The following historical information was written down by an unnamed firefighter sometime prior to 1956. The information is presented here in an unedited format.
FORWORD
Being of the "younger generation" I don't recall all the memories hereinafter related in print, but at the solicitations of a few friends and brothers of the Big Tree Vol. Firemen's Co., together with whom, I have often intimately conversed on this favorite subject of local reminiscences, and with a personal desire to place on record many of the names of well known persons who lived here, and of current events during the childhood of the community of Big Tree; not very remarkable to the general reader, but interesting to our townspeople of the present day and those hereafter to follow.
I hope my readers will not find cause to cavil at these records of recollections, nor to question their correctness. I admit possible errors; may be misstatements of facts and anachronism, due to natural lapses of memory common to every one, and for which I am liable to criticism and correction. I may add that these articles hare been written with no special attempt at rhetorical grace nor picturesque effect. The ultimate, is to remind the people of the area of the 150th Anniversary of the Community of Big Tree, particularly those who were not cognizant of this fact.
The Big Tree Treaty made in 1797 at an Indian Council held on the banks of the Genesee River near the present site of Geneseo, opened for settlement all of Western New York except for several reservations which were set up to be the homeland of the Iroquois forever. The largest of these was the Buffalo Creek Reservation with the southern boundary along the line at the top of Osborne Heights. Fairview Pkwy. being a part of that line.
BIG TREE TREATY
Agent Robert Morris of the Holland Land Company, announced to Chiefs of the Seneca Indians that a grand council would be held at Big Tree on the Genesee River, August 25, 1797. Some of the tribes arrived as much as a week in advance and enjoyed the presents and rum brought by the gents. The meeting was called to order and the proposal was made by Thomas Morris, son of Robert Morris who was the principal agent for the Holland Land Co. Red Jacket, Chief of the Wolf tribe of the Senecas, was the spokesman for the Indians. Delegate from Massachusetts, Jeremiah Wadsworth, represented the United States Government to make sure the Indians were not cheated by the white men. The offer: $100,000 for 4 million acres or the portion thereof not actually living on by the Senecas and thus provide an annual income of $300 a year.
They would still have the right and privilege to hunt and fish on this land. In addition to this they would all receive more lavish presents and rum if they agreed. Chief Red Jacket, after conferring with the other Chiefs turned down the offer and made a counter proposal: $1 per acre. This was out of the question as far as the Agents were concerned. The women of the Senecas revolted with the statement: "It is we, the women who own the land. Our warriors defend the land. No longer will we listen to old men who only sit and smoke a pipe. Our women shall make the decisions." Sachems owed their office to the women who could depose them for any cause. And so it was that the decision to sell was reversed and the treaty signed.
When 1803 rolled around, the number of houses in the Buffalo Creek colony had almost reached 20, several townships south of Buffalo surveyed, and an adventurous land-owner settled in the valley of Eighteen-mile creek, in the Town of Hamburg.
MIDDLE ROAD
The year of 1803 saw Joseph Ellicott contract for the survey of a road which was to aid the peopling of the southern towns of our county.
Starting at Geneseo, in the land of the Seneca Chief, Big Tree, this road was to extend straight west, over hill and dale, to Lake Erie. The result was merely a trail, with small trees and underbrush cleared away from a space some 16 feet wide. Large trees were left standing and the resulting track was barely passable for a wagon. The Holland Land Company called this the MIDDLE ROAD. This road was renamed the BIG TREE ROAD because of a large tree at the end of the road near the Genesee River. Some of our present generation claim this tree stood until late in 1930 when it was destroyed by fire, while some boys were attempting to smoke out a nest of bees.
Bay View Road was laid out from Lake Erie to Abbott's Corners, now Armor, and in 1819 the high-way we know as South Park Ave. was started. It ran between Big Tree Road and Bay View Road and the next year it was extended to Rush Creek. It is hard to imagine Rush Creek as presenting an obstacle to road building but it was evidently a barrier at that time.
Just who the first white settler was in this vicinity is not definitely known. One of the first names we come across is Wilhem Willink. Next we find George Green who built a tavern which was used as wayside stop for travelers along the road to the lake. It is said that during the war of 1812, Oliver Perry stopped here. At the present time Edward Hartloff and family now reside on one of the first pieces of land settled. With the opening of the Big Tree and Bay View Roads, the pioneers started coming in earnest. We note that the majority of these first settlers came from Vermont. One of the first of these Vermont natives was Nathan Bristol who came about 1806 to build a home in the wilderness, choosing land on the very edge of the reservation.
A crude road was cut through this property, north from the Big Tree Road, across Rush Creek, to Smokes Creek, ending well inside the bounds of the reservation. A part of this Bristol Road is still in use, though the north end has long since been abandoned. Nathan Bristol had several daughters who remained spinsters, and, for some reason, the woods on both sides of Rush Creek have come to be called the "Old Maids' Woods" more often than Bristol Woods. Late in life, these Bristol "Girls" would reminisce about the days when "painters" (cougar) scampered over their roofs, filling their young hearts with terror.
Another Vermonter who heard the westward call was Asa Gould. Family records tell of his long, long journey on foot to choose a site in WNY for his new home. Finding it, he went back to Vermont and returned with his family and whatever household goods he could pack on a wagon. With him was his 7 year old son, Royal V. Gould, who was next to occupy the family home on the Bay View Road. The son of Royal V. Gould and Charlotte Huff Gould was Royal A., who in turn became the father of Frank A. Gould, whose death occurred about ten years ago. In his daughter's (Laura Gould Hartloff's) possession is the beautiful grey wedding gown which her grandmother made for her own wedding.
The story is told that when Royal A. chose as his bride young Susan Pierce, she determined to make her own trousseau. She shut herself in her room and sewed, stitched, after stitch, day after day, and the still lovely wedding dress, with its yards of billowy skirt and its tiny bodice, composed of tiny stitches, is a beautiful today. Perhaps the poor bride dreamed too much of her happy future with her beloved, for their happiness lasted only four years, when she passed away, a young girl of 25, leaving her son, Frank. When Frank grew to manhood, and brought his bride from New Oregon to the old place, he build a new home on the property where his father lived with his second wife. The old beetow place still stands at the corner of Bay View Road and Rosetta Road, and is occupied by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph as an Infirmary for the aged and sick Sisters of that Order. Up until a few years ago most of the produce used by the Infirmary was raised on their land. The orchard extends to the rear of the Grotto at the Immaculata Academy.
