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tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. . . have you seen our apostolic clock? you may have once. . . some time ago. . .fourth grade? many return to hear it again… to share it again a warning chime sounds at the top of the hour, motioning… stop.
Melissa Brown Constance Caldwell Jennifer Nichols Robie Carmina, Anthony Greco, Rebecca Justinger, Kimberly Luangpakdy, Megan MacNeill, Walt Mayer, Cynthia Van Ness Tuesday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wednesday 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Thursday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday - 12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays. Wednesday - Saturday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Extended Library Hours: 2nd and 4th Wednesday Evenings 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
watch. you remember the march. you wonder… “how do they turn? how do they nod?” and then, the devil slides subtly into sight…
Miles Hughes spent thirty years of his life creating the Apostolic clock. I relish in his success and delight in the stories shared around this marvelous labor of love. Did Mr. Hughes know his life’s hobby would result in inestimable experiences that bridge generations? With the relocation of the Apostolic Clock in the works and as we take down the Bflo. Made! exhibit (its former home), you can help us move the beloved clock and continue bridging WNY history. See page six to learn more. Speaking of bridges, this issue of The Album celebrates bridging of other sorts - literally and figuratively. Since attending American Alliance of Museum’s 2015 Annual Meeting in Atlanta this spring, participating staff
Kristin Saperston Mark Severson Greg D. Tranter
Cover: 1. Delavan Bridge, 1887 2. Father Baker Bridge, 1950 3. Goat Island Bridge, 1900 4. Elmwood Avenue Bridge, 1910 5. Ridge Road Bridge, 1980 6. Michigan Avenue Bridge, 1888 Photos from the collection of The Buffalo History Museum.
The Buffalo History Museum is a private not-for-profit organization tax exempt under Sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It receives operating support from the County of Erie, the City of Buffalo, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA, a state agency), and from members and friends. The Buffalo History Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
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From the history of local music legends and stories series in collaboration with the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame; to a full day of celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month with our friends at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library and the Hispanic Heritage Council; to sharing in presidential and park history with our friends at the Buffalo Presidential Center and Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy; to the three-part series “Life and Death in a 19th Century Poorhouse” (and a free M&T Third Friday Student Jazz Concert!) with our "partners strong" at the University at Buffalo, we do have something for everyone to experience while visiting for the first time or as a frequent visitor! See you this fall, Melissa
The Red Jacket Awards Dinner
Thursday, October 1st
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Steven McCarville - President Peter Ahrens - Vice President Mark L. Martin- Vice President William J. O'Donnell - Vice President Heidi A. Raphael - Vice President Mark V. Taylor- Vice President Catherine Schweitzer - Secretary Philip C. Kadet - Treasurer Cassie Irish Cheryl Lyles Vincent Mancuso
Literally speaking, “bridge work” also extends to the construction on the Elmwood Avenue/Scajaquada bridge, less than 500 yards from the Museum campus. Many visitors use the alternate route - Delaware to Nottingham. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2016.
Join us
Members: FREE Children Under 7: FREE Veterans: FREE Children (7-12): $2.50 Adults: $7 Students & Seniors : $5
Ken Friedman Carley Jean Hill John L. Hurley, Jr.
members were inspired by the author of The Participatory Museum, Nina Simon (participatorymuseum.org). Nina led a session themed on “Bridging,” bringing community members together across differences. All who attended felt assured and validated that the work we do in the community mirrored much of our efforts in celebrating diversity. We’re encouraged to continue building connections.
The Buffalo History Museum One Museum Court
Honoring: The Red Jacket Award Burton Notarius, posthumously Eugene Vukelic
Last chance to see our exhibit focusing on the Niagara Frontier's role in one of our nation's most formative military engagements. Closing Friday, October 16th!
