Fall 2019
Melissa Brown Tamara Bdour, Cheyenne Ketter-Franklin Britt Call, Robin Foley, Anthony Greco, Kristin Hatch, Kim Luangpakdy, Megan MacNeill, Cynthia Van Ness Tuesday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 12 - 5 p.m. Closed Mondays Wednesday-Saturday: 1 - 5 p.m. Extended Library Hours Wednesday Evenings: 6 - 8 p.m. Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Members: FREE Children Under 7: FREE Veterans: FREE Children (7-12): $2.50 Adults: $10, Students & Seniors : $5 Greg D. Tranter - President Cassie Irish - Vice President Mark L. Martin - Vice President Bill O’Donnell - Vice President Mark Taylor - Vice President Anne Conable - Secretary Brian Dempsey - Treasurer
Gaile Amigone Lisa Marie Anselmi, PhD Kevin Brady Joan M. Bukowski
Barbara A. Seals Nevergold, PhD Noel Emerling Nicole R. Tzetzo, Esq. Karna Holmes Rachel Weissfeld Dr. Bharat Kohli Hon. Penny Wolfgang Jennifer Liber Raines
The Buffalo History Museum is a private not-for-profit organization tax exempt under Sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We receive operating support from the County of Erie, the City of Buffalo, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and from donors, members and friends.The Buffalo History Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
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On my first excursion under the portico, I found the scene to be a combination of musty and magical. As a member of the collections team, we extracted the artifacts left in the old 1890s Street of Shops exhibit. Features included a pharmacy, a sporting goods shop, and an art studio. Like its still intact sister experience, well-designed facades held engaging vignettesscenes meant to transport the viewer back to a late 19th century bustling Buffalo. The 1890s Street exhibit had long been closed and was the last section of the Portico Gallery to be cleared. While the perfect material selection for a classically-styled building, the Vermont marble stairs and landing areas of the Portico are less ideal as a roof material for the gallery below. Water is the enemy when it comes to maintaining historic structures. Directing and preventing water from infiltrating the Portico was the critical first step to reclaiming this magnificent 2,600 square feet of space. I hope you had a chance to marvel at the workers atop the scaffolding and high above in the lift bucket. Stopping the water from entering below begins with directing it from above. The copper gutters were lined with a waterproofing polymer coating. There was a long-held assumption that water was permeating from the leaders- internal pipes channeled within the brick walls of our building. (Yes, between the plaster and the marble, there’s brick). The actual issue and first modification to the project scope included repairs to the tile roof and along the gutter, particularly where the gutter and the leaders meet. When the masons removed the marble tiles to restore the floor lights set in the surface of the Portico, we saw the severe deterioration since their last restoration in 2006. This discovery prompted the most significant scope change- replacement of the floor lights. Working with the State Office of Historic Preservation, a structural glass system was identified- one that keeps with the aesthetic of the building and provides the assurance of a new, warrantied frame. Circle Redmont, a world’s leader in glass panel systems is designing and crafting our pair. We expect to have the floor lights restored in October. Meanwhile, the masons will be busy in September repointing and cleaning the entire surface of the Portico. They are also working with us to create a maintenance program. Cover images, From the collection: -Darwin D. Martin House located at 124 Jewett Parkway. -Buffalo State Hospital, ca. 1880. -Lafayette Hotel at the corner of Clinton and Washington Streets, ca. 1930. -City Hall from Court Street, 1982. -Lakeside view of The Buffalo History Museum pre-expansion. -Aerial of War Memorial Stadium at the corner of Jefferson and Best. -Kleinhans Music Hall view from First Presbyterian Church. -Aerial of Our Lady of Victory Basilica located at 767 Ridge Road, May 1981. -New York Central Terminal looking west from east end of station, December 13, 1972. -Albright-Knox Art Gallery from the northeast with false porch of maidens.