While we are up on this end or section of Bay View Road lets cross the road and we are at the home of Norbert & Catherine Nichter. Catherine Nichter was the daughter of Jacob Wulf. It was her grandfather, Fredric Wulf, who built the homestead in about 1825 on Big Tree Road (where Rush Creek crosses McKinley Pkwy). It was at this location that the first saw mill in this area was built and the lumber for the first homes was milled. The saw mill road led from Bay View Road across from the present Beetow farm. Due to the heavy snow storms in the area it was decided to place the homstead on the Bay View site. In bad weather it made one shudder to think of going over this road as it was a rolling sea of thick clay mud, like roiled billows of a shallow, storm-tossed sea; bordered here and there by zigzag rail fences, the by-paths like the road, sticky with mud.
In dark and winter nights, without street lights or flash lights whereby to trace one's steps, it needed sturdy courage to wander from the saw mill to the homestead. Around 1900 and for many years following, square dances were held here every Saturday night. John Gates played the fiddle and his wife, Mary, played the piano. Among the neighbors that gathered were; Mr. & Mrs. Alazo Sprague; the Peter Roucker's (who ran the Roucker' Hotel on South Park Ave. near the Erie tracks); Mr. & Mrs. Bob Gleason and Denny Doyle who lived next to the Beetow home.
Adjoining the Gould farm on the east was the farm of Joseph Eighme, great grandson of a Dutch settler of Dutchess County, who, with Anna Ripley Eighme, raised a family of eight lively boys. The doings of these Eighme boys provided many an interesting story. Several of these boys went west, one operated a saw mill in Allegany, one a fruit farm in Niagara County, and one, Isaac, built on the Mile Strip Road soon after it was opened for settlement, in 1826. In that year, the Odgen Land Company succeeded in securing a strip off the south side of the Reservation, one mile wide. The Mile Strip Road was laid along the center of this strip, and settlers of Blasdell built on this road. The first of these were Maurice Osborn, Aaron Martin, and Isaac Eighme, followed by the Odell brothers, Charles and Ashel, and Peter Hall who operated a sawmill in Rush Creek. Much later, a colorful family name Swift was added to the young community on the Mile Strip Road. More on this family later.
Susan Gould was the daughter of Arnold Douglas Pierce, who, as a babe, was brought to this harsh land in 1807. His parents, Oliver and Susannah, built the usual log cabin, and later a large and attractive house still stands on Bay View Road towards Armor. It is said that Oliver and Susannah Pierce always had room in their pleasant home for that unfortunate wanderer who found himself without shelter. Arnold Douglas Pierce was the eldest of several children, all of whom were factors in shaping the life of this region. The name "Pierce" brings to mind many respected professions, the successful farmer, represented by Oliver, the lively fiddler, Winslow, and the honest political leader, George. Of a later generation, H. Arnold Pierce, practiced medicine in Blasdell. Laura Pierce, a sister of Susan, married young Patridge and lived on Bay Biew Road west of Hamburg Road.
One of the first physicians of these parts was Dr. Elisha Smith, great-grandfather of Mrs. Ethel E. Thompson, Librarian of Blasdell Free Library, He came from Vermont on horseback with no worldly goods except his horse, his doctors kit, $2 in money, and his medical skill. Although he built his cabin near the south end of the California Road, a few miles east of the Big Tree Corners, his practice took him all over the territory on horseback. It was not uncommon for him to make a call at so great a distance that he would find it impossible to get back home the same day. Poor health permitted him to serve as a physician only a few years, when he was forced to retire to his farm for a time.
Later he was elected to the State Legislature and served several terms in Albany. Many years later his daughter, Harriet, married William Dana Sherman, from North Collins, and they lived for many years at Athol Springs. The Sherman farm was on the Big Tree Road at the Turnpike. It was from the vantage point of the Sherman barn the Revenue Officers caught many a smuggler who was endeavoring to bring contraband goods across the Lake from Canada.
Among other families along the Lake Shore were the Baltzers, the Smith Salisburys, Heisers and Harrises.
The importance of Big Tree as a community is emphasized by the fact that this new road (South Park) was first built north and South from Rush Creek and Bay View Road. With the advance settlement, came the extension of the highway until it finally reached White's Corners, or Hamburg. It was early known as White's Corners, Plank Road, the State Road, and now South Park Ave. The Plank road was completed to Hamburg in 1848 and the early maps showed it as Hamburg Plank Road but in checking the "search" on the properties it was referred to as White's Corners Plank Road up to 1862, There were three toll gates on this road and the charge was five cents for each horse at each gate. The toll gates were changed from time to time to prevent some of the travelers from circling the toll gate and avoiding payment. This was true in the winter time when the ground was hard, the money short and the travelers were young lads returning from Buffalo or Limestone Hill, broke as usual.
Buffalo was the central and important point, sort of "halfway house" between the east and the west, and diverging points to southwest and Canada, for transferring and reshipping passengers and the mails, either way, by the various lines of stages. With the completion of White's Corners Plank Road from Milestrip to Hamburg the stages started to use this route. Two hotels were built at the corner of Big Tree Road and Plank Road, along with the first General store operated by a Mr. Marsh, an educated gentleman of quiet, undemonstrative manner, but of rare tact and ability for business.
In later years it was operated by John Wulf, son of Frederick who hadcome to this country from Germany with his brother William, who changed his name to Wm Wolfe and settled in Fair Plain, N.Y. Frederick had preferred the rich farm land at Big Tree and went to work for Mr. Parker on the Parker Road, married Katherine Hartman in 1853, who also was employed on the Parker farm; they had four children: John, born in 1854, who married Anna Berg and ran the General Store & Post Office; Fred born in 1855 married Helen M. Saunders in 1889 and lived on the Big Tree Road near the Plank Road; Mary K. born in 1866, married William J. Heiser and lived on the Turnpike, moving to Big Tree & the Plank Road about 1900, in the house now occupied by the Sisters of Saint David; and Jacob P. born in 1871 married Augusta Hartloff and lived on the Bay View Road.