Daniel B. Niederlander Award The Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council Owen B. Augspurger Award Douglas DeCroix Call 716-873-9644 ext. 318 for tickets and information regarding corporate sponsorships Sponsored by:
Hodgson Russ • Independent Health • M&T Bank
Anthony Greco Director of Exhibits & Interpretive Planning
There is no one alive on this earth that fought in the Great War. There are no active memories of Ypres or of the Argonne. When the last remaining veteran passed in 2012, so too passed the war from human recollection. Today we are a century removed from a war that forever shaped our world and gave rise to an unthinkable sequel. Though the memories have slipped away, the vestiges remain and from them we rediscover our history. In January 2016, The Buffalo History Museum will premiere Paper Bullets: The Posters that Sold the Great War, the first in a series of World War I related Rebecca Justinger Registrar In 1846, New York State granted a charter to the International Bridge Company to build a suspension bridge across the Niagara River. At the same time, Canada granted a charter to the Niagara Falls Bridge Company of Canada West for the same purpose. The two companies came together to form a joint board of directors and hired Charles Ellet, Jr., a noted engineer and bridge builder from Philadelphia to build a wire railroad suspension bridge across the Niagara river about two miles below the Falls. It was Charles Ellet, Jr. who approached Theodore Graves Hulett about overseeing the iron works for the bridge and came to him with the first task of establishing a convenient means of communication across the gorge. The Niagara gorge suspension basket has always Basket, Suspension drawn visitors’ attention. Constructed to carry people, with their tools and Iron messages, across the Niagara gorge below the Falls, Ellet originally planned for Judge T.G. Hulett this car to be made of wood. He wanted to build two towers on either bank with Ca. 1847 a wire cable stretched between and a car or basket suspended from the cable, large and strong enough to carry at least two people. T.G. Hulett eventually convinced Ellet that a basket made of iron, with wooden seats, would be light enough to cross the wire with the use of iron rollers, but be strong enough to support passengers. The first passage was in the spring of 1848 and was made by Charles Ellet, Jr. This basket carried workmen and civilians alike, and it is estimated that approximately three-fourths of the passengers were women.
The Liberation Loan Artist-Jules Abel Faivre Paris, 1918
The Allied Flags bearing down on Kaiser Wilhelm II.
exhibits and programs. These posters, designed by some of the world’s foremost illustrators, were much more than art. They were highly effective marketing tools used to disseminate vital causes and campaigns such as bolstering volunteerism, encouraging enlistment, and purchasing liberty bonds. The museum’s collection features posters from multiple countries, including France, England, and Canada, several of which will be displayed along with American productions. Works featured in the exhibit will be rotated in order to reflect the war’s timeline. The war itself is often forgotten, outshone by World War II’s regency and terrible magnitude. But to understand the latter, the former should not be ignored. Come discover Buffalo’s war story, the story of the nation, and that of the world as we embark on this anniversary celebration.
Annual Local Author Book Signing Event Saturday, November 28th Noon - 2p.m. Museum free during event hours. • Meet and greet with local authors.
Great gift ideas for holiday shopping!
Ways to share your support & experience
Retweet on twitter @buffalohistory, share Facebook posts, follow us on Instagram, write an online review on Yelp, TripAdvsior, Google, etc., subscribe to our blog: buffalohistorymuseum.wordpress.com Drop us a line: info@buffalohistory.org #buffalohistory
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6. 1. Aaron Ott, Curator of Public Art at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery 2. Nina Fedak & Sharon Mercer 3. Geno McManus – The Ifs 4. Elena Buscarino & Chet Cardinale 5. Sal Juste, Mike Ahern, Amy McCarthy, Tamara Bdour, Jacalyn Baker 6. Seamus Gallivan & Ashica Ambu 7. Doodle Bugs touring the
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Pioneer Gallery
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14. 9. Ellie Poleon & Christine Buckowski 10. Cock Robin 11. Melissa Brown & Italian Medical
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12. Megan MacNeill giving a tour at Canalside 13. John Montague from the Buffalo
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14. Sarah Hoffman & Rachel Hamilton 15. Dee Zeigel at Erie County Fair
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16. Buffalo Music Hall of Fame
2015 Inductees
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Cynthia Van Ness, MLS Director of Library & Archives
Thousands of Thruway drivers pass it around the clock with a quick glance at best. It has been in service for over 51,000 days, built before the invention of the automobile, airplane, and Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone. It shares a birth year with the first typewriter to have a QWERTY keyboard. It opened for business in 1873 during Ulysses Grant’s administration as the International Railroad Bridge. The need for a rail crossing between Buffalo and Fort Erie became evident after the Suspension Bridge opened in Niagara Falls (1854) and the area was soon overwhelmed by rail traffic. Negotiations between the State of New York and the Dominion Parliament
