New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Buffalo

America’s 250th Student Fellowships Funded In Western NY

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History student intern Dwight DinkinsThe Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has awarded SUNY distinguished professor of history Michael Leroy Oberg, the SUNY Geneseo Center for Local and Municipal History, and a consortium of six other colleges and universities, a three-year grant of more than $300K for American War of Independence Semiquincentennial student fellowships.

Several of the institutions in the fellowship program have committed $150K of matching funds for the project, bringing the total to over $450K. [Read more…] about America’s 250th Student Fellowships Funded In Western NY

Preservation Buffalo Niagara Recognized By Preservation League of NYS

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PBN Executive Director Jessie Fisher (center) in a black dress and grey patterned blazer courtesy Preservation Buffalo NiagaraPreservation Buffalo Niagara has won a 2021 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award from the Preservation League of NYS.

The Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier and the Preservation Coalition of Erie County merged in 2009 to become Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN), building on their 30-year history to ensure that the Buffalo region would have a strong, effective, and professional preservation organization. [Read more…] about Preservation Buffalo Niagara Recognized By Preservation League of NYS

Buffalo Riverline: A Unique Urban Nature Trail Design Unveiled

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Riverline Double BridgeThe Western New York Land Conservancy and its design partners W Architecture, Hood Design Studio, and Green Shield Ecology presented their final concept designs for The Riverline at a press conference at the Tewksbury Lodge Pavilion in Buffalo last week.

The Riverline is the Conservancy’s proposed urban nature trail and greenway that stretches along an unused railroad corridor from Canalside at the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Terminal Terminal in downtown Buffalo to the Buffalo River across from Riverbend and Tesla. [Read more…] about Buffalo Riverline: A Unique Urban Nature Trail Design Unveiled

Why Does the Thruway Avoid Rochester?

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The Historians LogoThis week on The Historians Podcast, an update on a previous program on the origins of the New York State Thruway from Tim Tielman of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo-History, Architecture and Culture. Tielman explains why the Thruway was built some miles south of Rochester. He also delves into historic preservation in greater Buffalo. [Read more…] about Why Does the Thruway Avoid Rochester?

New Book: Buffalo at the Crossroads

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Buffalo at the CrossroadsBook purchases made through this link support New York Almanack’s mission to report new publications relevant to New York State.

The new book Buffalo at the Crossroads: The Past, Present, and Future of American Urbanism (Cornell University Press, 2020), edited by Peter H. Christensen, is an introduction to Buffalo’s architecture and developed landscape, featuring essays by twelve authors. [Read more…] about New Book: Buffalo at the Crossroads

Buffalo History Museum Launches New Podcast With Story Of City’s Only Public Execution

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Buffalo History Museum PodcastThe Buffalo History Museum has announced the launch of “Experiencing Our Story” (EOS). Inspired by the Greek goddess of dawn, EOS offers history-based programs through podcasts, videos, virtual events, exhibits, and tours.

EOS programs, including a newly launched podcast, will feature stories about Buffalo and Western New York history, heritage, architecture, and personal accounts directly from the Museum’s professional staff, as well as featured guests.

The first episode features the story of the execution of the three Thayers Brothers, Buffalo’s only public execution. [Read more…] about Buffalo History Museum Launches New Podcast With Story Of City’s Only Public Execution

A Twitchell Lake Love Story: Passing on a Family Legacy

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Norman and Lucretias first home in TroyThis is part three of this series A Twitchell Lake Love Story – part two can be found here.

After their marriage, newlyweds Norman and Lucretia Sherry moved into their first home. They brought four children into the world – Elizabeth (1910), Francis (1911), Norman, Jr. (1913), and Esther (1918). Lucretia (Lu, as she was called) had her piano shipped from Buffalo to Troy, filling their home with music and hymns, and teaching her children the keyboard. [Read more…] about A Twitchell Lake Love Story: Passing on a Family Legacy

The Cholera Pandemic of 1832 in New York State

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Hand bill from the New York City Board of Health in 1832 courtesy New York Historical SocietyHistory shows that several pandemics have struck in New York State – one of the less remembered is known as the Second Cholera Pandemic of 1832.

New York was among the most thoroughly scourged among the states.

[Read more…] about The Cholera Pandemic of 1832 in New York State