by Chris Clemens The English settlers who arrived in North America in the 1620’s established the concept of “Poor Laws”. They essentially built a legal arrangement for government oversight and support for those not able to care for themselves. Whether you had a mental illness or a developmental disability you might have lived in one […]
Eternal Flame Falls is a waterfall gorge featuring a natural gas powered eternal flame in a small grotto created in the shale rock bed. by Chris Clemens Orchard Park is a southeast suburb of Buffalo. It’s probably most famous for being the home the holiest of sites for Upstate football fans. In addition to being […]
Take an inside tour of Silo City and see these historic waterfront grain silos in Buffalo up close. by Chris Clemens If you take any time at all to explore the history of the Old First Ward of Buffalo, it’s nearly impossible to avoid the enormous concrete industrial cylinders jutting into the skyline along the Eastern […]
The WNY Rail Excursions offers rides on historic trains while the Medina Railroad Museum offers exhibits for learning about local railroad history. by Chris Clemens 19th Century New York would be nothing if not for the Erie Canal. But the train systems laid out in the mid-1800’s extended that trade route even further. Railroads usurped […]
The tragedy at Devil’s Hole near Niagara Falls makes this hiking spot both a beautiful place to walk, and a perfect spot to learn local history. by Chris Clemens New York is no stranger to bloody clashes between the Native tribes and those who later encroached. The Battle of Devil’s Hole (aka “Devil’s Hole Massacre”) […]