Archive

Another Look: Lincoln's Wintry Night at Little Valley

Abraham Lincoln visited Western New York several times throughout his life, even getting snowed in at Little Valley. Alan Manchester looks at the evidence to determine when Lincoln stopped at the Cattaraugus County town.

Soldier, Sailor, Artist - Franklinville's Norman Maffei

From the small town of Franklinville to around the world and back, Norman Maffei found inspiration in everything he experienced. His passion for marine art made him famous beyond Western New York.

Western New York's First Farmers

Recent archaeological excavations by the Allegheny Valley Project in Cattaraugus County have shed some light on pre-contact Natives, but have also raised more questions about their lifestyle.

"Forever" Ain't What It Used To Be: George Washington's Promise and the Kinzua Dam

In 1794, George Washington promised the Seneca Nation that their land in the Allegheny Valley would be theirs forever, but floods and pollution in Pittsburgh caused later generations to renege on his promise.

Old Photo Album: The Erie Railroad in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties

Travel across Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, and explore the long history of the Erie Railroad.

Vaudeville, Vacancy and Restoration: A History of the Hollywood Theater in Gowanda

In the 1920s, a fire ravaged Gowanda and left only a pile of rubble where its grand Opera House once stood. The community was devastated, but a local businessman was waiting in the wings to construct its next great movie playhouse.

Lincoln's Connections to Western New York

Abraham Lincoln only briefly passed through this area – once while campaigning and one in his funeral train – but a pair of his political allies, Clark Ezra Carr and Erastus D. Webster, called Western New York their home.

A Good Journey: 150 Years of St. Bonaventure University

In 1859, businessman and philanthropist Nicholas Devereux joined Bishop John Timon and a group of Franciscan Friars to found St. Bonaventure's College. A century and a half later, SBU still thrives in the Enchanted Mountains of Cattaraugus County.

Western New York Heritage

The Archive