We haven’t yet gotten to the WOW-factor of this phase- the restoration of the doors reconnecting guests to our grassy terraces, the Japanese Garden, and Olmsted Park. Old Dutchman’s Wrought Iron of Getzville created custom window grates inspired by the original architectural features. The wrought iron grates offer both decorative detailing and security. The two doors to the grassy terraces were modeled from originals. Each of the doors situated in the radial entrance room required a curved, custom design. It’s pretty challenging to secure hardware for a curved door that is both aesthetically appropriate and functional as a safe egress. The radial doors and terrace doors will be the last to be placed in late September. We’ve been working diligently with Brian Swartz, City of Buffalo; Bradley Everdyke, Paul Lang and Steven Carmina of Carmina Wood Morris; Joy Swanson, Walter S. Johnson; and the Museum’s Facilities Committee. My gratitude to the many experts that have shaped solutions from the challenges presented by our 118-year-old National Historic Landmark. Phase Two is already in development. Highlights include: • Removal of the case block wall now dividing the original gallery space (Behind Millard Fillmore's carriage). • Employ universal design principles by updating restrooms and landscape design of terraces. • Honor architect George Cary’s original vision with restoring plaster gallery walls, floors, ceilings, and architectural details. • Realize a new, expansive gallery for exhibits, events/rentals/ catering, and school tour use. Designing for time- honoring past visions and maximizing current resources to provide sound foundations for future needs and adaptations. Like our Portico Project, this issue of The Album features elements of each. All my best, Melissa
Join us THE RED JACKET AWARDS DINNER
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Buffalo does a superb job of creating awareness, inspiring appreciation, and sharing the history of our City’s rich architecture. We have talks and lectures, walking tours, scholarly and popular books, encyclopedic websites, and expert laypeople, professors, and architectural historians. We also have our share of urban legends that accompany our architectural history. In no particular order, here are the architecture urban legends our team hears most often.
1. “My mantelpiece/stained glass window came from the Pan-American Exposition.” The Chicago Housewrecking Company got the contract to demolish and salvage the grounds of the Pan-Am. They salvaged component building materials such as copper wiring, plumbing fixtures, floor boards, window sashes, and mouldings. Some was sold on the grounds, but most was shipped back to Chicago for resale. The more likely origin story is that your mantelpiece or window was made by a company who had a booth at the Pan-American Exposition. 2. “During the Pan-American, every house in Buffalo was photographed and the pictures are at The Buffalo History Museum.” If only! We safe keep about 12,000 Buffalo house pictures. Most date from the mid-20th century. Around a hundred of them, mostly west side addresses, have an estimated 1901 date. There was no campaign to photograph everything in 1901. It would have been a colossally expensive undertaking and the resulting photo collection would have dwarfed the 12,000 house pictures that we have collected over the last 150 years. 3. “The Electric Tower downtown is a replica of the Electric Tower at the Pan-American Exposition.” When General Electric decided to erect an office building in downtown Buffalo, they hired Esenwein & Johnson, the Buffalo firm best known for designing the Temple of Music at the Pan-American. Esenwein & Johnson were inspired by the Electric Tower at the Pan-Am, designed by New York City architect John G. Howard, but they did not produce a carbon copy. The silhouette is similar, but the resemblance ends there. Their 1912 General Electric Tower (later called the Niagara Mohawk building) has an octagonal shaft, whereas Howard’s 1901 Electric Tower had a square shaft. Additionally, Howard’s tower had much more elaborate surface ornamentation than Esenwein & Johnson’s.
Honoring: Ruth Bryant Catherine Schweitzer
The Red Jacket Award William F. Koch (posthumously) The Owen B. Augspurger Award
West Seneca Historical Society The Daniel B. Niederlander Award The Buffalo History Museum One Museum Court, Buffalo, NY 14216 Tickets: $150 per person / $275 per couple / $500 patron Contact Britt Call, Donor & Corporate Relations Manager, at (716) 873-9644 ext. 344 for tickets, sponsorships, honorary gifts, program advertisements or any questions.
Sponsored by:
Richard and Karen Penfold
4. “According to my deed, my house was built in 1804”. Many lucky homeowners have a legal-sized document called an Abstract of Title. It lists all known previous owners of your property. In most cases, it goes back to the Holland Land Company, hence the date from 200+ years ago. The misconception is that an Abstract of Title documents the origin of a building. Instead, what it shows you is the chain of ownership of your piece of ground, the lot your house sits on. Its sole purpose is to demonstrate that no prior owners have any claim on your land. Which leads to #5. 5. “Millard Fillmore used to live in my house! My title says so!” Lots of us will spot a famous Buffalo name on our Abstract of Title. Mine has Col. Peter B. Porter’s name. He died in 1844. The building permit for my house was issued in 1896, over 50 years later. Many prominent Buffalonians bought real estate for investment purposes, places where they never resided. 6. “My house/building was a stop on the Underground Railroad.” After 20 years of looking at period sources, I have yet to find any concealment narratives (accounts of hiding places) written by or quoting Underground Railroad fugitives, participants, or eyewitnesses in Buffalo. Assistance to fugitives was rendered mostly by African-Americans in African-American neighborhoods like the Michigan Street Baptist Church. Men and women who settled in Buffalo after escaping from slavery typically found work and knitted themselves into the community. Today, virtually all of Buffalo’s surviving building stock is post-Civil War. Statistically speaking, your house or building almost certainly dates from after 1865, so it cannot have been an Underground Railroad site. We’d love for you to discover the resources in our Research Library firsthand. Our hours are published on page 2.
