Tag: Preservation

Pete Gallivan Receives the 2024 Media in Preservation Award from Preservation Buffalo Niagara

Celebrating Preservation Excellence: Pete Gallivan Receives the 2024 Media in Preservation Award

Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN) is thrilled to announce the recipient of the 2024 Preservation Award for an Individual, a recognition that shines a light on those who have made significant contributions to the preservation of Western New York’s rich heritage. This year, we honor Pete Gallivan, a name synonymous with the celebration and safeguarding of our local history through his impactful series, “Unknown Stories of WNY.”

https://www.wgrz.com/video/news/local/unknown-stories/unknown-stories-of-wny-special/71-15adb9f9-b031-49b6-a84a-fba2e9955abc

A Note from Brandon Kennedy, our Architectural Historian: Preservation is not just about maintaining bricks and mortar; it’s about safeguarding the stories and memories that give our city its unique character. Pete Gallivan embodies this spirit through his dedication to uncovering and sharing the hidden narratives of Western New York. His work has not only educated and entertained the public, it has inspired action towards the preservation of our architectural treasures.

About Pete Gallivan: Pete Gallivan has been a champion of local journalism and historical storytelling for years as a Daybreak co-anchor at WGRZ-TV. His weekly feature, “Unknown Stories of WNY,” goes beyond the surface to reveal the lesser-known tales of our region’s landmarks. Pete’s commitment to storytelling has earned him two NYS Emmys, a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, and an Associated Press Award. His passion for our community’s history has made an indelible mark on the preservation landscape of Buffalo.

The Impact of “Unknown Stories of WNY”: Each episode of “Unknown Stories of WNY” is a testament to Pete’s dedication to preserving the history of our region’s storied past. By bringing attention to sites like the Central Terminal, the Col. Ward Pumping station, and the grain elevators, Pete has played a pivotal role in raising awareness about the importance of preserving these iconic locations. His storytelling not only captures the imagination but also underscores the ongoing need for preservation efforts in our community.

In Summary: Pete Gallivan’s “Unknown Stories of WNY” is more than a television segment; it’s a weekly invitation to explore the hidden corners of our past and to appreciate the ongoing efforts to preserve our architectural heritage. As we approach the Preservation Awards on May 30th, 2024, we look forward to celebrating Pete’s contributions and the stories that continue to shape the identity of Buffalo and Western New York.

Join us in congratulating Pete Gallivan on this well-deserved honor and in anticipating an evening of recognition and reflection on the strides we’ve made in preserving the places that tell the story of our community.

Scott Glasgow Wins Neighborhood Preservationist Award from Preservation Buffalo Niagara

It is time to announce the winners of the 2024 Preservation Awards!

We have twelve awardees this year that span across advocacy, craft, residential restoration, commercial restoration, emerging preservation leadership, lifetime achievement, and more. We will be highlighting each of the awardees over the next few weeks – to entice you to attend our award ceremony on May 30th at the Buffalo History Museum. Come and celebrate the preservation wins with us! You can get your tickets here. 

Neighborhood Preservationist: Scott Glasgow

This year, this award goes to the one and only Scott Glasgow. Scott Glasgow (BRHS Founding Trustee & Preservation Committee Member) is a lifelong advocate and historian of Buffalo’s Black Rock neighborhood, whose family history in Black Rock spans seven generations.

Scott served on the BRHS Board of Directors and is currently a Preservation Committee member. As a founding trustee, he played a significant role in the petition to receive the Society’s original charter from the University of New York Education Department as an education corporation.

Scott’s work in preservation, at the individual property level and neighborhood level, has spanned over 35 years. He is not only an advocate for preservation but has also completed an award-winning restoration of his home – the circa 1830-1835 Jacob Smith House and Tavern is located at 71 Amherst Street. At his own expense, he saved one of the oldest structures in Buffalo from demolition as well as faithfully restored and reconstructed both its exterior and interior.

Scott was instrumental in the evaluation, nomination, and certification of the Market Square Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places, the first such designation in the Northwest Buffalo. Today the district, which includes the Jacob Smith House and Tavern as a contributing resource, remains a focal point of community pride and activity within the historic Village of Black Rock.

In 2023, Scott’s scholarly research, writing, and evaluation were also instrumental in the local historic landmark designation for the Lower Black Rock Historic District – a twelve-building local district on Niagara Street that represents the only extant Canal-era streetscape in the city of Buffalo. He is currently hard at work advocating for the nomination and certification of this district in the State/National Register.

Scott has done extensive research on the history of Black Rock including the neighborhood’s abundance of Civil War-era structures. Scott has been an active and informative speaker for the Black Rock Historical Society’s Fall Speaker Series discussing with knowledge and confidence about both pre- and post-Civil War era building methods and materials.

