Following the release of our Winter 2026 issue, we received a note from one of our subscribers, F. W. Gleska, who included an inquiry about the “island” in the background of a painting by artist Mildred Green, depicting the Village of Black Rock, ca. 1825. In response to Mr. Gleska’s query, our team here took a closer look at the painting and responded in our Summer issue that the land in the background of the painting was likely Squaw (now Unity) Island.
Mildred Green’s undated watercolor of Black Rock, ca. 1825.
Buffalo History Museum
But we also invited our maritime-inclined readers to share their opinions and ideas. And we were fortunate enough to have John Eiss (whose story on Williamsville brewing appears on page 62 of the current issue) chime in with some additional documentation.
John shared an 1820 map, along with these thoughts: “The attached 1820 map of Black Rock appears to show Squaw Island across the channel. The island's name had to be changed but I wish a more thoughtful name could have been found.”
This early map would seem to bear out both John’s opinion and our thoughts printed in the Summer issue. In studying the map, it would seem that the vantage point of the painting would have represented a location near the area circled in red on the map and the detail. Of course, Mildred Green wasn’t born until 1874 and didn’t move to Buffalo until 1892, so the landscape would certainly have changed by the time she was painting.
This 1820 map of Black Rock shows the main geographic features of the area. A closer look (see inset) suggests that the bridge in the painting is at the foot of Ferry Street, with Squaw (now Unity) Island in the background.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
We love it when an image or an article connects somehow with our readers, and especially so when it generates a fun historical discussion, as this one has. A big thank you to Mr. Gleska for posing the question, and to our designer Laura Wickett and author and colleague John Eiss for sharing their observations and documentation in response!
Keep those conversations coming!!