On social media? Follow us!
The Buffalo History Museum @buffalohistorymuseum @BuffaloHistory
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Food Truck Rodeo 6/3
Family Summer Solstice Celebration 6/21
Party FOR the Portico 8/16
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Naturalization Ceremony 6/13
Exhibit Opening: I Got Somethin’ To Show You with Shannon Davis 6/19
Interns Anna and Olivia Help Install History Antique and Classic Car Show - Best of Show Awardee 8/11 Makers 8/1
History Makers Erie County Room
Open Now! History Makers features profiles, artifacts, and imagery of 20 of our region’s most historically significant and well-known figures. Experience a wide range of eras and topics in local history spanning from Joseph Ellicott and his land survey to Buffalo Bob Smith and his beloved television character, Howdy Doody.
Emblem of Equality:
Woman Suffrage in Western New York State Court
Program
New Book to Feature Stories of Buffalo Professional Sports From 1857 to Present Day
Celebrate the 60 years of Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo History Museum and Western New York Heritage are collaborating to publish Makers, Moments & Memorabilia: A Chronicle of Buffalo Professional Sports, by Greg D. Tranter. The book explores the origins of professional sports in Buffalo and tells the stories of the unforgettable moments and teams who inspired us all. The book portrays unique and little-known stories, including the birth of the Boston Red Sox in Buffalo and their move to Boston, how professional hockey came to Buffalo, the Calder Cup Championship teams of the 1940s, and many more.
Highlights Football in October
Superfan! Exhibit Opening M&T Third Friday, October 18
Thurman Thomas Autograph Signing Saturday, October 26
Evening with an ICON: Mary Wilson Monday, October 28
Support for this project comes from Nicholas and Gaile Amigone, The Baird Foundation, Independent Health, Noel Emerling, New Era, and NTT Data.
Opening: M&T Third Friday, September 20 Explore our area’s long-fought struggle for a woman’s right to vote. The exhibition includes stories of both those who rallied for equality at the ballot box and the people who argued against it. The display is a centennial celebration of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Subjects featured in the exhibit include the early stirrings of women’s rights on the Niagara Frontier, World War I and its effect on suffrage, and the Buffalo Six—the Western New York women who were imprisoned for picketing the White House.
Superfan!
Community Gallery Opening: M&T Third Friday, October 18 Original artwork by renowned Buffalo artist, A.J. Fries. Superfan! features 12 paintings inspired by items from The Buffalo History Museum’s Greg D. Tranter Collection of Buffalo Bills Memorabilia. Fries’ uniquely painted perspectives on everyday objects are part of the permanent collections of the Burchfield Penney Arts Center and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Exclusive merchandise will be available at the Museum Shop in celebration of the exhibit.
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ALL ABOARD! THE MOST POPULAR HOLIDAY FAMILY EVENT OF THE YEAR!
12 - 4 p.m.
SEE OUR MODEL TRAINS CREATE A TRAIN-THEMED CRAFT
PARTICIPATE IN ARTIFACT SCAVENGER HUNTS
LIVE MUSIC BY THE RAIL BARONS BAND MEMBERS FREE; MUSEUM ADMISSION
CHART, SEATING Paper Ca. 1960 Donor: Greg D. Tranter, 2015 Collection: Greg D. Tranter Buffalo Bills Collection
11 A.M. - 2 P.M. MORE THAN
65 LOCAL AUTHORS WILL BE ON HAND TO MEET AND GREET READERS AND
SIGN PURCHASED BOOKS. FREE.
home to the Buffalo Bills until 1972. This seating chart Kristin Hatch
depicts the stadium around the time of an upper deck
Greg D. Tranter Collection Manager
seating expansion, which brought the capacity from 35,000 to 46,201. In comparison, New Era Field
Ask someone where the Buffalo Bills play, and you
accommodates 71,608 spectators today.
