So what's so special about the Old Stone Chimney? by Paul Gromosiak

The “Old Stone Chimney” is the second oldest masonry structure west of the Hudson River in New York State.  The only thing older is the French Castle at Fort Niagara.

Four buildings were attached to it:  French barracks from 1750 to 1759, house built by the British occupied in 1760 and 1761 by a man named Duncan, from 1762 to 1796 by John Stedman and his brothers William and Phillip, from 1797 to 1804 by Jesse Ware, from 1806 to 1812 by Enos Broughton, by US troops in 1812 and 1813; a tavern from 1819 to 1822; a house built by Peter B. Porter from 1840 to 1880.

In 1942, Edward T. Williamss, Niagara historian said, “the Old Stone Chimney is absolutely the most unique and magnificent historic relic possible on the American continent, probably in the United States, and certainly in the state of New York.  It is highly probably that no structure anywhere in America has a status such as that.”

Here is a list of famous people who spent time in one of the buildings attached to the Old Stone Chimney:

1. Philippe and Daniel Joncaire, the men who built it.
2. Pierre Pouchot, the French commandant of Fort Niagara in 1759
3. Sir William Johnson, in charge of Indian affairs for the British king.
4. John Stedman, took care of the Niagara Portage for the British army; gave Goat Island its name; survived the Devil’s Hole Massacre
5. Captain John Montressor, built Fort Erie for the British, built the tramway in Lewiston (the first “railroad” in America).
6. Israel Putnam, famous in the American Revolution.
7. British General Bradstreet
8. George Clinton, New York’s first governor.
9. Charles Lee, second in command under George Washington.
10. General John Graves Simcoe, the first governor general of Upper Canada (later Ontario).
11. General Sir Isaac Brock, killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights.
12. De Witt Clinton, governor of New York who built the Erie Canal.
13. Red Jacket, the famous Seneca orator and leader.
14. Lafayette, the Frenchman who supported the United States in the American Revolution.
15. General Winfield Scott, American hero of the War of 1812.
16. Tomas Moore, poet who wrote about the Falls.

In 1891, a song about the Old Stone Chimney was written by Thomas Vincent Welch, the Niagara Falls businessman and leader who founded Niagara Falls State Park.  That song should still be sung by all the people who love the great history of Niagara Falls!

[by Paul Gromosiak]

Corner of 76th Street and Buffalo Avenue

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JustinTyme on the River Family Restaurant

When I was a little kid, the crew of us that rode our bikes around Cayuga Island and played at Jayne Park would peddle over to the Lighthouse Restaurant on Buffalo Avenue once a week to enjoy a hot dog or a burger while the summer days breezed past. Flash forward 15 years and you'd find us at the same location (during one of its many incarnations) at Dockers, playing volleyball on Tuesday nights and afterwards enjoying some adult beverages while watching those dancing on the dance floor to the latest pop songs booming from the bar's speaker system.

The establishment at 7611 Buffalo Avenue in LaSalle may have had many different names and themes over the past few decades, so when I arranged with JustinTyme's to come in and do a review of their new fingerprint on the building, I didn't know what to expect... and honestly, from what I have seen or heard about the last few tries from business owners at that location, I didn't expect much - whoa, was I wrong!

The Chickadee and I pulled up on Friday around 7pm, and after finally finding a decent parking spot amidst a sea of vehicles, we entered the building. This place was HOPPIN'! We put our names down on the waiting list (about 30 minutes we were told) and took in the sights. The general motif of JustinTyme's is a motorhead's dream! If the guys in my highschool's auto shop class were given the project of building their own version of an Applebee's, JustinTyme on the River would be their result. Now, I am more of an NFL die-hard and I generally lean away from anything NASCAR related, but after being there for about five minutes, I started looking forward to the first NASCAR race in Daytona and I started wondering just how fast my Blazer could go down the Robert Moses if I really floored it... maybe it was the hundreds of license plates hanging or the rear ends of classic automobiles sticking out of the walls the way a hunter would hang his prized deer head, but whatever the reason, the motor oil ambiance of the place was hard to ignore!

We were seated within ten minutes and handed a race car styled menu chock full of tastes for every palette. Choosing from the Warm Up Laps, Liquid Fuel, Victory Laps, and Home Stretch Desserts there is plenty of options for every taste. In fact, there isn't enough space in this article to list every offering but let me hit ya up with a few to get your taste buds yearning: Grandma's Pot Roast, The BigFoot Burger, 12oz. Steak Platter, and Southern Pecan Pie just to name a few.

The prices are very reasonable, burgers and sandwiches average about $7.00 and come with fries and larger dinners average about $11.00. I ordered Grandma's Homemade Meatloaf and it came with a choice of soup and potato. The Chickadee ordered the Friday Fish Fry with potato and cole slaw. My dinner was absolutely fantastic and large enough for a big eater like myself. The fish fry was crispy on the outside and perfect on the inside. That fish fry was possibly the best I've ever had... hmmm, I'll have to try it again sometime before I make that judgement! For both meals, the portions were large and the taste was delicious.

The wait time for getting seated was quicker than estimated, the customer service was good, the food came out fast, and the restaurant is very clean and comfortable. I am recommending JustinTyme on the River to anyone who is within earshot (or for the sake of this blog, I guess I would say eyeshot? uh... just trust me on this one). My expectations were surpassed and I definitely plan on visiting again. Not only did they offer great food at a great price, but overall, it was fun place to visit and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and having a good time.

