Angola, NY: Scenes From The Past

Lyth Tile Company

2011-06-12T16:41:00.001-04:00

LYTH TILE COMPANY
I am always amazed when I see pictures of the Emblem Bicycle Company or the Lyth Tile Company (above) and realize that these large manufacturing plants were part of the Village of Angola.
While doing some research in the old Angola Record, I came across a couple of interesting articles about the relocation of the Buffalo business to this area.
August 18, 1887 - "We understand that Messrs. John Lyth & Sons are in a mood to receive propositions from the people here that are interested in having them locate their terra cotta works here. They have tried the car of earth from here and find it good, and they are ready to entertain propositions from several different locations, and the one that suits them best is the one they will accept. Now the question is, what can we afford to do to secure their location here? We have got the best location on the lines of railroads for laying branches to works, on nearly level ground which is worth more

to them than any preliminary inducement we could hope to raise for them. We also have one of the best schools in this section of state. We have a fire department equipped in good shape and understand their business under fire has been improved.
These advantages are worth more to this firm as a location to settle than any tiding we can offer to induce them to locate here. Other towns can raise more money than we can, but there is not another town on the road that has the advantages enumerated and others we could mention. We hope our citizens will offer them every facility possible to induce them to come."
Things moved very rapidly, and a little more than a month later, September 29, 1887, there was the following headline:
ANGOLA WINS. J. LYTH & SONS OF BUFFALO COMING HERE:
J. Lyth & Sons of Buffalo have purchased 40 acres of land on the west end of J. R.

Newton's farm for their terra cotta, tile and sewer
pipe works which they wish to establish here. They will receive a hearty welcome from our people, as they have come without having to be bought. Messrs. Lyth have decided that Angola is the best location for their works, (having exhausted the material at Buffalo) notwithstanding other towns made tempting offers if they would locate with them.
Their locating here will be a help to the village without a doubt, as they are men of business and men of means also. The thanks of this community are due J. R. Newton for his tireless energy in bringing them to Angola.
The price paid was reasonable, $3,500, and undoubtedly others may wish to locate with us, where land is reasonable, as high prices are a thing of the past. The papers will be delivered tomorrow."
The factory was opened and production began in March of 1889.

Community Gatherings

2011-06-05T16:40:00.000-04:00

COMMUNITY GATHERINGS
The picture above is a lawn fete held in 1918 by the Congregational Church in Angola. Over the years, community organizations have held bazaars, ice cream socials, lawn fetes, strawberry socials and other gatherings to bring the commu-
nity together.
On Sunday, June 12th, the Evans Historical Society will be holding what has become an annual event, our Ice Cream Social. The museum will be open from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be music and free ice cream sundaes and/or
root beer floats. This is a good time to come and get to know us.
The Ice Cream Social is in place of our June meeting. There will be no speaker this month.
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Memorial Day 2

2011-05-29T16:39:00.000-04:00

MEMORIAL DAY
The picture above is dated May 30, 1941. This Memorial Day parade took place on Main Street approximately seven months before the United States entered World War II.
Memorial Day (or Decoration Day) began as a day to honor Union and Confederate soldiers after the Civil
War. It was originally celebrated on May 30. That date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle. The name "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, but it did not become common until after WWII, and it was declared the official name in 1967. The federal law moving it from May
30 to the last Monday in May took effect in 1971.
If you look carefully at the windows of the theatre you will notice that the snack bar area is the home of Louis Kuntz's Homemade Candies and that ticket prices were 20¢.
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Memorial Day

2011-05-22T16:38:00.000-04:00

MEMORIAL DAY
As the Memorial Day holiday approaches, I return to a photo that I have used before. During WWII this board listing the town residents who were fighting for their country was placed at the post office on the corner of Main and Center Streets.
Two other panels were added during the war. It's difficult to read at this size, but if you look at the original at the Historical Society Museum, the names are readable.
This Monday, May 23, at our monthly meeting, we have three of our members
Jane Ehmke, Jackie Haderer, and Muriel Wolff, talking about women during WWII on the home front and in the service. There will be a short business meeting at 7:30 p.m. followed by the presentation. The public is invited, and refreshments will be served.

Whar Shall We Wear: 1890

2011-05-15T18:56:00.001-04:00

WHAT SHALL WE WEAR? 1890 The following article appeared in a local newspaper in October of 1889. The historical society has notebooks full of clippings that are always fun to read. They contain much information about life at the time. The public is welcome to come in and read through these. We have been open the first Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. We will be open on June 5 and will hold our Ice Cream Social on June 12. Then we begin our summer hours and will be open every Sunday in July and August. Come visit us and read articles like this.
WHAT SHALL WE WEAR - 1890
STYLES THAT ARE APPROVED AT HOME AND ABROAD.
A French Cycling Gown for Misses and Young Ladies - Three Parisian Riding Habits
Illustrated and Described.
American women are happily learning the importance of outdoor exercise, which their English cousins appear always to have known. Horseback riding is no longer confined to the south and west, but has become at the east a favorite exercise. Cycling, although approached rather timidly by women, is also gaining ground. For this latter exercise there does not seem to be as yet any prescribed costume for the gentler sex, although most men, as a rule, have suits especially adapted to cycling. It is with pleasure, therefore, that we produce for the benefit of our readers, along with some French riding habits, a French cycling gown.
This cycling gown, as will be seen, is very simple, and at the same time striking in effect. The jacket and skirt are of gray tweed, finished either with rows of machine stitching or narrow braid, as may be preferred. The white flannel blouse bodice is tucked in front and belted at the waist. The high cloth gaiters match the dress in color, while the peaked cap corresponds with the blouse, and is decorated in front with a club device or tricycle. The riding habit shown in the same cut is in black ladies' cloth, the close fitting bodice is buttoned in front, but leaves a small V opening to throw off the flat neck-tie.

Wigwam City

2011-04-23T09:57:00.001-04:00

WIGWAM CITY I did a series of articles before on Hi Backus and the Lake Bay area including Wigwam City. It has to be mentioned again in this series.
Monday, April 25th, at the regular meeting of the historical society, the speaker will be area resident Rich Anderson, who will talk about the Lake Bay community. There will be a brief business meeting at 7:30, followed by the talk. Refreshments will be served, and the public is always invited.
The picture above is Wigwam City, which was across the road from Lake Bay. Hi Backus created this area to draw people to the lake and lease property to summer visitors. He held races and boxing matches to entertain the crowds.
Can you imagine paying to stay in one of the thatched huts instead of a hotel room? To the left is one of the "statues" that greeted visitors. They were often supposed to be biblical characters made from driftwood and old farm equipment. To the right is the crow's nest that Hi used to give his speeches. He often repeated messages supposedly from his grandmother on Mars.
Hi was a colorful character in our town's history (and my great-grandfather), and Lake Bay was definitely one of the important areas in the town's development.
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Lalle's Park

2011-04-23T09:56:00.001-04:00

LALLE'S PARK

I am doing some articles about the Lake Bay area in conjunction with the speaker for our April Historical Society meeting. Rich Anderson will do a presentation on April 25th at 7:30 p.m. about the area known as Lake Bay.
As early as 1906 there was an amusement park across the road from Lake Bay. There was a carousel, ferris wheel, penny arcade and a dance hall along with other entertainment.
In April of 1926, there was an article in the Angola Record that stated:
"Amusement Park Proposed for An-gola Beach. A proposition to erect an amusement park, consisting of a merry-go-round or horse race, in which the contestants ride the horses; a ferris wheel, a whip and ten or twelve stands; on the property of Peter Lalle, near Lake Bay, has been submitted to the Town Board for their approval, by the Automatic Horse Race Company of Buffalo, which is under the management of Lalle, Fowler and Petrino, inventors and sole manufacturers of the Automatic Horse Race. The amusement company will provide space for cars, playgrounds and basket picnic grounds, making a specialty of church picnics, and no charge will be made for the entrance or any of these privileges. It is planned to make this a seven day park. The proposition of the Amusement Co. has been submitted to the Town Board and it is expected that final actions will be taken soon."
Lalle's Park was an established attraction for the summer visitors well into the 1940s. The above picture was taken in winter of 1947 when things were closed for the season.

Lake Bay

2011-04-11T09:25:00.002-04:00

LAKE BAY    The speaker for our next historical society meeting on April 25 will be Richie Anderson. As a lifetime resident of the town, he will be talking about the Lake Bay area. In connection with that, the next articles for this column will be about that area of our time.
In the late 1800s, much of the land in the Lake Bay area was owned by Hiram Backus. He was known for being eccentric and came up with many schemes to make the land available. In April 1888, the following appeared in the Angola Record:
"LAKE BAY GROVE" All persons or organizations of Temperance principles desiring a lake privilege or a place where they may hold meetings can lease grounds from me for from 1 to 50 years and can come and go at will for $5 per year." H.A.B.
In 1897, the following article appeared:
"Lake Bay camp is now full and, as you might say, boiling over with campers.   It seems to be a concentra-tion of graduates and teachers, this place of life and frolic, and pretty well endorsed as a moral and temperate resort. To guard against discord and unnecessary noise, a special police has been appointed. Invitation is extended to all law-abiding citizens to a corn roast next Saturday evening at Lake Bay."
The "camps" along the lake continued to grow and bring residents to the area as many of the summer homes became year round homes.

Century Run

2011-04-11T09:25:00.001-04:00

CENTURY RUN OF 1894 The picture and article below were from those written by Don Cook for the Evans Journal. Although the caption refers to the Century Run of the Buffalo Press Cycle Club, it is really about the Angola Hotel, which was a major part of early village history.
CENTURY RUN OF 1894
Annually the members of the BPCC (Buffalo Press Cycle Club) made what they called a "Century Run" and presumably in most any direction, country-wise, from the sultry city. On two occasions at least, in 1894 and 1899, they headed for Angola.
Perhaps breathing the pure country air was some compensation for the two score and more miles of tedious pedaling over rough, dusty roads - but surely a meal at the Angola Hotel was an added incentive for traveling Evans-ward. To elucidate: As far back as the elegant eighties and the gay nineties, the Angola Hotel was noted for the excellency of its cuisine. And then, way into the 1920's, when Art Watt assumed command, the succulent creations which emerged from that famous kitchen, not to exclude the biscuits supreme, are most pleasant memories for not only the gourmet to recall, but for all who once had actually had the rare privilege of consuming them.
The Angola Hotel was the first to appear in the Village following the advent of the railroad. This event had had a tremendous impact on the life of the entire community. It had completely changed the business complexion and outlook of the Township. Several buildings were moved from Evans Center and vicinity to the immediate area of the railroad's right-of-way.
Among such buildings was the Angola Hotel (originally called the Angola House). It had been built as a hotel, to serve the stage coach travel. Its former location was on the Erie Road at Gold Street in Evans Center (now the Engler property). After being moved and remodeled in 1860 by John H. Andrus, its first proprietor, it was sold to Alva Montgomery. In 1867 it was re-sold to Sid P. Imus, who formerly had been a stage driver for the Ohio Stage Company on the old Buffalo and Erie Route. Realizing competition with a speedy iron horse that spouted fire and smoke from its nostrils was just too rugged for him and his four "dobbins," spirited though they may have been, Mr. Imus decided to make his exit the same day the railroad made its debut, Feb. 22, 1852.
Until the late 1880s, Mr. Imus held forth as proprietor of the Angola Hotel, delighting the guests with his quaint humor and his penchant for raconteuring. In 1899 the Wilcox brothers purchased the hotel and, in connection with it, conducted a thriving livery and bus line to the lake camps. Although Evans' shore line was dotted with several attractive summer resorts and boarding houses, which catered to Buffalonians during the early railroad days, it was the B&LE Traction Co., with its frequent and dependable service, that so greatly popularized the vacation facilities of these camps. The Wilcox Wagonette would meet these trolleys, which ran on an hourly basis from Buffalo, and invariably receive a full load for the lake camps.
About First World War time, Art Watt, who had operated the Union Hotel (now the Odd Fellows Temple), became the new owner of the Angola Hotel. For many years he carried on , with high eclat, the fine traditions of this old hostelry. Here youth came in quest of conviviality; the elderly, of home-spun philosophy - both of which were always on tap - and gregariously served by the genial landlord.
Other proprietors succeeded Mr. Watt, and the hotel, shorn of much of its early prestige, began to show signs of aging. Then came the disastrous fire of 1963, which sounded the death knell for the old inn. With tragic finality it had served its last guest and now had closed forever the friendly door to its hospitality. Truly, it too had made a "Century Run."
The photo, courtesy of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, shows the BPCC group at the hotel on Sept. 9, 1894.
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$40,000 Blaze

2011-03-27T09:48:00.000-04:00

$40,000 BLAZE DESTROYS ANGOLA BUSINESS BUILDING

Fifty years ago the building pictured above was destroyed by fire. Excuse the quality of the picture; it is a photograph of a photograph from the Evans Journal. The building was at the corner of Main and Center Streets. It was rebuilt and was Cinque Market for many years and is now the Taste of the Midway.

This is the article that appeared in the Buffalo paper.

$40,000 Blaze

An early-morning fire in Angola’s business section destroyed a delicatessen and a tea room and forced the evacuation of a family from a residence next door. Three volunteer fire companies fought the blaze in below-zero temperatures.

The frame building at 97 North Main St. housed Glen Erick’s store on the first floor and a tea room on the second. Flames roared through the roof of the building. Unofficial damage estimates ranged from $40,000 to $50,000.

The home of Marco Ricci, 109 North Main St., was saved by firemen after five occupants were ordered out. A driveway separates the Ricci house from the store.

Patrolman Eugene Dalton discovered the fire at 4:30 o’clock and radioed an alarm to Evans Police Headquarters.

"It didn’t seem to be much of a fire at first," the patrolman said.

"I tried to put it out by throwing snow on the wall before firemen arrived."

The Angola Fire Department under Chief John Azzarella was first at the scene. A second alarm brought the Evans Center Department and a third alarm the Lake Erie Beach Fire Company.

Firemen remained at the scene until mid-morning. Only the front part and the rear wall of the building remained standing.

Main Street was coated with four inches of ice by daybreak. Public works crews covered the ice with cinders before traffic barriers were removed.

Voting Machines Impounded

2011-03-13T10:19:00.000-04:00

VOTING MACHINES IMPOUNDED

The picture was taken in November of 1961 as Evans Police and deputy sheriffs stood guard over a dozen impounded voting machines at the Town of Evans Highway Garage. Pictured are Patrolman Maronski of Evans and Deputy David Sheldon.

Then Democratic Town Supervisor William Rose protested results which gave GOP candidate a 14-vote margin. Final results actually gave Mr. Lorenz a 19 vote margin.

New York State has now gone to computers for the election districts. The Evans Historical Society has one of the old voting machines on display as in later years, our children will not know what the earlier machines were like.

K&H Industries

2011-03-06T10:31:00.000-05:00

This is an article that should have been written a year ago before K&H Industries put their property on Delameter Road up for sale and moved to Hamburg. I am not sure people know of it's local roots.

Karl A. Baake (pictured in 1962) came here from Hanau, Germany in 1956 as a tool and die maker at the Ford Stamping Plant in Woodlawn. He came with an idea for a safety lamp that could be dropped, stepped on and come into contact with liquids without causing a dangerous situation. It was described as a "luminous space-age magic wand at the end of an electrical cord."

Manufacturing began on the third floor of the Odd Fellows Hall, then located at 43 South Main St. in the village.

Within two to three years, it had outgrown its location and purchased the 9-acre site. It continued to grow and flourish, and in 2010, they moved the operation.

The Glidden Tour and The Pierce Arrow

2011-03-02T12:04:00.002-05:00

THE GLIDDEN TOUR AND THE PIERCE ARROW

One of the families who had a summer home in the Town of Evans was that of George Pierce, who was the manufacturer of the Pierce Arrow automobile. The Pierce Arrow was a major entrant in an event called The Glidden Tour. The Tours were promotional events sponsored by the American Automobile Association (AAA). They started the tours which ran from 1902 to 1913 as a proponent for safer roads and acceptance of the automobile.
The Tour was a type of road rally, a test of reliability and endurance. They went several hundred miles in the U.S. and occasionally into Canada with time limits between check points and a scoring system used to determine a winner.
The Glidden Tours were revived in 1946 by the Veteran Motor Car Club of America. Antique cars travel premarked routes and stop to show off their vehicles. The picture here is from 1962. Mrs. Percy P. Pierce of Derby, who was 81 at the time, is sitting at the wheel of a 1905 Pierce-Arrow owned by Henry Clark of Southampton. She rode in a similar car in the first Glidden Tour in 1905.

New Era Cap Company

2011-02-20T11:32:00.001-05:00

NEW ERA CAP COMPANY

New Era Cap Company has been an important part of the local economy, and their decision to stay here was to our benefit. The picture above was of a display in April of 1969 at the Evans office of Marine Midland.
The company was founded in 1920 by Ehrhardt Koch as a manufacturer of men’s and boy’s cloth caps sold in men’s shops and department stores. The company had 14 employees and was located on the corner of Bailey and Genessee Street in Buffalo. In 1922 the company name became New Era Cap Company.
As clothing fads changed, it became necessary to look for other forms of head gear, and New Era began to manufacture baseball caps. In 1934 they got their first contract with professional baseball and made caps
for the Cleveland Indians. They now have exclusive licensing for major league baseball and have expanded to other professional and college sports.

May 1917

2011-02-13T11:37:00.001-05:00

MAY 1917

Something about the weather we have been having makes me pick out the pictures that remind me of spring and warm weather. This is one of them.
The scene of a May Pole Dance in May 1917 by the sixth and seventh grades at Angola High School was the front lawn of the school on High Street, Angola. Participants were, l to r: Unidentified, Sadie
Faraci, Almeda Salzman, Rose Barone, Mildred Widmer, Angeline Pizzolanti, Angeline Barone, Grace Sweetland, Alex Steck, Harvey Locum, Grace Drago, Esther Bundy, Anna Woods, Edith Baker (sitting in
front), Neal Harper, Milton Bundy, Catherine Hill, Alice Reed, Anna Pantano, Evelyn Hoover, Esther Stearns, Katherine Miller, Lena LoPresto and Evelyn Hill. Picture courtesy of Mrs. David Darley,
the former Esther Stearns.

Fire Destroys Old Landmark

2011-02-06T11:40:00.000-05:00

FIRE DESTROYS OLD LANDMARK

This picture and article appeared in the Evans Journal on February 11, 1965. It was written by Midge Nicholson
who worked for the Journal at the time. We have written about several of the large estates along the lake. They were an important part of our heritage. Some are gone like this one, but they should not be forgotten.

