Almost Wordless Wednesday

Curiously, I had these pictures all ready to go this morning but didn't make time to put them on the blog.  Then a story about this very building appeared online on the site of the Buffalo News.  Prescient?  Nah, I'll go with coincidence :)  Notice too how considerate of other, more historic, buildings they were when the Convention Center was built.

St. Mary's on the Hill - Part 3

There's been a lot in the paper lately about St. Mary's on the Hill, located at 783 Niagara Street.  There's also a former school located around the corner on Vermont Street that doesn't appear to be in that bad of shape, all things considered.

To some it looks like a pile of rubble.

Others with talent and vision see it and make tentative plans.

Unfortunately it seems others have made opposing plans. Where to point fingers first?  The Peace Bridge Authority who has put the word out that it covets everything in its vicinity?  Maybe the woman who bought it in a foreclosure sale for a "daycare center", but may have been hoping for a buyout from the aforementioned PBA.  She's got an offer from Savarino, but is balking - why? Maybe she's using the offer as a carrot in order to defraud a potential investor who will shell out more.

How about the City of Buffalo? The roof apparently was in danger of caving in so the City removed it, and in the process caused more damage.

 Now the City claims that the building is an imminent danger to all and must be demolished now, after all its been in housing court for 2 whole years.  Now, that might sound like a lot to those who have never badgered the City regarding absentee/slumlords aka "investors", but its really just a drop in the bucket amid years worth of adjournments.  Then there's the little glitch whereas if the property changes hands, even among various entities of the same main people, the process starts all over. 

There are lots of buildings in Buffalo that have this history of procrastination, so what's the hurry now?  Afraid Savarino might fix the corner up and make it harder for the Peace Bridge Authority's proposed wholesale demolition of a historic neighborhood to take place?

(see also part 1 and part 2)

Eschelman's in Clarence Center

Pretty interesting mini-history of Eschelman's Store, corner of Goodrich and Clarence Center in the video .As seen on WKBW:



When I was little that store was called Bratt's, run by an in-law, and another Eschelman's was across the street where the day care center is now. Bratt's stayed in business a bit longer and had a corner on the penny candy trade.

Wordless Wednesday - Wilson Greatbatch at the Clarence History Museum (or "I was warned that there was a mannequin upstairs, but I still jumped...")

Devil's Cave in Harris Hill

Last week Brandon left a comment asking whether anyone remembered Devil's Cave in Harris Hill.

"Does anyone out there remember "Devil's Cave" that was located behind the Richardson's Root Beer Stand, next to Nativity school???? I spent a lot of my youth in this extensive cave system. I remember that the guy who bought the property, said that he was going to bulldoze it closed back in 1959-1960.
the cave extended to the basement of the Harris Hill Hometown cleaners, and was one of the Main St stagecoach stops in the 1800's"

Being a few years younger than he is, it didn't ring a bell, so I decided to do some exploring of my own.  Who better to go to than Clarence alumnus ('84) Doug Kohler?   Besides wearing the hat of Erie County Historian, teacher, and being part of the Clarence History Museum, he has written a book about Harris Hill.

"His recollection matches with much of the information I gathered in interviews for the Harris Hill book. In fact, there is a hand drawn map of Devil's Cave in the book. Any connection with the Underground Railroad, though, is merely speculation."

If I had read it I would have known that...So I went to the History Museum and picked up a copy.  The map! Click to enlarge...

To learn more about Harris Hill read the book!  I know I'm going to :)

All 4 books about Clarence are available at the History Museum on Main Street in Clarence on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons or online through Buffalo Books (print order form separately as far as I know).  Become a fan of the Clarence Historical Society on Facebook too!

Wordless Wednesday - The Botanical Gardens

(link)

Father Baker's

When Father Baker's is mentioned many think of being sent there as children.  That was a home for wayward boys, but girls heard the words too.  It was synonymous with "straighten up!"  Who knew there was so much more?

Father Baker had been an orphan, and when he became a priest he dedicated his life to those less fortunate, especially children.  He also built the magnificent Our Lady of Victory Basilica in South Park Avenue in Lackawanna, just past Ridge Road.  The view from the parking lot, which doesn't give it justice:

Went there for a short bit on Saturday but didn't take many pictures.  For one thing, thee were small groups of people in there, both sightseeing and praying.  Although it is open to tourists when there isn't a mass scheduled, I don't think everyone appreciates gawkers.  One group came in and softly burst into a verse of Ave Maria, which seemed fitting.

