The Stolle Mansion

The ghostly trees reach out to one another as they stand sentinel by the driveway...


...which leads to the historic Stolle Mansion, located at 325 Summit Road in Lockport NY.



I started around the far side, circling the building.









Cameras keep watch. Are they there to monitor paranormal phenomena? Or merely to record and report any destructive deeds by the curious? Maybe both...


According to the site of WNY Paranormal Research:

"The Summit Manson of Lockport New York was built in 1834.The mansion sits on top of limestone. 1960 was the last time anyone occupied the mansion .The mansion itself is said to had been safe house for the underground railroad. So far to date there has been no evidence on file to prove the facts of the claims.The mansion was built by Francis Hitchings .The house was also home to many servants whom had their own living area within the mansion.The mansion has been in the Ruhlmann family since the late 1940's.The mansion itself is up for sale for serious buyers."

The group was giving tours of the mansion with the owners permission until the City of Lockport decided to block them.


The reason allegedly has to do with the condition of the mansion...not that it bothered any of the building inspectors previously. Apparently historic buildings can be allowed to rot for eternity as long as no one goes inside...Don't get me started...No guidelines were given either although requested.

So that leads to this sign. Oops. Surely they only meant the inside...


If you want to buy it, here's the number. Don't know if the City would allow you in to inspect it though...


Truthfully, at 10am roaming around on the outside it wasn't all that spooky, but maybe at night...Meanwhile, the trees wait for the next visitors...

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.

View from the Stairs

The other day on the Weird Tale in Lockport (pt. 1) post, DocWu said in the comments section:

"The entrance to the raceway tours are in Upson Park and below the gravel lot you were in. A flight of wooden stairs leads down to it. But the office where you sign up for the tours I believe is in Old City Hall, on Pine Street, next to the locks."

I was there! First though, when I was in the initial parking lot I first looked towards downtown and saw off in the distance the top of an unknown-to-me building on Main Street that I had photographed earlier.




Then, as I was approaching my car, I saw the entrance to the wooden stairs across the way.


So of course I started down them and took a few pictures.





My wanderlust was starting to flag so I only went part of the way down the stairs before deciding it was time to leave. Some other time I'll be back, maybe on an actual tour of the Lockport Cave / Raceway!

Weird Tale in Lockport - Part 2

After yesterday's post I got more comments on Facebook about Walter Kohl and his motorcycle shops than anything else. This was probably because not many were familiar with the building (except for Al Gritzmacher). Now I wanted to know more.

Still not much is known about the building other than it was built to take advantage of hydropower generated by the canal raceways below. One site has it as a cider mill built in 1880. In later years it was home to a ceramics supply among other things; being one of Walter Kohl's motorcycle shops is among them.

I also didn't learn much about Walter Kohl himself either, other than he's related much more closely (still distant) to second cousins of mine than to my branch of the family. I have the details but just take my word for it. Lots of names.

Walter Kohl loved motorcycles. He had various shops over a 50 year time period. Many remember when he was located on Transit Road north of Millersport. One site states that he was also located on 12 West Main Street in the years 1969-1973 before moving to Richmond Avenue, both in Lockport. Richmond turns into Gooding eventually, where the building I wrote about yesterday is located.

When Kohl died at the age of 82 in 2002 he had amassed quite a collection of bikes. Guess where a lot of those were stored? And there were parts, lots of parts.

Quoting quite liberally from a message board dated December 2008:

"The...owner that started putting bikes in it would basically go all over the place and any company that was going out of business or whatever, he would buy all their bikes and put them in this building. He eventually died and his wife...sold it to Frank, the current owner...Frank basically did the same thing, bought bikes, stored them there, and sold them...He's super leery about who he lets go there though because the place has been collapsing for the past 20 years.

