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Bufalo, New York - Black Rock
Black Rock is a neighborhood in the northwestern section of Buffalo, as was formerly part of the Town of Black Rock, a losing rival of Buffalo for the Erie Canal terminus, that was absorbed by the City of Buffalo in 1853. The neighborhood is much smaller than its namesake town, but is within the area of the former shipyards at the mouth of Scajaquada Creek, dating to at least the 1700s, and the heavy industries which formed along the creek in the early 1800s.
The area was and is still primarily working class, and has some of the oldest existing housing in Buffalo, which along with Black Rock was burned in the War of 1812. The area is also filled with churches built by waves of immigrants since the 1830s, and which continue to arrive today with significant Burmese and African arrivals this century. Many of the former industries, however, no longer exist, and there are many vacant factories and land area, although in just the last 5 years a significant number have been converted to other uses and more are on the way. Despite being a poorer area, the population has been increasing and development from the wealthier Elmwood area and Buffalo State College has given the Grant-Amherst area of Black Rock a "hipster" reputation. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1760/...ff509714_c.jpg IMG_1056 by bpawlik, on Flickr Assumption Church was the center of the Black Rock Polish community. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/886/2...a04a1e72_c.jpg IMG_1039 by bpawlik, on Flickr Amherst Street - the market is the longest continuing operating market in the city. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1740/...fc91b85a_c.jpg IMG_1042 by bpawlik, on Flickr Neighborhood homes near Amherst Street, dating back to at least the 1880s. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1728/...e9b423ea_c.jpg IMG_1045 by bpawlik, on Flickr The area maintains an "old neighborhood" feel today. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/902/2...e7ac29c0_c.jpg IMG_1047 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1755/...dcaa680c_c.jpg IMG_1052 by bpawlik, on Flickr The corner of Grant and Amherst Street, which has been re-developing as a commercial destination after several decades of neglect. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1736/...affef23b_c.jpg IMG_1053 by bpawlik, on Flickr The first fire station in Buffalo built for a gasoline powered fire engine, now converted to a private residence. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/901/2...9dfc9db1_c.jpg IMG_1038 by bpawlik, on Flickr One of the oldest homes in Buffalo, built around 1830, used as a residence today. The following photos are in the same area, near the location of the former Black Rock Market Square at Niagara Street, which now only exists as a small park. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1744/...06847449_c.jpg IMG_1058 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/885/4...fa9ba4ac_c.jpg IMG_1061 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/881/4...e63e5560_c.jpg IMG_1063 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1725/...7d2c89be_c.jpg IMG_1064 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/902/4...f76c4b0c_c.jpg IMG_1066 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1728/...a51760e8_c.jpg IMG_1067 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/901/4...40a1c77a_c.jpg IMG_1068 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/902/4...1f29397e_c.jpg IMG_1069 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/873/4...da2409fb_c.jpg IMG_1070 by bpawlik, on Flickr Unlike most of Buffalo, many homes in Black Rock were built without basements, and were often referred to as "cottages" by old-time residents. Some homes were also built two-deep on the narrow lots. Houses in this area show build dates in city records as early as 1824, just 11 years after the town was burned by the British. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/877/4...5a5a288c_c.jpg IMG_1071 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1752/...3b47a079_c.jpg IMG_1073 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1727/...0463d8bb_c.jpg IMG_1074 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1743/...f786c04f_c.jpg IMG_1075 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/889/4...ae73e7f4_c.jpg IMG_1080 by bpawlik, on Flickr Grant and Military Road, which was built to connect American Fort Niagara with Black Rock in order to avoid the British portage route along the Niagara. The following photos are also near this intersection, which has kept its business structures intact, including the former Unity Theater. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1738/...0461a4f5_c.jpg IMG_1309 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/886/2...32a9ee5e_c.jpg IMG_1308 by bpawlik, on Flickr The Burmese community has blended in with previous residents of the area. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1751/...ec141f16_c.jpg IMG_1307 by bpawlik, on Flickr The corner of Tonawanda and Ontario Streets, where Black Rock meets the Riverside neighborhood. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/886/2...e88b8840_c.jpg IMG_1301 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1754/...969731d4_c.jpg IMG_1299 by bpawlik, on Flickr Adjacent to Black Rock, there are recreational harbors near the entrance to the Black Rock Lock, which is part of the Black Rock Canal that runs parallel to the Niagara River along the Erie Canal path. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1740/...c4126dfc_c.jpg IMG_1081 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/877/4...b61105d8_c.jpg IMG_1083 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1749/...97760464_c.jpg IMG_1085 by bpawlik, on Flickr Across the Black Rock Canal lies Unity Island, a former waste dump now cleaned and converted to a well-used park by the local community. The International Railway Bridge crosses from Black Rock to Canada, and was built in 1873. Black Rock once had an extensive railroad yard, and much of it lies vacant today and held in private hands by speculators. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1731/...da46bd5f_c.jpg IMG_1090 by bpawlik, on Flickr The Black Rock Canal continues for about 7 km where it enters the harbors of Buffalo. During the construction of the Erie Canal in the 1820s, the water in the current canal was blocked by "black rock" which gave the town its name, and also prevented ships from traveling as far as Lake Erie without entering the swift Niagara River current. Canal sponsors blew up the rock formation, and Black rock not only lost its namesake, it also lost the terminus to the canal, and eventually its independence as a separate city. West Ferry lift bridge: https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1742/...a2f37e58_c.jpg IMG_1291 by bpawlik, on Flickr Bird Island Pier separating the canal from the Niagara, with the Peace Bridge to Canada in the background. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/882/2...5d784204_c.jpg IMG_1103 by bpawlik, on Flickr View of Canada and the USA-Canada border https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1744/...ca58b054_c.jpg IMG_1270 by bpawlik, on Flickr The remains of the "black rock" alongside the Bird Island pier. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/882/2...b3e3e223_c.jpg IMG_1109 by bpawlik, on Flickr end |
Nice!