Scott can often be spotted scouring construction sites in Black Rock from where has gathered an extensive collection of artifacts which he uses in his teaching activities. He has worked in collaboration with the University at Buffalo on grants including a National Battlefield Grant for the War of 1812 Battle of Scajaquada Creek Bridge. He has also hosted archaeologic digs in the neighborhood including Market Square and is recognized as a subject matter expert on several topics including Scajaquada Creek and the Erie Canal.

It is not a rare occurrence that when questions about historic people, places or events are raised at the BRHS Museum they are eventually answered by Scott Glasgow. Through his diligence and scholarly rigor, Scott has helped to illuminate Black Rock’s place within Western New York’s history and will work as an invaluable asset in the upcoming planning for the Erie Canal Bicentennial and events at the canal’s legendary “Black Rock Stop.”

Scott Glasgow’s lifelong commitment to the history of Black Rock and its key role in local, state, and national history makes him the perfect candidate for the recipient of the PBN Neighborhood Preservation.

Please check out the Blackrock Historical Society for more details here: https://blackrockhistoricalsociety.com/

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

ReUse Action Wins The Preservation Craft Award for the 2024 PBN Preservation Awards!

It is time to announce the winners of the 2024 Preservation Awards!

We have 12 awardees this year that span across advocacy, craft, residential restoration, commercial restoration, emerging preservation leadership, lifetime achievement, and more. We will be highlighting each of the awardees over the next few weeks – to entice you to attend our award ceremony on May 30th at the Buffalo History Museum. Come and celebrate the preservation wins with us! You can get your tickets here. 

Preservation Craft in Erie County: ReUse Action in Buffalo, NY

The ReUse Action crew were the founders of Buffalo ReUse in 2007. When there was a shakeup at that organization, they started ReUse Action on the East Side of Buffalo in 2010. It may seem that they are a salvage non-profit, taking out and reusing anything from buildings that can be given another life: lights, flooring, cabinets, sinks, filing cabinets, you name it. They are a community-minded and thoughtful group, making connections throughout our city and taking care of their neighbors. They are quick to lend a hand and are welcoming to everyone. The upper floors of their location are used for small-scale manufacturing and other start-ups, offering cheap space with the hope that the companies will grow and move to bigger digs. They are an invaluable resource for old home lovers and those who need materials on a budget, but they are also eco-friendly, saving tons and tons of materials from our landfills. A worthy preservation-related endeavor!

A community member said, “ReUse Action is the first place that anyone restoring or rehabbing an old home should go to for not only materials but helpful advice as well.”

Want to see more? Check out: https://www.reuseaction.com/

ReUse Action is open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm and is at 980 Northampton Buffalo NY 14211

Thank you to the ReUse Action team for doing hard work in our community and region! The PBN staff is grateful to you for providing this service to the community at large. Congratulations!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

 

Buffalo Mass Mob Wins Preservation Advocacy for the 2024 Preservation Awards!

It is time to announce the winners of the 2024 Preservation Awards!

We have 12 awardees this year that span across preservation advocacy, preservation craft, residential restoration, commercial restoration, emerging preservation leaders, lifetime achievement, and more. We will be highlighting each of the awardees over the next few weeks – to entice you to attend our award ceremony on Thursday, May 30th at the Buffalo History Museum. You can get your tickets here. 

Preservation Advocacy, Erie County

Our Erie County Preservation Advocacy winner goes to Buffalo Mass Mob!

Buffalo Mass Mob was formed 10 years ago by Christopher Byrd, Danielle Huber Murtha, and Greg Witul (and former members Alan Oberst and Arthur Kogutowski) to bring awareness to our grand churches throughout Buffalo and Western New York.

About Buffalo Mass Mob: Due to declining attendance, area churches are closing at an alarming rate. Mass Mob aims to increase attendance one church at a time to raise awareness and appreciation for these grand religious works of art while also raising money so congregations can do critical repair work to maintain their buildings. Since inception, there have been more than forty places of worship visited including those that are not Catholic. Buffalo Mass Mob has hosted other fundraisers to help with much-needed repairs, such as the BuffaLovejoy fundraiser to help St Peter and Paul Orthodox Church get a new roof.

An advocacy idea for others – Mass Mob was such a popular idea, that it even spread to other cities such as Cleveland and Detroit. For those looking to start their own Mass Mob, on their website, there is a “start your own mass mob” section that details how to make one happen.

From our Executive Director, Bernice Radle:

Our sacred spaces are in crisis. We get calls daily to assist with research, the need for funds to repair their buildings, and more. We love what Buffalo Mass Mob is doing specifically because it is a direct-action effort by the community. The “mob sheet” on their website inspires other communities to take the lead, too! I love it when a small but mighty idea comes to ligfe – bringing significant resources to these churches. I hope Buffalo Mass Mob will continue for many years to come! Thank you to all the team for their hard work and dedication to our sacred spaces!

For more information on Buffalo Mass Mob, check out : https://buffalomassmob.org/

This slideshow requires JavaScript.