Times have changed since Scotty Chambers and I rode our bikes to the Lighthouse, and times have definitely changed since Tony Kutis was bustin' moves on the dance floor at Dockers, but in this case, times have changed for the better! Visit JustinTyme on the River Family Restaurant today and help support a local business that is making its mark in LaSalle. You won't be disappointed!


Justin Tyme on the River Family Restaurant also offers an extensive take out menu as well as a catering menu. You can visit their website by

clicking here.


Justin Tyme on the River Family Restaurant
7611 Buffalo Ave. Phone: (716) 283-1339 Fax: (716) 283-1377
Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner


From their website:

Justin Tyme On The River offers a wide selection of food favorites.With more than 16 years of service, our caring staff and talented chefsare dedicated to making your dining adventure fun, relaxing, and pleasurable.Whether you bring your family in for quality time together or gather with your friendsfor a hearty meal, our family-owned and operated restaurant is the perfect place for you!

For the best food and catering services, come to our restaurant! Private Banquet room for up to 40 people.

Voted best "Beef on Weck" and "Best French Fries"in Niagara Falls by Niagara Readers Choice Award 2005. New Menu!
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LaSalle Village Building & Post Office

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When LaSalle became a part of the city of Niagara Falls in 1927, its Library already had a home -- two small rooms in the picturesque village hall on Buffalo Avenue, a facility that it shared with a post office and a police station. An offshoot of the LaSalle Literary Society, the library quickly became the hub of community life under the direction of Mrs. Alfreda Walker and, later, Mrs. Fred Campbell. Youngsters turned the pages of picture books at the slant-topped oak tables in the tiny children's room. Adults congregated in the inviting main reading room with its sunny, arched windows which featured during three seasons of the year, a vibrant display of red geraniums. (Please click here for link)

Local Review: Eddie Jays Restaurant on Buffalo Avenue

For this week's review, the Chickadee and I decided to visit Eddie Jay's Restaurant on Buffalo Avenue in LaSalle. You may remember the building a long time ago as "Weekends" in the 1980s, or maybe as "Goomba's" in the 1990's, or perhaps you paid a visit when it was "Rock n' Jocks" a few years ago. If you've never been there in any of it's past incarnations, let me first tell you how to get there... you'll find Eddie Jays on Buffalo Avenue, just past the LaSalle Library and Cayuga Drive going towards the Summit Mall... in fact, here is a handy little map to help you find your way:


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Eddie Jay's was pretty empty when we arrived, but at 5pm on a Tuesday, I wouldn't expect too many customers at any restaurant on a dreadfully rainy November afternoon. The place was very clean, with a Tuscan-esque decor... a far cry from how I remember it as the pizza and wing place called Goomba's. Eddie himself greeted us at the bar and told us to sit anywhere we'd like. Although there wasn't any sports on at this time in the afternoon, the half dozen hanging LCD televisions scattered throughout the restaurant gave me the impression that this would be a great place to watch some games, drink some beers and have a good meal while doing so.

The menu at Eddie Jay's offers a lot of choices at very reasonable prices. Take a look at the menu by clicking here. After much deliberation, I went for the stuffed shells (with two meatballs) and the Chickadee decided to have the chicken alfredo. With our dinners, I had chicken soup and she had a house salad. The chicken soup was hearty and helped to nullify the lingering bite of the cold rain outdoors. Within minutes after finishing our starters, the entrees arrived, and they looked and smelled delicious. The portions were large, the sauces were rich (not acidy), and the taste was excellent. When you visit Eddie Jay's, if you stray from the regular choices of burgers, wings, etc. - I highly recommend the pasta dishes, there were great.

After our dinner plates were cleared, Eddie suggested we try one of his sister's homemade desserts. We went for the peanut butter cheesecake. Once again, awesome! The dessert was the perfect ending to a very good meal.

Our bill came to a grand total of $47.00. That included: 4 drinks (two glasses of Shiraz, and two Stoli-sodas), a dinner salad, a bowl of soup, a large plate of stuffed shells in meatsauce with two extra meatballs, a whopping plate of chicken alfredo, and one slice of homemade cheesecake. Great quality - great price!

Eddie Jay's also has a large late night menu and a full bar offering up all the spirits you could wish for, making it a great place to watch any sports action or to hunker down and watch a Buffalo Bills game. Bring the entire family during the holidays and enjoy the excellent family style cooking that Eddie Jay's offers. Visit the website here for more information.

For more information, click this link for a past Niagara Falls Reporter article featuring Eddie Jay's.

Albert Augustus Porter House

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House built by Albert Augustus Porter - Buffalo Avenue. Now the site of the Holiday Inn.

Henry P. Smith Home - Buffalo Ave

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This is a sideview of the home built by Henry P. Smith (circa 1910 -20s) - Razed in the 1960s, now the site of Wendt's Dairy.

Basil Brothers Lasalle Theater 1939

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No matter how many times I see this photo (from the Niagara Gazette), I simply can't believe it. This theater stood on the corner of Buffalo Ave and 76th Street. Absolutely astounding.

Niagara Falls Vintage Photos - Buffalo Avenue

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What is now Buffalo Avenue in Lasalle during the early 1900s, looking east. On left, "German Methodist Church" - In 1969, the building was turned broadside, steeple removed and made into apartments. House on left now Lane Funeral Home. On right - house was Arnold Home, then the Luick Home.

(Mrs. L.M. Jayne identified these - courtesy of the Niagara Falls Public Library)