Fredrick Wulf in addition to operating the saw mill on Bay View Road acquired or bought the George M. Pierce saw mill on Sept. 3, 1871, locate on the Big Tree Road and served as Highway Commissioner, Town of Hamburg, 1879 to '89.
Stage coaching was not at all times a romantic
method of travel. But in the sixties, in the rough seasons of the year, the
roads were aterror to timid passengers, and occasionally they became impassable;
deep sloughs (called slues) were formed, now and then there were swampy places,
where the stage teams became mired; because the Plank Road was built for one
way traffic most of the way. The by-pass was usually a "Corduroy Road"
as they were called in those days and were formed by cutting down the adjacent
timber along the road, trimming off the branches without much attention to
the closeness of the trimming or the equality in size of the logs, and laying
then side by side, across the road, to settle or bulge as the caprice of the
frost or
moisture might take direction.
Just imagine the delightful sensations of bump, bump, bumping along or coming whack up against a larger log than usual, to a dead stop, particularly on a dark, stormy, sleet-freezing night when the only possible means of seeing your way, were the dim lights of the stage. When the drivers would strike for more wages because of the roads, they would be paid on the spot and the proprietors, their brothers, uncles and agents would mount the boxes at once, and the procession would move at the crack of the whips. One of two things were needed at that time: (1) an organized Union of Stage Drivers or (2) fewer relatives who were willing to take over the task of driving th teams.
The coming of the railroads cut heavily into the stage line trade and was an important factor in the life of the community. The first railroad built through this section was the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, in 1852, and is now known as the New York Central with no stop at Big Tree unless flagged down when a person wishes to take it. The Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad Co. (Erie Railroad) bought property through the area, concluding the deal October 10, 1872 and building a station on Big Tree Road, the first stop outside the Village of Buffalo.
The Nickel Plate and Pennsylvania Railroads were not completed until 1882.
When the "Erie" was being constructed the people would walk down the line of the road, where the grading was being done, to see the process of laying the track, which was quite different from the present method; the bed of the road and heavy cross ties of timber were practically the same as now, but on these ties were laid two continuous lines of six inch stingers, upon which were laid the old strap rail, a simple flat bar of iron. At one end a tongue and at the other the mouth or lips; the bars were spiked to the stringers, the tongue and lips being dovetailed together.
One of the ever present fears of travelers riding on those strap rails were the so-called "snake heads." By the action of heat and trundling of locomotives and cars over the rails they would loosen from the stringers, the ends spring up, protrude into the passing car and possibly impale a passenger in his seat. The sight of building a railroad was altogether a novel one; looker-on were much interested and would wonder how a train would look, placed upon the track. When it came to be a fixed reality, they were amazed at the sight of the curious mechanical animal, called a locomotive, as it went forward, backed and moved as if by inspiration. It, however, made more fuse, puffed and coughed, screeched and hammered, than the diesel engines of today.
At that time the ordinary passage from Big Tree to Buffalo was an hour and from there to Albany was another twenty-four hours. Changing cars and baggage and trains at Rochester, Auburn, Syracuse, Utica and Schenectady. Back to Big Tree where at that time it was an ordinary occurrence for the passengers to get out of the train by a wood pile and aid the trainmen to load the tender, while others indulged in a walk by the roadside to be picked up by the train when it came along. Others would take a quick trip to one of the 3 taverns on the corners of Big Tree & Plank road.
The old mill pond located up near the old Wulf saw mill on Big Tree and later Bay View Rd. served to be quite a place to take your young lady for a boat ride or to do a bit of fishing for the stream was indeed well stocked by nature. Among some of those who spent the day at this "natures wonderland" are listed:
L. A. Banks Ira Saunders Mr. Bossendorfer Edgar Sauders Phelys Baltzer Wm. H. Saunders William Bedo John Salisbury David Berry Alvin Salisbury Adeline Bristol William Sherman Emily Bristol William Schettler Harry Crow O. H. Soule Bob Craig Palmer Skinner John Drews Mr. Sutor A. G. Eighme John Struck Robert Foot Charles Titus Royal Gould Jerome Titus Louis Hepp Myron Reeves William Harris Dan Reavey John Kleis Frederick Reppert Godfrey Heiser Dyer Rush Henry Wheelock Albert Rhodes
In checking over the records of the Hamburg Cheese Factory for the years of 1872 & 1873 we find most of the "patrons" as they called themselves, listed above. This cheese factory was perhaps the first "co-operative" in this part of the land. A group of farmers joined forces as well as capital in 1872; the "patrons" delivered their milk to the factory where-upon it was made into cheese; a sale was held every two weeks, with people coming from as far away as Buffalo, West Seneca and North Collins. At the end of the day most of the cheese was sold and a report was made out as follows:
Sale - July 19, 1873
Sold 195 Cheese @ 10½ cts.
Weight of cheese 9,424 lbs.
Received $991.48
Cost of making 164.92 Profit $826.56
The profits were divided into dividends to the "Patrons" based upon the amount of milk each "patron" had brought to the factory.
Walter K. Smith and his brother Clarence, now reside on the site of the cheese factory. Their Mother lived with them up until the time of her passing a few years back. They were raised in the neighborhood of No. 28 school, Buffalo, and moved out here in the 1930's.
The Big Tree Fire Co. in it's early days was made up of men who were in the vicinity at the time of the fire and was not a member organization as we have today. The equipment was loaded onto a wagon and the men pulled the wagon to the fire where the buckets, fire hats and coats were passed out to the first men on the scene. The hand hose cart was then returned to Fred Wulf's barn until the next fire or parade held in the community. In later years this hand cart was turned over to the present Big Tree Volunteer Firemen's Co., who in turn presented it to the Erie County Vol. Firemen's Bldg. at the Hamburg Fair Grounds.
Many pieces of fire fighting equipment used in this area, from the hose cart to the steam boilers, the first motor or gasoline driven trucks to the modern type truck are brought to the Fair Grounds at Fair Time each year.
Among the families to the west of the community around Big Tree and Bay View, who were closely related to the early life of the community, were the Bristols, Sowles, Goulds, Saunders, Shermans, and Pierces; later to this Lake Shore section, would come the Schutts and Hooper families.
