What follows is a guest essay by J.R. Teeter, the founding artistic director of Bread &- Water Theatre. Since 2000 Bread &- Water Theatre has had as its purpose the development of new dramatic works and affordable arts programming for the public. This essay first appeared on the site Preservation News.
Rochester, New York has fallen on hard times, not unlike many of the cities across the nation. The Erie Canal, once a major shipping route, is now considered obsolete. The city’s biggest employer, Kodak, is now bankrupt. Major businesses have either downsized, moved out of town, or both. When a new company takes an interest in the city, the red carpet is rolled out and tax breaks are doled out, sometimes at the cost of the city’s legacy. Read more
Erie County
New Leadership for Great Lakes Seaway Trail
Seaway Trail, Inc. has named Michael “Mike” Bristol as its new President and CEO. The Great Lakes Seaway Trail is a 518-mile, two-state National Scenic Byway, a New York State Scenic Byway, and a state-designated Bicycle Route in New York and Pennsylvania. Bristol becomes only the second President and CEO in the Great Lakes Seaway Trail’s 34-year history.
The Seaway Trail scenic driving route was designated in 1978. The Seaway Trail, Inc. nonprofit organization formed in 1986 with Teresa Mitchell as its first director. Mitchell passed away in January and Charles “Chuck” Krupke served as Interim Executive Director.
Mike Bristol began his new leadership role July 2, 2012. He brings nearly 30 years’ experience in tourism, athletics and nonprofit management to the tourism and economic development organization based in Sackets Harbor, NY.
A Florida State University graduate, Bristol was the Associate Director of his alma mater’s Seminole Boosters, Inc., a national-level fundraising corporation. He served as President and CEO of the Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitors Bureau from 2002 to 2005.
Upon returning to his native northern New York, Bristol served as Director of Marketing and Outreach for The Antique Boat Museum on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail in Clayton, NY. Bristol is a member of the Clayton Local Development Corporation Redevelopment Committee that is overseeing a new dock and hotel development.
The Great Lakes Seaway Trail organization is known for diverse travel theme marketing, a “Best of the Byways” guidebooks series, Great Lakes Seaway Trail “Outdoor Storyteller” signage, and innovative programming that includes a American Volkssport Association-approved series of War of 1812-theme walks.
Popular travel themes include scenic driving road trips, maritime and military history, four seasons’ outdoor recreation, birdwatching, lighthouses and shipwrecks, bicycling, quilting and cultural heritage.
To learn more about the Great Lakes Seaway Trail byway that runs alongside the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Niagara River and Lake Erie in New York and Pennsylvania, go online to www.seawaytrail.com.
Photo provided.
History of Technology in Western New York Exhibit
The University at Buffalo Libraries has announced a new exhibit, “History of Technology in Western New York” at the 2nd Floor, Oscar A. Silverman Library, Capen Hall, University at Buffalo North Campus. Researched and written by Nancy Schiller, Engineering Librarian, and produced by Rose Orcutt, Architecture & Planning Librarian, “History of Technology in Western New York” offers a glimpse into Western New York’s rich industrial heritage.
The exhibit pays homage to Buffalo’s iconic grain elevators, to Pierce-Arrow and its sleek automobiles and even sleeker advertising, to the region’s contributions to early aviation, and to the massive steelmills in Lackawanna, and the men and women who labored in them.
Photographs, text and images featured in the exhibit recallan era when 50 percent of Buffalo’s population was engaged in industrial endeavors of one sort or another, and factories, grainelevators, blast furnaces and steel refineries dotted the local landscape.
Inspiration for the exhibit came from a recent UB Honors Seminar taught by Professor John Van Benschoten, Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering. The course explored the role of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Western New York in our nation’s history, and provided students with an opportunity to consider the history of Western New York and its future through anunderstanding of technology, and the benefits and costs that come with it.
The exhibit is open during regular library hours and runs through May 31, 2012.
Photo: Great Northern Grain Elevator (2007), courtesy forgottenbuffalo.com
Buffalo: Millard Fillmore Remembered
Col. John Higgins, the Vice Commander of the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing laid a wreath at the gravesite of President Millard Fillmore at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo on behalf of President Barak Obama last Friday
Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States, was a co-founder of the University at Buffalo and the school’s first chancellor. The university has conducted a memorial ceremony annually since 1937.
The United States Military honors former presidents by laying wreaths sent by the current president at their gravesites on the anniversary of their birth.
The New York Army and Air National Guard traditionally conduct the wreath layings at the graves of President Chester A. Arthur in Menands, Albany County- President Martin Van Buren in Kinderhook, Columbia County- and Fillmore.
Born on Jan. 7, 1800, Fillmore was instrumental in founding the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society, the Buffalo Club and the Buffalo General Hospital. His activities also led to the creation of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy and the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences.
Some historians credit the former teacher, postmaster, lawyer and member of Congress with establishing the White House Library. During his administration the United States opened trade relations with Japan and California was admitted to the union. He died on March 8, 1874.
The 107th Airlift Wing, which is based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, operates C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft in support of United States military operations worldwide. Individual Airmen also deploy regularly to locations around the world.
Photo: Col. Jim McReady, commander of the 107th Airlift Wing, presented the wreath at the Millard Fillmore grave in 2011.
1841 Wreck of the Steamship Erie Event
Alvin F. Oickle, author of Disaster on the Potomac, Disaster in Lawrence, and Disaster at Dawn, will be on hand at Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society on Thursday, May 19, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to sign copies of his new book on a historic Lake Erie disaster.