began in 1857 but were interrupted by the Civil War. Finally, in 1870, Congress and Parliament agreed on terms and budgeted $1,500,000 for the project. The International Bridge Company, formed by the Grand Trunk Railroad, was awarded a charter to design and construct the bridge. The Gzowski-MacPherson Company won the contract and began work, supervised by PolishCanadian engineer Sir Casimir Gzowski (1813-1898). Gzowski must have been a gifted child, because he entered the Military Engineering College at Kremnitz at age 9. As a young man, he took part in Polish uprisings against the Russian forces. Exiled to New York after the defeat of these efforts, Gzowski learned English, studied law, and eventually settled in Toronto, where he supervised public works on roads and harbors in Ontario and Montreal and developed an interest in rail engineering. When Gzowski began work on the International Bridge, a crossing at this point was considered impossible. The currents of the Niagara River were too swift and treacherous, the water levels too unpredictable, the ice build-up too heavy, and the storms too intense. Gzowski was almost 60 when he took on the challenge. In spite of construction challenges and setbacks, the 1.11 mile bridge opened on November 3, 1873 without the loss of any lives. It quickly
became one of the busiest international crossing points in North America. In 1890, Gzowski was knighted by Queen Victoria. While the bridge mostly carried freight trains, until 1934 it also carried one passenger car daily. It had wooden plank sidewalks until 1900, when the trusses were fully redesigned and replaced. Its busiest day was July 10, 1916, when 264 trains crossed. Today it serves 15 trains per day and is a handsome, sturdy reminder of 19th century engineering prowess. Read more about it: https://archive.org/details/cihm_05136 Gzowski, Casimir Stanislaus Description of the International Bridge: Constructed over the Niagara River, near Fort Erie, Canada, and Buffalo, U.S. of America Toronto: Copp, Clark & Co., 1873 TG445 .I6 The international railroad bridge, Fort Erie to Buffalo, 1873-1973 and Colonel Casimir S. Gzowski Buffalo, NY: Published by Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, Engineering Institute of Canada, N.Y. State Society of Professional Engineers, Erie-Niagara Section, American Society
of Civil Engineers, Buffalo Section, ©1973
Since 1923, millions of visitors have marveled at the Apostolic Clock’s grandeur and delighted in its mechanics. In 2008, restorative efforts brought the clock back to working order, and it was reinstalled in our Bflo. Made! exhibit. This spring, we announced the closing of Bflo. Made!, removing the clock and many significant Western New York artifacts from view. Much of what makes our region and Museum unique ‘live’ in Bflo.Made!, and we want as many of these artifacts to remain accessible. The Clock, Greatbach’s pacemaker, Niagara Gorge basket, Joe Joseph’s sign shop painting – these beloved artifacts need new Name ‘homes’ to bring joy to Address our users. You can give current and future Museum users a lasting impression. Plans to improve visitor experience involve improving visitor services through revitalizing the Museum entrance and the Museum Shop. As an iconic Museum artifact, the Apostolic Clock would set the stage for the rest of the visit. The project cost is $7,000 to move the Clock from its current location to the Museum entrance and construct a period-appropriate protective barrier. A video featuring the restoration story and the signature “march of the apostles” would also be part of the display. 6
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1 Tuesday Toddler Story Time, 10-11 a.m. Bring your little one to the museum for storybook reading & activities. Museum admission, free for members. 2 Wednesday Food Truck Rodeo, 5-8 p.m. The Food Truck Rodeo is joined by our friends at the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame! Live music by STONEFLOWER will be free for the public to enjoy as a gift from the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Free museum admission during rodeo. 6 Sunday Pan Am Walking Tour, 1-2:30 p.m. Take a walking tour of the Pan-American grounds with one of our trained docents. A map with historic photos is included. $10. Pre-registration required. 9 Wednesday Music Legacies & Legends : Ramblin' Lou, 6 p.m. Hailed as “WNY’s Father of Country Music,” Ramblin' Lou Schriver, WXRL's longtime owner and on-air personality will share his incredible story during a special up-close and personal interview. Museum admission, free for members. 12 Saturday Boy Scout Engineering Badge, 1-3 p.m. For this specialized program, scouts will visit both the Martin House and The Buffalo History Museum. Please inquire for more information. 716-873-9644 x320. 16 Wednesday Trivia Night: Are you a History Buff?, 5-8 p.m. Test your local Buffalo history knowledge with our first Trivia Night. Come with a team, or join one when you arrive. Snacks and drinks available for purchase. Museum admission, free for members. 18 Friday M&T Third Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. The Museum, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, and the Hispanic Heritage Council are joining together for a full day of celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month. Throughout the day enjoy activities and tours from 1-3 p.m. Documentary and discussion led by Henry Taylor starting at 6 p.m. Free. 23 Wednesday Humanities Festival Kick-Off, Lecture begins at 7 p.m. Buffalo State College's Humanities Festival (Sept 23 - Sept 26). Guest speaker Professor Patrick McDevitt of the University of Buffalo History Department. Free. 24 Thursday The Presidential Leadership Speakers Series, 6-8 p.m. David Schuyler, PhD will speak on “President Millard Fillmore and Frederick Law Olmsted: The Beginning of the American Park Movement.” Museum admission, free for members. 30 Wednesday Song Stories, 6 p.m. The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame share their secrets and talents as they take you on a musical journey demonstrating their techniques of creating, developing, and arranging a song from start to finish. Museum admission, free for members.