FIRE DESTROYS OLD LANDMARK
On Friday, Feb. 5, a fire completely destroyed one of Evans’ most beautiful homes, that of Walter J. Jahn on Old Lake Shore Rd. at Sturgeon Point Rd., Derby. Five fire companies fought the blaze in zero weather and were doubly handicapped by frozen hydrants, making it necessary for them to supply their own water.

A French poodle was the only casualty, besides the virtual leveling of one of the better homes of a generation of gracious living. On a map dated 1852, the home, or inn as it has been called, shows ownership by a Mr. William Thompson. Maybe this was the time when it was a stopping place for the stagecoach, where horses were exchanged, along with the news and mail, and where preferred vintages were served. A hollowing out of the floor in one of the downstairs rooms, still visible even in recent years, showed where men stood at the bar
in good fellowship.

Mr. Kellogg Mann purchased this parcel of land from John Heimburg about 1908 and completely changed the location of the house, but retained its rural atmosphere. One wing was moved across the road to make a farmhouse, and the rest of the house was moved back from the road and placed over the foundation of the original barn. Mr. Mann converted one room of the home into a school room, and there the Mann and Trubee children were tutored. The estate included a 16-room home, 5 acres of landscaped grounds and level green fairways. The home, purchased by Mr. Jahn of Buffalo from the Manns, had been completely remodeled in the last three years.

Evans lost a bit of irreplaceable history that bitter cold morning and how vacant that spot will seem. All that is left is memories.

Pizzolanti's Farnham Hotel

2011-01-30T11:50:00.003-05:00

PIZZOLANTI’S FARNHAM HOTEL

Although it is located in the Town of Brant, mentioning Pizzolanti’s should bring back many memories to Evans’ residents as well. An obituary in late December for Katherine Pizzolanti brought this to mind. She had been the sole owner of Pizzolanti’s Farnham Hotel from 1969 until her retirement in 2004 at
the age of 86.
The picture is of Jim Pizzolanti, which appeared in an article in the Buffalo paper in the 1960’s. In 1917, he returned to his childhood home in Farnham and bought the Farnham Hotel. It had been run by Pius Schwert as a saloon. In 1899 it was the only building left when the village burned. It was moved twice before reaching its present site and served as a grocery and a hardware store. It opened on February 17, 1917, when a good porterhouse steak cost 75c. Although well off the main road, visitors came over the years because of its reputation for good food and good conversation.

Town of Evans Group Organizes Historical Society

2011-01-23T10:36:00.001-05:00

TOWN OF EVANS GROUP ORGANIZES HISTORICAL SOCIETY

This Monday is the Installation Dinner for the Evans Historical Society. I thought you might find it interesting to read the article that was in the Evans Journal on June 17, 1965.

EVANS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

A group of history -minded citizens in the Town of Evans who, for some time, have been interested in organizing a local historical society have finally achieved their purpose. On May 26 the Town of Evans Historical Society was formed, a constitution and by-laws adopted, a charter appplied for from the state and a full slate of officers elected.

The officers, installed June 9 at the Angola Public Library by Roy Nagle of Buffalo, are: President, Donald D. Cook; vice president, Nelson A. Ingersoll; secretary, Mrs. Inez Ahlers; treasurer, Richard R. Schmidt; and directors, J.H. Kellogg Clarke, F. Robert Greene and Mrs. Evelyn S. House.

Mr. Nagle, a noted area historian, also presented one of his illustrated programs concerning the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo in 1901.

The charter of the society, when it is received, will be kept open for at least 90 days to allow all who are interested in its objectives to become charter members. The dues are quite nominal - $1.00 per year. The only other requisite for membership is a lively interest in and respect for the American heritage.

It is the declared intention of the new group to preserve carefully for future citizens the rich history of the Town of Evans. Mr. Cook, the organization’s first president, who is also Town of Evans historian, emphasizes how important this is in view of the fact that almost all the documented history of this area prior to 1851 has been lost.

The next meeting of the society will be held on Wednesday, July 14, at the Angola Public Library at 8:00 p.m. All persons interested are urged to attend this meeting or contact one of the officers.

"Help us make history by preserving it," says Mr. Cook.

Early Bicycles

2011-01-16T10:53:00.000-05:00

EARLY BICYCLES

After the ice from last week, I found a couple of pictures that will help anticipate days to come.

The top photo is from the Buffalo Historical Society. Alice Bartlett, Virginia Bartlett, and George Hunter Bartlett are riding chair-like bicycles.

The second photo was taken on May 22, 1887 on the Lake Shore Railroad track at Angola by photographer Albert J. Beck.

If you like old photographs like these, come to the museum and look through our collection. We are open the first Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m.

Local Ice Fishermen

2011-01-09T10:44:00.000-05:00

LOCAL ICE FISHERMEN

The lake hasn’t frozen yet this year, but we know when it does, there will be ice fishermen. We can also be pretty sure that sometime during the season someone will be trapped on the ice and need to be rescued.

These two pictures are from February 1934 when the ice off Sturgeon Point began to crack and spread.

Approximately 200 fishermen were endangered until a plane from the Buffalo Evening News dropped a note warning them.

The second picture shows a group of local fishermen who had to be evacuated from the ice. From left to right they are: Gerald Felsinger, 20, of Evans Center; Howard P. Erick, 33, of

Angola; Harry Gilbert, 32, of Angola; Donald E., 12, and Richard I., 14, and their father, Irving B. Kelderhouse, 37, of Angola.

Pictures are by Buffalo Evening News staff and were originally published in the Buffalo paper.

School Days 1895

2011-01-02T10:48:00.000-05:00

SCHOOL DAYS 1895

Many of you have come to the Evans Historical Society Museum looking for school pictures. We don’t have all of them, but we do have many. We also have old yearbooks. The museum will be open this Sunday, January 2, from 2-4 p.m.

This photo was in the Buffalo paper showing the pupils at District #2 in 1895. The teachers were Lulu Sobetzer, top left, and Hattie Bartlett, lower right. The photo came from Mrs. Lester Behrns, Orchard Park. From left, front are: Bob and Margelia Monreau, Daisy Meyer, Leon Backus. Second row: Ralph Earl, Ed Riker, Eva Monreau, Jennie Kent, Gertrude McCullor, Jennie Willington, Pearl Freeman, Anita Riker, Charles Earl, Jesse Ames. Third row: Mayte Backus, Grace Bartholomew, Lee Backus, Minnie Cash, Jessie Bock, Hannah Wythe, Ray Backus, Clara West. Back row: Alice Vaname, Eve Pongo, Fred Harper, Helen Prothroe, May McCullor, Clara Dewey, Jessie Freeman, Floyd Bartholomew, Maud Ayer, Abbie Backus, Bessie Currun.

December 1889

2010-12-26T17:43:00.000-05:00

DECEMBER 1889

What was happening in Evans 120 years ago? The Evans Historical Society has the Angola Record over the years. These are some of the articles and ads from December 1889.

Dec. 12: The Nickel Plate will sell tickets at reduced rates between all stations commencing Monday, Dec. 23rd, 1889 to Wednesday, Jan. 1st, 1890.

Dec. 12: The damp, disagreeable weather did not prevent the people from being present at the service last Sabbath evening. It needs a brave heart to venture out and attempt to walk our dark streets in the evenings. O! City fathers have mercy upon us and give us street lamps before some accident occurs.

Dec. 19: Too much rain and mud prevented a large attendance at the fireman’s second dance on Tuesday evening. Good sleighing is hoped for before the next one, New Year’s Eve.

Dec. 19: Holiday goods at prices to suit the times. Cake stands from 15¢ to 25¢; child’s tea sets from 20¢ to 75¢; frying pans 10¢ to 15¢; coffee and tea pots 10¢ to 20¢.Dec. 26: The only "snow" we saw on Christmas was in G. Koehler’s show window.

Dec. 26: The Record is just the kind of a New Year’s present a distant relative or friend will appreciate. One dollar will send it one year to any part of the United States or Canada.

Happy Holidays to everyone from the Evans Historical Society and Cheryl Delano, Town Historian.

Present Display

2010-12-19T17:01:00.001-05:00

PRESENT DISPLAY

Those who have been to the Historical Society School House Museum know that we have a display case on the first floor the contents of which regularly change. The display case itself was once the candy case at the Angola Variety Store run by Bertha Crowell.

The present display is a wooden train and a series of buildings. They were donated by Sandra Greninger of Hamburg. Both were made by Angola carpenter Albert Pfeiffer who live on Orchard Avenue. The train was made around 1930, and the houses circa 1940. The houses were displayed on the porch of his house at Christmas time. They were modeled after some Angola buildings and others that he had seen. They were lit from behind with electric lights.

The display can be seen the next times we are open. First on Monday night, December 20, when we hold our annual meeting and election of officers at 7:30 p.m. There will be a Christmas sing-a-long and refreshments. We ask that people bring a dozen Christmas cookies to share.

The second time will be our regular January Open House, Sunday, January 2, 2011, from 2-4 p.m.

An Old Timer Reminices

2010-12-12T20:17:00.000-05:00

AN OLD-TIMER REMINISCES

This article was written in January 1977 by Merritt Landon, the son of Weston Landon, the editor of the Angola Record until the late 1930s. Do you have any childhood memories?

AN OLD-TIMER REMINISCES

I’ve been wondering how many of the old-timers are left in Angola and what they remember of the early days of this century?

The definition of an Angola old-timer, I would say, is one who remembers one or more of these incidents:

The year Main Street was paved with brick, eliminating the ruts and mudholes.

The year the B&LE trolleys reached the end of Commercial Street.

Swimming in Big Sister Creek in back of Clayton Hanson’s.

Skating between Bundy’s Mill and the LS&MS RR concrete bridge.

Special guards patrolling the RR bridges in World War I.

The day the B&LE freight car ripped the front off the Fire Hall.

The day the LS&MS tried to take a chunk of village property in front of Frawley’s Hotel, and the firemen driving the section crew off with water hoses.

Lemmler’s dog "Rex" who chased all the trains when they roared over the Main St. Crossing, finally getting killed by one of them.

Swimming in the water reservoir at the Lyth Tile Co. plant when the management was too busy to order the swimmers out.

Getting samples of fresh macaroni at the Lograsso factory as it came out of the press.

Envying Ray Frawley when he was the tester for the Emblem motorcycles. Getting a wild ride on a makeshift seat behind him, while he tore off at high speed over dirt roads.

Watching in terror as a runaway team dragged a farmer down Main Street through the ruts and mud.

Observing the establishment of the Emblem bicycle works in the building across from the macaroni factory, with John Glass as Mgr.

Following the career of "Pi" Schwert, Angola’s only big league baseball player, who was on one of the early NY Yankee teams.

Playing pool and billiards in Vic Blackney’s establishment.

Trying to help drag the hose cart up Pat Carrol’s hill in a snowstorm, long before the Fire Dept. became motorized.

Wondering how Halloween pranksters got a lumber wagon up on top of the Standpipe. Also when others answered a need for coal at the Congregational Church, by dumping a wagonload on the front steps. The coal dealer had made the mistake of loading the wagon and leaving it outside on Halloween night.

Dancing at Du Drop Inn and Pine Lodge at a nickel a dance.

Catching rides with Frank Ingersoll and Joe Wiatrowski who met the trolleys and taxied people to the Lake Erie vacation spots. Earlier The

Angola House and Sam Cutler operated team-powered buses that easily held a couple of dozen vacationers.

Watching high school basketball games in the auditorium of the old school on High Street. There were no gyms in those days.

Watching Charlie Paul ply his trade as tinsmith in the rear of the A. F. Schultz Hardware Store.

Joining practically everybody in town at the first movie theater that opened in the Fire Hall.

Watching Percy Hoover assemble bicycles in the new Emblem factory, and getting a look at the new Pierce-Arrow chassis when his brother would drive out to visit him, testing cars on the road before permitting a prospective buyer to take possession.

Observing the opening of the Evans National Bank in a one-room hole-in-the-wall in the Fire Dept. Bldg. under the able direction of George L. Peck.

Sliding down Lake Street hill from High Street to Main Street, dodging the horse-drawn sleighs and cutters at the intersection.

Celebrating with other Legionnaires at the opening of the first home for Newcomb-Long Post, in Schwert’s shed at the rear of the grocery store.

Trying to ride a bicycle on some of the plank sidewalks that had rotted during the winter. Remembering some of the walks in front of the stores were made of sandstone blocks four to six feet wide.

Catalano Motors

2010-12-05T20:13:00.000-05:00

CATALANO MOTORS

Most of us are familiar with Catalano Motors located on Route 5 and North Main Street. If the number of cars in town that say Catalano Motors on the back is any indication, a lot of us do business with them.

But, did you know that the business was originally located on Route 20 at Cain Road? One of the oldest dealerships in Western New York, the picture above shows the original family-owned and operated business which began with an Oldsmobile franchise in 1948.

In 1993 they expanded to Chevrolet, and Pontiac was added in 1985. They moved to their current location in Evans Center in 1963.

Changes in the automobile industry have brought about the dissolution of both Oldsmobile and Pontiac, but the dealership continues, and if recent stock offerings are any indication, it’s stronger than ever.

Thanksgiving Poem

2010-11-27T15:13:00.002-05:00

This is a poem published in the Angola Record, November 28, 1929.

It must have been a wondrous thing

In early days, long ago,

To be a Pilgrim lad and hunt

The wild game in November’s snow;

To seek Thanksgiving dinner where

Wild turkeys call and pheasants drum,

In spite of dangers menacing;

Where trackless forests lured one on

And redskins lurked with murderous bow,

Thanksgiving days of long ago.

It must have been a wondrous thing

To shoulder up an ancient gun

And leave the settlement behind,

As from the ocean climbed the sun,

Setting the snowy world agleam,

Stretching your shadow on the hill;

To glide along the forest trail

With cautious step and lightning skill

Matching the eye of bird and doe,

Thanksgiving days of long ago.

It must have been a glorious thing

To carry back to Plymouth town

A big Thanksgiving tom turkey

From shouldered flintlock hanging down,

With widespread wings and bobbing head;

To wear a smile of proud content

As home with widened step you trod

The main street of the settlement,

A treat for Pilgrim maids, you know,

Thanksgiving days of long ago.

The Evans Historical Society hopes you had a wonderful holiday!

The North Evans Post Office

2010-11-21T08:41:00.000-05:00

NORTH EVANS POST OFFICE

The North Evans Post Office was established November 28, 1849. Before this time, the village was called Johnson’s settlement after Horace Johnson, who bought the land from the Holland Land Co. and laid out the lots of the village and sold them before 1836 when he moved to Lockport. At the time there were two post offices: Evans at Evans Center and East Evans, now Jerusalem Corners, which was east of Evans on the Buffalo-Erie stage and mail route. This made North Evans a good name for this village.

William S. Sikes was the postmaster from July 12, 1861 to December 20, 1881. For most of that time the post office was in his store. The photo shown is a letter postmarked August 17, 1863. According to the information in the album, this is the only post office in the United States that put the day of the week in the postmark. Mr. Sikes did this through part of the 1860s.

Snow Storm 1951

2010-11-16T06:25:00.000-05:00

SNOW STORM 1951

We hate to be reminded, but these pictures were in the Buffalo Courier Express on Tuesday, November 6, 1951. At that time, highway crews were fighting through over 5 feet of snow on Southwestern Boulevard (Route 20) to free the last of over 500 motorists marooned since Sunday night. The vehicles were almost bumper to bumper over a four-mile stretch between South Creek Road and Pontiac Road.

The trucks and passenger cars were halted between 9 and 10 p.m. as huge snowdrifts piled up. Some people remained in their vehicles while others made their way to the North Evans Volunteer Fire Company emergency station.

The automobile in the bottom picture belonged to a gentleman from Conneaut, Ohio, who was out for a Sunday drive.

The Tic Toc Shop

2010-11-08T14:02:00.001-05:00

TIC TOC SHOP

If you drive down the original section of Eden-Evans Center Road, you may notice a small A-frame. Do you know its original purpose? The article was taken from The Buffalo Evening News in August of 1960.

TIC TOC SHOP

Gremlins won’t live there. And it’s not a chalet. Nor is it a church, although that’s where the builder got the idea.

It’s the "Tic Toc Shop," a gem of a building which will open as a jewelry store Oct. 1st.

Edwin L. Dale of Eden-Evans Center Rd., Angola, whose house is next to the triangular edifice, built it himself.

He was adding the finishing touches this weekend, before the intent eyes of his son, John, 9, and a News photographer.

Mr. Dale is a research chemist at Pierce & Stevens Chemical Corp. He has repaired watches as a hobby for several years and decided to open a jewelry store as a combination hobby-second job.

"I was looking for something different," Mr. Dale explained. "I saw a few churches like it and have seen similar pictures in magazines. This was the most economical way to build."

Total cost will come to about $4500, he noted. He is doing everything but heating and wiring with the help of his father, Oscar E. Dale of Eden-Evans Center Rd., assistant superintendent at Buffalo China Co.

He laid the foundation and the concrete slab it sits on. He erected the first rafters on Memorial Day.

The wall-less shop is 23 feet across at the front base and 24 feet long. The white shingled roof slopes steeply from the peak, 28 feet above ground.

Inside, the ceiling is a white composition material and can be seen behind the stained wood rafters.

"It’s mostly a weekend project," the 31-year-old chemist reported. His wife? "She has five children and a dog to take care of," he explained, and can’t help very much on the building.

He thought about becoming an architect once, "but a little too late," he noted. Late, perhaps, as a profession, but any of the many drivers who stop to peer at his oddly-shaped shop will agree that he still possesses the talents of architect, carpenter, and general builder.

Mr. Dale lived on West Cleveland Dr. in Buffalo until about a decade ago.

He has been offered $10,000 for his shop. "I wouldn’t consider it, he asserted. "It’s my baby."

Do You Remember?

2010-11-06T19:31:00.001-04:00

DO YOU REMEMBER?
Cheryl Delano, Town Historian
This is another computer e-mail that I received. I do remember, sometimes things I have not thought about in years. In most cases, they are happy memories. Do some of these make you smile?

DO YOU REMEMBER

Some of you may be too young for this, but for some of us, our hearts ache for these good old days. I wish our grandkids could experience some of this.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN ...

• All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?
• It took five minutes for the TV to warm up?
• When a quarter was a decent allowance?
• Your mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?
• You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time? And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot?
• Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?
• When a '57 Chevy was everyone's dream car to cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and people went steady?
• No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked?
• Lying on your back in the grass with your friends and saying things like, "That cloud looks like a ..."
• And playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the game?
• Stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger?
• Send this on to someone who can still remember Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy, Howdy Dowdy and the Peanut Gallery, the Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Nellie Bell, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk.
• As well as summers filled with bike rides, baseball games, Hula Hoops, bowling and visits to the pool, and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar.

Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that"?

How many of these do you remember? Candy cigarettes, wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside, coffee shops with tableside juke boxes, Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry chewing gum, home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers, newsreels before the move, P.F. Fliers, telephone numbers with a word prefix ... (Raymond 4-601), party lines, peashooters, Howdy Dowdy, 45 RPM records, Green Stamps, Hi-Fi's, metal ice cube trays with levers, mimeograph paper, Beanie and Cecil, roller-skate keys, cork pop guns, drive-ins, Studebakers, washtub ringers, the Fuller Brush Man, reel-to-reel tape recorders, Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs, 15 cent McDonald's hamburgers, penny candy, 35 cent a gallon gasoline, Jiffy Pop popcorn.

Do you remember a time when ...
• Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-moe"?
• "Race Issue" meant arguing about who ran fastest?
• Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening?
• Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot?
• A foot of snow was a dream come true?
• Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute commercials for action figures?
• "Oly-oly-oxen-free" made perfect sense?
• The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team?
• War was a card game?
• Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle?
• Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin?
• Water balloons were the
ultimate weapon?

If you can remember most or all of these, then you have lived!!!
Do you have lists like these?
You can e-mail them to me at EvansHistSoc@aol.com or send them to Scenes from the Past, c/o Angola Penny Saver, 19 Center Street, Angola, NY 14006.
__________

Evans Center Man Recalls Meeting President Lincoln

2010-10-24T14:29:00.003-04:00

EVANS CENTER MAN RECALLS MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN

This is an interesting article that was in the Buffalo newspaper on February 12, 1938. In an earlier article I mentioned the story about Edward Michael once playing leap frog with Abraham Lincoln. Here we have the story of a local man shaking his hand.

EVANS CENTER MAN RECALLS MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN

Few men living today can claim the distinction of having shaken the hand of the great president Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is today. But in this community is one of them.

Albert Freeman is the man. Last Nov. 11, he was 85 years old. He distinctly recalls, in his early boyhood, the time when Lincoln campaigned through Western New York and shook hands with the citizenry.

"I was just a little fellow then," he says. "Hardly more than eight or nine years old. Lincoln came through on the Lake Shore railroad, and his campaign train stopped at every crossroads, it seemed. I was then living in Derby. They called it East Evans at the time. The train stopped in North Evans. And I happened to be nearby.

Boys Recognized First

"Boy-like, I was attracted by the crowd. Large numbers of men, women and children had gathered at the rear of the train. Two other boys and I, being small, slipped between the men and got up front. Then this big, tall, homely man, with a high hat on, reached a long arm with its big hand over the men and shook hands with us boys first!

"It didn’t mean much to me at the time, but I have never forgotten that that great, homely man was our most outstanding president. And he shook hands with the boys first!"

Mr. Freeman has lived all his life in the town of Evans. Born at Derby in 1852, he grew up in that neighborhood, then as a man married Miss Maria Dorwin of the town of Brant. He moved to the farm where he now lives, on the Erie Road in Evans Center, some 57 years ago and has lived there ever since.

Town Marshal Many Years

For more than 25 years he was the town marshal. Many are the tales he formerly told of his encounters with wrong-doers. Most of his life he has spent farming the land he still owns.

His wife died some nine years ago, but he has seven children living. They are: Mrs. Lottie Avery, Detroit Michigan; Mrs. Hattie Wilson, Kenmore; Mrs. Jesse Burdick, Woodbridge, NJ; Mrs. Pearl Velzey, Lewiston; Mrs. Addie Knox, Tona-wanda; Mrs. Alberta Cook, Angola; Warren Freeman, who lives on the home farm at Evans Center and cares for the place.

"We need a man like Lincoln today to lead us out of the mess we are in," said Mr. Freeman. "How I wish he were alive to do it. A wonderful man! He was worth a whole Congress full of our present-day statesmen.

Met Other Presidents

"Yes, I shook his hand and I shook the hands of two other presidents. They were Grant and Cleveland. I have heard it said that Cleveland was only a second rate lawyer. But even he could do better than they are doing now, I believe. I remember sitting for 14 days on a lawsuit, in which he was fighting seven lawyers. He may have been second rate, but he won that case!"

Mr. Freeman says that when the old system of highway control was changed many years ago, he was offered the job as first superintendent of highways for the town of Evans, but he declined. His farming business would not allow him to spend the time that would be necessary to do the job right.

He also remembers quite a little of the excitement attending the Civil War, although he was then only a boy. His half-brother went to war among the first, he says, and fought all through with the 116th regiment. He was wounded in the hand, but that did not keep him out.

John K. Thompson

2010-10-17T14:33:00.000-04:00

JOHN K. THOMPSON

When I was quite young, I remember going places with my grandfather. We would often meet a gentleman around town, and he and my grandfather had extensive chats. He struck me as being tall, but that may have been my childish perspective. I do, however, definitely remember very wavy steel gray hair. I later learned his name was John K. Thompson, and he was the town supervisor. That didn’t mean much to me at the time, but I always guessed he was quite important.

Thompson was involved in the town and local activities since the late 1920s. He had an automobile agency and later a real estate business. He served on the town board and was justice of the peace for 6 years. He took office as town supervisor on January 1, 1940 where he served through 1959.

On January 1, 1959, he was selected by the members of the Erie County Board of Supervisors to serve as their chairman, the first time this honor was granted to a supervisor in Evans.

He served as chairman until his defeat in 1959. That election was considered an upset when he was beaten by William J. Rose by a total of 344 votes.

History and Language

2010-10-02T21:31:00.002-04:00

HISTORY AND LANGUAGE
If you own or use a computer, I am sure you have received one of those messages that asks, "Do you remember?" and lists things like Howdy Doody, green stamps and roller skate keys.
Because of my background as an English and reading teacher as well as almost 20 years as the town historian, I saved the following message. It does not refer to local history, but goes back to the 1500s.
Next time you’re washing your hands and the water temperature isn’t just how you like it, think about how things used to be.
Here are some facts about the 1500s.
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.
Back then, baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children - last of all, the babies. By then, the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water."
Houses had thatched roofs - thick straw - piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the dogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof.
When it rained it became slippery, and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof - hence the saying, "It’s raining cats and dogs." There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could really mess your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That’s how canopy beds came into existence.
As one might think, the floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, hence the saying, "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they kept adding more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way, hence, a "thresh hold."
In those days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over for the next day. Sometimes the stew had food in it that had been there for quite awhile. Hence the rhyme, "peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old." Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man "could bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with a high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning and death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Most people did not have pewter plates, but had trenchers, a piece of wood with the middle scooped out like a bowl. Often trenchers were made from stale bread which was so old and hard that they could be used for quite some time. Trenchers were never washed, and a lot of time worms and mold got into the wood and old bread. After
eating off wormy, moldy trenchers, one would get "trench mouth." Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust."
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock them out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake."
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 were found to have scratch marks on the inside, and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer."
And that’s the truth ... (whoever said that history was boring?)

Emma Landon

2010-09-26T21:25:00.004-04:00

EMMA LANDON
I ran across an interesting article in the archives at the Evans Historical Society Museum. The picture was in a February 1957 issue of a Buffalo paper.
At the time of the article, Emma Landon was 92 years old and had started using canceled postage stamps and water color to create small post card size works of art. She sends them as birthday greetings or holiday wishes.
Emma Landon, nee Huson, was born in North Collins and came to Angola in 1885. She married
Harmon S. Landon in 1887. They built a home on Commercial Street. Mr. Landon died in 1957 just a few weeks before they would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Emma died in 1962 at the age of 97.
She remained active most of her life, gardening as well as painting. She was the town historian in the 1950s and had done genealogy for herself and others.
Evans has been the home to many remarkable people. I hope to find others that may be of interest.

The Keeley Institute

2010-09-12T17:49:00.001-04:00

THE KEELEY INSTITUTE

Part 1 - The Buffalo Branch Office

This article was written by Don Cook for the Evans Journal. Please remember this was almost 50 years ago. I do not have any idea what this miraculous cure was, but since we still have addiction problems in our society, it could not have been the "answer."

The building here was located in Buffalo. The Town of Evans connection will be seen in next week’s column.

THE KEELEY INSTITUTE

Today when the "dope traffic" has become almost uncontrollable in our country - and, as a consequence, dope addiction is fast becoming a most shocking health hazard and social evil - feverish efforts are being exerted by medical and governmental agencies not only to cope with these perilous problems, but to drastically reduce and eventually eliminate them from our nation.

Many years ago, as a boy in the City of Buffalo, we often noticed the building shown in the illustration above. As we passed by it on the Niagara St. car, or by horse and buggy, we were much impressed when we later learned that this "institute" was doing a fine work in helping people overcome narcotics habits and liquor and tobacco addictions.

Sometimes we would close our eyes as we sped by that ominous sign, "Keeley Cure." We really were frightened by the danger it proclaimed about dope and liquor. As for tobacco, we were not too much alarmed when, at that time, cigarettes could be purchased for as little as 20 for a nickel - and one package, for a boy, would last at least a week.

Furthermore, there was no great health crusade or earth-shaking moral movement directed against it as being a health hazard or a moral evil. The only "discouraging word" said against cigarettes then, was when they were commonly referred to as "coffin nails" and that their continued use would surely "stunt the physical growth" of young boys. Teen-age youths, at that time, would certainly shudder at the very mention of such gloomy predictions - and then, quite likely, light another "coffin nail."

But let us return to the Keeley Institute and its message to the public. Its founder, Dr. Leslie E. Keeley, a few years before the turn of the century, made a most remarkable discovery, a positive cure for opium, morphine, liquor and tobacco addictions. It was the double chloride of gold treatment.

His first institute was located at Dwight, Illinois, and from there many branches were established all over the United States. Among those located in our state was the one described in our article this week. It was located at 799 Niagara St. A sub-branch of the Buffalo Institute was opened in our Town of Evans a few years later. We will tell you about it in an early issue of the Journal.

From the time Dr. Keeley brought forth his discovery until the early years of the 1900s, nearly one-half million persons suffering from alcoholic and morphine habits were cured. The work of the Buffalo Branch and its Evans sub-station, we understand, contributed significantly in achieving this excellent result.

Of course, this all took place some 60 years ago, and we do not know subsequently just how many more years - or even, if any - the Keeley Institute continued. However, the merits of its treatment must have been clearly recognized by our government, when it was the only one ever to receive national endorsement, after careful investigation of many other so-called cures had been made.

The famous Keeley treatment was later used in all of the soldiers’ "homes" of our country, where it was accepted as the only completely reliable and permanent cure ever known "to that point in time."

We pause to wonder why, today, when such addictions have become so very numerous throughout our nation and seemingly so little has been accomplished in coping with this insidious, epidemic-like health problem, the Keeley cure of that era could not be as successfully applied today as it was those many years ago.

SPECTRO-CHROME COLOR THERAPY

2010-09-05T11:54:00.001-04:00

SPECTRO-CHROME COLOR THERAPY
If you have visited the Evans Historical Society Museum, you may have noticed the machine in the photo. We had planned on using it for our fair exhibit this year, but did not have enough room. However, I had done some research on the gadget and the "doctor" who created it and found it too interesting to just put away.
Dinshah P. Ghadiali was born in 1873 in Bombay, India. By his account, he began school at 2½, was in high school by 8, and was an assistant to a professor of mathematics by 11. He claims he began to study medicine at the age of 14, but there is no proof he ever attended medical school or received a degree.
By the time he came to America in 1911, he had developed a theory about color therapy. Every element has a preponderance of seven prismatic colors. In a healthy person, these colors are balanced. To cure a disease, one should provide the colors that are lacking or re-
duce the colors that are too bright.
The Spectro-Chrome was a box containing a 1000-watt bulb and colored filters. By the 1920s, Dinshah was offering a complete course of study for physicians. Then in 1924 he was labeled a fraud and a charlatan by the AMA. There followed many years of court cases, fines and probation. After his death in 1966, his sons formed the Dinshah Health Society which still sells light-therapy books and instructions for building an inexpensive Spectro-Chrome. As recently as 10 years ago, there was an Institute for Chromotherapy in Ellicottville, New York.
We do not have any record of where this machine came from, but I have to assume it once belonged to one of our local doctors.

Historical Marker: North Evans

2010-08-27T11:47:00.002-04:00

HISTORICAL MARKER - NORTH EVANS
I have to admit that I was not aware of this marker until I found it mentioned in a file at the historical society. It was placed in 1876 by the Bicentennial Committee. It is located on Versailles-Plank Road in front of the Fire Department and near the intersection with South Creek Road. It reads:
Historic North Evans Originally Johnson's Settlement.

Grist Mill, Saw Mill and Tannery on nearby Eighteen Mile Creek.
On this site stood the Byron Hotel built in 1858 on the Hamburg-Versailles Plank Toll Road.

I know of no other markers located in Evans. If I have missed one, please call 549-5812 and leave a message or email me at EvansHistSoc@aol.com

Historical Marker - Village of Angola

2010-08-21T21:14:00.000-04:00

HISTORICAL MARKER - VILLAGE OF ANGOLA

This is another marker you may pass every day. After awhile we barely notice them.

The last week of July 1973, the Village of Angola celebrated their hundredth birthday.

This marker, next to the village post office, reads:

Village of Angola

County of Erie

was incorporated by Act of the New York State Legislature

July 31, 1873

This marker was dedicated July 28, 1973 during Angola Centennial Week.

In Memory of

David Jene Heimburg

Historical Marker - Angola Horror

2010-08-15T21:02:00.001-04:00

HISTORICAL MARKER - ANGOLA HORROR

This marker is the most recent. It is located at the bridge on Mill Street as you leave the village. At this time of the year, the foliage prevents you from seeing the railroad bridge which is visible in the winter.

It was erected after Charity Vogel did some research on the train disaster of 1867 and published an article in a national magazine. It reads:

Angola Horror

One of the worst train disasters occurred 600 ft. upstream on Dec. 18, 1867.

The last two cars of the Buffalo & Erie RR’s New York Express fell from the trestle, burned, and resulted in 50 deaths and over 100 injuries.

The train disaster made national news and had an effect on the railroad industry. Recent stories have indicated that John D. Rockefeller escaped death when he missed the train.

Historical Marker - First Town Hall

2010-08-06T22:53:00.000-04:00

HISTORICAL MARKER - FIRST TOWN HALL

This week’s marker is located on the corner of Gold Street and Route 5. I’m not sure how many people notice it; I know it’s there and had to make a concentrated effort to look for and photograph it.

This marker was erected by the Erie County Sesquicentennial Committee in 1971 when the town celebrated it’s one hundred and fiftieth birthday.

The sign reads:

Site of First Town Hall

Evans became a town by act of the New York State Legislature, effective March 31, 1821.

On this site and in the store of William Wright, the first town meeting and elections were held.

William Wright not only had the store, but had built the first mills along Big Sister Creek. The area was originally known as Wright’s Corners.

HISTORICAL MARKER - MAJOR DUDLEY

2010-08-01T19:47:00.000-04:00

HISTORICAL MARKER - MAJOR DUDLEY

The second marker in our series is probably the best known. It is located on the grounds of the School House Museum at the corner of North Main Street and Route 5. An article was written about two years ago when the marker was moved.

The marker reads:

Major William C. Dudley

First teacher of the Evans Center School.

Ordered to join his regiment in the War of 1812, he dismissed school and rode to Buffalo. He was killed at the Battle of Black Rock, Dec. 30, 1813.

Obviously, he did not teach at the present school house as it was not built until 1857. There was a one room school house on Bennett Road at the time.

The ceremony unveiling this marker was held in 1969. The main speaker was William Thomas Piper, president of Piper Aircraft Corporation, whose family lived in the Town of Evans. His father attended the present school.

Historical Markers: Willis Carrier

2010-07-26T19:17:00.000-04:00

HISTORICAL MARKER - WILLIS CARRIER

There are several historical markers in the Town of Evans. We become so used to seeing them that we pay little attention. When I did the series of articles on Willis Carrier, I mentioned the marker for his birthplace at the VFW on Route 5. In 1968, when it was put up, it was on the bank in front of the building and very difficult to read from the highway.

Recently the Evans Historical Society took it down, cleaned it and moved it to a more visible spot at the entrance to the parking lot near the tank. At the same time, a marker was made for the building itself. It reads:

Birthplace of Willis Carrier
1876-1950
Inventor of Air Conditioning
Recognized as one of the most influential figures of the Twentieth Century

The marker was placed on the building on Friday, July 16, 2010. The people in the picture are, from left to right: Shirley Pfalzgraf, vice president of the Historical Society; Joe Catalano, VFW; Robert Jakubczak, VFW; Cheryl Delano, Town Historian; Judy Smith, Gifford Swyers and Bill Haberer from the Historical Society.

Over the next few weeks, I hope to write articles about the other markers in the town.

The Angola Drum Corps

2010-07-17T08:34:00.001-04:00

ANGOLA DRUM CORPS

This time of year brings back memories of summer parades and the drum corps from the various towns. This photo of the early group was accompanied by a history written by Pete Ehmke.

ANGOLA DRUM CORPS.

The Angola Drum Corps had its beginning in the fall of 1933 and participated in its first parade on Memorial Day in 1934.

Full credit for its organization belongs to Mr. Harry Schanzlin who gathered a few interested people to participate for personal pleasure. The Corps was financed by the members themselves, who paid a weekly instruction fee, as well as advanced money to purchase instruments and uniforms. Later on, as the Corps ran raffles, etc., the instrument money was reimbursed. These were back in the days of the political parades, and this also proved a good source of revenue from the campaigns of Jim Mead, Pi Schwert, etc.

In addition to providing marching music for firemen’s parades and the aforementioned political rallies, we recall playing for season opening ball games at both Buffalo Bisons of the International League and our local community league. Also, the Corps furnished music for Halloween parades, Catholic Church May Day parades, grand openings of Lalles Amusement Park, American Legion and V.F.W. events, and just about every community affair that occurred at that time.

An especially gala event we recall was the grand opening of Pop Nagel’s baseball field which he had constructed in the rear of Nagel’s Barbecue. We marched from Angola onto the field, followed by ball players and lots of citizens, and after the opening ceremonies, hot dogs and pop were the order of the day, plus a red hot inter-village ball game.

The early days instructor was Mr. Frank Pingitore, Sr., who was also a marching member. Winter rehearsals were held in the 3rd floor ball room of the old Central Hotel, summer rehearsals in the Village Park and on the High School grounds on High Street.

In the beginning, the Corps was composed of drums, bugles, and fifes, but the fifes were dropped after about a year because of difficulty in finding people to play them.

