Archive - WNY Heritage

Businessman—Naturalist—Humanitarian: William Pryor Letchworth

Today the name Letchworth is associated with the state park on the edge of Wyoming and Livingston counties, but the man for which the park is named had a successful business and philanthropic career as well.

Jewel of the Southtowns: A Brief History of Chestnut Ridge Park

Thanks to a successful partnership between county and conservancy, the largest of the Erie County parks has been experiencing a renaissance in recent years. Here we look at the park’s creation, decline and how it is bouncing back.

Buffalo and the Great War, Part I: The War Before the War

Long before America went “over there,” Western New York had to cope with some unique realities in the opening years of the First World War. In part one of a three-part series, we look at a usually peaceful region during the years of true neutrality.

Endnotes: Indian Falls’ Lost Amusement Park

Before Darien Lake’s roller coasters dominated the area’s amusement rides, Indian Falls’ Boulder Park was the place to spend summers in Genesee County.

Eleanor Roosevelt in Chautauqua

While she certainly wasn’t the first Roosevelt to visit the Chautauqua Institution, Eleanor Roosevelt did so more frequently than her two famous relatives. Lori Humphreys recounts her several visits and speeches, along their impact on Chautauqua and the Nation.

Elbert Hubbard: The Formative Years of an Intuitive Genius

The controversial Hubbard is best known for the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora, but he is also responsible for developing the “Larkin Idea.” Here we take a look at the influence of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle on both of these achievements.

Endnotes: Snowstorms – Past and Present

Buffalo and Western New York are known for wintry weather and the recent lake effect event the area witnessed in November was only the latest addition to the region’s snowy heritage.

Buffalo’s Early Brewing Heritage: A Survey

As the area sees a resurgence in local brewing, John P. Eiss surveys the roots of brewing in canal-era Buffalo, dating back to Black Rock in 1811.

Western New York Heritage

The Archive