The pictures DO NOT do this place justice. Bikes are just JAM PACKED in this place - there's mostly no walking room. It's a 4 story building (3 on the end pieces you can't really see + basement), and it's in complete disrepair... There are basically these big sized areas of the floor that have collapsed taking like 20-30 bikes at a time to their deaths, crashing from the 4th floor, through to the 3rd, through to the 2nd, straight on down to the basement. In the picture of the main floor you'll see is what we called an "island" of bikes...you can't get to because the whole damn thing is that close from caving in...


You can't even imagine what kind of treasures are to be had in that place. Rare, unique, foreign bikes that you can SCOUR THE UNIVERSE to find parts for...this guy has ROOMS, whole ROOMS, just full of, a lot of them very near brand new.


The place is so huge you could spend like two full days just looking at two floors...You just can't even imagine this place. It's amazing."

On another site a guy scoffed, saying that all the good stuff had been long gone before the current owner got it. Whatever. Obviously there was enough there to intrigue many.

Definitely the same building. This explains why there were bikes parts outside too. Not sure all his stated facts are right, but quite interesting.

Go to the message board to read the rest. Pictures used here are from there also. On the site clicking on a photo will take you to a whole strip of pictures. Check it out!

Is that neat or what?

Weird Tale in Lockport

Saturday as I was wandering about in Lockport I saw a sign for some caves and decided to at least go by and check it out, little knowing that they would be mentioned in Sunday's newspaper. Apparently I was moving too slow for the tailgater behind me, so I sped up a bit and soon found myself making a snap decision to turn right, and then turn right again into a gravel lot.

The sign said I was at Ceramics Plaza and Gooding Street. Ceramics Plaza does not come up on any Google search engine, but there I was. Hmm.


It's across Gooding street from an old electric company.


Anyway, I looked up a long driveway off the back of the lot and saw an old factory up ahead. Being ahead of schedule, I decided to drive up it and explore a bit. After the driveway ended I got out and walked up a path and over some railroad tracks that went over Gooding Street that had dipped down to my right.



It was an old factory or warehouse, which I found interesting enough to take a few pictures of.



Now comes the strange stuff...After I left I went to my mom's and told her about my expedition. She sat up straight and said that it sounded like the place that Harbison Brothers used to store barrels maybe 10-15 20-25 years ago (not possible it was the shorter span of time). My parents had gone there with my dad's cousin Bobby and wife. She said there was talk of selling the building to someone who was going to build a plaza (see sign above).

Mom remembered looking out a 3rd story window, where down below Walter Kohl had a motorcycle shop in the same building. She's not into motorcycles, but remembered the name because his brother* father Ernest married a Muggelberg, who is a distant cousin on the...well, you know how these conversations can get sidetracked.

There were some motorcycle seats lying next to the building too, behind an old cart.



We still weren't sure if it was the same place, but upon arriving home I did a closeup on a Google map and there was the motorcycle shop, looking like it's in Upson Park! No mention of the building itself though.


So how weird is it, that of all the places I could have explored in Lockport, I pick one with a bit of family history that I had never heard before? Eerie.

And I still don't know anything about the building. Does anyone know where I was? Well, I know where I was, but I don't. Anyone?

Just don't tell me it doesn't exist anymore...I have pictures!



* change per genealogy records.

Hungarian / Austin Street / Charity Baptist Church

One tends to think of older churches as large buildings built of stone or brick, or maybe of clapboard like a hallmark greeting card. Then there are what is known as storefront churches, which are usually located in buildings that started out with some other use.

In between there are small churches, which many times served as a starter building for a congregation back in the day. Many have changed hands numerous times. Some have not retained their religious purpose. To the untrained eye, such as mine, they may appear as a mere house with stained glass windows.



However many are being born again as a new congregation takes root within its walls. Until last week I had never been inside of one of these small churches, many of which are scattered throughout the City of Buffalo. One such treasure is at 350 Austin Street near Military Road.