The stained glass is beautiful, there are many smaller alters, and the Stations of the Cross stay with the visitors throughout. It is said that there are 1000's of angels everywhere, both inside and out.  Two are pictured here (click to enlarge):

 

 

There is a museum on the ground floor dedicated to the life of Father Nelson H. Baker, who is within the steps for sainthood.  His crypt is also located in a grotto near the front alter (the immediate history is here). Even if someone hadn't been kneeling in front I probably wouldn't have raised the camera.  Different than a headstone; it seems disrespectful.

Like I said, I didn't take many pictures, but you can visit the website, or better yet, go there and be awestruck in person!

Wordless Wednesday - CCVFC in Winter

Richard Dunker II - RIP

(Clarence alumnus '79) Richard E. Dunker II, age 48, of Arab Hill Road, passed away January 20, 2010, with his loving family at his side.


He was born July 8, 1961, in Buffalo, a son of Richard and Lorraine McDonald Dunker, and graduated from Clarence High School and the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Richard was united in marriage to the former Kimberly Calhoun, on October 20, 1990 in Clarence, NY. He was a licensed aircraft mechanic, worked several years for US Airways in Pittsburgh, and later as a project leader at Empire Aero in Rome. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy, and attended the Rome Alliance Church.


Richard was a devoted father, husband, and son. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and riding his Harley-Davidson.


Richard is survived by his loving wife, Kimberly and children, Sean and Hannah Dunker; his mother, Loraine Dunker; and brother, Kurt S. Dunker.

A memorial service was held on Tuesday at 4:00 PM at the Rome Alliance Church. There were no calling hours. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street.

A memorial service will also be held at 11am Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Nativity of the BVM Church at Main and Harris Hill.

The family wishes to thank the Doctors and Staff of St. Elizabeth Medical Center, for their care, compassion and friendship extended to Richard during his illness.

Memorial donations may be made to a scholarship fund for Richard’s children @ Americu Credit Union, Rome, New York.


(from the memory page on the site of Barry Funeral Home and the Clarence Bee)

Wordless Wednesday - Lady Liberty West

Family Farm

I was looking to see if I could find some Parker High/Elementary School related photographs for an alumni of '75 (which I think makes him a Clarence alumnus of '81 ot thereabouts). Reason being is that there's a new Facebook page for Parkerites (?) and a photo of the school was lacking.

Now I know my mom's yearbooks probably have some from the 40's, but I was into a right now kind of thing.

So I scanned a picture from Oneta Baker's History of the Town of Clarence.


For good measure I also sent along a photo I took of Jared Parker's monument in Forest Lawn, where he is seen favoring the Napoleanic look. I wrote about him previously here.


Then I went back to the book to see if there were any more pictures. Reading a bit more on Parker who had donated much money for a large school, later known as Parker, of course.

I noticed buried within a paragraph that at one time he lived on Lapp Road, at what later became known as the Hartwig farm. My great-grandparents! They were the ones without electricity, and the grandchildren looked forward to spending the night and playing checkers by candlelight.

Recently I had attempted to take a picture, but the house is back at the end of a long driveway, the way a lot of farmers set up their land, and I didn't want to go up all the way up. Didn't want to get out of the car in case dogs were roaming around either. At least they moved the school bus. Anyway, the picture is what it is.


The Hall family lives there now, but the farm acreage is now undeveloped County land and is known as Beeman Creek Park.

The things I learn by reading, and would have learned sooner if I didn't hop through a lot of non-fiction books. Now you can say you learned something today too :)

Wordless Wednesday - Lady Liberty East

Playing with the Camera at a Local Landmark

Yesterday I took my new camera to a local landmark to test its interior capacities, something my older one fell down on. I also pushed it a step further by trying the ISO mode that allows me to take pictures without the flash. Maybe its no big deal for those of you used to this luxury, but its a whole new ball game for me.

Without any attempt at centering or keeping myself or the front desk from being reflected I took a picture of a display case sans flash and it worked!


Then I did the flash/no flash thing in a portion of the lobby. Hmm..flash doesn't look so good.



This is a closer view of the wood mural in the background. I couldn't seem to get away from the overhead lights reflecting on it.


Then I went around clicking pix every whichaway and totally disregarded keeping my elbows in close to body to stabilize the camera, so certain was I of omnipotence. Besides, how could I take an overhead shot in the proper photo taking stance? Well, maybe if I laid on the floor...so not happening.


Anyway, that was a bit of a mistake. On the LCD display everything looked wonderful, but on the computer things got a bit less refined here and there. It really wouldn't have hurt to get a bit closer to certain accessible areas either rather than using the zoom. And somehow I even ended up with an image that appears to be a black & white photo (???).


So even though I have more pictures of the landmark, I'm going to go back and try to improve on them, and maybe focus a bit better - my brain, that is. The camera will follow.