Today, we’re not covering a street. I wanted to share some quick updates about a couple of things.
This week, I became a bit of a Taylor Swift influencer. I shared a post from my Patreon account from June about how Taylor’s Great-Great-Grandparents are from Dunkirk, New York. It’s gotten a LOT of views this week. It’s been really fun and very silly. A lot of people think history is really boring (I’m sure most of you reading this don’t think that), but I think this is one of those instances where history can be really fun. I know some of you are probably sick of hearing about Taylor, but I’m a fan. I think it’s pretty cool that her family had a music store here in Western New York. Here’s the link to the Taylor post if you’re interested in learning more: https://www.patreon.com/posts/83061148
The Taylor story got picked up by a bunch of news outlets:
- Dunkirk Observer – https://www.post-journal.com/news/top-stories/2024/01/swifts-dunkirk-ties-no-wildest-dream/
- WGRZ – https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/taylor-swift-dunkirk-wny-buffalo-connections-bills-chiefs/71-b6c6874e-583e-44e0-82f1-f8d83ff4c434?fbclid=IwAR0cvsG_mMRxwDR9zmXMQt9vU6AYxU7qMYDhrkS8L8uJff5n4V6VfP8ooTc
- Erie News Now (who didn’t cite me at all, unfortunately) – https://www.erienewsnow.com/clip/15446313/taylor-swifts-surprising-family-connection-to-western-new-york
- Syracuse.com – https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2024/01/taylor-swift-has-ties-to-buffalo-area-despite-cheering-for-kansas-city-chiefs.html
Secondly, did you read my last post about Hersee Alley? Remember I mentioned not being able to find pictures of the house at 33 Linwood? Photos were found in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church archives!!! David Hehr, who provided a great description of the house that I included in the previous post, was able to find these. These photos definitely match up to his memories!
Late 1960s view of 33 Linwood Ave. Source: Holy Trinity.
Late 1960s view of the rear of 33 Linwood. Source: Holy Trinity
Detail of 33 Linwood. Source: Holy Trinity.
Once someone invents a time machine, I will be going back in time to visit this house, because it truly looks awesome!. Other places I plan to visit: to May 1901 for the Opening Day of the Pan American Exposition; to WWII era Lackawanna to see Bethlehem Steel at peak operation; to 1865 Buffalo to take a walk down Swan Street when it was the “fashionable neighborhood”; and probably to 1910s St. Patrick’s School on Division Street so I can see my Great Grandma Susie in school and see if the nuns really made her put her gum on her nose as often as she said they did!
Lastly, I started a new job a couple of weeks ago. I am now a Revitalization Specialist with the New York State Department of State. Still in the urban planning field, just now at the state level. I’ll be working on revitalization projects in communities across Western New York. As you all know, starting a new job is a big change, so I thank you in advance for your patience as I may not be able to get out as many posts in the next few months – I promise I have a bunch of stuff coming up that just needs to be flushed out and finished so stay tuned! This also means I won’t be on the upcoming University Express schedule for the spring/summer. But don’t worry, I’ll be back once things get settled! I do hope to do tours again this summer, so we have that to look forward to as well.
Me in the Grosvenor Room at the Downtown Central Library.
I hope you’re all staying warm and doing alright after winter arrived with a vengeance here in Western New York. To the ex-pats who’ve moved to sunnier climates, please send us some warmth or at least some sunshine! The library reopened after being closed for a couple of days, so I’m back in the Grosvenor Room today, working on some research for some upcoming posts. Some things to look forward to – information about a convent, a skating rink, a penitentiary, and a housing project. That sounds like the start-up of some kind of joke….I promise they’re all related to different streets! If anyone wants to guess what streets those things refer to, I’ll give you a gold star.
All the best to you all! I hope 2024 will be a great year. It’s certainly been an adventure for me already!
Love,
Angela
And, of course, GO BILLS!!!!
Discovering Buffalo, One Street at a Time 
Angela, congratulations on your new job. Hope it all goes well for you. Love history especially of Buffalo and your posts are the best. Happy New Year!
Keep up the fabulous job and best of luck
Great job on tracing Taylor Swift’s antecedants! Hopefully, she’ll follow through.
Informative and timely. Thank You.
Congratulations on the new job!
I’m so happy about your new job, so congratulations, first of all! I know you’ll bring your creativity with you to the NYS Dept of State job. The tie-in of Taylor Swift with western NY is a lot of fun; I’m sure you have lots of new fans who may stick around for “what else” is new. Go Bills!!!
As usual very interesting and noteworthy. Thank You!
So thrilled about your new adventure, but can’t wait to catch up with you when you settle in and get back to it! Thank you for making history so very, very interesting for us all.
Angie-we are happy for you as you start the new job! We enjoy reading the history of Buffalo very much. Thank you! I see your Mom in your smile!! Love, Aunt Sue
I’m going to guess that the convent is related to Carmel Rd in North Buffalo…?
Good guess, but that wasn’t the convent I’ve been writing about…though I need to add that one to my list to write about!!