With the rolling years, the toil of man and women's industry brought away of life to the community which was somewhat less grim than in the days of its settlement. The original log cabin or one room cottages was supplanted or enlarged to provide something more than mere shelter.
With labor unbelievable stern, furtile fields had been wrested from the virgin forest. It is said that Maurice Osborn, in his eagerness to clear land for crops, actually worked day and night with his oxen. His plaint, often repeated, was: "The nights are so short and the days a mere nothing." This zeal paid off to the extent he was able to buy acre after acre and to provide a farm for each of his four children.
Some time after 1850 there came from the eastern part of the state young traveler, Charles Salisbury, who met, wooed and won Cynthia Osborn, and August, 1858, saw their marriage. After a few business ventures, Charles and Cynthia settled on the north side of the Mile Strip, in a cottage near the present Grafton Ave. Later this cottage was moved toward the east, an upright portion was added and it became known as the Salisbury homestead.
Over the fields about this place romped the Salisbury children, Warren and Maurice, Jennie and Elmer. Warren, known locally as "Warney," married Elizabeth, the attractive grand-daughter of Charles Odell. Jennie married a member of another old family, a physician, H. Arnold Pierce. Mauric Osborn Salisbury, usually called "Mort," chose as his bride a young school teacher from Buffalo, Ella Gifford. Elmer did not live to manhood.
Meanwhile, Mr. Osborn's oldest son, Maurice Jr., had gone to Michigan and brought back a bride, Laura, to share his home, the Peter Hall place. The lovely house, standing far back across Rush Creek, had been moved up to the Mile Strip Road where it remains opposite the end of Martin Ave. In this home two children were born: Maurice 3rd, called, "Monney," and the little daughter whose death was one of the tragedies of the early community.
Another early settler was Henry Heiser, who settled on the old Lake Shore, south of Smokes Creek. He was a brewmaster and operated a brewer at Carol and Seneca in Buffalo, Heiser Brewery, which furnished a great deal of the beer consumed in the area. He had three children: Godfrey, William and Mrs. Elizabeth Balzer. Godfrey, bought a tract of land consisting of some 400 odd acres which was later purchased by the Bethlehem Steel Company. Godfrey's children were, Henry, Mary C. M., Mrs. Albin Stein, William J., Mrs. George J. Brendal, and Godfrey E. Heiser who is the only living member of the family and resides in Orchard Park, N.Y. William J. Heiser came to Big Tree around 1900 with his wife Mary K. Wulf (daughter of Frederick Wulf) with two children: Laura K. Heiser who married J. Spencer Trask in 1931; and William F. Heiser who was killed in 1912 while driving a motor cycle.
The type of clothing worn by gentlemen at the time of Henry Heiser, was richer, more elaborate, of greater variety and more expressed in fancy but of fine material. For the street, office or court room, in spring or autumn, they wore black frock coats called "Prince Alberts," with plain, dark blue, lavender or drab cashmere trousers. They were strapped under the boots with the same cloth and as wide as the space under the instep would permit. Boots had circular steel plates on the high heels and were universally worn in the day time; at balls or parties. The waistcoats or vests were of figured or embossed silk and velvet, sometimes in colors suited to the fancy, in figured worsted or black satin. The silk or satin vests were cut low, showing a pleated shirt front, with a single bar pin, if the wearer could afford it, with a white two-pointed "pick collar" coming up and over the chin and lapping.
In the last few years a trend was started to bring back the waistcoats or vests, as well as the pleated shirt fronts but so no one can accuse me of starting a trend on articles of men's clothing lets stop and go on with women's styles of that period. The materials were rich and costly for that time as nowadays, to a casual observer; with as much variety, perhaps more display, and brighter colors. Ladies wore for walking and carriage dress in autumn and winter: soft lustered Italian silks, black watered, armure, and corded silks; brocades, Irish poplins, and velvets, satin levantines and pongees. For woolen or worsted stuffs, soft French merinos, bombazines, cashmeres, circassians and ratinets. Enormously large muffs and very long boas of lynx fur were then the mode. Bonnets of silk, cloth, and velvet, all in various colors and shapes; for runabouts and for sleighing comfort, close silk hoods lined with coney or down fur. Also, various colored, wadded and quilted silk hoods with cherry colored linings turned well back from the face with long tabs or pendants hanging down on the shoulders as part of the facing.
They were known as "Kiss me if you dare" hoods. When the first specimens of rubber overshoes appeared they were hideous devices to look upon, or to utilize, seeming to have been formed by dipping various sizes of bent baseball clubs in melted gum, like tallow candles. They were left to cool, stuffed with straw to prevent collapse and were put on the feet by stretching. No soles, but simply a sort of ugly rubber socks. Imagine leaving the house and having your mother call "Don't forget your gums!!" Also prominent was the hoop and then the bustles which were prodigious and showed the women as monsters of size, or rather the bustles as monstrous, but it was the fashion. After the collapse of the huge bustles of the time, the women, to ameliorate the lack appearance the change gave them, substituted an extra number of skirts. I'm told the number went as high as 12. Busk's or steel corset boards covered with white kid were much used. about this time the "leg of mutton sleeves" came into vogue.
While we are talking of fashions it may be noted that the Village of Hamburg was coming into it's own having been incorporated on May 9, 1874. Previously we referred to Hamburg as White's Corners, having derived it's name from Thomas T. White, who opened a general store in 1820 on the corner of Buffalo and Main Streets, and the latest fashions of the day were displayed. Later came Burton M. Fish, Joseph Kronenberg who later merged and were by far the leading store of its day. With the expanding business of the area, Big Tree, Hamburg, Abbotts Corners (where the Post Office of Hamburg was first located) or Armor, came the foundation of the first bank, the Bank of Hamburg in 1883. The banking business was quite a risk and the principals were hesitant in loaning money to a great degree and after much disagreement a group of the farmers and some businessmen banded together, formed the People's Bank in 1891.
The merchant's trips to New York and Philadelphia (the head centers of supply) was an important event, occurring only at intervals of six months. When a merchant was about to leave, it was generally known several days before; then would begin the asking of favors, to carry letters or parcels or to execute a commission. Word would be sent in thus: "Would Mr. David Lake kindly find room in his trunk to take a small package to a friend in New York?" or "Will Mr. John Thiel please take charge of a package of letters to New York for Constantine Froehley."