The first aforementioned parade as a group found the Angola Drum Corps attired in conventional dark dress trousers, white dress shirts with black bow ties and proudly wearing uniform caps which were the only possession at the time.

That summer, the Corps continued to rehearse and attended numerous area parades to gain experience. During the winter months, a few more people expressed interest, and by Decoration Day of 1935, we boasted 22 members. For this parade, the white shirts and black bow ties were retained, but to the uniform caps had been added light blue breeches and puttees and the snappy appearance of the Corps met with wide approval.

This summer of 1935, the Drum Corps held a parade and Field Day which was very successful and enabled the group to pay off uniform and instrument debts.

At this time the Angola Fire Department began to take notice of the unit and hired the Corps to provide marching music for the Southwestern Convention at Gowanda. This venture was successful and as a result, the Fire Department approached the Drum Corps with an offer to sponsor it and to provide instruction, instruments and uniforms in return for the Corps providing marching music for their parades.

From this point on the phenomenal rise of the Drum Corps is legend. Mr. Walter Ruth, well known as one of the best instructors of the area, was engaged to make the Corps competitive in those times. Competitive indeed it was - our recollection being that in one season when no less than twenty-seven parades of various significance were attended -

The Angola Drum Corps took 1st Place in twenty-five and 2nd Place in the remaining two.

The picture was taken May 30, 1935.

Bottom Row, L to R: R. Reeser, E. Riker, P. Shepard, E. Ambuske, N. Colvin, ? Burroughs, E. Read, S. Cross.

1st Row standing: Harry Schanzlin, R. Hepfinger, F. Pingitore Sr., N. Lawton, G. Yesser, M. Steenburg, W. Parks, H. Leathe.

Back Row: Herbert Schanzlin, D. Chilsom, E. Ehmke, J. Conrad, R. Neubeck, E. Colvin.

George E Long

2010-07-11T08:31:00.002-04:00

GEORGE E. LONG

1894-1918

Being Town Historian gives me constant access to information. I recently received a notebook about George Long, an Angola resident who was killed during WWI. It came from a descendant and former Evans resident Bill Weishaupt, who now lives in Clearwater, Florida.

George was born August 21, 1894 in Angola, the son of Joseph (Optiz) and Harriet (Hanson) Long. As a young man he worked on the Nickel Plate Railroad and at the Lyth Tile Plant. He registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, and on September 27, he left for Camp Dix, New Jersey, and in May 1918 he left the states for active service in the American Expeditionary Force in France.

Included in the files sent to the Historical Society is a CD which contains letters and photos he sent home.

George fought in the battle of the Argonne Forest and was killed in combat: wounded on October 7, 1918 and dying in a French hospital the following day. His company had 514 members and suffered 168 casualties.

George was re-buried in the Forest Avenue Cemetery in September of 1921.

The Newcomb-Long Post of the American Legion was named in honor of George and his friend, Ray Newcomb. The 1910 census of the Village of Angola shows them living next door to each other on Gowans Road. Ray Newcomb was killed September 12, 1918.

The picture above is one from the album taken in 1918.

Angola Hign School Commencement 1934

2010-07-04T08:29:00.001-04:00

ANGOLA HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT 1934

Among the artifacts at the Evans Historical Society is a program from the Fiftieth Annual Commencement from Angola High School held in 1934. It contains a history of the building now known as J. T. Waugh on High Street including pictures of the various buildings that had been on the site since 1870.

The actual graduation was held on Wednesday, June 27, at the Angola Theater. The speaker was Willis H. Carrier who graduated in 1894. Among several pictures is the one of the faculty in 1934. I recognize a few, but if anyone can identify them, I would appreciate that information. It can be sent to me (Cheryl Delano) in care of the Penny Saver office or emailed to EvansHistSoc@aol.com

Grinding Wheel

2010-06-28T08:28:00.002-04:00

GRINDING WHEEL

Those of you who have visited the School House Museum may have noted some exhibits outside the building: the school bell, the Bundy carriage step and the concrete coffins made by Hi Backus. This week, we added a grinding wheel from Spencer Kellogg & Sons, a Buffalo linseed oil business.

The Kelloggs began milling linseed oil in the 1820s near Amsterdam, N.Y. They moved to Buffalo and built the first mill here in 1879. In 1894, a second mill was constructed. They incorporated in 1912 with their headquarters in Buffalo. According to WNY Heritage Press, by 1940 the company operated four flaxseed crushing plants, one copra crushing plant and one tung oil rectifying and refining plant in Hankow, China.

The Kelloggs originally lived on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, but had a summer home "Lochevan" in Derby that became a year round residence. This is now Claddagh.

The grinding wheel was stored in a barn, and upon the sale of the property, needed to find a new home. It was generously donated to the Historical Society by Steve Kellogg as long as we were able to move it. That happened this past Monday, June 21st.

The pictures show the wheel being lowered into position with the help of Bob Barrett (Left) and Giff Swyers. The second picture shows it placed on the grounds. In the picture, from left to right: Bill Haberer, Bob Barrett, Caryl Youngers, Giff Swyers, and Josh Merritt.

Come see our newest exhibit!

Town and Village Police / Schoolbus and Road Courtesy

2010-06-20T08:26:00.002-04:00

TOWN AND VILLAGE POLICE

The Evans Historical Society Museum has copies of the summer guides printed by the town in the 1940s and early 1950s.

These pictures are from the 1948 issue. The top picture is of two Town of Evans police cars. Maurice Crawford was the chief at that time. His reminders included stopping for school buses, not throwing rubbish on public highways and when parking on the Old Lake Shore Road, be sure no part of the car is on the pavement. A new signal light had been installed on Route 5 at Jerusalem Corners (Sturgeon Point Road).

The second picture is from the village; Alwin Pauli, the chief of police. He gave rules for safe driving and published changes in the vehicle and traffic laws from 1948. Some of interest include: 1) Effective July 1, 1948, all motor vehicles must have a rear view mirror; 2) Effective March 21, 1948, any glass replacement must be safety glass; and 3) Effective September 1, 1949, every school bus with a seating capacity of more than 12 must be painted "national school bus chrome" yellow.

The main message - Drive Safely.

The Angola Record

2010-06-14T09:29:00.002-04:00

ANGOLA RECORD - JUNE 1893

The bound copies of the Angola Record are now at the Evans Historical Society Museum. Some are still in very good condition. I read through the issues from 117 years ago and just wrote down some interesting bits of information.
- Ira Hanks’ team ran Sunday evening from A. Godsave’s down Main Street around the church where the carriage was upset, then dragged as far as H. Parker’s barn. Only damage was the wreck of the buggy.
- New Bedford, Mass. In opening the government’s case in the trial of Lizzie Borden for the murder of her father and stepmother, Mr. Moody described in detail the house in which the tragedy occurred and the occupants thereof at the time of the murder.
- Lightning has struck pretty near Angola.
- L. Holland and Clark Bromley caught a Sturgeon Monday night that weighed 167 lbs.
- A tough-looking tramp, who was arrested Sunday evening for breaking into a Lake Shore car, watched his opportunity the next morning and made his escape from the constable in charge.
- Briggs & Hess dissolved partnership Saturday and closed the meat market.
- Nearly two and a half years ago D. H. O’dell of North Collins cut down sixteen telegraph poles which had been erected by the Postal Telegraph Cable Co. upon his land and against his protest. The telegraph company commenced action in the Circuit Court against said O’dell to recover damages ...

These are just a few examples of the type of information printed in our local paper. Come and take a look. The museum will be Open Sunday, June 27, when we hold our annual Ice Cream Social and then every Sunday in July and August. The hours are 2 to 4 p.m.

The Derby Post Office

2010-06-05T16:24:00.000-04:00

THE DERBY POST OFFICE

One of the books in the Archives of the Evans Historical Society is a history of the Derby Post Office.

The first Derby Post Office was in the New Lake Shore Railroad Station, and Adrian Patrick, the station agent, was the acting postmaster. Before this time, farmers had to go to East Evans (Jerusalem Corners) or North Evans for their mail.

The local farmers donated cash to the railroad company for the station, and John Dibble donated the land. The railroad offered to name the station Dibble, but he didn’t want that, and it was named after Henry G. Derby of Erie, Pennsylvania. He was an official of the railroad in charge of building stations. This was in April of 1873.

The post office moved whenever someone new was appointed postmaster, so we find it located in various homes and stores during the next century.

A man named Clarence Shephard was the first rural carrier. He received $600 per year and furnished his own horse and rig - His route was 24.8 miles long. The roads were not paved, and mud would be knee deep in the spring, and roads in the winter would often be drifted deep as there were no snow plows.

Two of the early post offices are shown above. On top is a photo from the 1950s. It was the home of Mrs. Virtue Dibble who was appointed postmaster on August 29, 1876. The post office was entered by the door in the front of the house. She also had a small store there, and she sometimes held church meetings. Her two sons carried the mail to the railroad twice a day, and another man carried mail from her office to East Evans.

Earl Benjamin was the postmaster from 1907 to 1942, a total of 35 years. The Benjamin store was the post office until 1929 when Earl sold the store to his brother Frank. Earl had Gary Dingman build this post office next to his home on Easy Street. The next postmaster, Mrs. Jeannette Catalano, rented it from 1942 to April 1950 when she moved the post office to her home on Route 5. It stayed there until the present home of the Derby Post Office was built across the street.

Angola Twister 1929

2010-05-30T22:19:00.000-04:00

ANGOLA TWISTER 1929

Our area is known for its winter weather, but occasionally we have other natural phenomenon. This map of the path of a "twister" is dated April 2, 1929, and is with an article entitled, "Havoc at Angola."

Part of the article is quoted here. "... a twister detached itself from the main tornado and worked for a time on its own. To test its strength, it completely raised a barn. The venture was a success - a tremendous success - with the air full of flying boards ... Then it snatched two ells from nearby houses, cleanly as a journeyman might have done it."

"The twister crossed the road and, in crossing, playfully snipped off huge telephone poles at the ground and left the broken wires hanging ..."

"In the spirit of a prankish boy, it bit a corner off an honest farmer’s house, upturned his automobile, then pushed over his barn and careened down through his orchard, uprooting all the trees in its wake. This for a width of 200 yards."

"At the Blockhouse corner, a hot dog stand was in process of construction. For a moment is leaned wearily against the wind, then went out of business before it started."

"And so on into the city ..."

"A seaplane forced down at Sturgeon Point, near Angola, Saturday afternoon, was reported wrecked by the force of yesterday’s gale, although absolute confirmation could not be had last evening because of the isolation of the Sturgeon Point colony, which is unoccupied at this time of year."

Area Veterans Dedicate Monument at Evans Center

2010-05-22T10:50:00.000-04:00

AREA VETERANS DEDICATE MONUMENT AT EVANS CENTER

The following is an article originally published in the Evans Journal on May 30, 1974. The monument in the picture was originally placed on the grounds of the Evans Historical Society. It has since been moved to the Evans Town Hall on Erie Road.

AREA VETERANS DEDICATE MONUMENT AT EVANS CENTER

Highlight of this year’s Memorial Day events in the Town of Evans was the dedication of a veteran’s memorial monument on the grounds of the Town of Evans Historical Society museum at Evans Center, the former Evans Center schoolhouse.

David Burke, chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee, was master of ceremonies at the service, which opened at noon on Monday. Vice-Chairman Richard Jerozal read a congratulatory letter from congressman Jack Kemp.

David Taylor, commander of Henry P. Jackowiak Post 1863, American Legion; Robert Betler, commander of Evans Township Post 5798, Veterans of Foreign Wars; George Braun, commander of Newcomb-Long Post 928, American Legion; and Donald Scheidel, internal vice-president of the Evans Jaycees, did the unveiling.

A wreath was placed in front of the monument by the Gold Star Mothers, and another was placed on behalf of all prisoners of war by Stanley Maronski and Clyde Vincent.

Other participants included Town of Evans Supervisor Robert R. Catalino; Town of Brant Supervisor Herman Ciminesi; Howard Frawley, president of the Jaycees; Carlton Moon, chaplain of the VFW; and Nelson Ingersoll, chaplain of the Newcomb-Long American Legion Post.

Lisa Spinner, Miss Southern Erie County 1974, sang the Star Spangled Banner, accompanied by the Lake Shore Central Senior High School Band, which also opened the ceremonies with the playing of Nearer, My God, to Thee.

The inscription on the monument reads: "Dedicated to the honor and sacrifice of the men and women of the Town of Evans who served in the Armed Forces of the United States in all wars."

Chairman Burke said that the memorial, which cost $4500, was financed through the proceeds of a dance sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Committee in February at the Evans Center Fire Hall, as well as other dances and miscellaneous events sponsored by the Jaycees and the veterans’ organizations.

A balance in the fund of $2,000, Mr. Burke said, would be used for landscaping and other improvements to the monument site.

A Dry Town

2010-05-08T19:57:00.002-04:00

A DRY TOWN

There is an interesting parallel between events in 1917 and 1931 in the Town of Evans.

In 1917, a group calling themselves The Citizens League of the Town of Evans supported a series of questions on the November ballot. In their statement, they said, "We believe that the liquor traffic and the existence of saloons in our town are a source of no good but of evil and harm to our people, young and old, and we believe that the best interests of the town demand that they should be done away with, and therefore at the election we will support the fight now being made for no license."

The vote was very close on all four questions.

Question 3
- Shall license be granted to sell liquor to be drunk on premises where sold? Yes 341; No 321.

Question 4
- Shall license to be granted to sell liquor, not to be drunk on the prmises where sold? Yes 347; No 314.

Question 5
- Shall license be granted to sell liquor as pharmacist upon a physicians prescription? Yes 353; No 287.

Question 6
- Shall license be granted to sell liquor by hotel keepers only? Yes 349; No 302.

In the early 1950’s, residents in Evans began a new campaign. There was a petition in September of 1951 which asked to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages in Evans. The goal was the "elimination of the sore spots which are ruining our younger generation and making the Town of Evans the laughing stock of the county." The petition was directed mainly against the establishments along the Old Lake Shore Road which operated under summer licenses.

The petition was disqualified by the Supreme Court on technical grounds, but attempts were still made over the next two or three years. In 1952 there was even a study done by the University of Buffalo that covered the nature of law-breaking disturbances at the "resort community", the effectiveness of law enforcement, and the relation of community problems to the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Western New York From The Air

2010-05-02T18:14:00.000-04:00

WESTERN NEW YORK FROM THE AIR
I thought this picture might be interesting. It was published in the December 22, 1946 issue of the Buffalo Courier Express. It was taken by James N.
Matthews, but I am not sure when. The captain refers to the Emblem Manufacturing Co. which had closed in the late 1920s and the building used by others during World
War II.
It shows the intersection of Main Street with Lake and Commercial Streets.

Bandits on Delameter

2010-04-24T07:28:00.000-04:00

BANDITS ON DELAMATER

I came across the following story in one of the books at the Evans Historical Society Museum. The article was not dated, but it occurred before the Bank of Angola closed in 1931.

T. Chauncey Williams, a cashier at the bank, and Peace Justice Robert J. Laverty were stopped after a business meeting near Pike’s Crossing on Delamater Road about a half mile east of the village. They were forced into a ditch, and two men from the car approached with guns drawn. They actually fought with the two gunmen until both were shot. Williams had four gunshot wounds and was in critical condition but survived. Justice Laverty had a bullet go through his hat, plow through his hair and exit the top without touching his head as shown in the picture.

Laverty pretended to be wounded and dropped to the ground. The men disabled the car and took off towards the village. Laverty then ran into the village to seek help.

The car, which had been reported stolen, was found abandoned at South Park and Soule (sic) Road in Hamburg. Police later apprehended Edward Boehm of West Valley and his brother Fritz.

Evans Town Hall

2010-04-18T09:28:00.000-04:00

EVANS TOWN HALL
Most of you will recognize the building in the picture above, but do you know its history?
Originally it was the new home of the Bank of Angola. The bank was on Commercial Street and moved to this building in December of 1927. It became a victim of the Depression, however, and it closed its doors in 1931.
Four years later, in November 1935, it opened as the Market Arcade. Inside, one could find a grocery section, meat market, bakery, Louis Kuntz’ candy and an electrical department with appliances and accessories.
When the Arcade closed, it was vacant for several years. In 1946, it was purchased by the town after a public vote. It took about a year to remodel, and a second floor was added to house a courtroom.
The building is vacant again now, and one wonders whether its purpose will be changed and it will see a new beginning.

Glimpse of The Past: Baseball Rules

2010-04-10T14:46:00.000-04:00

GLIMPSE OF THE PAST

BASEBALL RULES

With the beginning of the major league baseball season, I thought it would be appropriate to run one of the many pictures of Angola’s baseball teams. This particular one is pictured on the baseball field behind the Emblem Manufacturing Company in the village. It was taken about 1910.

The men are identified as: Front row, left to right: Earl Benjamin, Jack Felsinger, John Glass (manager), Pius Schwert, Ollie Walters. Second row: Leon Backus, Herb Spittler, Jessie Ames. Third row: Phil Froehley, Sam Vellam, Cecil Blackney. Top: Frank Wiatroski, Jack Foran.

Baseball was an important part of community life at this time. Game recaps and scores were usually front page news in the Angola Record.

LSC SCHOOL BOARD NAMES JUNIOR HIGH FOR JOHN T. WAUGH

2010-04-08T06:14:00.000-04:00

LSC SCHOOL BOARD NAMES JUNIOR HIGH FOR JOHN T. WAUGH

I came across this article recently. It was not written by Don Cook, but was a report of a board of education action taken on April 23, 1968. It occurred to me that people might not know who John T. Waugh was. The dedication of the bronze plaque was held on May 2, 1970.LSC BOARD NAMES FOR JUNIOR HIGH FOR JOHN T. WAUGH

At the Tuesday, April 23 meeting of the Lake Shore Central School’s Board of Education, action was taken naming the district’s Junior High School building at 100 High Street in Angola in memory of the late John T. Waugh. This action was originally suggested by the Angola-Lake Shore Central Alumni Association in February of 1967 in a letter to the Board of Education.

District Principal William G. Houston told the Evans Journal that he felt "it was a most fitting tribute to Mr. Waugh, as Mr. Waugh began his local teaching and administrative career with the former Angola High School in September of 1927, doing a considerable amount of his work in the former 1913 building and being one of those closely involved with Mr. William T. Hoag and other long-time school personnel who moved into the 1937 former Angola High School when it was completed."

Mr. Waugh was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Sept. 19, 1900, and received his early schooling in Ontario. He attended the University of Buffalo, graduating in 1924 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1925 he received his Master’s Degree in History. While in college he was the captain of the hockey team for two years, was president of his fraternity, and served as president of his senior class at the university.