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Enjoyed these photos. I used to live in Riverside and sometimes rode the bus through Black Rock.
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One more Black Rock image that I took today that many people seem awfully excited about.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/897/4...33b4f727_c.jpg IMG_1240 by bpawlik, on Flickr |
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1740/...fc91b85a_c.jpg
Was a Loblaws in the 60's and 70's |
Thanks so much for the tour!
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Older image of the area:
Passing thru the Black Rock Lock a couple of years ago. The original lock was built as part of the Erie Canal, while the current lock was constructed in 1914. It is 200m in length, and rises 8 feet to separate the downstream river level from the lake level at the end of the canal. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/...71f59c8e_c.jpg DSCF1429 by bpawlik, on Flickr |
Market Square Park, near the corner of Niagara and Amherst Streets, former location of Black Rock Market Square in the early 1800s.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1732/...87f0a551_c.jpg IMG_1060 by bpawlik, on Flickr Strong Catholic community of descendants of Polish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and states of the former Yugoslavia remain in the community, along with newer members. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1754/...7ddab5fd_c.jpg IMG_1044 by bpawlik, on Flickr Amherst Street business district, roughly 2 km long, has been preserved and many businesses are re-occupying the buildings, including popular bars, restaurants, and music clubs. Across the street (not shown) was the location of former foundries and paint factories, closed and demolished in the 1970s and 1980s, now occupied by a small shopping center along with vacant land. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1754/...09c1cbb1_c.jpg IMG_1054 by bpawlik, on Flickr Many former industrial buildings, particularly near to and including the former Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company plant have been, or are in the process of being redeveloped and re-purposed for retail, commercial, and residential use, with hundreds of new apartments added to the area. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1755/...0da24767_c.jpg IMG_1032 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1745/...d81e888d_c.jpg IMG_1065 by bpawlik, on Flickr |
Nice pictures! Black Rock is one of my favorite Buffalo neighborhoods, mainly because of the history, but also because of the waterfront.
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Thanks for the tour and history lesson! The resemblance to neighborhoods in my hometown of Erie is uncanny. Very good to see this long-neglected area of Buffalo on the comeback. Witnessing the overall revitalization in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Cleveland finally gaining a strong foothold has me optimistic for the future after decades of frustration.
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Nice photos!
To my eye, Buffalo looks a lot like Milwaukee. Makes sense. |
Quote:
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https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1759/...15f5b68d_c.jpg
IMG_1277 by bpawlik, on Flickr Sadly, 2 men lost their lives here today after entering the water to retrieve some driftwood. Earlier this year, a rescue diver also lost his his life here during a training exercise. |
It has been over 2 years since I updated the Black Rock imagery. Since then I got a new camera, there has been a lot of local building restoration taking place, and I took some more time to wander through many more streets and alleys. Today was also a beautiful Indian Summer day, so I took a bike ride with my camera.