They were social and business letters often times they had commissions to execute, and return letters and parcels to bring back. But all were willing to do it, cheerfully, though their friends were rivals in the same trade, it was the custom.
This was also true for the merchants of Blasdell in later years but lets go back to the year 1885 when no homes or roads led into the interior of the mile square area now known as Blasdell.
Through the kind co-operation of Mrs. Ethel E. Thompson, Librarian of Blasdell Free Library, the following facts are given on how Blasdell received it's name.
Mrs. Thompson was hired to serve as Librarian in 1937 after a provisional charter was granted by the Education Department of the State of New York, and has served in that capacity ever since.
I have taped this source of authoritive information and may I say: thanks Mrs. Thompson, publicly.
Dividing the Weiss farm on the north from the property of Charles and Cynthia Salisbury and of Aaron Martin on the south, was a shallow ditch lined with rows of hedges. The farmers, realizing the need of an east and west road, turned out with their teams and filled in the ditch, pulling out bushes, hauling stones, dirt, branches and any other available material with which to make a crude roadway from the Hamburg Road westward. Thus was Lake Avenue begun.
At the time the Big tree Post Office served the area, and the civic minded male had to travel to Big Tree to cast his vote on election day.
Then a gentleman from North Collins, Herman Blaisdell, saw an opportunity to develop a real estate project in the area about the crossing of the Erie and Nickle Plate Railroads. Acquiring from Mr. Weiss a plot of land of some 17 acres, Mr. Blaisdell had several cottages built, as well as a hotel and a store.
From North Collins came a friend of Mr. Blaisdell, Martin Foose, to serve serve as a proprietor of the Blasdell House, built to face Lake Ave. at the tracks. Some members of this Foose family still reside in Blasdell.
One of Mr. Blaisdell's first items of business was to raise by subscription a sum of money with which to build a depot. This he located on the north side of Lake Ave. a little to the north of Mr. Foose's hotel.
While the residents debated as to the suitability of various names for their community, weighing, perhaps, the euphonic merits of Martinville or Weissville, Salisbury or Osborn Village, Mr. Blaisdell made his own decision and had a huge sign attached to the depot, bearing his own name. So the place was Blasdell, and Blasdell it remained, a grand place to live and every citizen should be proud of.
To be honest, Mr. Blaisdell's buildings were of poor construction, poor material, and of nondescript architectural design. True, these homes were quickly occupied by good, sturdy families, but equally true, the people did deserve better homes than Mr. Blaisdell provided.
Soon after Herman Blaisdell's building project was begun, Lake Ave. was taken over as a public thoroughfare, improved, and extended to the Turnpike. It is said Palmer Skinner plowed the first furrow in locating the new road east from the Turnpike, and that it was considered by the Mile Strip folks to be a foolish piece of business, for "who would use a road way down there in the swamp?"
In the meantime, Blasdell farm lands had been bought by land companies, the most prominent of which was the Wood-Harmon Land Company, to whom Mr. Weiss, the Salisburys and the Martins sold their remaining properties. Lots and streets were laid out (with an eye to profit) much too narrow to encourage any pretentious building. Sidewalks were made of wooden slats, far from durable, laid crosswise. The land that was thus sold to buyers interested only in profit became a major problem to the village fathers of a later day.
HIGHLAND ACRES
Perhaps the foregoing facts on the founding of Blasdell will bear out the reason Blasdell developed into a thriving community, while Big Tree area remained, to a degree, large farm areas.
Wood and Harmon Land Company did purchase large tracts of land from the Bristol "girls" and divided it into lots in the Steelton area.
William Oaks and his wife Nancy, settled on a large tract of land on the west side of South Park Ave. between Big Tree Road and Fairview Pkwy. They had three children; Cordelia Maltbie, wife of Henry H. Maltbie; Levi Oaks and William Oaks. The senior William Oaks died about 1830 and his widow married Silas Hopkins who on February 27, 1840 sold part of the property to Joseph Eighme and his widow, Anna. The land was later partitioned on May of 1855, and Levi Oaks and his wife, Rachael, received one third or about 61 acres. The other two thirds were divided equally between James W. Bennett and his wife, Harriet, and William C. Oakes and his wife.
The year 1847 saw another German family, Jacob Schettler, settle on Bay View Road and Big Tree Road, and then on January 1858 Jacob and his wife, Elizabeth, purchased part of South Park tract. With Angelica and John Douglas; and Amanda and Joseph Wilcox, arriving the following month and building their homes. Another earlier settler in this part was Frederick Reppert, who purchased a strip of land running from South Park to the Bristol Farms in 1862, purchasing additional acreage from Henry Balser about 1874. Other names we come across at that time are: Catherine Vaikowitsch; Wilbert Michael Schamel, with no record of them settling here for long. Part of the James W. Bennett farm was sold to William W. Mann in 1855, who sold part to Jacob Schettler who never enjoyed the revenue from this land due to an illness from which he did not recover. His widow in 1873 sold this particular section which was never cleared of it's timber, to William and Sofhia Saunders, who held it one year and turned it over to Asaph and Sarah Saunders, the parents of Atwell, Lyman and Edith. Most of Lyman Saunder's children live in Blasdell today. Asa Saunders sold his land at the corner of Big Tree and South Park where the Hitching Post stands today, to Betsey O'Brien in 1875 and for five years operated the hotel on that corner but the work connected with running this establishment was far too strenuous and she sent for her brother, John S. O'Brien, who was unmarried. Under his guidance the business became quite prosperous with the stages stopping with overnight passengers but John became very restless with the stories of west expansion so he looked around for a buyer. On March 9, 1885 Agatha Metzger, a widow with three children (Rosa X. Norman, Charles R. N. Metzger and Agatha C. O'Mara) all grown-ups, concluded the deal and with their help business was expanded to include a blacksmith shop. A bachelor, Thomas Ryan was a frequent visitor to the "Metzger House" on his trips and soon love found its way and Agatha Metzger and Thomas Ryan were married. The name of the hotel was changed to "Ryan House" and remained until 1916 when the estate was sold to Julius and Mary Moseer. With the hussle and bussle of the hotel business and the blacksmith shop, Mary insisted on a home of her own and Julius consented to build next to the business. She did not live long after the completion of her new home and on Oct. 17, 1932 she passed away. Upon her passing Mable J. Garin, Julius' daughter, came to live with him until his passing away on March 14, 1940.
