I had an appointment today scheduled at EM Tea Coffee Cup Cafe over near Canisus at 80 Oakgrove [google map]. First time.
Wilbur and Kathleen Tyler, owners of the coffee shop, won a Preservation Award from Mayor Masiello and the Preservation Board in 2004.
Recognized for achieving a high level of design through retention of original elements in the conversion of the early 20th century building located at 83 Oakgrove Street in the Hamlin Park Historic District
The spot is a real gem. Great food. Only coffee shop in Buffalo that serves jerked chicken! On Tuesday nights they have a long standing poetry program. This is definately a new meet-up spot for moi. Wireless, too.
click image to enlarge
Make sure to check out the photography next door in the poetry room. Here you'll find scenes of the neighborhood prior to the 33 cutting the City in half. These pics depict various years along Humboldt Parkway. The display moves chronologically beginning with the dirt covered horse trails in the 1880's and ends with tree cutting and highway construction. Our server lived in the neighborhood for 45 years and knows all about it including fascinating stories of almost forgotten places on Jefferson, between Northland and Harwood Place.
The proximity of the 33, 100 feet away, as you leave the shop is staggering. The Kensington remains a testament to good intentions, gone wrong.
__________________________________________________________________________The proximity of the 33, 100 feet away, as you leave the shop is staggering. The Kensington remains a testament to good intentions, gone wrong.
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
3 comments:
As I said over on Flickr, those images make me sick and have since I came across what used to be there while in high school in the early 90's.
I'm just happy people woke up before the connection between the 33 and the niagara exit of the 190 was pushed ahead.
This more than the skyway, outer harbor, the downtown radial street pattern, etc would be the one mistake I'd love to see fixed in my life time.
Comment regarding the HP photos: what were those people thinking back in the 1950s! Unbelievable. I wonder if there was any kind of public outcry at the time or did people just shrug and say "that's progress"?
Jeff...
while researching other local history issues...i've been fascinated with where you're headed - i think - with your question. Looking into it as best i can with regards to newspaper accounts at the time - before, during and right after the dig.
I receive e-mails from former local residents, now in diaspora, who are still totally stunned by what "we" call(ed) progress.
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