In the Steel of the Night
Buffalo.com
June 29, 2009
As the saying goes, you’re either on the bus or off the bus. And if you’re on the Forgotten Buffalo tour bus, get ready to experience the unique places in the neighborhoods that make Buffalo and the surrounding area what it is.
This past Thursday night, the journey began at Sportman’s Tavern on Amherst St. in Black Rock. While guests waited for the bus to arrive at 6 p.m., they had the chance to mingle and were greeted by the tour guides and founders of Forgotten Buffalo Tours, Eddy “Maxwell Truth” Dobosiewicz and Marty Biniasz. The subject of the tour? Steel Mills, Wind Mills and Gin Mills: Lackawanna, N.Y. or as they say “You’re gonna wanna, come to Lackawanna.”
“People take the tour for many reasons, be it they come for historical value, social value or they want to connect with their parents or grandparents somehow.” said Dobosiewicz. “Essentially this tour is about telling the story of neighborhoods through the neighborhood taverns.”
As the bus filled up, ready for departure, people drank their beer and were gathering excitement as the Mission Impossible theme song prepared them for this unique experience. The bus headed south on Skyway and with “We’re Gonna Win That Cup,” playing in the background, guests took one more glance at what remained of the Aud. This sight ignited many memorable stories to be shared among strangers.
Most were looking forward to our first stop, The Bethlehem Steel Plant, which was open from 1903 to 1983. Betty Graham, a retired teacher’s aid from South Buffalo, along with her husband Donald were among the many ready to take an up close and personal look at the plant.” My husband worked at the steel plant for 17 years,” Graham said. “ This tour was a Christmas gift from our kids.”
The bus also drove around the Steel Wind windmills, which stand 425 feet from the bottom to the top of blades, and power about 6,000 homes annually. Heading back out of the property, the bus passed the popular “Gate 3" area of the plant, where workers used to be seen coming and going during the 24 hours of operation.
Many of the steel mill workers would stop by 35 Kane St. and visit Finklestein’s, presently known as Cheesie’s Little Vegas, to wet their whistle due to its proximity to Gate 3. The bus made a stop there and guests grabbed a beer at the bar, and enjoyed the ambience of this small piece of great history.
The next part of the tour led us to The Steel Plant Museum on Ridge Road, where hundred of artifacts from the plant were donated by previous workers and family members. Guests could look at old photographs of the workers and also snap a picture of the original “Gate 3" sign that workers at the mill would see as they arrived for their shift.
By 7:30 the rain was falling as the bus headed to Reese’s Place, located in Lackawanna’s “Fruit Belt” area to enjoy some fantastic homemade Italian and Polish cuisine. Ironically enough, the downpours and winds had caused a brief power outage during our meal on Electric Avenue.
Lackawanna Mayor Norman Polanski also made an appearance to speak with guests briefly about the city’s centennial and how culturally integrated its always been.” The churches were the cornerstones of the community,” Polanski said.” I never asked anyone their nationality because it didn’t matter.”
The bus also made brief trips to the American Legion Post 63, where a toast was made for all members of the armed forces, past and present, and Murph’s Warsaw Grill, which has been a neighborhood tavern for over 100 years.
Forgotten Buffalo Tours will be happening throughout the summer and well into the fall. For a small price of $40, guests receive an interactive history lesson on some of the great places that make the fabric of this area culturally unique. Throw in a fabulous meal, comedic tour guides, fitting songs that soundtrack the night’s travels, as well as trivia and the experience of sitting on a school bus once more and you’ve got quite the night out.
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