The Buffalo History Gazette

09/23/2025

265 Kenmore Ave. at University Ave. & Lyndale. Town of Tonawanda. 1946 liquor License Photo for Andrew S. Rae. Note barber shop at rear of building. CLICK ON PHOTO FOR FULL PICTURE.

09/20/2025

A little then and now view along Fuhrmann Blvd by the Union Ship Canal. View on the right taken from the old Father Baker Bridge. probably 1990s.

09/20/2025

The largest sports crowd in Buffalo history - 50,988, saw an alert Kensington High School football team, batter previously unbeaten Bennett, 26-8 last night in Civic Stadium, in the first Harvard Cup grid game ever contested under the lights.
Civic Stadium ripped, rocked, roared and nearly burst it's concrete seams last night as the largest crowd ever to attend a local sports event, jam packed the Best Street bowl to watch two high schools vie for football honors.

THE CROWD FIGURE was the official turnstile count as announced by James V. Carney, director of Civic Stadium and Memorial Auditorium. The previous all time attendance mark was set last season when the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns attracted 43,167 to the same stadium. School children of all ages, and adults too, took up every conceivable inch of space in the stadium which ordinarily seats 37,064, to watch Bennett High School and Kensington High school tussle it on the gridiron in the first Harvard Cup series game ever contested at night......CONTINUED BELOW IN THE BUFFALO HISTORY GAZETTE

Local history stories about Buffalo and Western NY.

09/11/2025

September 11, 1942 - An event less known but remembered. These workers died or were seriously injured on the homefront working at Curtiss-Wright Plant 2 on Genesee St. at the airport. My mother, Julia Stanek at the time was working at the plant and very near the crash site. My mother frequently mentioned this incident which I thought was worthy of commemoration.

Local history stories about Buffalo and Western NY.

09/05/2025

"The True Story of the Assassination of President McKinley at Buffalo" by Richard H. Barry 1901
That day, September 5th, had been a good one for the Exposition. It had broken the record for attendance, and the speech of the President, long considered and marking an epoch in the history of the political career of Mr. McKinley himself, had been well received, just as his diplomatic foresight had hoped it would. The public reception in the afternoon, with its half hour of deadening strain, was before, but the President always welcomed such opportunities for meeting the mass of the people. He liked the contact and believed that the close sight they got of the Executive's person was a simple gratification due them. Besides, it was a part of his political policy to meet and greet the public on friendly terms....( continued in The Buffalo History Gazette)

Local history stories about Buffalo and Western NY.

09/01/2025

LABORS MIGHTY HOST WAS OUT - Yesterday's Labor-Day Parade Largest Ever Seen in Buffalo's Streets, 20,000 WORKING MEN WERE IN THE LINE September 4th, 1900

Who signed Labor Day into law as a National Holiday? Answer found in video at link below. Background of photograph in the Buffalo History Gazette. Link Below

Local history stories about Buffalo and Western NY.

08/23/2025

"One of the world's cruelest instruments of torture, the Buffalo Trolley, became one with General Custer last night in a belated last stand in the Broadway-Fillmore area." CE 7/2/1950
First electrified in 1889 the once proud Street rail system met an inglorious end.

The International Railway Company (IRC) was formed February 20, 1902 bringing together seven area trolley companies, and subsequently acquired six more companies. It operated, at its peak, 27 city trolley lines in Buffalo, city service in Lockport and in Niagara Falls. Interurban lines ran between Buffalo and Lancaster-Depew, Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and Buffalo and Lockport-Olcott.

In addition it owned the Canadian line from Niagara Falls, Ont., to Lewiston, as well as three bridges between the United States and Canada in the Niagara Falls area. In 1918 the IRC opened the new High Speed line to Niagara Falls which eventually replaced the old line. Early in its history the company came under the control of Mitten Management, a transportation management company.

Though the IRC was still a large operating company in 1941, the trolley operation was a small part of the action. Gone were the interurbans, the Niagara Falls and Lockport city service, the Canadian rail operation, and more than half of the Buffalo city routes. The entire west side had been converted to bus, and the plans were to convert completely by no later than 1950 and before, if they could raise money for the necessary buses.

