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...

Peter Naples RIP

Peter Naples ('72) passed away last Sunday. I remember Pete, although the last mention of see of him via yearbooks is from our freshman year. Whether he went on to a different school or had different goals, I'm unclear, however I know he made an impression on everyone he met....and that's a good thing! Rest in peace, Pete.

Peter J. NAPLES Jr. 

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NAPLES - Peter J. Jr. September 4, 2011 at age 58, beloved son of the late Peter J. and Virginia (nee Curran) Naples, Sr.; dear brother of Daniel, Gregory (Joyce), Charles (Marina) and the late Marc and Nancy Ann Naples; cherished uncle of Darcy, Denise, Donna and Marc; also survived by one great-niece and one-great nephew. The family will be present on Friday from 4-8 PM at (Harris Hill Chapel) AMIGONE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 8440 Main St., where prayers will be offered on Saturday at 9:15 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated from Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church at 10 AM. Friends invited. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made toNational Kidney Foundation . Share your condolences atwww.AMIGONE.com

(photo is from the Clarence HS Class 1969 yearbook; let your mind's eye color in red hair)

St. Mary's on the Hill - The End

Somewhere someone is smirking, fully delighted that St. Mary's on the Hill is finally gone...Hey jerk, you can retire now...Yep, a lot more damage has been done since these pictures were taken a few days ago...

Once concern was documented that the rectory...that roof way in back to the right (above)...was in hazardous condition...

...the bulldozers were out in force knocking down...the church......and then the school...

...before finally getting to the rectory. No reuse plan good enough for naysayers, no investigation into the feeble handoff from one slumlord to another...Well, there were a few of those...good intentions, bad intentions (no, I didn't forget who gutted the interior), same results... Maybe someone has big plans.  Maybe make a duty-free on that corner, sell it to the PBA, or better yet, a parking lot for the armory people....nothing against the armory, understand!

The Connecticut Street Armory is right next door, which was rebuilt after a fire...lived a few blocks away when that happened....a little suspense wondering if there were explosives inside...

The remains of the bell tower from a different angle....(yes, I like those window-framed shots)...

More photos from Tuesday evening here...I was fortunate to be there at the same time as Stan and Beth, so I walked around a bit more than I may have on my own. If you ever wondered what a gutted church looks like...

Curious that there's no word from any of the former parishioners.  Maybe they were all in their 90's and their grandkids could care less.  Maybe they did the grief thing in 1995 when it closed and don't want to look back.  Turned the Church Home and Hutchinson Chapel on Rhode Island and Busti out to pasture too, with no grass...How cold.

Pity no one ever told all the people who gave their blood, sweat, and tears to build beautiful places of worship that in the future the church "leaders" would scoff at their efforts...."it's only a building"...

Pictures from a few years ago, through the demo of the bell tower in pouring rain to the above pictures are here, also with a link on the side.  I'll probably be adding a few more from the Memorial/Protest Art-In tomorrow morning, so check back.

Until then, hum along with the Doors...this is The End...

The Fairfield Library

I almost hesitate to call this gem the Fairfield Library, because it isn't a library anymore...

...even though there are still books on the shelves...

As a matter of fact, it's for sale by the City of Buffalo, if you know anyone that wants it and can work their way through the hurdles set up to prevent poor ownership.  Problem is, the City isn't the best owner either. Apparently the neighbors have taken it upon themselves to cut the grass, tend the gardens, and pick up.  Read more on Painting for Preservation.

Originally it was a Unitarian Church, intended as an easier place to attend, back in the day when transportation was always an issue. Eventually they merged back with the main church on Elmwood.  Then the Lutherans  moved in, but they were busy building a bigger church, so they moved on also. Sort of a starter church I guess, of which there are a few that I know of, but the rest weren't designed by prominent architect William Sydney Wicks. It still has the bones of a church, from the front view, the side entrance, the windows, the stained glass (see books picture above), and so on.

 ...the roots of that black walnut tree may take over, left unattended...

Anyway, then the City took the church over, made it a library, and the rest is history, so to speak.

There are a few ideas floating around out there for potential reuse: a community lending area, or an art school, or a combination of the two. My own thought revolved around making it trendy residential with an open floor plan, perhaps with a home office in the basement area, which is probably already finished, judging from the staircase going downwards.  The choir loft would make a nice sleeping area too...wouldn't even have to add a spiral staircase! Alas, I think a large obstacle is the heating bill.  Probably not very energy efficient, although if someone were to go green, the angles for solar panels might be ideal.

On a fine summer morning, however, the library preened for the artists gathered around...

Still beautiful, still dignified, after all these years...

Shutterbug Tour of The Central Terminal

A month ago I was fortunate enough to tag along on a shutterbug tour of the Central Terminal.  I think most of us had high hopes of being allowed into hidden spaces, as was somewhat promoted on the overall story, but the specifications for the Terminal actually said "Mezzanine" (a shot from)...

...and "Trolley Lobby"...

...and that's what we got.  Not meaning to complain really, since I had never been inside before anyway.  It's just that a few of us had visions of being waaay up in the tower. However, it was not on the schedule; but an excellent and informative tour was!

Beautiful building, with history being preserved and enjoyed...

Outside too...

The Van Dyke Cab sign is a salute to an earlier time. For some reason the thought of having some type of treasure hunt there took hold...Maybe they had one once and it lodged in a brain cell somewhere.  There are still remnants of the days when it was a functioning train terminal everywhere.

Every way you looked there were church steeples in the distance, nestled among nearby homes...

An Art-In was held at the same time, so artists were scattered around too.

I took over 100 pictures but am trying to show some discretion here by only posting a few :) There are some great shots on the Painting for Preservation blog, and some beautiful artwork too.  I'm totally in awe of the artists that can put something together in a few hours and it looks like it took much longer.  Someday maybe I'll give it a try, but for now I can remain delusional as to what the results would look like :)

The Central Terminal is beautiful, and definitely an ongoing project of love by the restoration group.  They give tours, and not just at ghost-hunters time - go there and see for yourself!

The Walk to Defeat ALS - In Memory of Jerry Gorman

Nothing like waiting until the last minute, but the Walk to Defeat ALS aka Lou Gehrig's Disease is tomorrow!  Once again and always, team Jerry's Journey will be walking in memory of (Clarence alumnus) Jerry Gorman.

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...