On August 9, 1841, the steamship Erie, one of the most elegant and fastest sailing vessels between Buffalo and Chicago, departed, carrying 343 passengers. Many were Swiss and German immigrants, planning to start new lives in America’s heartland- most never made it. The Erie erupted in flames during the night, and, despite the heroic efforts of the crew of the Dewitt Clinton, 254 lives were lost.
As news of this disaster spread, internationally renowned artists and writers, including Horatio Alger Jr. and possibly James Fenimore Cooper, wrote about ‘-John Maynard,’ a fictitious, heroic helmsman.
May Day Family Day at Buffalo & Erie Historical
On Sunday, May 1, from 1 to 4 pm, the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Court, Buffalo, will host their first 2011 Family Day, presented with support from Northwest Buffalo Community Center. All ages are welcome and the grand opening of the newly refurbished Pioneer Life Gallery will be featured.
Visitors may watch and/or join students from the Aurora Waldorf School in a historic May Pole jig —- the traditional May Pole dance ends up with ribbons festively woven around the pole. Additional entertainment and activities will also include: historic blacksmith and weaver demonstrations- pony rides- celebrate spring- learn about the historic May Day celebration- period arts and crafts for all ages- face painting- museum tours- local vendor tables.
Tickets are $5/member, $10/non-member. Adults are free with children’s paid admission. Adults unaccompanied by children (all are welcome) are also $5/member, $10/non-member.
Historic Preservation Event Grants Offered
Want to attend the 2011 National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference in Buffalo from October 19 – 22, 2011? If you work in a New York State non-profit organization such as a library, college, or community-based group, you are eligible for a special Go! Grant.
These grants are offered to encourage cross-discipline learning and cross-organization collaboration, these special Go! Grants provide up to $500 to cover travel and registration costs to the conference. This opportunity is only available for New York professionals working for non-profits outside of the museum field. Applications are due on June 1, 2011.
To learn more visit www.museumwise.org.
Buffalo: Through Their Eyes Exhibit
In collaboration with Journey’s End Refugee Services and CEPA Gallery, Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society presents “Buffalo: Through Their Eyes,” photography by international refugees living in Buffalo.
For their silver anniversary, Journey’s End asked recently arrived refugees to document the experience of adjusting to life as Buffalo’s newest residents. The participants received disposable cameras and training from CEPA Gallery. Their resulting images, reminiscent of early photographs of the ancestors of fellow Buffalonians, capture intimate moments in their homes, workplaces, communities- in essence the details of “their” Buffalo.
Twenty-five images from the “Buffalo: Through Their Eyes” project will be displayed from Friday, April 1 to Sunday, June 26, in the Historical Society’s Community Gallery. Admission to the gallery is free with paid museum admission.
There will be an opening reception, which is free and open to the public, on Sunday, April 3 from 12 to 5 pm.
Buffalo and Erie Co. Historical Seeks Volunteers
The Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society is seeking docent tour guides, volunteers for community outreach programs, assistants for special events and research team members. Those interested in learning more about the programs can take part in a free orientation and training sessions this spring.
The dates are Saturdays, April 9, 16, 23, or Saturdays, May 7, 14, 21 —- each session starts at 10 am and goes until 2 pm. Attendees should bring a lunch. Each session will provide guided tours of exhibits by museum education staff.
April 9 & May 7: Training in “Fact, Fiction & Spectacle: The Trial of Red Jacket” exhibit, Native American Gallery
April 16 & May 14: Pioneer Gallery, Street of Shops exhibit, architecture of the museum building
April 23 & May 21: Neighbors, Road to Freedom, Bflo Made exhibits
Volunteers and tour guides may be college students or older- and should have flexible schedules. There is an ongoing need for weekday tour guides.
To register, contact Tara Lyons, Program Manager, at 873-9644 x311 or [email protected]. For more information, see www.buffalohistory.org.
Photo: Buffalo and Erie Volunteers.
Susan B. Anthony House Annual Birthday Luncheon
The Susan B. Anthony House celebrates Rochester pioneers, both past and present, at its annual birthday luncheon on Wednesday, February 16, 2011, with the theme “What Happens in Rochester Changes the World. Keynote speaker is Dr. Elaine Marshall Sorensen, author, educator, advocate, and historian, who is currently Director of the Center for Nursing Scholarship at Georgia Southern University. A popular presenter at national and international conferences, Dr. Marshall will inspire one and all with lesser-known but vital aspects of Susan B. Anthony’s life and work as well as insights into Rochester’s role in changing the world. The Presenting Sponsor for the event is Van Bortel Ford—Van Bortel Subaru.
Deborah Hughes, executive director of the Susan B. Anthony House, said, “Just when we think that most all history is known and there is nothing new from the past, we find exciting aspects of Susan B. Anthony’s life and work that have been missed or ignored. Dr. Marshall will share with us little known information about Susan B. Anthony’s impact on the modern profession of nursing and the role she played in creating standardized qualifications for the profession.”
Also featured at the event will be Janis F. Gleason, author of the new and comprehensive biography of Kate Gleason, an eminent Rochesterian, daughter of the founder of Gleason Works, friend of Susan B. Anthony, and pioneer for women in the field of engineering. The biography will be available for purchase at the luncheon and Ms. Gleason will autograph books after the luncheon at 1:30 p.m.
For more information, visit their webpage.