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!

The Palace in Lockport

While growing up in Clarence Center going shopping in a different place usually meant traveling to Lockport. My road test was there too. I also had relatives residing thereabouts, so visiting was often in order.

My great-aunt Marguerite lived on Harrison Avenue, next door to a family with lots of kids. The Marotta's had a real bomb shelter in their back yard (a 50's thru 60's thing) and I thought that was really neat, even though I never saw inside of it.


Anyway, two daughters were about my age and they took turns going to the movies with me at the Palace Theater in downtown Lockport, which is across the street from the old US Courthouse and post office.


The adults must have been so eager to get us out of the house that they never noticed what was on the second half of the double feature. "Shaggy Dog? Have a good time!" Vivid memories include seeing Charles Bronson shot in the forehead while on a waterwheel in "4 for Texas".

A big favorite and probable source of a nightmare or two was Bette Davis playing twins in "Dead Ringer". I can still remember the plot, and it came out in 1964 when I was 10. Good movie, although I'm still leery of Great Danes, like the one that tore Peter Lawford to shreds in one memorable scene.

After the movies were over we would go next door to Jay's Drugs to use the payphone to call for a ride. Then we would hang out rather awkwardly for a spell, not having any money to shop with. I have vague recollections of wishfully looking at the soda fountain.



Now it's a nostalgia store called Olde Main Street.



More pictures and info are available at the website for the Historic Palace Theatre (source of Jay's Drugstore pix) and on Facebook, like this one:


So far I've been backtracking on my journey to Lockport last Saturday, and I still haven't gotten to the main reason I drove that way in the first place. Maybe tomorrow.