Many long-time residents of the area will remember Mr. Waugh as not only a teacher of history and various other subjects, but as a physical education teacher and coach for a variety of interscholastic sports. From 1927 until the early 1940s, he was associated with the baseball, basketball and track teams.

Another activity with which Mr. Waugh was associated was the program of Easter trips to Washington that were once taken by graduating classes. Not only did he accompany many groups to Washington, but he served as advisor to the senior classes and aided in the many fun and fund-raising activities that helped to pay the expenses of the Washington trips.

He was seriously injured in an automobile accident in early 1954 and was away from his duties during the 1954-55 school year. Returning the following year, he served in the new Senior High School building in various capacities, including guidance counselor, assistant principal, high school principal and Director of Public Relations and Publications.

He participated in a great many professional activities related with various teacher organizations, not only at the local and county levels, but also with the New York State Teachers Association. At various times he was treasurer, vice president and president of the Erie County Teachers Association, also serving as a delegate to the New York State Teachers Association and on the Credentials Committee of the state association. He was active in local parent-teacher groups and was made an honorary life member of the Angola-Lake Shore Central Alumni Association.

During World War II, Mr. Waugh served as a First Aid instructor and for a short time worked as a warehouse volunteer at the Buffalo plant of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. For many years, Mr. Waugh lived on Tuscarora Rd. in Buffalo, but moved to Center St. in Angola in 1957.

Commenting on the naming of the Junior High School in Mr. Waugh’s memory, Samuel A. Iannello, a member of the Board of Education, noted that he knew of "no one better after whom the Junior High School should be named." Mr. Houston personally brought news of the board’s action to Mrs. Helen Waugh.

Appropriate ceremonies will be scheduled when work at the Junior High School is completed with Mr. Waugh’s name to be included on the bronze plaque to be installed in the lobby of the main entrance of the building.

Mr. Houston added that "the students attending the Junior High School will do well to exemplify the man after whom their building has been named. Always one promoting fair play and honesty, diligence and hard work. Mr. Waugh was not only a teacher of American History, he lived Americanism every day of his life."

The Bundy Mill Grain Wagon

2010-03-15T17:14:00.000-04:00

THE BUNDY MILL GRAIN WAGON

Don Cook wrote this brief article for the Evans Journal. We are all familiar with Bundy’s Mill by this time, but this is a photograph of the wagon used to transport grain from the railroad to the mill. In these modern times, we often forget how tasks were accomplished.

Again through the courtesy of Allen J. Bundy, we are happy to present another photo of early "Angolana." It is a picture of a rather unusual wagon. It was owned by the Bundy Milling Company and was used for many years for hauling grain from the railroad box cars.

The enlarged wagon-box was lined with thin, clear matched lumber - so as to make it thoroughly leak- proof. This was a primitive method of transporting grain from the railroad car to the mill. Being in bulk, the grain was shoveled from car to wagon with a half-bushel scoop. At the mill it was unloaded in the same manner. In those pre- I.B.M. days, we presume such double-checking of the cargoes involved was necessary to achieve any degree of accuracy. Anyway, as viewed by today’s standards, this technique does seem to be somewhat antiquated - if not actually crude. But, somehow or other, it seemed to work then.

The scene depicted by the photo is the barnyard of the Bundy Milling Co. The teamster, an employee of the mill, is Mr. Will Townsend, one of Angola’s Civil War veterans. The horses hitched to the wagon are sorrels and bore the names of Flora and Frank. (Why couldn’t they have been called Flora and Fauna?)

Note the signs along the side of the wagon: "Flour, Feed, and Grain," "Angola’s Roller Mills." The horses have probably just had a cooling drink at the pump’s watering tub. Mr. Townsend has just mounted his seat on the wagon. Soon they will be on their way for another load of grain.

Such being the case, we must not further delay their departure, for that box car must be unloaded promptly. Otherwise demurrage charges possibly might be levied against the milling company.

So - we’ll be seeing you again with our next installment, when we hope to bring you another interesting item from Al’s album of old-time views.

Boy Scouts of America

2010-03-07T16:55:00.004-05:00

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

The Evans Historical Society Museum will be open this Sunday, March 7, 2-4 p.m. The display case on the first floor is honoring the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. Come see it if you get a chance.

The scouts were incorporated in the U.S. by Chicago publisher W. D. Boyce on February 8, 1910. They were based on the British group formed by Robert Baden-Powell and influenced by the Woodcraft Indians started by Ernest Thompson Seton in 1902 and the Sons of Daniel Boone founded by Daniel Carter Beard in 1905.

The picture above is in the display case. It depicts local troop 28 taken at Chestnut Ridge Park in 1928.

Front row: Ed Ambuske (Asst. Scoutmaster), Tubby Hull, Eugene Guest, Grant Pearsoll, Vincent Walters, Charles Pratt, Dexter Brick, Alvin Clifton, Benny Hirsch.

Back row: Charles Tingley (Scoutmaster), Wayne Bernes, Jim McEwen, Carl Lehning, ???, Bill Crotty, Percy Hoover, Jim Fortain, Ed Daley, Ernie Ehmke, ???, Clyde Williams, Ben Burns.

Locustdale Farm

2010-02-28T17:20:00.000-05:00

This article ran in the Penny Saver before, but it ties into the one from last week. This building still stands and looks much the same today.

LOCUSTDALE FARM

In the last installment we showed a photo of the old Brown-Davis house on Erie Road at Delaware Creek. Following its destruction by fire in the early 1900s, the house as pictured above was erected on the old foundation.

Shortly after the fire, my uncle, Ben F. Davis, spied an ad in a farm paper, describing a "do-it-yourself" cement-block making machine. He sent for particulars, and later for the machine. It was a simple bit of equipment and had the appearance of a table. With today’s eyes, one might very well wonder how it could do what it did; but it did. The house, still standing today, is a silent but rugged witness to that fact. It was probably the first cement-block house constructed in the Town of Evans.

Gravel and sand, horse-hauled from the lake, and cement from the Hartshorn Co. in Angola, with a lot of back-breaking, hand-mixing labor, did the trick. With some additional help, Grandfather Davis made all the blocks for the house, and then laid them up, and finished the house.

Others in the community became interested in the new-fangled machine and the borrowing of it became quite popular. Among those to whom it was loaned was Charles Rogendorf who, in 1908, made the blocks with it for his hotel at Erie Road and Lake Street.

I presume that he could think of no better or more appropriate name for his hostelry than the device that helped toward its construction. So, he named it the "Block Hotel." Until very recently, a center block over the front entrance had embedded in it the numbers "1908." Perhaps the present owner, not wanting the old landmark (for such it had grown to be) dated, had it covered with some fancy trim. But the date is still there. Ask Mr. Matis some time. He’ll tell you.

Well, a lot of cement has been mixed and poured since those long-gone days and, undoubtedly, with much greater efficiency and ease. But, I just bet, with much less fun. For a feeling of accomplishment also went into every block that was moulded in that primitive, man-operated machine.

Stowed away in a corner of the garage on the property, still stands that simple device. Certainly, after completing so many rounds of useful duty, it has well earned its right to retirement. But I venture to say, it could again perform the function it was designed to do, those many years ago.

After the new house was finished, it, and the property, received a new name. It was christened "Locustdale Farm" after a fine grove of locust trees near the house, and "Dale" for a branch of the family (E. L. Davis’s wife’s maiden name). The property now belongs to Dale Davis Clark (daughter of B. F.). Although it is presently being rented, we understand that Mr. and Mrs. Clark intend someday to occupy it.

The Brown - Davis Home

2010-02-21T10:38:00.000-05:00

THE BROWN-DAVIS HOME

The next two weeks I am going back to a couple of articles that Don Cook originally wrote for his column in the Evans Journal. They refer to a section of Route 5 between Holland Road and Lake Street.THE BROWN-DAVIS HOME

The 1855 map of Evans lists this house, at that time, as belonging to W. Brown. It stood on the east side of the Erie Road directly south of Delaware Creek. In this immediate area, some years before, was located one of the many sawmills by the pioneers of Evans.

Across the Erie Road and also listed on this map, as are all the places mentioned in this article, was the home of a Mrs. Lincoln. At later dates it was successively owned by: W. Bromley, Clarence Allen and Mr. Bestine. It is now the Wayne Farthing home. Although this house has undergone some altering and "face lifting," it is basically as it was in the 1850s. I faintly remember a rumor that was afloat in the neighborhood years ago that this house had served as a station in the underground slave-rescue system prior to the Civil War. We would be happy if this report could be substantiated for us.

Proceeding on the same (west) side of the Erie Road and toward what is now Lake Street, we find only two properties listed. They were the Wm. B. Grover and the Dr. J. Gazley homes. The Grover property, we believe, later became the Shaw, Lambert, MacMahon, Libby home. It adjoins the Lake Shore Motors garage. The Gazley house contained the offices and residence of Angola’s nearest and perhaps first physician. Later it became the home of the Hess family. Its last occupant was the late Casper Hess, who lived there most of the years of his lifetime. Both the Grover and Gazley houses retain much of their earlier architectural appearances.

For some reason or other, there seemed to be more homes on the east side of the Erie Road in this particular section in the early days. Beyond the Brown-Davis house and just beyond Delaware Creek was the J. Cash home, later the Clark Bromley property and now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bowman. Continuing toward Lake street appeared the following homes, most of them seemingly unchanged through the years: A. Lincoln, Mrs. Spaulding, G. Gray and D. Gray.

Returning to the photo shown above: This farm was purchased in the 1890s by E. L. Davis. The picture was taken about 1900. The figure in the foreground was Ben F. Davis, son of E. L. The gentleman with the beard was E. L., and the small boy was "me" (Grandson of E. L.)

Now I will tell you in on a secret. The initials E. L. stood for Ephraim Lemuel, two good old Biblical names. Another secret? No. The following will be historical facts. Grandfather’s father, Greeley, walked all the way from Forest County, Pa., to fight at the Battle of Black Rock in 1813. Part of the route he traversed, we believe, was along our own Erie Road and right past the property his son later would own and occupy.

Greeley’s father, Alpheus Davis, was a soldier of the revolution, and his grandfather, Capt. John Davis, was a minuteman in the Revolutionary War. Capt. John enlisted April 19, 1775, and, with that group of patriots, marched from Boston to Lexington and Concord. The family never mentioned these facts to me when I was young. I never knew of them until my personal interest in history and genealogy pleasantly unearthed them for me.

As a small boy I can dimly remember vacationing on Grandfather’s farm and, while there, meeting three of his older brothers, all Civil War veterans. I wish I could recall some of the war yarns they were wont to spin, but, alas, time has wiped them from my memory.

In 1898, my Uncle Ben, patriotically aroused, decided to enlist in the Spanish-American War. So one day he mounted his bicycle and pedaled to Buffalo. Exhausted by the trip, his heart disqualified him. Perhaps he should have leisurely walked there instead, like his Grandfather Greeley in 1812. Then he might have been accepted. However, his younger, twin brothers, Donald and Gilbert, enlisted in the 202nd Reg. in Buffalo and were accepted for service.

In 1904 or 1905, the old house, subject of this sketch, was destroyed by fire. In 1908, a replacement of a little-known type of material, cement blocks, was erected. There is an interesting bit of local history in connection with its construction. We will tell you about it in the next installment.

Angola Hook and Ladder Company

2010-02-15T19:32:00.000-05:00

ANGOLA HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY

This is another article written by Don Cook for the Evans Journal. It is an interesting look at a piece of early firefighting equipment.

This week we are privileged to present to our readers a photo of the first volunteer fire department unit of Angola, if not of Evans Township. It was organized in 1882 and was known as the Angola Hook and Ladder Co. we are indebted to Mrs. Evelyn (Schlender) House for the use of the photo, which was taken in the early 1880s.

So far as possibe the firemen are identified as follows: Front row, left to right - Jacob Friend, Wally Imus, Frank Parker, John Reinhart, E. G. Wilcox, John McCullor, George Eggleston, John Foran, Back row- George Shaw, next three unidentifired, Frank Hill, Chauncey Robinson, William Distel.

How interesting - this quiant, old, hand-drewn piece of apparatus with the long ladders atop the "chassis" while hooked to the undercarriages are several leather buckets, lanterns and ropes.

Being curious about the two short poles held by the end men of the front row, we attempted a bit of research. Failling to find an answer, we have simply decided upon a practical explanation for their use. You will observe that the elongated vehicle was designed like most of the old trolley cars - so it could be operated from either end. In other words, there is a wagon-tongue at each end of the chassis; so the apparatus never needed to be turned about to be returned to its home base.

In the center of each of the rods in question is a snap that is hooked into a ring at the end of the wagon-tongue to be used. Similarly, at each end of each pole is a hand grip and a ring or snap, which is connected with a rope fixed to the axles. When the department takes off for a fire, the lead pole is hooked to the tongue and ropes. The first two men (one at each side end) clasp the pole; the other men line up on both sides, and at certain intervals, and grab the rope to help pull the equipment, from four to six men on either side - and the race to the fire is on.

We presume the same technique was used for other pieces of equipment of that day, such as the hose-cart, pumper and supply wagon. The procedure could be very easily reversed for the return to the station. Most early, volunteer fire departments had and used this kind of equipment. In the larger villages and, of course, in the cities, horses were used for many years until mechanization took over.

May we digress to relate how exciting it was to see a city department in operation? An engine hose close to our home particularly held a thrilling appeal to the young fry in the neighborhood. Often a practice drills (the kids always seemed to know when these drills would take place) they would be on hand for that spectacular sight: firemen sliding down poles from their sleeping quarters on the second floor of the station, then horses quickly emerging from their stalls and calmly assuming their proper places at the equuipment they were assigned to, harnesses automatically dropped onto their backs, then hastily tied and buckled by the stable-men. What a sight, indeed!

With swift and well-ordered efficiency, the firemen would climb to their seats, and away they would go, with the station’s barking mascots bringing up the rear. Not too far behind, more boy and dog enthusiasts would join the "fun".

As for our rural fire departments, much praise and credit should always have attended them in the performance of their duties in those earlier days, for they were much handicapped by the primitive equipment and inadequate water sources. But their willling spirit never wavered, nor did their physical response weaken. And just as soon as piped "city" water and motorized equipment became available, they received fresh encouragement, and they surely began to produce outstanding results in their new day of fire-fighting.

John H. Andrus - Opportunist

2010-02-05T19:58:00.000-05:00

"JOHN H. ANDRUS - OPPORTUNIST"

This article was written by Don Cook, the town historian at the time of the Evans Sesquicentennial. It is a brief, biographical sketch of John H. Andrus, one of the early businessmen of Evans.

JOHN H. ANDRUS - OPPORTUNIST

Since the dedication of the historical marker during our recent Sesquicentennial celebration, we have given much thought to the old William Wright home which became our town hall until, perhaps, its removal to Evans Station in 1860 by its new owner and the subject of this article, John H. Andrus.

In lieu of a photo of this distinguished gentleman, we are using an artist’s pen-and-ink sketch, drawn to scale and from a post card view of this building as it stood in Angola Village about 1900, when it was known as the Angola Hotel.

Of recent date it is our very good fortune to have received a small family Bible once owned by Mr. Andrus and in which are recorded a few family vital statistics. The first entry, under births, states: "John H. Andrus was born Aug. 4th, 1815 in Portland, N.Y." Under marriages is written: "Married on the 15th of April 1844 in Evans, John H. Andrus to Melissa M. Ingersoll, by Rev. L. Richmond of Hanover."

From now on, with your approval we shall proceed

to support and savor our facts of this brief biography with a sprinkling of speculation (historian’s license). Apparently Mr. Andrus, on becoming a young man, decided against agricultural career and in favor of being a businessman, for, according to our town’s 1850 census, and six years after his marriage, we find him listed as an innkeeper.

It is our presumption that Mr. Andrus, even before his marriage, realized that the Town of Evans was soon to have a tremendous business boom - for, no doubt, rumors of the soon-to-come railroad were being spread through the great "Western Reserve" - and even beyond.

Backing our theory, we remember having read that, among the very few property owners in what became the Village of Angola, was Mr. Andrus. Quite likely some of his properties became part of the railroad’s right-of-way, and Mr. Andrus had taken his first steps along the path of financial success.

His acumen was further demonstrated when he negotiated for a post office for the new village, Evans Station, in 1854. Hearing that a post office in Taylor’s Hollow, Town of Collins, established in 1822, was to be discontinued on 1-6-1855, he hastened to see if, in some way, this office could be transferred to our town.

He discovered it could be.

So in the interest of all around general simplification, the office was transferred, no "in lock, stock and barrel," but certainly in name. Anyway, that is just what happened, and on 10-16-1857, John H. Andrus was appointed the first postmaster of the "New Angola" Post Office, which office he held until July 29, 1861. His next smart move was to move the William Wright home from its historic site at Evans Center to Commercial Street in Angola where, in due time, it was opened as the Angola Hotel. Owned by him from the year of the Railroad (1852), he probably figured Angola would eventually become the metropolis of Evans. We sure would like to hope that "Hi" Backus was the gentleman who did the moving. Can somebody tell us that he was?

For his further participation in public service, we note that Mr. Andrus was elected supervisor of Evans in 1864, and in 1868, as Erie County clerk. To be closer to his work as county clerk, the Andrus family moved to Buffalo and, upon the conclusion of that term of office, did not return to their Angola home (which was later occupied by the W. M. Marshall family) but moved to Cleveland, Ohio.

Here they made their home with their daughter, Sarah M. Brown, whose husband, J. D. Brown, was assistant general passenger agent for the Erie R. R. After many years of residency there, Mr. Andrus died in the early 1900s, to be followed by his wife, Melissa Ingersoll Andrus, on 8-18-1913, both having attained the age of 87-plus years.

The eldest child of John and Melissa Andrus was Ellen A., born 2-10-1843 in Evans. She became Mrs. Roy Tucker of Derby. John S., their oldest son, born 3-12-1847, married Huldah Barnard and they became the parents of a daughter, Melissa, who married the late Percy Dawson of Jerusalem Corners. Another son, Wilbur M., born 4-6-1846, died 2-24-1890.

While citizens of Evans a century or so ago, the Andrus family contributed much to the business, civic and social life of the community - and, so long as local history is kept alive, they will be long and honorably remembered.

The sketch of the Wright home, our first town hall, was prepared for us by Robert Fisk, a Buffalo artist.

Roger Fales

2010-01-29T18:43:00.000-05:00

ROGER FALES

The following obituary was sent to me by Elmer Hornburg who was a long time resident of the Town of Evans. Roger’s mother was Helen Schuman Fales. She was the sister of Emma Schuman, a teacher who many remember from the Evans Center School.

