in 1840. There were also a lot of church run facilities. They saw a need and stepped up.

And to this day Bristol Home is still helping low-income and elderly women. They will be holding a fundraiser September 24, 2010 "An Affair to Remember".  Call Jennifer at 716-884-4371 for details on how you or your business can help, or email jblackchief (at) bristolhome (dot) org.