Category: Front Page

Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s Save Our Sacred Sites (SOSS) initiative was launched in 2024 as a response to the widespread closures announced by the Diocese of Buffalo. SOSS supports community members, congregations, and neighborhood advocates in preserving sacred sites that define our local history, architecture, and identity.

Newly Landmarked and Protected Churches

We are proud to share that the following churches have been, or are currently in the process of being, locally landmarked through the Save Our Sacred Sites initiative:

• St. Jude Shrine – part of the Hospital Hill Historic District (in progress)

• St. Martin of Tours – Abbott Road (in progress)

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help – O’Connell Street (locally landmarked, and DOE secured!)

• All Saints – Chadduck Avenue

• St. Michael – Washington Street

• St. Thomas Aquinas – Abbott Road

• St. John Kanty – Swinburne Street

• St. Rose of Lima – Parker Avenue

We’re also honored to include Delaine-Waring AME Church (Swan Street). Though not directly affected by the Diocese closures, Pastor Perrin was eager to join the SOSS effort, recognizing the importance of protecting historic sacred spaces across faith traditions.

Ongoing Work & How You Can Help

Churches are added to this list as they face closure or are identified as historically significant and at risk. Because this is an evolving situation, please check back frequently for updates on newly added churches and preservation progress. Donations to a specific church or the general fund in the SOSS initiative can be made here.

If you are a church leader and have questions about the historic status of your church or want to explore potential protections, please reach out:
📧 emily@pbnsaves.org

Together, we are not only preserving buildings—we are sustaining stories, legacies, and the heart of our neighborhoods. Thank you for being part of this mission.

🔗 Learn more about the Save Our Sacred Sites initiative: https://preservationbuffaloniagara.org/special-projects/saveoursacredsites/

Preservation Buffalo Niagara has joined forces with over two dozen preservation organizations across the state to call on our Congressional delegation to act—before irreversible damage is done to the programs that protect our shared history.

At the heart of this urgent call is the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), a federal lifeline that supports historic preservation efforts nationwide. The President’s proposed FY 2026 budget slashes HPF funding by a staggering $197 million—a cut that would effectively dismantle the fund and devastate preservation work throughout New York.

The HPF provides critical support to the New York State Historic Preservation Office (NY SHPO), enabling the agency to carry out responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. These include reviewing and supporting historic tax credit projects, listing properties on the National Register of Historic Places, conducting preservation reviews for federal undertakings, and issuing grants to local municipalities. Without adequate funding, the capacity to support economic development, affordable housing, and heritage tourism — especially in historically underrepresented communities— will collapse.

Already, the situation is precarious. Although Congress appropriated FY 2025 HPF funds in March, those funds have yet to be released. For New York, this delay threatens one of the most productive preservation programs in the country: NY SHPO handles over 11,000 federal consultation reviews annually, has supported more than $7 billion in rehabilitation investment through the Historic Tax Credit program since 2018, and maintains nearly 130,000 National Register listings. Without immediate federal action, these achievements—and future progress—are at risk.

Compounding the threat are staffing cuts and layoffs at the National Park Service, further slowing down project reviews and jeopardizing private investment and local revitalization efforts. If not reversed, these bottlenecks will be felt from the largest urban centers to the most rural towns across New York.

As we approach America’s 250th birthday in 2026, we must reaffirm our commitment to honoring and preserving the full breadth of our national story. We urge Congress to:

• Restore full funding to the Historic Preservation Fund in the FY 2026 budget
• Immediately release appropriated FY 2025 HPF funds
• Reinstate vital National Park Service staff to support preservation programs.

Preservation is not just about the past—it’s about the future we build together. These historic buildings, districts, and landscapes are not simply relics; they are foundations for community, equity, sustainability, and economic opportunity.

We ask you to stand with us. Raise your voice, contact your representatives, and help us ensure that New York’s legacy continues to thrive for generations to come.

—
To read the full sign-on letter and learn more about this advocacy effort, visit preservenys.org.

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We are excited to celebrate the people behind this year’s most inspiring preservation projects at the 2025 Preservation Awards. Join us on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM  at The Caz (2221 Seneca Street) to celebrate the region’s most impactful preservation projects at Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Please note: The Caz will stay open until 8:30 PM for the Afterparty! Enjoy great company and live music for an extra hour — Thank you, Jake!!

For more information on the Preservation Awards, please click here.
To purchase tickets for the Preservation Awards, please click here.

Tiny Cottage, Big Vision: Emerging Preservationist Award Winner Lindsay DeDario

When news broke that the Robert Moses Expressway in Niagara Falls was going to be removed, it became clear that homes once facing a highway would soon be nestled along two world-class parks, trails, and a meadow. Lindsay DeDario said. “It would be a quiet, tranquil, and beautiful place to spend time, and views once reserved only for cars traveling 60 mph were going to be for people once again.”