Miss Schuman is seen in the picture above at the time of the Evans Sesquincentennial with Elmer Hornburg (second from left) and Annette and Whitney Frost.

Dr. Roger R. Fales

Dr. Roger R. Fales, 92, of 219 East Ave., Falconer, passed away at 7:42 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 2, 2010), in WCA Hospital.

An area resident most of his life, he was born Aug. 13, 1917, in the town of Evans, N.Y., the son of the late Bertom and Helen Schuman Fales.

Roger was a graduate of Angola High School and a 1941 graduate of Cornell University with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree. At Cornell University he was a member of Alpha Psi Fraternity and a trombone player in the Big Red Marching Band.

In earlier years, he began practicing with other veterinariansin the Avon Henrietta Rochester area, coming to Falconer in 1945 to establish his own practice. He had owned and operated Falconer Veterinary Clinic for 55 years which was first located on East Main Street in Falconer, and is presently located at 319 Eat Ave., Falconer.

Roger was a member of the Falconer Bethlehem Lutheran Church and had served on the Church Counsel, American Veterinary Medical Association, NYS Veterinary Medical Society, WNY Veterinary Medical Society, Chautauqua County Veterinary Medical Society, Chautauqua County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals having served as vice president, Village of Falconer Recycling Committee, Carroll Masonic Lodge 1147 of F&AM, life member of the Ross Grange and had served on the Falconer Central School Board of Education for 26 years having served as school board president for 17 years.

He enjoyed his family, gardening, his camp and cottage, animals and foreign cars. Roger also enjoyed traveling going back to 1965 with the first People to People trip to Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the former Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary and Germany. Since then, the family has visited Scandinavia, England, Kenya, Egypt, Costa Rica, Canada, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand. Roger and his wife made a return trip to the former Soviet Union with visits to Moscow, Tashkent, Samarkland, Bokhara, and Leningrad. The most recent trip was to the Amazon Basin in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

Surviving are his wife, Dr. Patricia Jensen Fales, whom he married June 18, 1960 in First Methodist Church of Falconer; his daughter, Dr. Mary Fales-Wilshire (Scott Wilshire) of Falconer; his son Rick (Anna) Fales Jr. of Falconer; five grandchildren; Sarah Fales, Thomas Fales, Katherine Fales, Waylon Wilshire and Christian Wilshire.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Russell Fales.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday (Jan. 9, 2010), in the Falconer Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The Rev. Timothy J. Hoyer, pastor of the church, will officiate. Inurnment will be in Pine Hill Cemetary.

Friends will be received by the family from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 7, 2010), in the Falconer Funeral Home.

Memorials may be donated to the Falconer Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 20 North Phetteplace St., Falconer, NY 14733 or to the Falconer Public Library, 101 West Main St., Falconer, NY 14733.

Visit our website at www.falconerfuneralhome.net to light a candle remembrance.

Evans in The Civil War

2010-01-10T15:04:00.000-05:00

People in the Town of Evans were actively involved in the Civil War. A number of units in the army recruited local men. The most prominent was the 116th regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry.

The Union Army had suffered many casualties and found it necessary to enlist more men. On July 2, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln called for 300,000 volunteers.
Ira Ayer, a resident of the Town of Evans, applied for authority to recruit a company even though he was nearly 60 years old. He had completed the recruitment by August 11, and on September 5, Company A of the 116th Regiment left Buffalo.

Of the 97 men in his command, 37 were 18-20 years old. Only 11 were over 28. The average age was a little less than 23. The men represented 7 towns. 40 came from Evans and 13 from Brant. The rest were from Hamburg, East Hamburg, North Collins, Eden and Aurora.

Captain James Ayer, Ira’s brother, recruited Company K of the 116th Regiment at the same time. Again the 84 officers and men were principally from the south towns: Hamburg, Brant, North Collins, and Evans.

The page above is representative of the Muster Roll for Company A.

Christmas 1909

2009-12-19T14:27:00.000-05:00

CHRISTMAS 1909

I thought it would be interesting to look at the local newspaper during the month of December 100 years ago. The Evans Historical Society Museum has the Angola Record on microfilm, and the following are some of the trends that I noticed.

During the entire month, the paper said, "Christmas is coming and all the industrious ones are beginning to wonder what they will make for their friends, what kinds of offerings they can design that will have two virtues - evidence of loving care and real usefulness."

Each week they had directions for homemade items such as a lavender sachet, a handkerchief bag and a suspender belt.

In ad from the Angola Pharmacy (Blackney’s) they promised a Beautiful Art Calendar free with every 25c purchase.

There were poems and stories each week also including:

The Dear Old Tree

by Frank D. Sweet

There’s a dear old tree, an evergreen tree, and it blossoms once a year. ‘Tis loaded with fruit from top to root, And it brings to all good cheer.

For its blossoms bright are small candles white, And its fruit is dolls and toys, And they all are free for both you and me, If we’re good little girls and boys.

Happy Holidays to all!!!

Cheryl Delano

Grand View Bay

2009-12-12T17:14:00.000-05:00

GRAND VIEW BAY

Articles have been written about Conner’s Poultry Farm, but we have never written about what became of that property. In December of 1921, the entire property was sold in a private sale to William Stevenson Jr., his uncle William Leigh and several others. It consisted of approximately 350 acres, had over a mile of frontage on Lake Erie, and included all the poultry houses and other buildings.

Calling themselves the Evans Land Corporation, the area was developed, and in September 1922, the property owners formed the Grand View Bay Community Association. The first president was Darwin E. Meyers. The incubator house from the original farm became the Grand View Bay Community House.

The picture here is part of an ad from the late 1930s for available lots.

The Bundy Mill Dam

2009-12-05T18:15:00.000-05:00

THE BUNDY MILL DAM

Most long time residents of the town are familiar with the family name Bundy and the Bundy Mill. The Mill Street site was purchased in 1853 by Henry Bundy Sr. He added to his pail and horse rake manufacturing business by adding a planing mill and a sash, blind and door factory. By the late 1860’s his sons, Henry, Horace and Milan, were running the Angola Steam and Water Power Flour Mill.

The mill was destroyed by fire at least twice but was rebuilt and served the area for many years.

The pictures above show the dam that provided water power for the mill. It was located in Big Sister Creek just past the trolley bridge.

In 1954, with the construction of a new bridge on Mill Street, the dam was blown up. The second picture shows the dam after the explosion. That picture comes from Rich Miller, whose dad was involved in the process.

THE BISON CANNING COMPANY

2009-11-22T10:34:00.000-05:00

The picture above was taken about 1971, but the canning company was established in 1927. I thought the following article would be of interest. It is from the Angola Record of June 13, 1929.

BISON CANNING COMPANY

LOCAL CANNERS ENLARGE PLANT. The Bison Canning Co. of Angola was organized in 1927 by Anthony F. and Joseph Drago, who were formerly in the canning business at Fredonia, N.Y., with the Gervaise Canning Co., for eight years previous.

When improvements to buildings are complete increasing floor space and the addition of new machinery, this Angola industry will have a total investment of about $60,000, enabling them to increase their production 100% over the year 1927; a 50% increase over 1928. The sale value of produce canned here last year was $175,000.

Carpenters are now busily engaged erecting an addition to the warehouse and increasing size of the shed for the receiving of beans, making it possible for a number of loads to be handled at the same time. The factory will have a total of 32,000 sq. ft. of floor space when improvements are complete.

How Product is Handled - Produce passes through the factory from raw state to finished product in a continuous operation, at the rate of six cans per minute for the small can and 20 per minute for the large can. Each kind of produce is handled according to its particular needs.

The first product to be packed, raspberries, are unloaded direct onto wire screen conveyors, passing through a sorting and washing machine direct into cans. Cans are fed automatically to the sorter from the upper floor. From there, are passed by conveyor to syrup machine, each can automatically receiving the right amount of syrup; thence to an exhaust machine where the cans are pre-heated before being sealed by a capping machine. Passing through this operation at a rate of 60 cans per minute. Each can is marked by the capping machine to denote product packed therein.

From the capper the cans are taken to the cooking room where they are loaded into large iron baskets and lifted by a hoist into cooking kettles, which are thermostatically controlled keeping them at an even temperature for length of time as required to cook each article. From the cookers the cans are cooled, passing through a 60 ft. tank of running water, taking about 20 minutes to cool, to the warehouse, where they are stacked and labeled when shipped, at a rate of 200 cases per hour.

The same operation takes place in the canning of tomatoes except before going into cans, they are scalded to break the skins, passing by conveyor belts over a long table where the core and skins are removed and thence to the sorting conveyor where any defective ones that may have been missed at the sorting table are taken out. Each tomato is drained for 30 seconds. 20,000 cases of tomatoes will be packed in 1929. An increase of 50% over 1928.

Bean Facilities Increased - Beans require a different operation before canning than do the tomatoes and raspberries, going through a grading, stringing and blanching process before canning. Unloading facilities for beans have been increased, and with the addition of 5 new snipping machines, forming a battery of 11 machines and with the graders, a total of 15 tons of beans can be handled in a 10 hr. day. An extra grader is in readiness to be used in case of emergency. When the beans are unloaded, a sample bag from the load is put in a small grader to determine quality and for pricing. The bulk of beans received are passed through a large grader, capable of taking care of five sizes of beans at one time; and are conveyed by belts to the snipping machines, each size going to the snipper adjusted to its particular size. From the snippers, the beans are passed over an assorting belt where women snip those missed by machine, thence to conveyors which take them to the cutter and blancher. Whole beans go direct to the blancher. The beans are cooked on coming through the blancher and are passed by belt to the cans, then going through the canning process as stated above.

With the increased production will come the employment of more men and women. During the peak in 1928, from 50-60 men and 60-70 women were employed, receiving a total of $25,000 in wages, a large item considering the season runs about three months. The pack this year is expected to run around 85,000 cases, raspberries, beans, and tomatoes.

1,894 Persons Get Swine Flu Shots

2009-11-15T12:05:00.000-05:00

1,894 PERSONS GET SWINE FLU SHOTS

I ran into Anthony "Neno" LaRusso at the Museum recently. He was looking for a couple of articles from the Evans Journal. He thought people would find this information interesting.

It has been noted that the strain of swine flu that is around this year is more apt to strike younger people. There was a similar epidemic a little over 30 years ago, and people who were alive then do not seem susceptible to today’s virus.

The following article was in the December 16, 1976 issue of the Evans Journal.

1,894 PERSONS GET SWINE FLU SHOTS

Evans Jaycee Project

Chairman David Burke announced that a total of 1,894 local residents received swine flu shots on Wednesday, December 8. (*Note - the clinic was open to people 18-64 years of age.) The clinic was held at the Lake Shore Central Senior High School.

Mr. Burke stated that "It was the largest mass immunization in the town’s history, and it surprisingly ran very smoothly."

The clinic, under the direction of the Erie County Health Department, averaged 379 inoculations per hour for its five-hour duration.

The chairman praised the local volunteers, including the Jaycees, area emergency medical technicians, Lake Shore Central medical personnel and volunteer nurses.

REGISTERED VOTERS

2009-11-10T18:35:00.000-05:00

REGISTERED VOTERS

We have a number of miscellaneous items at the Historical Society Museum. This past Sunday I came across a few books that contained lists of registered voters. We have books from 1959, 1962, 1964, 1972, 1980 and the one pictured here from 1917.

They do not give a lot of information except for place of residence, but they are fun to look through.

In 1917 there were only 3 districts in the Town of Evans, probably 900 to 1,000 registered voters. There are, of course, no women listed as women did not have the right to vote until 1918.

THE LAKE SHORE PLAYHOUSE

2009-11-01T19:59:00.001-05:00

THE LAKE SHORE PLAYHOUSE

This picture and article first appeared in the Town of Evans Guide for the summer of 1948. The playhouse was destroyed in April of 1957 when a series of arson fires hit the town.

LAKE SHORE PLAYHOUSE

In 1947, a new and interesting enterprise found a place in the Town of Evans, namely, the Lake Shore Playhouse, Inc., a summer stock theater. An enterprise of this nature is certainly a colorful addition to our summer colony, a worthy addition to the entertainment facilities of the community and a convenience for the guests of the Town of Evans.

The thought of originating a summer theater in this area was born at Curtiss-Wright in the winter of 1946 when Mr. John J. Dee, director of the Curtiss-Wright Players, consulted with Mr. Lewis T. Fisher, and Mr. Frank M. Abbate. The three became directors of the corporation. In the oncoming spring, the trio scoured the Buffalo Hinterland for a suitable location to erect their stage. For a time, they searched in vain but finally had the opportunity to purchase the large, red barn which is now the Lake Shore Playhouse from Mr. John Patterson. The barn was conveniently situated on the Old Lake Shore Road, comparatively easy to remodel and very picturesque. The land surrounding the barn was purchased from Mr. John P. Ranahan.

The Playhouse is similar to other summer stock theaters in the United States. It affords a great deal of fun for both the entertainers and the audiences. However, all is not play for the players. In addition to learning their lines and constant rehearsing, they construct and paint scenery flats, obtain props and set stages. They work with a spirit of cooperation and perfection. For their efforts, the young artists are paid a weekly salary, but they are also rewarded in a different vein. The Playhouse offers experience which young professionals must have.

The resident company of players are professionals who hail from New York City and vicinity. However, local professionals are used occasionally. This season the performers include Fred Ross, Ed Morris, Paul Brown, Sherman Severin, Lewis O’Donnel, Nick Sanderson, John Neuman, Jay MacDonald, Elizabeth Wayne, Joan Evans, Frances Ingalls, Jo Fisher, Patricia Maurin, Loretta Dunne, and Alice Maurin. All have had past professional experience.

Mr. Fisher and Mr. Dee, both having New York stage experience, select the cast and players. They also select the plays that are to be produced. For this season, they have chosen The Male Animal, The Patsy, and Yes, My Darling Daughter, all of which are comedies. Then follow Post Road, a mystery, It’s a Wise Child, a farce, The Late Christopher Bean, a comedy, Philadelphia Story, a comedy drama, The Bishop Misbehaves, a mystery, George Washington Slept Here, a comedy, Pursuit of Happiness, a costume play, The Drunkard, an old time melodrama, and Three Men on a Horse, a farce.

The Lake Shore Playhouse, Inc., in conjunction with the Western New York Branch, League of American Pen Women, sponsored a playwriting contest which terminated midnight June 15, 1948. The contest, which was open to everyone exclusive of the staff of the Lake Shore Playhouse, Inc. won recognition throughout the United States. Entries were submitted from Texas, Maine, Vermont, Alabama, and many other states. Twentieth Century Fox was interested in the contest and asked to have the winning manuscript sent to them. The winner will receive a cash award of 100 dollars and will have his play produced by the Players as the eighth play of the season; certainly an opportunity for an industrious playwright.

The Lake Shore Playhouse will undoubtedly become a permanent institution in the Town of Evans. Is should, for the big red barn is a source of good clean fun for everyone.

PATRIOTIC RALLY 1917

2009-10-24T14:28:00.000-04:00

PATRIOTIC RALLY 1917

The pictures above show two different views of a rally held in May of 1917. You can see the Union Hotel in both. Located on South Main Street, it later became the Odd Fellows Hall before it was torn down. The other picture also shows the railroad station.

The following article was in the Angola Record.

PATRIOTIC RALLY 1917
Angola was alive with patriotism on Friday, when business was suspended and its people turned out to witness the flag raising.

The parade formed at Village Hall and marched down Main Street, around the flat iron, up Main, School, High, Commercial, Main to Nickel Plate Station and return to the 85 ft. flag pole, located in front of the Candee Block. The parade was the largest one ever seen in Angola, or said some of our old residents.

The Village Board headed the procession in auto, followed by the Angola Band. The flag was carried by 14 high school students, escorted by Sergeant Stromdahl and Privates Moyer and Bailey. Twenty-four soldiers followed the flag, ten being from out of town. The school was well represented; Professor F. W. Hebard at the head, high school and grades to the smallest tot in first grade. Other organizations were well represented.

A. W. Candee was master of ceremonies and after the raising of the flags, the Red Cross being beneath the Stars and Stripes, the people sang "The Star Spangled Banner," accompanied by the band; he introduced District Attorney Moore, who gave a fine talk on "Patriotism." Rev. Keavin spoke on military necessities and work of the Red Cross. He urged everyone to help this worthy cause, either financially or by service.

During the ceremonies Main Street was so crowded that some autos made use of brick walk at N.Y.C. station so they could get past the crowd. After the ceremonies, a limited amount of music and marching brought an end to the celebration of one grand day.

THE FLAGS FALL. A short time after the program was finished, much to the disappointment of our people, the wire that held the flags broke letting the flags fall to the ground. It seemed like the whole joy of the day had been blotted out; but, Bert Bangert of Geneva, formerly an Angola boy, came to the rescue and took a new wire to the top of the pole. It was a daring feat to climb 85 feet on a limber pole, which was swaying in a strong wind. Provisions were made to stay the pole from swaying, but Mr. Bangert threw these aside and depended on his spurs and belt to aid him in the task.

Upon his safe descent, he was wildly cheered by the crowd and was not allowed to touch the ground but was carried back to the hotel where he was staying.

10,000 ATTEND OPENING CEREMONIES OF ANGOLA’S NEW FLYING FIELD.

2009-10-17T14:09:00.002-04:00

10,000 ATTEND OPENING CEREMONIES OF ANGOLA’S NEW FLYING FIELD.

There was once a major airport on Hardpan Road. The picture above is of the hangar about 1929.

The following article was in the Angola Record, September 13, 1928.

10,000 ATTEND OPENING CEREMONIES

Upwards of 10,000 persons attended the official opening and dedication ceremonies last Sunday of Angola’s new Airport, although it was feared early in the day that the scheduled plans would not materialize because of threatening clouds. The sky cleared shortly before noon, and final arrangements were rushed through to complete one of the greatest days in the history of Angola.

The influx of visitors starting at 9 a.m. continued in a steady stream until after 4 p.m. keeping the State Troopers in charge of Sergeant Ireland and the Boy Scouts in charge of Scoutmaster Charles Tingley, quite busy in directing traffic and parking cars.