Other settlers and tracts of land in the Big Tree Area were owned as follows: The Hoen family on Bay Biew Rd. purchased the Rapp farm; Mr. Craig owned and cultivated the farms occupied by the Fitzpatrick and Brooks families; part of the Saunders farm is now occupied by the Schettler Brothers on bay View Road; the Eighme farm is the present Beetow-Foley farm; Mr. Foster owned the Bay View sub-division; the John Sheldon property is now the Swartz farm and the George Gaol farm is now the Becker farm. One of the larger farms on the east side of South Park from Big Tree Road was the Walsh farm which later became the Heisers, Valdepolls and Syttles property while land on the north side of Big Tree Road to the west, Highland Pkwy. on the north and McKinley Pkwy. on the south, was a part of the Ravey farm.
Charles R. N. Metzger ran a cigar shop and factory on the corner of Big Tree Rd. and South Park Ave. which was later moved from the corner, down Big Tree Rd. where it was remodeled and is now the home of young Charles and Millie (Hornburger) Metzger who have two boys Chuck and Joseph. Millie is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hornburger who reside on Burke Pkwy. near Big Tree Rd.
Perhaps one of the largest estates with its large orchard, swimming pool, rolling lawns and beautiful flower gardens is the McNaughton Estate on South Park Ave. Pliny B. McNaughton was in the dredging business and later became associated with Michael Shea in the theatrical business. He came with his mother to Big Tree before the turn of the century about 1890, and also his daughter Harriet, who later became Mrs. Nelson E. Hubble. The caretaker for this huge estate has been Raymond Zofelt who resides with wife in the small but very comfortable cottage to the rear of the mansion.
Adjoining the McNaughton estate on the south is the Thomas Brown property first settled on in 1893. Tom had two sons John E. Brown and Joseph T. Brown who recently built a new home between the Rush Creek and the McNaughton estate. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brown had three children; Tom, who studied at the University of Buffalo until Uncle Sam called him and who recently was married to a Buffalo girl; and a daughter Marilyn who graduated from Immaculate and Bryant & Stratton Business School; and son Robert.
On the other side of the McNaughton estate is the new location (for the past eight years) of the Big Tree Volunteer Firemen's Company; and adjoining them is the Syl Barbati garage and service station. Syl married Laura Podkulski, the daughter of the late Mike Podkulski and "Modka"; the sister of Edward Podkulski who runs one of the leading T.V. and Radio Services on the corner of South Park and Highland Pkwv. Eddie ran his Dad's Restaurant after he came out of Service but having the desire to obtain first hand knowledge in this new infant industry of television, he returned the business to his mother and went back to school to study electronics and associated subjects relative to T.V. Richard (Art) Podkulski, his brother, now operates the Restaurant business.
Mentioning school perhaps we should go back prior to 1870 when the Big Tree School was located on Big Tree Road, west of the present abandoned roadbed of the Hamburg Railway Company. then in 1870 three districts were consolidated to form the present District No. 7, which is part of the Frontier Central School District, with the old school house making one of its moves to the top of the hill, on the corner of Bay View Road and South Park Avenue. The districts consolidated were: the Fair Grounds; the District bordering on Camp Road; and of course the Big Tree District. It was felt through this consolidation the tax rate for the support of the schools could be lowered from around $1.00 to 47 cents and to the people of those days it represented quite a saving in money but not in travel time to and from school for the pupils.
It was also decided to divide the school year into two terms: a winter term of five months and summer term of four months, thus leaving the children available for planting time in the spring of the year and also on vacation at harvest time. At the start of the winter term the students would bring to school their prize squash, turnips, tomatoes and etc. for judging and although I have seen pictures of this gay occasion no one has come up with the answer to my whit: "What became of the produce?, was it given t the teacher as part payment on her salary?" Another custom of the day was, the boys and girls who hadn't obeyed the rules of the school were put to work cutting and bringing in the wood for the "pot belly" stove which stood in the middle of the room. It must have taxed the teachers patience when the close of a school day drew near and no one had crossed the line of obedience. The children of today would never have to cut wood, so they tell me.
Some of the teachers who not only taught but were looking for "wood cutters" and haulers were: Sara Abbott, Susan Pierce, Louisa Swaltz, Clara Sowle, Alice Sowle, Nathan Barker, Richard Langdon, William Farrand, Julius Gressman, Orville Hersheirser, and C. Amsdell.
Forty-two families were registered in the school district in 1840 with each family having two or three attending school in one-room classroom.
The year 1909 saw a new two-room school house built to replace the one room structure. An auction was held and Mr. Charles Metzger was the highest bidder and again the old school house was put on rollers and moved to the corner of Big Tree and South Park Avenue where it stands today and used as the dwelling of Mrs. Mimkin (the former Mrs. Metzger). The new two room school was attended by approximately sixty children at first, under the supervision of Miss Ebert and Miss Palmer, who received a weekly salary of $8 and $7 respectively. The children ranged from 4 to 16 years and some of the youngest had the longest distances to walk to school. Occasionally, boys rode horseback to and from school leaving their horses in neighboring farms during school hours.
Mr. William J. Heiser served as the only trustee at that time for the district and he gave unsparingly of time and effort in drawing the plans for this school, a square frame building with very high ceiling and high windows because daylight was so important compared to the florescent lights of today which offer soft, easy light on the eyes.
As the settlement grew, and extended along the many roads in the Steelton, McKinley Pkwy., Highland acres, Sagamore and Osborn Heights, registration increased, making necessary the addition of a brick section to the wood section in the year 1928. For many years prior to this the seventh and eight grade pupils were required to travel to Blasdell, due to lack of room and the School Board, comprised of: Mr. John Kleis, Mr. Schettler and Mr. Paul Hoppe, realized the need that existed and prepared the plans. The spring of 1928, saw the completion of the brick section tacked on behind the graceful old wooden section and the School Board really did seem to have looked well to the future when they planned for the building of this fine school, having four pleasant classrooms on the first floor, lavatories; a spare room (converted into the Principals Office in 1930); four classrooms in the basement; a cafeteria; music room; art room; boiler room; and a small supply room.