The bulk of the images were taken today, and the rest of the newer images were taken in 2019 or later. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0451917e_b.jpg Assumption Church from Scajaquada Bridge by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1894f5c3_b.jpg Black Rock neighborhood homes by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7c212211_b.jpg Under the Viaducts - Black Rock Rail Yard by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a3b2978e_b.jpg Shoreline Trail by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...13c4370f_b.jpg Precinct 13 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9e3e96e5_b.jpg Fenced by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4ae282fe_b.jpg Ukranian Social Club by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0c3bf236_b.jpg Chandler Street Revival by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8eaca1d9_b.jpg Chandler Street by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...53048e5f_b.jpg Chandler Street by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bd6a905c_b.jpg Grote Street conversions by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2e45856d_b.jpg Next street to be converted? by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f5d2c0d6_b.jpg Railyard Lofts - recently converted by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3cb7ccd4_b.jpg The Showplace, formerly Unity Theater (1910) by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1aa852b1_b.jpg IMG_1202 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...26e8e6b4_b.jpg St. Elizabeth of Hungary by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3a14982c_b.jpg Polish Cadets by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...970ff2bb_b.jpg Swing Closing over Black Rock Canal by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...474ddc73_b.jpg Passing Thru by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...51396c12_b.jpg Black Rock Shipyard by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...690e575b_b.jpg Very Mixed-Use by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c5ac3bac_b.jpg IMG_2816 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...30181d3b_b.jpg IMG_2815 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e1541437_b.jpg Zip 14207 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...31f4590e_b.jpg IMG_2813 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0d3e159f_b.jpg IMG_2810 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...57f377cc_b.jpg IMG_2818 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c85a690b_b.jpg Black Rock Pop by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...879f7732_b.jpg Jasper Parrish projects by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...78e4eb3a_b.jpg IMG_2823 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dc254a34_b.jpg Emily's by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e3818008_b.jpg IMG_2828 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6fdd6ae9_b.jpg Old and Narrow by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bcc8e82e_b.jpg Tesla's Terminal A by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0aa0ff5c_b.jpg IMG_2833 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fbbe1b52_b.jpg The Corner Barber by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9fab8eeb_b.jpg IMG_2839 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ffeea3fc_b.jpg IMG_2840 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dfdd6497_b.jpg IMG_2841 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...04906408_b.jpg IMG_2844 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...63360584_b.jpg IMG_2846 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f72249aa_b.jpg IMG_2847 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fd06e680_b.jpg IMG_2848 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3c703b67_b.jpg IMG_2850 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ee3abfb5_b.jpg IMG_2851 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cccd4360_b.jpg IMG_2852 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9b8651b9_b.jpg IMG_2855 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9611cec7_b.jpg IMG_2856 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4bdde03e_b.jpg IMG_2857 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e98b16b2_b.jpg IMG_2858 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6bb28ee2_b.jpg IMG_2859 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b5280b4b_b.jpg IMG_2861 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4d38ea51_b.jpg IMG_2862 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2b6f2d3b_b.jpg IMG_2865 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4b271a96_b.jpg IMG_2867 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...289d17a8_b.jpg IMG_2872 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...821a82ce_b.jpg IMG_2873 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8d5de271_b.jpg IMG_2874 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9b53cfa6_b.jpg IMG_2878 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e73f79ff_b.jpg One of several rehab/conversions by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c30527ff_b.jpg IMG_2885 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...be08c46d_b.jpg IMG_2887 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...129c4c29_b.jpg IMG_2888 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...aa9396ae_b.jpg IMG_2890 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...34df5165_b.jpg Military-Amherst by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...04afa0e7_b.jpg IMG_2893 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5e461f6a_b.jpg IMG_2895 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0f536361_b.jpg IMG_2897 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ecfa4fcd_b.jpg IMG_2899 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...53ba767b_b.jpg IMG_2903 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...63fb752d_b.jpgIMG_2904 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0097fdc4_b.jpg IMG_2907 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e5405912_b.jpg IMG_2908 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...65ab8f38_b.jpg IMG_2910 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...58e02111_b.jpg IMG_2913 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...04d7c4da_b.jpg IMG_2914 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fc980d20_b.jpg IMG_2916 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cb86ff52_b.jpg IMG_2919 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ecd7ddc9_b.jpg IMG_2921 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...42a35624_b.jpg IMG_2922 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...81f72bed_b.jpg IMG_2923 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7c941497_b.jpg IMG_2925 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a10493f0_b.jpg IMG_2926 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a8bb7cdb_b.jpg IMG_2927 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4fc53152_b.jpg IMG_2928 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5d5a9b71_b.jpg IMG_2929 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7dd4f307_b.jpg IMG_2931 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d7e7cb01_b.jpg IMG_2935 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d0b58068_b.jpg IMG_2937 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...db9521ee_b.jpg IMG_2938 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4f17facf_b.jpg IMG_2939 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...43186860_b.jpg IMG_2940 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a0730e29_b.jpg IMG_2943 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7d97bc7f_b.jpg IMG_2945 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...38eb208d_b.jpg New Paint by bpawlik, on Flickr |
Pretty cool stuff...
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