Arrivals at Field - Eight planes in all, three cabin and five open, attended the ceremonies arriving at the field in the order named, the first arriving at 12:05 p.m. Walter L. Muth, pilot with the Becker Flying Service of Buffalo in an Alexander Eagle Rock, carrying as passengers, Mr. Becker of Buffalo, and Miss Sadowski of Dunkirk where the plane has been taking up passengers during the previous week; Lieut. Leigh Wade, ‘round the world flyer, now with the Consolidated Aircraft Corp. of Buffalo as test pilot and president of sales, flying one of their cabin monoplanes and carrying as passengers, the Sec.-Treas., Mr. Kinney; chief engineer, Mr. Gwinn, and their wives and Mr. Mussen, mechanic of the company; the next arrival was a Fairchild, U.S. Mail cabin plane piloted by M. A. Northrup; Capt. Nat. Duffy, Mgr. of the Buffalo Airport in a Waco 10, with Patrick Salisbury and Clifford Sparfield, parachute jumper and wing walker, of Buffalo; Pilot Proctor in a Fairchild U.S. Main cabin plane, with Wm. Lyman, Gen. Mgr. of Colonial Western Airways Corp; Mike Steffan, Jack Little and L. Henig, in a Waco 10 from the Elm Aviation Club; Pilot D. F. Goold in an Eagle Rock.

Stunt Flying - H. D. Nasuf, "The Turk" arrived from Buffalo at 6 p.m. He then went aloft and put his plane through a series of hair raising stunts making loops, tailspins, wingovers etc., until it seemed as if the wings were ready to fold up, furnishing one of the spectacular events of the day.

Field One of the Best - Favorable comment was received from those who landed here stating the field as being one of the best in the country, although quite dusty, was firm and ideally situated. Many from Angola, Brant and vicinity availed themselves of the opportunity of taking their initial air plane ride. The planes carrying passengers were from the Becker Flying Service with two Alexander Eagle Rock’s, and the Colonial Western Airways Corp., with two U. S. Main cabin planes. General opinion of those taking rides, "It’s the only way to travel, and the coming way." A great deal of interest was shown in the numbers for free rides posted at the speakers stand on a bulletin board. The numbers were: 16-413-1163-2067-1019.

Official ceremonies of the opening of Angola Airport started at 2:30 p.m. with these speakers, guests of honor, officers and directors on the stand: J. H. Wolfrom, president of the airport; M. J. Krull, Supervisor Town of Brant; Hon. James M. Mead, Congressman; Major John Satterfield and Capt. Nat. Duffy, the father of Buffalo Airport and Manager respectively; Lieut. Leigh Wade, one of the ‘round the world fliers in 1924; Lieut. Reuben Begg of the U.S. Army procurement service (inspector of materials for U.S. Govt. at airplane factories), Federal Bldg. Buffalo; Geraldine Gray, U.S. Govt. licensed aviatrix, the only one in this territory. Miss Gray has done parachute work in England, Europe, and the United States; Lieut. Gordon of the U.S. Army reserve flying corps; Sec. F. A. House, Gen. chairman of the opening of the airport and chairman of construction; A. J. Bundy, Vice-Pres.; G. L. Peck, Treas.; and these directors: G. R. Kingan, B. O. Schlender, R. U. Blackney, P. J. Schuman and John Henry. At the time of the ceremonies at the speakers stand, A. J. Elias and a friend of Buffalo were lost somewhere among the airplanes and were unable to get to the platform.

Parachute Drop - at 4:30 p.m., Clifford Sparfield of Buffalo, was taken aloft, where he went through a series of wing walking stunts followed by a parachute drop from a height of about 4,000 ft. The jump was made from a position on the field, which it was judged, from the velocity of the wind would bring the landing directly on the main runway of the field, but at the time there was only a light breeze and the parachute came down almost in a straight line. Mr. Sparfield’s work was neatly done.

Much credit is due the Hon. James M. Mead, guests of honor, officers, directors and committee of the field, the State Troopers under Sergeant Ireland, the Boy Scouts under Scoutmaster Charles Tingley, members of the committee and the young ladies who sold tags, and the Angola Band which furnished music during the entire day; whose presence and services all went to make the opening day of the Angola Airport a success.

The hospital tent located near the flying field was in charge of Doctors Diefendorf, Sweetland and Sanborn. No casualties occurred and no sick cases reported.

ANGOLA ICE COMPANY

2009-10-15T08:01:00.001-04:00

ANGOLA ICE COMPANY

How many people who come to the Angola Penny Saver office remember the reason for the platform, etc. at the side of the building? Before the Penny Saver and Evans Journal offices were opened, the building housed the Angola Ice (and later water) Company.

The following article was in the Angola Record on April 19, 1923.

ANGOLA ICE

COMPANY MAKES FIRST ICE CAKES

"An industry, of which the owners and general public as well, in this community, can justly be proud, started operation last week on Center St. The Angola Ice Company founded by A. J. Guest and L. L. Brown, both well known residents of the village, is at the present time making artificial ice in great quantities and storing it for the coming summer season.

By way of explanation of the process of making ice, we will state briefly the operations, and if interested further, one of the owners will be glad to show you around the plant, should you care to visit it.

The liquid ammonia is passed thru expansion valves which change it to a gas capable of absorbing a vast amount of heat. The gas is passed thru coils of pipe in a large tank about 22 x 37 filled with a heavy salt brine. It required 10 tons of salt to make this brine. These pipe coils are 2 inches in diameter and coiled around on all sides of the vats which hold the water and ice after it is frozen. About 5,500 ft. of this size pipe was required to make the coils. The ammonia gas passes thru the pipes in the brine, cooling the brine to about 16 degrees and then passes on to other coils cooled by running water which condenses the gas to a liquid again. Then the process is repeated by aid of a 60 h.p. motor connected to a large pump.

The brine is agitated constantly by a water fan to keep from freezing solid. An air tube in each vat agitates the water and furnishes oxygen so that it will freeze solid and keeping it from resembling snow when it comes out. Each cake freezes from the outside toward the center and when nearly frozen in the center, the air tube is removed.

It takes about 40 to 48 hours to freeze a good cake of ice. When the cake is frozen, an electric hoist lofts the cake and container, which is loosened by fine streams of warm water in a specific rack. When the outside of the cake melts, it automatically slides out of its housing, thru a self opening door into the store room platform, and it is then transferred to the mammoth store room.

At present, they are pulling the cakes up to 1/3 capacity each day. In the summer season they will operate the plant day and night and will pull all the vats every 48 hours or 1/2 capacity each day. The storage room will hold 500 tons of ice and will be full by the 15th of May. Each vat, when pulled, yields a 400 lb. cake of ice. There are 150 vats in this size plant. The plant will use, it is estimated, in one season of six months, 15 million gallons of water.

The surrounding towns for many miles in each direction will be adequately served by this plant. Silver Creek ice dealers will buy all their ice here this season. The people of this community wish the founders full success in their new venture."

The picture shows an early ice truck. A. J. Guest is sitting in the truck. I am not sure of the identity of the other man.

As a child, I remember having ice delivered to our home for an ice box. You didn’t go out and buy a new-fangled refrigerator when your family made ice. In the summer, the ice chips in the back of the truck were a rare treat.

Later, a tank truck was added to the operation, and water could be delivered to people’s homes. Originally it was used to fill wells. Then when "city" water was available, most trips were destined to fill swimming pools.

ASA AMES

2009-10-04T14:43:00.001-04:00

ASA AMES

TREASURE IN YOUR ATTIC

I recently received a letter from Kathleen Horohoe. She and her family saw the Asa Ames exhibit at Colonial Williamsburg; curated by Stacy Hollander of the American Folk Art Museum, it will be on display until January 3, 2010.

Asa Ames (1823-1851) spent most, if not all, of his 27 years in the Town of Evans. The exhibit features 12 works by Ames whose reputation as an artist continues to grow.

Charity Vogel wrote an

article in The Buffalo News dated January 13, 2009. In this article, Charity restates Ms. Hollander’s belief that there are other works by Asa Ames out there. Some clues would be: his signature carved somewhere on the piece, his use of fine detail and the lifelike character of the works.

Such works would have to be authenticated by Ms. Hollander who could be reached at (212)265-1040 or www.folkartmuseum.org

FRESH AIR MISSION 1914

2009-09-27T14:41:00.000-04:00

FRESH AIR MISSION 1914

We have done several articles about Cradle Beach over the years. These pictures were given to me by Jean Felser. They are marked "Fresh Air Mission 1914" and "Cradle Beach Angola 1914." I thought they were worth a retelling of the history.

In 1888 the Fresh Air Mission was created to serve children when diseases such as diptheria were common. The original twenty children lived in tents and ate home cooked meals in the nearby farmhouse.

Money was raised in many ways. One way involved hanging big wooden cradles in department stores. They had slits in the top

through which donors could drop small change and bills. This was the origin of the name Cradle Beach.

Who were the children in these photographs? The old ledgers record the child’s name, his parents, address, religion, weight on arrival and departure. They came for two weeks of sun and good food and then returned to the city. Discipline involved doses of castor oil or placement on benches where others passing could jeer.

On arrival, the children’s clothes were taken away and fumigated. Campers were examined for head lice and contagious diseases. Then they were bathed and given uniforms.

In 1946, eighty handicapped children came as a group. By 1947 they were integrated with "well" children. One child wrote the following about his experience, "I never done none of them things before in my life. I even held (sic) a snake in my bare hands."

ACCIDENT - 1911

2009-09-20T14:40:00.001-04:00

ACCIDENT - 1911

While looking through the many albums located at the Evans Historical Society School House Museum, I came across the two photos here plus several others. Luckily one of the photos had a date on the back, and I was able to locate the following article on the microfilm from the Angola Record.

This is from the July 6, 1911 issue.

Dr. Samuel Ziegler, aged 35, of Greenville, PA, was thrown out and instantly killed when his automobile

was wrecked near Albert Freeman’s Sunday at 1:15 p.m. Mrs. Ziegler with F.C. Shepardson and wife were also severely bruised and shaken up. The car was running at a very high speed, when Mr. Ziegler turned to speak to those in the rear seat, having but one hand on the steering wheel. The auto quickly swerved, turned clear around and rested on its side. The body was prepared for burial and sent home on Lake Shore train 5 that night, accompanied by the auto party.

Dr. Ziegler was not a local resident, and I don’t know if he was visiting here or simply passing through. I checked a map for the home of Albert Freeman, but was unable to locate it. The pictures were in an album labelled Angola, so I can only assume it happened in the village.

The museum will be open this Sunday, September 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. We will then return to winter hours, open the first Sunday of each month.

OCTOBER 1930 SNOW STORM

2009-08-29T19:24:00.001-04:00

OCTOBER 1930 SNOW STORM

We have finally had some warm summer weather. Before we start complaining, I thought I would print the picture above.

It is fairly self-explanatory. It is a view facing south at North Main and Center Streets in the Village of Angola.

The date on the picture is October 20, 1930. This was one of the major storms in the area and, like the October surprise two years ago, it was very early in the year.

Notice the man in the picture walking down the single narrow lane that was North Main.

HOME TO AARON SALISBURY?

2009-08-26T20:26:00.002-04:00

HOME TO AARON SALISBURY?

David Curry is a regular visitor at the School House Museum doing work on his family genealogy. Aaron Salisbury is one of his ancestors. David brought me the following article and picture. If anyone can add any information, it would be appreciated.

HOME TO

AARON SALISBURY?

Could this be a home of Aaron Salisbury? It is believed that Aaron Salisbury traveled by foot from the Town of Buffalo to become one of the first permanent residents in the present Town Evans in 1809.

Meeting Joel Harvey at his residence near 18 Mile Creek, Salisbury settled 3 miles to the southwest.

For several years, Salisbury farmed his land, tended his crops and animals, hunted, fished, and lived off the land. During the War of 1812, British troops looted the homes along the Lake Erie shore. Salisbury warded off such troops one night single handedly by shooting his musket in several different directions, leaving the troops to believe a larger troop was firing upon them. His courageous act helped him get appointed lieutenant of the Militia in the 48th N.Y. Infantry in 1814.

In late November of 1820, Aaron Salisbury, while walking the lake shore line, met the Joseph Bennett family who had taken refuge in what they believed to be an abandoned tavern on their way west. Salisbury convinced the Bennett family to settle here, offering his help. Aaron Salisbury and Joseph Bennett became life long friends and joined the newly formed Masons of Evans about 1826.

By mid March of 1827, Aaron Salisbury married Ann Roat. They reared eight children together. Surely the house looks big enough.

In 1833, Salisbury was elected a member of the Erie County Board of Supervisors of the 4th Ward of Buffalo. Salisbury also served as our town’s supervisor for seven terms 1833 to 1838 and again in 1844.

Several of the Salisbury children predeceased Aaron Salisbury who died suddenly in his home of a heart attack on July 9, 1861 at the age of 75. Although there are no roads in our town named after him, there were some early town board proposals. Such a shame for a noble brave man. However, a plaque honoring him is now at the First Church of Evans cemetery.

A map of our town in 1855 indicates an A. Salisbury to be at Sturgeon Point and Lake Shore Roads. A later map after Aaron’s death from the 1866 Atlas indicates a Mrs. Salisbury at or near Wendt Beach, the old Larkin Estate or Windover Lane. If anybody has anything else they could share about Aaron Salisbury or this house, it would be greatly appreciated. Forward it to the Angola Penny Saver office, ATTN: Cheryl Delano.

_________

NEW ROOF FOR OLD SCHOOL

2009-08-14T22:17:00.001-04:00

NEW ROOF FOR OLD SCHOOL

If you passed by the School House Museum a couple of weeks ago, a scene like the one in the above picture may have caught your eye.

The school house was built in 1857, and I am sure it has hosted many crews replacing its roof. During one of the heavy wind storms this past spring, we lost a number of shingles, and it became evident that a new roof was again in our future. Used as a school for over 100 years, the town owned building has been the home of the Evans Historical Society for almost forty years.

The roof was done by J.C. Construction. We would like to thank Supervisor Fran Pordum and the Evans Town Board for funding the process. Without their help, the repairs would not have been completed in such a timely fashion.

Our open house schedule has not been disrupted. We will be open Sunday, August 16, August 23, August 30, and September 6 from 2-4 p.m. We will also have an evening open house on Thursday, August 20, from 6 to 8 p.m.

THE H. A. STOCKER GROCERY STORE

2009-08-11T07:02:00.001-04:00

THE H. A. STOCKER GROCERY STORE

This is another article that was written by then historian, Don Cook, for the Evans Journal. It presents an early picture of business before the coming of the family automobile and the trolley.

THE H.A. STOCKER GROCERY STORE

We are indebted to Gerald Fortain for the use of the picture above. Although we cannot definitely date the photo, we have a feeling it was taken in the early 1900s, if not before. We base our guess on the fact that there seems to be no evidence of trolley tracks along North Main in front of the store, even though the picture shows over half of the street’s width. The first trolleys arrived from Buffalo in 1908.

The people standing near the store front, we understand, are the H. A. Stocker family. As for the youth standing alongside the covered wagon, we are just unable to identify him.

The building we are describing today housed the grocery business of H. A. Stocker - and from the large supply of goods stacked up in front of the store, it would appear that he had a prosperous business, indeed.

The wagon backed up to the curb line was used, not only for bringing stock from the railroad freight houses

and, perhaps, for delivering orders in the village of Angola, but also for a traveling rural grocery store - of sorts. For you see, at that time, certain routes throughout the rural areas, and on specified days, were canvassed for sales.

Approaching a farm house, a handbell would be rung, or some other noise-making device would be sounded to alert the householders. Quickly responding, a farm wife, with all the family’s kids and dogs, would scamper out to the wagon.

Needed groceries would be purchased and orders given for other goods to be delivered on the "next trip through." The kids always seemed to have a penny or two for candy. Then would come the big sale of the day.

One particular item in the confectionery line was always a special favorite among the small fry. It was a little, fat, chocolate-covered cream bar. Some of them - but rather rarely, we should venture to say - would contain "hidden assets" in the shape of Indian-head pennies.

These, securely but quite unsanitarily concealed in the candy bar, were never brought to light until the candy was bought, and bitten into. Then would be experienced a real thrill, if you were lucky. We know, because it happened to us once, many years ago, and we have never forgotten.

Recently we were informed that one of those itinerant grocers, the old meanie, had a way of determining which bars contained the pennies. Then he would proceed to withhold a good percentage of these "brass-ring" winners for himself. Somehow or other we wish we hadn’t been told that story. It sort of takes the pleasure, as well as the penny, out of that childish yen (shall we say?) for gambling.

But let us return to the old store. After several years of operation by the Stockers, it was sold to Louis Pflanz, who proceeded to carry on a lucrative business from the same location. The traveling, auxiliary store, however, was discontinued as soon as the automobiles took to the highway and found their way to the village stores.

The Pflanz family, after a successful tenure, gave up their grocery business. To whom the store was sold and what use was made of it has been forgotten by us. But we do know that today the building houses the J. S. Paint Co.

The frame structure next door, about 1908, housed the Evans Farm Supply Co., with "Abe" Brodie as its proprietor. Soon thereafter, it was sold to E. B. Gritman and "Hank" Brand, who conducted a hardware business there under the name of Gritman & Brand. The next building shown in the picture, with the outside stairs was the Dibble and Laverty Ice Cream Parlor.

When our photo was taken, Angola was a peaceful rural village. But, these many years later, with all the autos, trucks and other noisy-motored contraptions scooting and blasting off around town, we now see (and thanks to Progress) a very different Angola. Yet pictures, as we have been privileged to show today, are pleasant reminders of the friendly, picturesque village that existed in our township so many years ago.

_________

The Evans Historical Society Museum will be open Thursday,

August 20, from 6-8 p.m.

FIRST COMMUNION, 1956

2009-08-02T09:20:00.001-04:00

FIRST COMMUNION, 1956

This picture and list of names was recently brought to the Angola Penny Saver office. I don’t have a lot of information other than the names, but thought my readers would find it interesting. The picture is not of the best quality, and the names are in alphabetical order. If anyone can identify people, you can contact me at 549-5812 and leave a message. I also get email at EvansHistSoc @aol.com.

The group is standing in front of the first Most Precious Blood Church on Lake Street. There is a first communion register dated May 20, 1956, and administered by the Reverend Thomas E. Fernan.

The first list of names is as follows: Boys - Anthony Barone, Joseph Bress, William Brinkhus, Jack Chiappone, Mark Cooper, John Driscoll, William Emhof, Robert Endres, William Gates, John Gullo, Bernard Hackemer, Patrick Kelleher, Kenneth Kloss, James Kwilos, Charles LoBello, John Merry, Kenneth Nolan, Joseph Patz, Francis Schwarb, Kevin Shea, Stephen Smallets, Ronald Vassallo, Joseph Walsh, James Walters, Donald Wiess, Stanley Zdeb, Theodore Malcow, Girls - Cheryl Brant, Sarah DiPasquale, Florence Hogg, Kathleen Horrigan, Carol Knack, Wanda Kowal, Susan LePenna, Eileen Miller, Nancy O’Connell, Barbara Perna, Theresa Sack, Angela Seggio, Maria Siracuse, Judith Sutton, Linda Warsitz, Catherine Zanti.