As someone who is always believed in the untapped potential of Niagara Falls, Lindsay decided to put her preservation values into practice. She began monitoring the local real estate market for just the right project—something modest and meaningful, that could both honor the past and contribute to the future of the city she loves.

The first property she toured was too ambitious: big, overwhelming, and wrong for her hands-on approach. But during that visit, she spotted something that changed everything—a row of tiny 1800s cottages tucked away in an alley. “When one of THOSE went on the market… that would be go time,” she said.

And sure enough, one did.

What she purchased was a 730-square-foot time capsule—vacant for nearly a decade and packed with layers of paneling, wallpaper, squirrels, mice, broken furniture, and a whole lot of potential. “But it was crawling distance to the park, just a few minutes on a bike to see a wonder of the world. And — it deserved so much love.”

Lindsay’s work has been thoughtful and meticulous, always with preservation at the forefront. Highlights of the project so far include:

• Opening up the floor plan between the living room and kitchen.
• Removing multiple layers of drop ceilings to reveal original beams.
• Restoring and installing a tiny mahogany Chris-Craft boat door (sourced from ReUse Action) to access the attic crawlspace.
• Renovating the kitchen with insulation, a wainscoting ceiling, new doors, a new window, a range hood, and a cozy breakfast nook.
• Sanding and sealing original wood floors.
• Adding a hidden hatch door to the basement – “It was WIDE open to the primary bedroom before,” Lyndsay said, “Terrifying…”
• Installing modern electric and lighting where needed
• Extending a bedroom window into a large picture window facing the woods

The work continues, with plans for a front deck and a side patio in the near future. She’s even holding off on replacing the kitchen and bathroom floors—aware that preservation also means using materials wisely and sustainably.

For her dedication, creativity, and commitment to reimagining historic homes on a human scale, we are proud to honor Lindsay DeDario as this year’s Emerging Preservationist. Her project proves that preservation doesn’t have to be grand to be transformative—it can start with one small cottage, a vision, and a whole lot of love.

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We are excited to celebrate the people behind this year’s most inspiring preservation projects at the 2025 Preservation Awards. Join us on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM  at The Caz (2221 Seneca Street) to celebrate the region’s most impactful preservation projects at Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Please note: The Caz will stay open until 8:30 PM for the Afterparty! Enjoy great company and live music for an extra hour — Thank you, Jake!!

For more information on the Preservation Awards, please click here.
To purchase tickets for the Preservation Awards, please click here.

Preserving the Past, One Guest at a Time: The Marshall House

Built in 1913, the James G. Marshall House stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Niagara Falls’ historic architecture and the people who have called it home. Thanks to decades of dedicated preservation, this grand residence has transformed into a meaningful destination for both history lovers and travelers from around the world.

The home was first lovingly restored between 1994 and 2004 by preservation champions Tom and Louise Yots, who converted it into a traditional bed and breakfast and secured its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Their work laid the foundation for what would become a deeply personal and historically rich journey.

In January 2022, Matt and Cherrish Beals became the newest stewards of the Marshall House. Initially intending to maintain the home as a whole-house vacation rental, everything changed with a surprising discovery: a letter from James G. Marshall’s great-granddaughter, Ellen, found in a steam trunk in the attic. Alongside the letter was what Ellen believed to be her grandmother’s wedding dress—revealed to actually be her great-grandmother’s gown from 1898.

Through a connection facilitated by Tom Yots, Cherrish reached out to Ellen, and a unique bond was formed. The Marshall House soon became more than just a place to stay—it became a living tribute to the Marshall family’s history.

Today, Matt and Cherrish proudly operate the Marshall House once again as a bed and breakfast, welcoming guests from across the globe. With the help of Fahim and Seema Mojawalla of Island Ship Center, they have curated a small museum within the home featuring artifacts donated by the Marshall family descendants. Highlights include the lovingly restored wedding dress, James G. Marshall’s personal copy of a proposal to designate Navy Island as the home of the United Nations, and memorabilia from Old Fort Niagara, where Mr. Marshall was a founding director of the Old Fort Niagara Association.

The Marshall House is also a vibrant part of the local community. It hosts musicians during the Park Place Porchfest, welcomes international high school exchange students, and has served as a set for film and documentary projects. Matt and Cherrish embrace their role not only as hosts but as ambassadors of local history, committed to continuing the legacy of the Marshall family.

We are proud to honor The Marshall House for their exceptional Residential Project. Matt and Cherrish have embraced their role as stewards of this historic 1913 home, thoughtfully maintaining its legacy and sharing its rich history with the community and visitors alike.

“Matt and Cherrish are not only fine stewards of the Marshall House, but they are upstanding, dedicated community members of Niagara Falls. The passion and dedication they bring to making the Falls a better place is truly inspiring. I’m so proud of you two!” Emily Jarnot, Preservation Planner, Preservation Buffalo Niagara

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