are likely to receive “the Rockpile” in response. Even 47 years after the Bills moved to Orchard Park, War
After the Bills moved to Rich Stadium (currently New
Memorial Stadium holds a lasting legacy in Buffalo
Era Field) in 1973, War Memorial Stadium sat mostly
Bills history. Opened at Dodge Street and Jefferson
empty until it became home to Buffalo’s Triple-A
Avenue in 1937 as Roesch Memorial Stadium,
baseball team, the Buffalo Bisons, in 1979. The Bisons
construction of the downtown stadium was a Works
left in the late 1980s when Pilot Field (now Sahlen
Progress Administration project. The name changed
Field) opened. The stadium fell into disrepair and
soon after opening to Grover Cleveland Stadium and
was partially demolished in 1988. Today, part of War
then again to Civic Stadium in 1938. The field was a
Memorial Stadium still stands as the Johnnie B. Wiley
multi-purpose space that hosted a variety of events
Amateur Sports Athletic Pavilion, a high school athletic
including track meets, early National Football League
field, continuing the field’s long history as a sports
and All-American Football Conference games, midget
arena. The location may have changed, the structure
car auto races, and baseball games. In 1960, the
may be new, but for some fans, the Bills will always play
stadium became War Memorial Stadium and served as
at the “Rockpile”.
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BUFFALOHISTORY.ORG
presents
Evening with an ICON:
Mary Wilson
Join Mary Wilson for an intimate discussion about her career, life with Ralph, and more.
MONday, OCTOber 28th, 2019 5:30 P.M. • Cocktail reception 6:30 P.M. • Program begins
VISIT BUFFALOHISTORY.ORG TO REGISTER $10 Members • $25 General • $50 Patron Patron ticket includes VIP reception and preferred seating in our auditorium.
SEPTEMBER Tuesday 9/17 | 5:30 p.m. Members Appreciation Night History Makers and Emblem of Equality: Woman Suffrage in Western New York Members receive advance previews and docent-led tours of our new exhibitions and under the portico space. RSVP to Angelica Rodriguez, Membership and Events Coordinator, at (716) 873-9644 ext. 318 or at arodriguez@buffalohistory.org. Exclusive and free for members. Join or renew your membership online at buffalohistory.org/join, or by contacting Angelica. M&T Third Friday 9/20 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Free admission to the Museum and Resource Center at 459 Forest Avenue. Experience two new exhibits, History Makers and Emblem of Equality: Woman Suffrage in Western New York, and see the progress made on the restoration of the space under our portico. Visit buffalohistory.org for schedule of activities. Saturday 9/21 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day An annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine where participating museums across the country open their doors free of charge to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. Get your Museum Day ticket at www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday Saturday 9/21 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Secrets from the Stacks: Music Secrets from the Stacks is a one-morning pop-up display of pictures, books, manuscripts, or other items from the Research Library collection. Members free; museum admission. Free with Museum Day admission. Saturday 9/21 | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Pan-Am Trolley Tour The tour begins at Forest Lawn, where you will board the Forest Lawn trolley and visit the final resting places of many of the movers and shakers who made the Pan-American Exposition happen. Enjoy lunch at Lafayette Brewing Co., a short tour of the Hotel at Lafayette, and a tour of the Museum’s exhibit, Spirit of the City: Imagining the Pan-American Exposition. Members $60; General $65. To reserve, please visit www.forest-lawn.com or call 716-332-2233. Saturday 9/21 | 2:30 - 5 p.m. Hispanic Heritage Day In partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, celebrate Hispanic culture and heritage in the Western New York region. Free to attend.
OCTOBER Tuesday 10/1 | 10 - 11 a.m. Toddler Story Time Bring your little one to our monthly program and spend some quality time at the Museum. We will read a book and do a related activity. Members free; museum admission. Wednesday 10/2 | 6 - 8 p.m. Behind the Scenes Tour Join Walt Mayer, Director of Collections, for an exclusive behind the scenes tour of our Resource Center, which houses all of our artifacts. Reservations required. Members free; museum admission. Register online at buffalohistory.org
