Hamburg,NY.htm

Winter days are long in Western New York. I love them, partly because I can get a lot of art work done. But about two o'clock in the afternoon I need to get outside. I gather together library books to be returned, letters to be mailed, banking to be done and anything else that I can take care of. I put on my winter gear - mittens, hat, scarf boots and jacket and I'm off.

Our House
"This house was built in 1919 for the Kassel family.
The builder was Bill Blessing.
Mr. Kassel was a craftsman for the Pierce Arrow Co.
in Buffalo.
He did those wood mosaic dashboards on
those beautiful automobiles."
Art Kassel, 1983

The Kassels raised three sons in this house. They eventually sold it to Raymond and Dorothy Mills. The Mills had no children. They sold the house to us in 1962 and we raised three sons and a daughter here.

It is possible that my tracks going out of the driveway are the first on the snow that fell the night before. On the sidewalk, I follow those of the children on their way to school, the letter carrier and the few other walkers in the village. The snow in the street is pretty well packed down, the snowplows were out early to remove most of the deeper snow in the street. Most driveways have car tracks going out and some coming back in. The street is very quiet. Most of the other homeowners are gone for the day.

The Brendel Building

In 1858 John G. Brendel established a
general store on this site.
In 1878 he removed the old store
and built the present building.
It was part store and part residence.
It still is.

My walks often take me to Main St. There across from the Village Hall stands my favorite landmark. When I look into the old arched windows I find myself wondering about the people who looked out through them over the past 122 years. What were their lives like? Were they that different from ours? I have been told of dances held years ago in a large ballroom on the top floor and of lighted Christmas trees in the cupola.

The Palace Theatre
"The new Palace Theatre opened in January, 1926.
Built by George Biehler it was designed to be "state of the art". The opening night program included "His Secretary" in it's first showing outside New York City; a cartoon; Pathe News and a Hal Roach comedy.
Music was furnished by a ten piece orchestra.
The old Palace was across the street"

Joe Streamer, 1992

Around the corner, on Buffalo Street stands this wonderful movie theatre. Years ago I spent many hours there with my children. After a while they went with their friends. I still like to walk there in the evening to see a good film. And I love walking home along the dark streets. I have to admit that I enjoy looking into the warmly lighted windows of the village homes along my way.