VINTAGE PHOTOS - FALLSVIEW BRIDGE COLLAPSE

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Photo 1: The collapse of the Falls View Bridge into the river Jan. 27, 1938

Photo 2: The final stages of the Falls View Bridge sinking into the river and being washed away.



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FOOTBALL in NIAGARA FALLS

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Prior to 1967 Niagara Falls didn’t have a youth football team. The Police Athletic League (PAL) wanted to begin some kind of fall sports program and football was suggested. We became members of the WNY Tyro Football League and were known as the Niagara Falls Knights. About 7 PAL members went door to door soliciting businesses to help sponsor the program, and Chuck Kenny, who owned a sporting goods store in Lockport, advanced us about $10,000 in equipment (we did eventually pay for it). There was no fee for the kids to play and we depended heavily on volunteers for our operation. Our first head coach was police officer John Gabriele (later firefighter and fire chief). Our teams were winners from the get-go. After our first season, played at LaSalle Jr. High School, complete with marching band and cheerleaders, we had a celebration dinner cooked by our volunteers in the YMCA on Portage Rd.

The second season we went “big time,” with a celebration dinner at the Como Restaurant with many dignitaries in attendance, including the Mayor E. Dent Lackey, and special guest speakers, Ernie Warlick and Al Bemiller, of the Buffalo Bills. Mayor Lackey even gave (volunteer) General Manager, Jim Brunn, the key to the city!

The first photo is of Ernie Warlick posing with running backs Gary McLaughlin and Sam Giancola (Sam is now a coach at NFHS).

The second photo is of Al Bemiller autographing programs for some of the players. Perhaps some readers might be able to identify themselves in the photo.

In later years the local program split into two divisions due to a difference in philosophy among the coaches, yet today, 40 years later, they remain an integral part of the youth sports programs in the city.

1950s Postcard of Falls Street at Night

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FALLS STREET POSTCARD circa 1950. Submitted by Ron M.

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NIAGARA FALLS DRY

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In 1969, the US Army Corps of Engineers built a series of coffer dams which stopped or rather reduced the water flow over the American Falls to a mere trickle. This was done to allow a study of the rock formations at the crest of the Falls and to study the feasibility of whether there was any possible way to remove the rock (talus) at the base of the American Falls. In the end, the engineers decided to let mother nature take its course.

Check out this YouTube video of old footage (thanks to Harold T.)

Main Street "Battle of the Bands" 1966

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The first photo is c.1966 and was taken in front of Ruben’s Pawn Shop on Main St. during a Battle of the Bands, sponsored by the Main St. Business Assoc. It shows 3 14-15yr olds who called themselves The Apaches, left to right Thom Rotella on guitar, Rich DelZoppo on guitar and Pat Peri on drums.

Their stage was the back of a flat bed trailer. They won that contest, and subsequent “battles,” that occurred in an expanded version with two real stages in a vacant lot at Cleveland Ave and Main St.

Thom Rotella moved on to the west coast and has become one of the top smooth jazz guitarists in the world. You should check out his incredible biography on his website (http://www.thomrotella.com/). Rich DelZoppo is currently still playing music in the WNY area, and Pat Peri is an executive in business in Buffalo.

The second photo is of the three of them as they appeared a couple years ago when Thom was a headliner at the Lewiston Jazz Festival and the three reunited for the photo.


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Blog Entry and Photos by JB
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VINTAGE PHTOS - MAIN STREET 1968

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"Photo was taken at Carroll's Drive-In in the 1600 block of Main Street - where Burger King now stands. I believe the two in the plaid shirts are Tom Heck and Pete Woolverton" - submitted by JB.

Interesting background images... Slipko's, Jenss, etc...

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DO YOU RECOGNIZE A FACE? (Reader Submitted)

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Taken at Davita's 420 Niagara Street, circa 1945. On the corner of 4th and Niagara. A popular spot for Gazette employees and many others. Do you recognize a face in the photo? The reader who submitted the photo would love to hear about it... email me and I'll pass the info on!

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