FALL PROGRAMS Thursday 10/3 | 6 - 9 p.m. The Red Jacket Awards Dinner Celebrate the people and organizations who make our region an extraordinary place to live. Learn about this year’s honorees and purchase tickets at buffalohistory.org. Assistance with tickets, sponsorships, and underwriting opportunities is available by contacting Britt Call, Donor & Corporate Relations Manager, at (716) 873-9644 ext. 344 or bcall@buffalohistory.org. $150 per person; $275 per couple; $500 patron. Wednesday 10/9 | 6 - 7:30 p.m. Erie Canal Medicine and Music This celebration of 200 years on the Erie Canal covers medical practices of the day and treatment of both injury and illness. The stories and songs of the canallers will share the scope and struggles of the time. Members free; museum admission. Sunday 10/13 | 2:30 - 4 p.m. Jazz on 2nd Sundays In partnership with Buffalo Jazz Collective, this concert series showcases the area’s most esteemed jazz musicians and jazz heritage. Members $5; general admission $12. Wednesday 10/16 | 6 - 8 p.m. Curator’s Talk Buffalo historian Susan Eck hosts a program on women’s suffrage and the story of suffragette Ada Kendall. Members free; museum admission. M&T Third Friday 10/18 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Free admission to the Museum and Resource Center at 459 Forest Avenue. Exhibit Opening: Superfan! | 6 - 8 p.m. Renowned Buffalo artist A.J. Fries opens exhibit that features 12 paintings inspired by items from the Museum’s Greg D. Tranter Collection of Buffalo Bills memorabilia. Meet and greet with the artist; light refreshments available. Free. Visit buffalohistory.org for schedule of activities. Wednesday 10/23 | 6 - 7:30 p.m. A Conversation with Bob McCarthy In partnership with Western New York Mensa, join Bob McCarthy, political reporter for The Buffalo News and Budd Bailey of WNY Mensa as they discuss November's elections, the upcoming Presidential campaign, Bob's life and career, and the changing nature of journalism. Members free; museum admission. Saturday 10/26 | 1 - 3 p.m. Thurman Thomas Autograph Signing Buffalo Bills alumni and Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Thurman Thomas will be at the Museum for autograph signing. Members $10 per person; general admission $20 per person. Admission includes a free pre-printed photo of Thurman Thomas for autographing. $40 per autograph on a 3D object, limit of two 3D objects to be signed per person. Visit buffalohistory.org to register. Monday 10/28 | 5:30 p.m. Reception; 6:30 p.m. Program Evening with an ICON: Mary Wilson Join Mary Wilson for an intimate discussion about her life with Ralph, career, and more. Visit buffalohistory.org to register. Members $10; general admission $25; patron $50. Wednesday 10/30 | 6 - 7:30 p.m. Ararat Stone Lecture with Chana Kotzin In 1825 Mordecai Noah attempted to lay the foundation for a Jewish settlement on Grand Island. The Ararat Stone, part of the Museum’s collection, marks this historic moment. Learn more about this fascinating story with historian Chana Kotzin. Members free; museum admission.
NOVEMBER Sunday 11/3 | 12:30 - 3 p.m. Bunka No Hi Bunka no Hi is a Japanese national holiday celebrating culture as well as peace and freedom. The State Court will be abuzz with displays and opportunities to learn more about Tea, Folk Dolls, Origami, Ikebana, and Calligraphy. Free. Tuesday 11/5 | 10 - 11 a.m. Toddler Story Time See 10/1 for details. Wednesday 11/6 | 6 - 8 p.m. Low Bridge, Everybody Down: Buffalo’s Story in Song Folk singer and writer Tyler Bagwell performs contemporary songs pulled from newspapers, notebooks, broadsheets, and aural tradition that touch upon the flash points of Buffalo’s first century: The War of 1812, the Fenian Invasion, the Buffalo Slave Case, and the Assassination of William McKinley. Members free; museum admission. Sunday 11/10 | 2:30 - 4 p.m. Jazz on 2nd Sundays See 10/13 for details. Wednesday 11/13 | 6 - 8 p.m. Irish Famine Lecture featuring Pat McDevitt Pat McDevitt, Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University at Buffalo, hosts a lecture regarding the Irish Famine. Members free; museum admission. M&T Third Friday 11/15 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free admission to the Museum and Resource Center at 459 Forest Avenue. Visit buffalohistory.org for schedule of activities. Giants of Buffalo Film: Tom Fontana 5:30 p.m. Reception; 6:30 p.m. Program Begins Giants of Buffalo celebrates individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in their life’s vocation. Tom Fontana is a Buffalo-born writer and producer, who, among many other accomplishments, is known for the creation of HBO's Oz and NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street. Registration is required and available online at buffalohistory.org. Members $10; general admission $25; patron $50. Friday 11/29 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Secrets from the Stacks: Trains Secrets from the Stacks is a one-morning pop-up display of pictures, books, manuscripts, or other items from the Research Library collection. Members free; museum admission. Friday 11/29 | 12 - 4 p.m. Train Day! All aboard! The most popular holiday family event of the year. See our model trains, participate in artifact scavenger hunts, create a train-themed craft! Live music by Rail Barons Band is also featured. Members free; museum admission. Saturday 11/30 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Local Author Book Signing Local authors will be on hand to meet and greet readers and sign purchased books. Free.
*Event Calendar subject to change
Evening Hours on Wednesday until 8 p.m. • Free Parking
NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BUFFALO, NY PERMIT No. 3626