Many times I passed by, never taking the time to learn about the building or the people inside. I had thought it to be a church moving on to another use years ago. I was mistaken. When I went over there to take pictures I noticed it was in the process of being renovated.

Then I met Pastor Pete Wigdor, who graciously invited me inside. I had never imagined that such a beautiful church would be inside those walls!


I learned that there has been a continuous active church at this location for the past 91 years. It started out as the First Hungarian Baptist Church, as an outreach to the new immigrants. From there its name changed to the Austin Street Baptist Church to better reflect its changing congregation. Eventually that group moved to Grand Island. The church would later be known as Maranatha, which suffered dwindling numbers as the years went by. Now it is being revived both physically and spiritually as the Charity Baptist Church.

At a time when many feel the need to flock to a mega-church, I have always preferred a smaller church. This fits the description and more. Very welcoming. Services begin at 10!



More historical info can be found on the site of Houses of Worship: A Guide to Religious Architecture.


UPDATE: As I was wandering around the Buffalo Historical Society this afternoon I came across 2 artifacts from the original First Hungarian Baptist Church. Both a drum and an organ were donated at some point in time.





What a coincidence!

Fall in Lockport

Wandering around again today with camera in hand. Most of the pictures I took may make it here some other day, but for now here's a nice shot from Upson Park (I think) in Lockport:

Darwin Martin House & Greatbatch Pavilion

For the number of years that I've lived in Buffalo, I have never consciously sought out Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin house. Apparently when I first moved here it was in a state of decay, and any time after I just didn't make the side trip down Jewett Parkway, off of Parkside by the Buffalo Zoo. As a woman at work once informed me in a perfectly cultured voice, "That's Parkway, not Avenue", which is in a totally different part of the city.

Yesterday I meandered over that way in between various errands and shot a few pix when the hoards of people wandering around left an opening for a minute. An inside tour will wait for another day.




The glass enclosed visitor center is the Eleanor and Wilson Greatbatch Pavilion, which was built via their generous donation.


Beautiful buildings!

David Smith - RIP

Clarence alumnus ('74) David Smith passed away September 4, 2009 after a long illness. From the Buffalo News:

SMITH - David Alan September 4, 2009, age 53, of Houston, TX, formerly of Clarence, NY, husband of Debra (Silhavy); father of Pamela (Anthony) Santandrea, Madalyn and Kevin Smith; grandfather of John and Kera Santandrea; son of Arlington "Bud" and Alice Smith of Clarence Center, NY; brother of Karen Palmerton, Melissa (Jon) Port and Scott Smith.

David was a 1974 graduate of Clarence Central High School and attended RPI. He was the owner of David Smith and Professional Plumbing, also was an avid race car fan who worked with various drivers.

A Memorial Service will be held at Our Lady of Peace Church, 10950 Main St., Clarence, on Saturday, September 26 at 11 AM.

Visit Guest Book

Michael Crawford - RIP

Clarence alumnus ('90) Michael Crawford passed away August 13, 2009. From the Clarence Bee:

Michael J. Crawford, 37, died Thursday August 13, 2009 in Kenmore. Born October 20, 1971, Mr, Crawford graduated from Clarence High School in 1990 and earned a BS degree in criminal justice from UB.

He worked in the collections business. In 1992 he served in the US Army but was honorably discharged after a short amount of time due to injury.

Mr. Crawford is remembered for his compassion and williness to help others, as well as his sense of humor. He was an avid fisherman and weightlifter.

He is survived by his father, John, and by bothers Glenn, Steven, and Jeffrey. He was preceded in death by his mother Barbara (nee Carlson).

Services will be held at 10 am Saturday, September 12 at Glenwood Cemetery, 325 Glenwood Avenue in Lockport. Arrangements were made by Carlton Ullrich Funeral Home Inc.

Margorie Chase - RIP

Marjorie Chase was a force to be reckoned with, but not in a traditional sense. She didn't pontificate about issues, but rather asked questions, many questions, in an effort to understand point of view of others. In return, many times the respondents got an education on the finer points of a subject and perhaps altered their own viewpoints in the process. As always, Marge listened and questioned with an intensity too often missing in conversation.