School Boards have always played an important part in the supervising the construction, operation and maintenance of the buildings as well as the acquiring competent faculty for the instruction of the students. Members who served in the early years are as follows: Mr. William Heiser, Mr. John Kleis (President of the Frontier Central School District), Mr. Albert Schettler, Mr. Paul Hoppe, Mr. Lansittel, Mr. Haen, Mr. George Hartloff and Mrs. Anna Vanderpoll. Mrs. Eggelton served as janitress for twenty-six years and then served as Treasurer of the Big Tree School. The many commendable stories of her labors would take many pages to record and her death, January 1943, left a great void in the Community.
The present Chief of maintenance and engineer for the "dear old school" is Mr. Craig Caudill, Sr., a graying, six foot, 200 pound jovial man who has been able assisted by his charming wife. A wonderful couple who always go "beyond the call of duty" to perform their tasks. They have endeared themselves to the students of their day, and will be fondly remembered for the many kindnesses they have performed.
The year 1928 saw Mrs. Vera K. Schrader arrive at the Big Tree School to teach and as the school grew in number, it's curriculum expanded with the addition of special departments, Mrs. Schrader in 1930 became the first Principal. Her success in maintaining high standards is well known and she is now Principal of two schools in the Frontier Central School District having been granted this assignment last fall upon the consumation and opening of the new Frontier central School on Bay View Road.
Teachers who served on the faculty around 1938 were: Miss grace L. Kline 8th; Miss Alice E. Greger, 7th; Miss Dorothy Pfeffer, 6th; Mrs. Bessie Schoepperle, 5th; Miss Beatrice Petit, 4th; Miss Eleanor Lare, 3rd; Miss Jenora Bentley, 2nd; and Miss Leah Wertheimer, 1st grade. Upon conversing with former students of that day, the consensus of the group agreed they were the prettiest, kindest, strictest, most co-operative and understanding teachers they were ever taught by. Of course I ran into those who would not agree with this statement but they would be in the minority.
On March 3, 1927 a group of interested people, convinced of the need of a better understanding of the mutual problems of home and school, met to form a Parent-Teachers unit in the Big tree School. The first President was Mrs. Elmer Paulson; Vice Pres. Mrs. Edward Vanderpoll; Treasurer Mr. Edward Hartloff; Secretary Mrs. J. Cordes; Chairman of Social Committe Mrs. Henry Beetow and Membership Chairman Mrs. Bernice Foley. Successive terms were served by: Mrs. Henry Beetow; Mrs.Vera Krecker; Mr. Norman Foley and Mrs. Frank Tunney. Under their terms the organization held card parties to buy scales for weighing the children so a more accurate rate of growth could be kept. It also provided a fund for a Christina and Easter party. Mrs. Tunney was succeeded by Mrs. George Hartloff, which in turn, was followed by Mrs. Edward Penfold; Mrs. Walter Hartloff, an Mrs. Frank Cary. Each of these leaders contributed to the P.T.A. program of the local unit. Mrs. Foley donated a stove for the kitchen which was the start of hot lunches for the children and I've been told this was the firs school to venture into cafeteria work in the State of New York.
In 1943 Mrs. Raymond Stout was elected, followed by Mrs. Arnol Scheffler; Mrs. Icenagle; Mrs. Carl Anderson; Mrs. Helen McNerney; Mr. Myra Rogers; Alice Anderson and Mrs. Henry Kieft.
The year 1953 found Mrs. Marie Smeltz in office and we all remember the tragic Cleveland Hill School fire that took the lives of six children. Big Tree School had a wood section and as President of the P.T.A., Mrs. Smeltz upon the advice and encouragement of her officers called a meeting at the Big Tree Fire Hall and a number of proposals were made to members of the School Board who were present, along with members of the Big Tree Vo Fire Co. Action soon followed with a fire escape on the front of the brick section and a number of other changes. Marie, knew what she wanted and great deal of admiration must be given to her for sticking to her "guns" in spite of all odds. She must have spent many an anxious night but her courageous fight for her convictions paid off in part.
Mrs. Betty Pigut followed as President in 1954, with Mrs. Mildre Bores taking over in 1955. The present president is Sophia Rayeski.
Perhaps the best-known work of our P.T.A. was the furnishing of free milk to school children during the depression years. The fund that made this possible was maintained by various projects sponsored by the P.T.A. Also piano and motion picture projector were obtained through P.T.A. project along with the recent project of an annual award for each student who plans to prepare himself for the teaching profession. If he falters along the way he must repay the money spent on him and the money is placed back in the fund. Much more could be said of their work but the best way to know of their work is to join them and become active in the "project" of the time.
The history of Immaculata Academy had it's start September 1926, at St. Joseph convent on Clark Street, Buffalo, New York, the Motherhouse of the Franciscan sisters of St. Joseph. In the meantime, the new Motherhouse in Hamburg, New York was slowly but steadily nearing completion. Dedication ceremonies at which his Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop William Turner officiated, were held on November 4, 1928. One wing of the new building was set aside for a school, dedicated to Our Lady and hence to be known as Immaculata Academy. After two short years of it's existence, the Academy became affiliated with the University of the State of New York. For a period of 15 years, the school continued to be the seat of learning for girls aspiring to the religious life of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. Cathohic parents of the neighboring Village of Hamburg and vicinity of Big Free, however, repeatedly sent in requests and so in 1943, the school admitted the first group of day students.
Since that eventful year, enrollment steadily increased so that facilities in the one wing proved inadequate, necessitating plans for the erection of a new school. Ground breaking Ceremonies took place on November 2, 1952. From then on, construction moved forward and June 7, 1953 saw the laying of the cornerstone. Dedication ceremonies very appropriately were scheduled for September 12 - The Feast of the Holy Name of Mary in the Marian Year of 1954. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph A. Burke, Bishop of Buffalo, officiated.