These are followed by a list labeled Public School:

Boys - Mark Crotty, Ronald Gall, Albert Hilberger, James Hilberger, Dale Ianazzi, David Lauricello, Joseph Noack, Russell Provenzo, Anthony Pasqualetti. Girls - Sharon Augustyniak, Patricia Ames, Carol Catalano, Karen Christopher, Cheryle DiBello, Kathleen Gutillo, Jacqueline Highsmith, Linda High-smith, Shirley Hilberger, Patricia Hilliker, Marcia Leone, Patricia Leone, Cecelia Ricci, Kathleen Widmer, Sandra Zeffiro.

Again, if you can identify any of them, please let me know.

LETTER FROM A MEMBER

2009-07-26T09:13:00.000-04:00

LETTER FROM A MEMBER

I recently received a letter from Elmer Hornburg, a former long time resident of the town. He was sending his annual dues to the historical society, but he included two other things.

One was a poem by Henry Van Dyke entitled, "America for Me." When Elmer was a student at Evans #2, they had to memorize and recite it. Individual students would recite each verse, and then the class would speak the chorus in unison. It may sound familiar to some of you.

"Oh, it’s home again, and home again, America for me!

I want a ship that’s westward bound to plough the rolling sea, to the blessed land of Room Enough and beyond the ocean bars, where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars."

The other was an anecdote about Emma Shuman, the teacher for the upper grades. Many adults still remember having Miss Shuman as their teacher.

Elmer says he was a dreamer who kept close watch on the world outside.

He would watch the maple trees turn to red and gold.

He watched each leaf fall and then the snow on the bare black branches until the buds of spring turned to new leaves.

In Elmer’s words, "Miss Shuman was teaching our class about the discovery of America, and she called on me with a question. I was dreaming and didn’t answer. She repeated the question. I dreamed on. When she called my name the third time, I began to come to. Miss Shuman then was so exasperated with me that she threw her arms up in the air and said, ‘Well, Elmer, Columbus was a dreamer too, and just look at all he accomplished.’ "

ANGOLA HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL CATALOG

2009-07-20T05:39:00.002-04:00

ANGOLA HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL CATALOG

High School Courses of Study

This is an example of the courses of study offered at Angola High School during the 1913-1914 school year. Those starred items required of students preparing for normal schools refers to those looking to be teachers.

Some interesting facts from the catalog include awards: A gold medal valued at $20.00 was awarded in 1912 to Gertrude Smith, the most worthy member of the graduating class, and an Emblem Bicycle awarded to a student, grades 8-12, with the highest standing in department, attendance and scholarship. In 1912, the winner was Helen Bundy.

Tuition rates were $5.00 per quarter for High School students, $3.75 per quarter for 7th and 8th grades and $3.00 per quarter for 1st through 6th grades.

Board of Education

2009-07-11T17:44:00.002-04:00

BOARD OF EDUCATION

1912-1913

Recently, the Historical Society accepted a donation of old school books and memorabilia. Included were a couple of catalogs from Angola High School. I have taken some information from those that I thought you
would find interesting.

This is a picture of the Board of Education of that time. The names should be familiar to long time residents.

The elementary school faculty, grades 1-8 included

Letitia Abbey (8) from Genesee Normal School. The rest were all graduates of Angola High School: Emma Schuman (6-7), Etta Schlender (4-5), Ella Robinson (2-3), and Ellen Morris (1).

WESTMINSTER CAMP

2009-07-06T07:35:00.002-04:00

WESTMINSTER CAMP

This is the last of the camps listed in the 1949 Guide. There were more. I would love to have you share your experiences.

WESTMINSTER CAMP

The Marion Clement Tener Vacation Camp is sponsored in connection with Westminster Settlement House in Buffalo and supported by Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Located high on a bluff in a verdant, wooded area over-looking the picturesque shores of Lake Erie, this non-denominational camp offers in its summer schedule: a two week period for girls ranging in age from 8 to 15, a two week period for boys ranging in age from 8 to 15, and a four week period for family groups consisting of parents and children living together in individual cabins.

Use of the Westminster Camp is limited to members of Westminster House in Buffalo, however, special accommodations are made for the needy when space is available. Campers referred to us by social agencies in Buffalo are also accommodated.
The camp is capable of housing 70 persons.

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT de PAUL HEALTH CAMP

2009-06-28T19:27:00.001-04:00

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT de PAUL HEALTH CAMP

This is another of the camps featured in the 1949 guide.

ST. VINCENT DePAUL HEALTH CAMP

One of the special works conducted by the Patricular Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Buffalo, is the health camp at Angola, where every summer 960 children from the schools in the eight counties of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, selected on a basis of health and financial need, are given two weeks of rest, good food and special medical attention. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, organized in Buffalo over 100 years ago to carry out the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, is composed of conferences in various parishes of the diocese, led by the Patricular Council and the Diocesan Director, the Very Rev. Msgr. John J. McMahon. The conferences are small groups of laymen, usually not more than a dozen. The society’s interest in the children does not stop with the end of the camping season. A special medical conference of volunteer pediatricians does "follow-up" work on needy cases. Both this service and the camp are without cost to the underprivileged children, as financing is through the Annual Catholic Charities Appeal. The camp director is Mr. Harold Siepel.

CAMP PIONEER

2009-06-21T09:27:00.002-04:00

CAMP PIONEER

Here is another article from the 1949 guide. Some things change while others remain the same.

Again, remember if you have memories to share, they are welcome. Send them to my attention (Cheryl Delano) at the Angola Penny Saver.

CAMP PIONEER

Camp Pioneer is a Lutheran summer conference camp, owned and operated by the Lutheran Laymen’s League, Western New York District, Inc., The Pioneer District Walther League, co-operating. For young people as well as adults, Camp Pioneer has room for more than 200 guests in its many modern buildings. Quarters may be had in cabins, dormitories or the White House. There are accommodations for married couples and entire families.

A separate children’s camp is conducted from July 2 through August 27. The camp is for boys and girls, age eight to twelve years. Carefully selected counsellors supervise programs for this age group. Special emphasis is placed on swimming, handcraft, nature study, Bible study, worship periods, etc.

Camp Pioneer places extra emphasis on health. It complies with the rigid requirements of the New York State Department of Health. While no medical examination is required of campers, the camp nurse checks each child upon entry as a special precaution. Care is exercised throughout the camp, in the kitchen, on the beach and on the playground. The recreational activities are supervised by a qualified and responsible leader and his assistants.

Director of Camp Pioneer is the Rev. Ernest E. Heuer.

CAMP LAKELAND

2009-06-14T09:25:00.000-04:00

CAMP LAKELAND

This is another of the camps featured in the 1949 article.

CAMP LAKELAND

Affiliated with the Jewish Federation for Social Service, Community Chest of Buffalo and Erie County and The National Jewish Welfare Board, Camp Lakeland is open to boys and girls from 7 through 16 years of age who are in good health. The Camp offers adequate facilities for 70 children 7 through 10 years of age and 80 children 11 through 16 years of age for each 4 week period.

The planned program includes: Swimming and Water Front Activities, Arts and Crafts, Instruction in Boating, Music and Dramatics, Outpost Camping, Nature, Athletics and Games.

A well trained staff of counselors, with a "village" leader, operate under the unity system of camping. The activities of each village are aimed to provide campers with character building, recreational, educational and Jewish cultural activities.

Of primary concern is the child’s welfare. The permanent medical staff at camp includes a resident physician and a registered nurse. A staff of four consultant pediatricians lay out the policies for the physical well-being of the entire camp.

CRADLE BEACH CAMP

2009-06-06T06:57:00.001-04:00

CRADLE BEACH CAMP

Last week I mentioned the Town of Evans Guide that was published each summer. In 1949, they did one page information sheets on some of the summer camps. If you have pictures and stories of your experiences, feel free to send them to my attention (Cheryl Delano) at the Penny Saver office.

Cradle Beach has been moved, and this building torn down, but it is still an important part of the summer season. Some beautiful beach homes have taken its place, but the stone wall still stands.

CRADLE BEACH CAMP

Under the auspices of The Fresh Air Mission and Crippled Children’s Camp Incorporated, Cradle Beach offers its services to both well and crippled children ranging in age from 8 to 14. Boys and girls of every race, color and creed enjoy the camp together in a shared program.

Small open cabins and cabin mates form the focus of camp life. Each child finds in the day’s program an adventure. His hours are flexible, and he helps to plan them. He is a responsible citizen who uses his capacities to make life full and happy for his group. He lives democratically, and learns the patterns and responsibilities of American citizenship.

Trained counselors are on hand at all times to help campers get all that they can out of their camp experience. Counselors and children together participate in all sorts of activities. They swim, hike, plan and produce plays, work in the craft shop, paint, dance, tell stories, and play games. Sometimes they just sit by the lake and discuss the way of the world and their part in making it better.

Cradle Beach is a member of the Community Chest and application is made through social agencies, hospitals, and crippled children’s schools.

Cheryl Delano will be signing copies of her book, Evans & Angola, Saturday, June 13, at 1 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble at the McKinley Mall.

MORE AERIAL VIEWS

2009-05-31T08:53:00.002-04:00

MORE AERIAL VIEWS

In the 1940s and 50s, a Town of Evans Guide was published each summer. It originally contained a business guide and advertisements for the summer residents and vacationers.

Later, a telephone directory was added. There were articles about summer activities and lists of churches and service organizations.

These pictures are from the summer 1958 issue.

Taken by Richard Miller, of Miller’s Studio, they showed three of the major destinations for summer visitors. The Town Park, Point Breeze and Sturgeon Point.

EVANS CENTER FROM THE AIR

2009-05-23T22:49:00.002-04:00

EVANS CENTER FROM THE AIR

These two photos were taken in the late 1940’s at the intersection of Route 5, North Main Street and Bennett Road.

The top photo shows Big Sister Creek to the right with Church Road running off to the left.

The bottom photo is take from the opposite direction. The school house can be seen on the lower left.

EMBLEM BASEBALL TEAM

2009-05-17T13:57:00.002-04:00

EMBLEM BASEBALL TEAM

I always appreciate those who submit pictures or information. The picture above was brought into the Penny Saver office recently. It comes from the files of Don Spittler.

EMBLEM BASEBALL TEAM

Baseball teams were an important part of the town scene. The Emblem Bicycle Factory had a ballfield along with the test track for their bicycles and motorcycles. This is a picture of a team they sponsored about 1900.

The players are numbered and identified as 1) Earl Benjamin, a later Derby postmaster, 2) Jack Felsinger, 3) John Glass (manager), 4) Pius Schwert, 5) Oliver Walters, 6) Jack Ames, 7) Herbert Spittler, 8) Leon Backus, 9) Phil Froehley, 10) Frank Wiatrowski, 11) Sam Vellam and 12) John Foran.

Pius Schwert (#4) went on to play baseball with the New York Yankees and returned to a political life in the Town of Evans.

THE LADIES AID SOCIETY

2009-05-09T15:57:00.001-04:00

THE LADIES AID SOCIETY

I received a phone call about the article that appeared in the April 25th issue of the Penny Saver. The Indian woman sitting on the porch of the Angola Hotel was unidentified. The caller believed that it was her grandmother, Esther Cramp-ton. Thanks for the information. I always appreciate anything you can add.

THE LADIES AID SOCIETY

Most churches in the 20th century had social groups. The First Baptist Church had a Ladies Aid Society. One of their projects was making quilts as charitable gifts. When I was a child, I remember sitting under these huge quilt frames trying to catch the needles as they poked through.

The ladies in the picture are Belle Backus, Anna Riker, Mildred Cash, Nellie Burley and Mrs. Walker, the wife of the minister at the time. The Walkers were originally from Scotland, and I loved to listen to them talk.

LABELING PICTURES

2009-05-02T18:12:00.002-04:00

LABELING PICTURES

The next few articles are going to revolve around pictures from some of my old photo albums, primarily those that belonged to my grandmother, Clara Guest.

I have told this story before, but it makes an important point. Too often, we take wonderful pictures of friends and family, put them in an album or old shoe box and forget them. Years later, we find ourselves trying to remember someone’s name. Labeling pictures is a wonderful habit to have.

In the 1940s, my grandfather had a dairy farm. I have many photographs of family with milk buckets, etc. Imagine my surprise when I originally found these two pictures in an album, took them out, turned them over and found 1) left to right, Nan & Beauty; 2) left to right, Sue, Lady, Agnes, Carrie, Dolly, Molly and Polly.

Yes, my grandmother had put the names of the cows on the backs of the pictures. This is not information that will ever be needed (except to write articles like this), but it is indicative of that "wonderful habit" that makes any family historian’s job easier.

THE FRONT PORCH OF THE "ANGOLA HOUSE"

2009-04-26T08:44:00.002-04:00

THE FRONT PORCH OF THE "ANGOLA HOUSE"

This picture and article was from Don Cook’s column in the Evans Journal. The Angola House was located on Commercial Street having been moved from Gold Street and Erie Road.

The primary focus is the horse block that is being used as a seat. There is such a block on the grounds of the Historical Society Museum. It is labelled Bundy and was moved from the house in the villageTHE FRONT PORCH OF THE "ANGOLA HOUSE"

Our photo today, a partial view of the front porch of the old Angola Hotel, was taken in the "gay ninety" period. At that time the business was owned and operated by Sid Imus, the retired stage coach driver.

We are unable to identify all of the figures in the picture. The Indian lady with the basket is quite unknown to us. However, seated beside her is Wally Imus, son of Sid. Standing are: "Maria," who worked in the hotel’s kitchen, and "Phil," a general handyman whose principal duty was taking care of the horse-barn across the street (the old building on the grounds of the present Angola Fire Dept.)

With all the fancy, dressed-up titles designating employment positions today, we presume we could say Phil was the barn superintendent - or, custodian of the stables. Anyway, during that phase of Angola’s development, there was a much-relayed, humorous story about Phil. It seems that one day his boss, Sid, sent him out to find a "left-handed" monkey wrench. Hours later, a weary and still much puzzled Phil returned only to report his "mission unaccomplished."

There are two good reasons for presenting our picture today; first, to tell you about the object upon which Wally and the lady are seated. It is, or was, a "horseblock." The term has just about disappeared from our vocabulary, quite as much as the very object itself has, from common usage. We were able to find it defined in only one of our dictionaries, the Oxford Universal, which describes it as follows: "Horse-block - 1753. A small platform ascended by 3 or 4 steps, used in mounting a horse."

We imagine it was also commonly used for getting in and out of buggies, carriages, etc. In the pre-auto days we generally referred to them as "stepping stones." In any event, can you not visualize Phil bringing out a horse and "rig" from the barns - for the use of some guest (usually a salesman) waiting at the hotel? Phil would descend down the stone step, and the salesman would climb into the buggy, and away he’d go. What do you think?

The second reason for our article today is to point out to you the porch post, shown near the center of the picture. We have discovered that such posts, along with sash, blinds and doors, were made at the Bundy Mill that was destroyed by fire in 1877. We also know that a lathe and other wood-working equipment were installed in the basement of the building which replaced the earlier structure.

From here many "turned" wood objects used in the building trade at that time originated. We wouldn’t be a bit surprised if this post, along with others supporting the hotel porch roof, came from the Bundy Mill shop.

Among many of the older frame houses in the village and throughout the town, similar specimens of such mill-work are to be seen. Keep an eye open for them while driving over the roads of Evans - and if you spot any old "horseblocks," please let us know.

Photo is courtesy of our former townsman, A. J. Bundy.

NORTH EVANS HOTEL / FIRE COMPANY

2009-04-20T10:29:00.003-04:00

NORTH EVANS HOTEL / FIRE COMPANY

The North Evans Hotel seen in the top picture was built in 1858 by Henry Byron. At that time, North Evans was an important village on the Hamburg-Versailles Plank Road. Mail coaches passed through at least twice a day, and farmers drove cattle through the village on their way to Buffalo. The tanneries and mills brought people from as far away as twenty miles.

Various owners were Peter Nenno (1873), William Spittler and his son-in-law Fred Ruppert (1878), Andrew Schiedel (1888), Ed Shumer (1896), George Kelderhouse (1903) and J. Peter Swartz (1904). Andrew Schiedel built the dance hall to the left in 1895.

The Taxpayers Association bought the hotel in 1920. They built the George-Albert Memorial Hall on the front of the dance hall. The upper floor was used for the Girl Scouts. There was a library, a large dining room and kitchen. It was used for card parties, dances, etc.

In 1929, the North Evans Fire District bought the property and moved the hotel across the fields where it became an apartment house. Bowling alleys were added. The second picture shows that in its early days. The floor of the auditorium in the fire hall was the original floor of the dance hall.

Your Place in History

2009-04-12T10:26:00.002-04:00

If you have enjoyed the Scenes from the Past in the Angola Penny Saver, you may be interested to learn that a book on Evans and Angola will be published this week. Town Historian, Cheryl Delano, has worked with Arcadia Publishing on a book in their Images of America series. It contains almost 200 old photos and post cards with captions.

The book is available at Borders in Orchard Park, Barnes & Noble at the McKinley Mall and their websites. It is also listed on Amazon.com and arcadiapublishing.com. It sells for $21.99.

Once the books arrive, they will also be on sale at the Evans Historical Society and through me (Cheryl Delano) directly, as well as at the Angola Penny Saver office. You will be informed as other sites are added.

Three book signings have been scheduled: Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m. at the Borders in Orchard Park; Tuesday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the library in the Village of Angola and Saturday, June 13, at 1 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble at the McKinley Mall.

THE NORTH EVANS RAILROAD BRIDGE

2009-04-06T06:57:00.004-04:00

THE NORTH EVANS RAILROAD BRIDGE

This is a very brief article brought about by an email request for a picture of the railroad bridge in North Evans. I can be reached at EvansHistSoc@aol.com if you have history related questions.

THE NORTH EVANS RAILROAD BRIDGE

When the first railroad was built to and through the Town of Evans, it was necessary, of course, to span the several creeks of the area with bridges. One of these was the sturdy, attractive stone, arch bridge across the 18 Mile Creek at North Evans.

A picture of that bridge of the New York Central system, truly a masterpiece in stone, appears to the left. It was sent to us by a former resident of our town, Willis E. Burke. The photo was taken Feb. 14, 1904, years after its erection, but it clearly depicts the architectural beauty of its design and the durable quality of its construction.

In these days of modern travel by air, little if any attention is focused on the engineering wizardry that made possible surface transportation of the past, and although such facilities are becoming less frequently used with the passage of time, the many stalwart landmarks of bridge and trestle throughout our country should be constant reminders of America’s magnificent engineering yesterdays.