The remaining street car operations were the; 8-MAIN, 9-PARKSIDE-ZOO, 13-KENSINGTON, 18-JEFFERSON, and 12-EAST UTICA lines operating from the Cold Spring barn. Routes 4-BROADWAY, 24- GENESEE, 2-CLINTON, 6-SYCAMORE, 16-SOUTH PARK, 1-WILLIAM, and 15-SENECA ran out of the Broadway car house. Long line 23-FILLMORE-HERTEL operated mostly from the Broadway barn with a few cars coming out of the almost entirely bus Hertel barn. The company still operated freight service from North Tonawanda to Lockport on the Lockport inter-urban line.

The IRC under Mitten Management, never reinvested in maintenance or new rolling stock. The system slowly fell apart, and Buffalonians grew to hate it. By 1950, the streetcar system was beyond repair -- the newest streetcars in the fleet were cars from the late 1910s, the track was in ruins, and pretty much the whole streetcar infrastructure needed to be rebuilt.

By 1947, with pressure from all sides, the International Railway had been thrown into bankruptcy, the Mitten Management contract broken and trustees had been appointed by the courts to try to bring some sort of financial order into the company . They studied, operated the lines, bused trolley lines, and finally gave a report. The result was a new organization, the Niagara Frontier Transit System(NFT). This company took over the operations and assets with the exception of the Lockport freight line, and all equipment of the trolley operation, on May 31, 1950.

Plans were announced to discontinue all trolley operation. On the evening of June 19, 1950 the three Cold Spring barn lines were abandoned with ceremony. Three cars were started from the end of the Main St. line, two from the end of Kensington, and one from the end of the Parkside - Zoo line. These cars merged into a six car procession at Main and Ferry and proceeded to the foot of Main Street. The cars were decorated with bunting and carried invited guests plus any rail-fans that could get aboard. After final pictures, the passengers were put aboard the new replacement buses and driven back to the ends of the respective lines.
On July 1, 1950, similar ceremonies, decorations, and guests rang out the old on the three east side lines of Fillmore,Broadway, and Genesee and it was all over. (read account of the celbration in the picture section) The cars were run to the Hertel yard to await possible sale, but finding no takers, they were burned and scrapped. Not a Buffalo trolley was saved.
(read account of the celebration and trolley parade in the picture section)

08/10/2025

Did you know the 1st ERIE COUNTY FAIR in 1841 had a special announcement to welcome ladies? "Constables will preserve order & VISITS OF THE LADIES WILL BE WELCOMED!" Read more about it in The Buffalo History Gazette!

(Continued in The Buffalo History Gazette at the link below.)

Local history stories about Buffalo and Western NY.

08/10/2025

The STONE SCHOOL BUILDING in Williamsville was constructed in 1840 by Timothy S. Hopkins at a cost of $1,000 and is still standing at 72 Cayuga Street. Shaded by trees as old as itself, the school is one of the village's famous landmarks. A Mr. Johnson was its first teacher but the school came to be known as "Miss Spaulding's School" in tribute to "Little Miss Bertha Spaulding who taught in its one classroom for 25 years.

Friday afternoons were used for "speaking pieces" and singing to the accompaniment of a pump organ played by Miss Spaulding. According to a former student, " another nice thing about Friday afternoon was that school was dismissed early. "During "recess" and before school the girls played on one side of the walk leading to the building and the boys played on the other side. On stormy days, the pupils were sent home early-the older children being held responsible for the safety of the younger.

Some years later the single room was partitioned to make two class rooms and a second teacher was hired to accommodate the school's 40 pupils. After the school was discontinued, the taxpayers of School District No. 3, around 1950, voted to deed the building to the Bachelor Arms Club, a group who served the youth of the village and the town, with the understanding that the property would revert to the district if it were no longer needed for that purpose.

In 1962 the property reverted and was contributed by the School District to the Town of Amherst. The Town Board remodeled and refurbished the building as a second center for the activities of the Senior Citizen's and the Historical Society. Today it is now a private residence.