3 Saturday Forest Lawn Trolley Tour, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Guided tour of Forest Lawn Cemetery on a vintage trolley, tour of the Hotel @ The Lafayette, lunch is included at the Pan American Grill & Brewery, guided tour of The Buffalo History Museum’s Resource Center and “The Spirit Still Lives” Pan Am exhibit. Visitors will return to Forest Lawn at 3pm. $60 members, $65 general, reservations required. 3 Saturday Secrets from the Stacks, 10 a.m. Join our librarians as they reveal treasures from the library's archives. Museum admission, free for members. 6 Tuesday Toddler Story Time, 10-11 a.m. Bring your little one to the museum for storybook reading & activities. Museum admission, free for members. 6 Tuesday Teachers' Night Out, 5-8 p.m. Not your typical ‘meet & greet’… Teachers are invited to discover Museum offerings: dynamic tours, tools, and “history kits” while enjoying happy hour and a chance to win fabulous prizes to show our commitment and appreciation. Free w/ RSVP, 873.9644 ext. 0. 7 Wednesday War of 1812 Lecture, 6 p.m. Send-off our popular War of 1812 exhibit in style with one last lecture. Museum admission, free for members. 8 Thursday The Presidential Leadership Speakers Series, 6 p.m. Francis Kowsky, PhD will lecture on "William Dorscheimer and the Politics of Higher Civilization - Establishing a Park in Buffalo." 14 Wednesday "Life and Death in a 19th Century Poorhouse: A Case from Erie County," Part 1, 6 p.m. Part one in our fascinating three part series, exploring the Erie County poorhouse, discovered on UB’s South Campus. This week, Doug Perrelli will describe the history of human remains, their archaeological excavations, and their discoveries. Museum admission, free for members. 16 Friday M&T Third Friday: Nickel City Opera Presents Scenes From 'SHOT!, 5-8 p.m. TBHM Resource Center 459 Forest Ave. Excerpts of an original opera chronicling the assassination of President William McKinley at the 1901 Pan American Expo - two excerpted shows at 5:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Free. 21 Wednesday "Life and Death in a 19th Century Poorhouse: A Case from Erie County," Part 2, 6 p.m. From death certificates, to inmate ledgers and mortality records, Rosanne Higgins, PhD will speak on the documentary evidence she collected to support the skeletal and archaeological analysis. Museum admission, free for members.
3 Tuesday Toddler Story Time, 10-11 a.m. Bring your little one to the museum for storybook reading & activities. Museum admission, free for members. 5 Thursday 17th Annual Paint the Town Tickets available by calling (716) 873-9644 ext. 318. Paint the Town features a wide range of artists with strong ties to the Western New York region who create work with passion and commitment. These works will be on view and auctioned during the event. Members $50; General $70; Patron $150. 15 Sunday Japanese Culture Day, 12-5 p.m. Bunka no Hi is a Japanese national holiday celebrated on November 3rd, highlighting culture, peace and freedom. Displays and opportunities to learn more about tea, folk dolls, origami, Ikebana, and calligraphy are featured. Free. 18 Wednesday SS Columbia Restoration, 6 p.m. Liz McEnaney, Executive Director of The SS Columbia Project will talk about the ship, her relationship to the Canadiana/ Americana, and Great Lakes and Erie Canal connections. The SS Columbia Project hopes to reconnect New York City to the Hudson Valley, revitalizing waterfront cities and towns, while also creating a unique floating mobile museum and experiential educational resource. Museum admission, free for members. 20 Friday M&T Third Friday: Jazz Concert, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of music featuring the University at Buffalo Student Jazz Ensembles led by music professor George Caldwell. Refreshments available for purchase. Free. 21 Saturday Western New York State Genealogical Society, 10 a.m. The Research Library partners with the Western New York Genealogical Society to offer a day of in-depth research tips and suggestions. Free to WNYGS & TBHM members, $10 for guests. RSVP by 11/11/15 to mmacneill@buffalohistory.org. 27 Friday Train Day, 1-4 p.m. TBHM annual event, “Train Day,” is a popular museum family day that includes a tour of the 1900s replica model trains, artifact scavenger hunts, and train-themed crafts. Live music by Rail Barons Band is also featured. Museum admission, free for members. 28 Saturday Annual Local Author Book Signing, Noon - 2 p.m. Designed for shoppers looking for personalized gifts. Offering a wide range of publications-including cookbooks, neighborhood, regional and military history, novels and coffee-table books-makes this a perfect opportunity to shop for a variety of tastes. Museum free during event hours.
28 Wednesday "Life and Death in a 19th Century Poorhouse: A Case from Erie County," Part 3, 6 p.m. Our final lecture, Dr. Joyce Sirianni examines the anthropological analysis of the Erie County Poorhouse human skeletal remains. Museum admission, free for members. 31 Saturday All Hallows Eve, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring the kids to the Museum for day-time Halloween fun! Pumpkin & face painting with a costume parade and contest at 1 p.m. Museum admission, free for members.
Dates and times subject to change
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Evening Hours on Wednesday until 8 p.m. • Free Parking
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BUFFALO, NY PERMIT No. 3626