Mrs. Chase was a longtime member of the Clarence school board and served as its president for a time. Indeed many of the guest book entries are from people who served with her and are full of admiration for her tireless energy and advocacy. Marge was very active in the community through her last hours, which were spent in a bank board meeting.

The Chase family were long time anchors on the north end of Long Street in Clarence Center. Their house was always open to friends of son Kevin; a touching memorial by one of the friends, Budd Bailey, appears on Notes from an Inquisitive Mind. As Kevin says, it captures the essence of Marge Chase as a person, as a mother, as a friend. She will be greatly missed. Rest in peace.

From the Buffalo News:

CHASE - Marjorie Lee (nee Cox) August 26, 2009, of Clarence Center, NY, beloved wife of the late John Chase; dearest mother of Kevin (Katherine) Chase of Glastonbury, CT; dearest grandmother of John, Maggie and Julie; daughter of the late Emery William Cox and Nannie Belle Boyd Cox; sister of Jerry (Theda) Cox of Topeka, KS; sister-in-law of Eleanor Vogel Chase of Kennett Square; beloved aunt of nieces and nephews. No prior visitation. Family and friends are invited to attend memorial service Saturday at 11 AM from The Zion Lutheran Church, 9535 Clarence Center Rd., Clarence Center, NY 14032.

Marjorie was Past President and long time member of The Clarence School Board; Clarence Citizen of the Year in 1984 and chairman of Business Development Board for the Bank of Akron. If desired, memorials made be made to The American Red Cross, 786 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14209.

Rocky and Chip

A few weeks ago I read that perhaps there was no need to scope out the site of the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in order to try to figure out a way smuggle a souvenir under the fence. All one had to do was ask. Imagine that. Never crossed my mind, or rather, never thought it would work. So off I went.

When I got there a woman was hauling off a small slab of marble. So before the guy could get away I politely asked for a rock. Mistake. Should have specified marble or granite. However he did bring me a rock with sparkly things in it. Probably just concrete, but having forgotten most of what little I knew of geology, I can pretend it's something unique. Plus, it's mine! A while back I had pulled a little piece of brick under the fence, figuring that small was better than nothing. Now I'm wondering if I can get a hunk of marble...


My artifacts have been personified by naming them Rocky and Chip, in part to justify keeping them in the house permanently rather than tossing them in a rock garden like some other immigrants to the neighborhood. Rocky seen here with a neighbor's outside relics:


Then again, they're from the Aud, so that makes them special. However, a display case is not in their immediate future. Finally, here is the family portrait, Rocky with Chip on his back "He's not heavy, he's my brotherrr..."

Carolyn Kosobucki Wolmering - RIP

Clarence alumna ('74) Carolyn Kosobucki-Wolmering passed away July 26, 2009. She graduated from the Univerity of Rochester in '78 and UCLA in '84 with an MS in Hospital & Nursing Administration.

Always active, Carolyn had many interests varying from the great outdoors to pursuits in the home, but none as important as her beloved children, Kalie and Chad. Rest in Peace.


WOLMERING - Carolyn A. (nee Kosobucki) July 26, 2009, loving mother of Kalie, Chad Wolmering; daughter of Eleanor and the late Raymond Kosobucki; sister of Robert (Deborah) Kosobucki, Linda (Donald) Mullen. Friends may call Thursday only 2-4 and 7-8:30 at the DENGLER, ROBERTS, PERNA FUNERAL HOME, 8630 Transit Rd., East Amherst (1 mi. north of Maple just past Klein) where a Memorial Service will be held following the visitation Thursday at 8:30. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Zion Lutheran Church, 9535 Clarence Center Rd., Clarence Center, NY 14032. Online tributes may be sent to www.mem.com