07/13/2025

The WILLIAMSVILLE STAND-PIPE, GARRISON PARK - 1896 - 1974
GARRISON PARK is a lovely neighborhood park in the heart of the Williamsville. Designed with families in mind, it has a variety of things to climb and play on or in, including a wading pool. Off to the side is a round Gazebo to hide in the shade and picnic on a hot day. How many of these families realize that had they been sitting in the gazebo 60 years ago or more they would be at the bottom of column of 71,000 gallons of water 100 ft. high! That would cool you off for sure. The gazebo sits on the base of an iron plate riveted STAND-PIPE about 12 ft. in diameter and 100 ft high, built in early 1896 as part of the first complete “modern” water works system for the Village.

STAND-PIPES are water towers used to equalize water pressure in a system that often relied on steam-driven pumps, which could cause pressure surges. They were vertical pipes that water was pumped into, creating the necessary pressure. These were particularly useful in providing water to upper floors of multi-story buildings and ensuring sufficient water for purposes like fighting fires. Height and volume determined the pressure.

ONE OF THE greatest concerns with rural towns and villages in the 1800’s was fire. Methods of getting water to the fire quickly was crude, and heavily relied on a bucket brigade of citizens. Whole towns or villages were in danger of being wiped out when any fire started, if the spread could not be checked. In the 1860s Birdsill Holly of Lockport N.Y. invented the modern fire hydrant and water distribution system for fire fighting. In the ensuing decades towns and villages throughout WNY quickly began installing these water distribution systems.

BIDS WERE TAKEN IN August and September. The STAND-PIPE contract was awarded to Messrs. Tippet & Wood of Philipsburg, N. J. They were a company that was a prominent manufacturer of standpipes and other steel plate products, particularly for water storage and infrastructure. By OCTOBER serious drilling was being done at the reservoir site near the south side of the park near Garrison Rd., blasting into the rock about 1,000 sq. ft. of surface. The spring water source was at the southeast side of park, about where the wading pool is today.

BY NOVEMBER Steam drills were working both day and night. Trenches were open in nearly all the streets. The water pipes were now being laid on Main Street and the trenches filled. By mid November the Board 0f Trustees had ordered 1,000 feet of new hose and a new hose cart, in order to be in readiness with proper fire equipment when the water-works were completed.

AS OF DEC. 5TH the waterworks pipes throughout the village were nearly all laid and covered, and everything was fast approaching completion. The Stand-pipe had not yet been erected, but the pipes from the reservoir to the powerhouse were being laid as fast as possible. The Village Board was scheduled to officially approve and dedicate the new water system on December 14th, but on the 13th a more serious dedication and test thwarted the original plans. - FIRE ! - On the night of December 13th, at about 8.30, an alarm of fire was given from the Engine House, the bells in Sts. Peter & Paul steeple tolled a like sound, and with the powerful whistle from the power house no further announcement was necessary to arouse the people of Williamsville.

THE LOWER PART of the village was wrapped in what proved to be disastrous flames. The fire spread with such rapidity that it was impossible to save any of the contents in these buildings. With no water, the fire was a major threat because the buildings in this part of town were very close together. The inhabitants began to empty their houses, and everything was carried to the other side of the road. At the east end men were tearing down buildings to prevent the spread of fire to the Mansion House. A heavy rope, handled by about fifty men, did this work completely. Other buildings were wetted down to curtail the destruction in this direction. A weak stream of water from the old fire engine had been brought to play upon some of the buildings.

THE WATER WORKS system was to have been tested the next day, on the 14th, so energetic efforts were made to get water into the pipes. Demeter Wehrle, who had been appointed to take charge of the new water system, rose to the emergency and turned on the water. Rough and Ready Fire Co. was on the scene with their new hose reel. They hooked it to the hydrant, and quickly had water on the blaze. Steady streams of water came pouring from the hose attached to the village hydrants. The flames were subdued in a short time, and thousands of dollars worth of property, were saved. Test Successful, one day early!

The 2nd week of January 1896 it was announced, the STAND-PIPE CONSTRUCTION was in progress and will take about six weeks to complete. On the 23 of January it was 40 ft. high. On Jan. 30 the STAND-PIPE had reached 75 ft. Some of the employees had to stop work because of dizziness. In the Amherst Bee on Feb. 20 was reported, the work on the STAND-PIPE was finished last week, neatly painted, and the pumps at the power house were being prepared for a final test Saturday the 22nd. Official service began May 1, 1896.
Village of Williamsville,

06/08/2025

THE HAMBURG STAND-PIPE & WATER SYSTEM 4/6/1941
It is well known in WNY that Birdsall Holly of Lockport NY in 1863 built the Lockport Fire Protection and Water System. Then in 1869 patented a fire hydrant used for fire protection. Scanning the local papers in the Hamburg area in the 1880s, it became obvious most towns and villages lacked an adequate method of fighting fires. New waterworks companies were being announced almost every day for towns across WNY, anxious to adopt the hydrant system with pipes buried along the streets for fire fighting. In 1889 it was Hamburgs’ turn. Holly had set things in motion.

ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1889 an agreement was made between the Village of Hamburg and The Hamburg Water and Electric Light Co. for the purpose, among other things, of furnishing water for fire and Village purposes. Lines along Main St. from Lake Ave. to Hunt St. were mentioned first along with connecting the necessary hydrants, then listed all the main streets in the village at the time. Also directed the waterworks co. to erect a STAND-PIPE 125 ft. in height to furnish pressure to the mains along with its pumps with additional pressure in case of fire of 20 pounds per square inch. Also the company is to provide water free of charge for use of one watering trough and to furnish water for one sprinkling wagon. Of course the contract covered all the usual legal gibberish and details, but the framework was laid for Hamburgs water system.

AUGUST 30 1889 was reported a large force of men have been at work the past week making excavations for the reservoir for the water works company. The excavation is now 16 feet below the surface and down to the clay; It is not deemed necessary to go deeper. The well, 100 ft. in diameter, has been curbed with wood, inside of which workmen may be enabled to lay the stone and brick walls. The company has decided to locate the STAND-PIPE on LONG AVE. near CENTRE ST.

THE LAYING OF THE MAINS commenced Wednesday, September 25, the foundation for the STAND-PIPE was completed on Friday the 20th, and the construction of the pipe will be commenced at once, as the material Is already on the ground. The foundation for the engine-house, was commenced Monday. The building will combine space for boilers, engines, pumps, dynamo for electric light, and rooms for engineer and family. The structure will be about 30x70 and ell shape in plan, with slate roof. The company thinks they will be in shape to supply water within sixty days.

On October 18th laborers are laying the water mains 5 feet under ground on Main St., and work on the various departments is being rushed. The STAND-PIPE is up about one fourth its contemplated height, and the brick work on the pumping station is nearly completed.

NOVEMBER 1ST REPORTS the water mains will all be laid by the close of next week; the STAND-PIPE, which is a high wrought steel tank, is up 70 feet, all will be completed If weather permits before Dec. 1, about 75 residences will accept supplies.

NOVEMBER 29 REPORTS R G. Morrison, secretary of the Sharon Boiler Works, Pa., which firm erected the stand-pipe, was in town this week, looking over the work. The water tower is completed and will soon be tested; mains are all laid; connections made, and Hamburg's system of water-works will shortly be in perfect, running order.

DECEMBER 6 REPORTS the stand-pipe was filled with water last week, which was utilized in many houses, and is a great convenience. In 13 tests made, streams were thrown over highest buildings, and it is gratifying to know that Hamburg is no longer at the mercy of the flames; certain it is that fires can be kept from spreading, and put out if discovered in time.

DECEMBER 27 1889 REPORTS, there are nearly five miles of mains, which run through the principal streets of the village. A WATER TOWER 125 feet high, giving nearly 60 pounds pressure, while with the engines at work at the pump-station, 200 pounds pressure can be applied; tests made, show that Hamburg is no longer at the mercy of the flames, as any building could be so speedily and thoroughly drenched with water, that the fire fiend's ravages could be staged at once; for this purpose 34 hydrants have been located at different points. Another great benefit is the private conveniences offered, as the water is furnished, dwellings or other places are supplied with water at moderate cost; the entire system cost nearly $50,000.

WE ARE ASSURED by the company that ELECTRIC LIGHTING will be added early in the spring of '90; the company has an extra boiler in position at the pump-station; dynamo and wires are all that are needed, and so our townspeople will no longer walk in darkness after a brief period of six months; we can hardly realize that this is so, as the transformation, and advancement is so very great; it will really be an advance of 100 Years in less than twelve months, and take us from the "dark ages" to that of beautiful day at all hours in the 24.
-------Electricity was added in 1893 when HWELC Co. began installing electric lines.