The new Immaculata Academy was dedicated to the late Reverend Mother M. Innocent, Superior General of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, whose ardent love for Our Lady and undying interest in the cause of Catholic education prompted the construction. The undaunted courage of Mother M. Leona, the Superior General of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph and the President of Immaculata Academy, in continuing the work of her predecessor, merits the unstinted praise of all.
A guiding hand in the transformation in permitting "day students" from the Community attend, and who was Principal at the time, and for a numbers of years after, was Sister M. Juhiana. Her able assistant was Sister M. Prudence, who taught the Business Subjects at that time.
The grounds of the Academy, was laid out with forsight, the erection of the Grotto, which is a replica of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, placed at the far end of spacious lawns and flower gardens. The "lake" to the left of it which at one time had two boats floating about with teen age girls having a riot of fun, the boats having long since disappeared. In the winter time students would toboggan from the hill alongside of the Grotto to the foot of the lake. The lake was built at the edge of the woods, the deepest spot is only three feet deep, and during the spring and summer, various religious and social activities take place here. Special trains and busses bring large groups from various parts of the country to these gatherings.
The most active group is the Mother's Club which spares neither time nor effort in planning and directing numerous activities as fund-raising projects. Also active: Immaculata Academy Men's Guild; and the Alumnae Association, prime movers in the various fund drives.
BIG TREE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC.
The summer of 1936 saw a group of men gathering at Albrecht Brothers Gasoline Station; at Schoen's Grille (the present Hitching Post) while others met at Joseph Kryzak's Garage, all talking on the same subject: A Fire Company for the Highland Acres-Big Tree Area. On November 2,1936 the first meeting was held at Schoen's Grille, at 8 p.m. At that meeting Mr. William Koenig was elected to act as temporary chairman; Ira Milks to act as temporary secretary and the three groups were ask to work together. Circular letters were passed throughout the community inviting the male populace to come to the next meeting which was held a week later at the same place. Among the early or charter members were the following William Koenig, Alois Schoen, Ira C. Milks and his brother Arnold Milk Albrecht Brothers, Joseph, Charles, and Jack; H.A. Minken, J. Hohl, W.E. Dalzell, Peter Makin, Bernard Wroblewski, Charles Metzger, Louis Sobini, Sextus Roorda, Spencer Trask, Joseph Kryzak, Henry Kisznewicz an son Peter, Norman Manista, Stanley Behe, Norbert Nichter, Rolan Emerson, Joseph Cortean, Amicare Paolini, Glenn Tanner and Ra Zufelt.
A chemical truck was purchased and line officers were elected, with Joseph Kryszak assuming the duties of the first chief. Through the year he was followed by Glenn Tanner, Sextus Roorda, our present chief, Davi Durward, Sr., who has served the past five years.
William Koenig passed from temporary chairman to the first president of the fire company, followed by Ben Wroblewski, the late Edward Hollis, Charles Albrecht, Peter Makin, Kearney Suto and Francis Doherty, who now is serving in that capacity.
Every young organization is cognizant of calling upon experienced men to assist them in forming a sound organization and so it was that such men as: Otto Haegland, George Fornoff, Joe Doll (who served as the first instructor on firematics); Ed Cambell, and two members of the Newton Abbott Vol. Fire Co. - Earl Evans and Jeff Wanamacher, came forward to assist.
By this time a number of new members had been added: Matt Roorda, Ed Roorda, Frank Aikens, Edward Barracloudh, Barbati Brothers; John, Michael and Umberto; Fred Barton, Walter Jordan, Christ Koch, Art Hansgan, James Brend, Manuel Canyas, Floyd Chilson, Jerry Ciaschini, frank Colwell, edward Crotty, Charles Di Rocco, david Durward, Eugene Doherty, Joe Foley, Jose Garcia, Jerome Gratvin, Walter Knapp, John Koch, Donald Krecker, William Kuehnle, Carlton Lapp, Richard Lenahan, N. Manzette, Edward Nesslin, Thomas Novilli, Michael Podkulski, Joseph Pavone, Joseph Raslog, Edward Rousselett, Dallas Shanks, John Violanti, Achille Volpini, Vincent Wappman, Edward Sattler and Edward Sperck.
Fire school classes were started, the pressure was on with the "Boys" spending a great deal of time at the fire hall and many a "joiner" soon dropped out or was dropped.
The Ladies Auxiliary was founded and with their support the first fire company field days were held. Most of the prizes were donated by the members of the two organizations and the businessmen in the community. In contrast to last years outlay of over $2,000 in prizes.
In order to promote the fire companies' activities a parade unit was formed with the members wearing white shirt, black tie, and blue trousers. The present uniform is: suntan trousers with a green stripe on the outside of the leg, black belt, green shirt trimmed in gold, visor type hat in sun tan trimmed in gold and green except the line officers hats which are white. The unit in full force numbers about 35 men. An occasion, when a good numbers of men turn out, is Memorial Day when tribute is paid to our departed brother members at our Memorial Grounds where a tree has been planted for each active departed member as a living symbol.
The writing of the foregoing sketches, and excursions among the institution people, and events of the past of Big Tree Community and as these memories are recollections and may be, in some particulars, inaccurate.
We are steadily, in these decades, succeeding the past 150 years, when we had so broad a beginning, illustrating that in all the advances we are making, each seeming as if the best had been reached; it proves but the commencement of far greater improvements, as the atomic energy. That we are in all these steps of progress, but "making stepping stones for our dead selves to higher things."
Much more could be written about the Big Tree Vol. Fire Co. with the material collected but printing cost must be considered and the Fire Company is a story in itself, the serious and comic phases, all aspects of current events, the doings and peculiarities of the people daily passing in panoramic review.
My deepest thanks to those who made this history of our community possible: Mrs. Ethel Thompson, librarian, Blasdell Free Library; Mayor Charles Albrecht (Mayor for the past 25 years); Chief David Durward, Sr. (Chief of the Big Tree Vol. Fire Co. for the past 5 years); and Mr. Robert Wilson, Publisher of the Blasdell - Frontier Herald, who not only encouraged me but on Sunday night would call and say: "Have you any copy ready?" and withough waiting for an answer would conclude his remarks with: "Drop it off at the office on your way to work."
written by: a volunteer fireman