‘Way Back When’ Archives
The History in a Name – Poverty Hill
By: Betty H.C. Hackett In the early 1950's my husband and I bought a house on Poverty Hill Road. This property was originally owned by the Coit family. They purchased this farm from the Holland Land Company. We immediately put in a water well, septic tank and electricity. The road was just gravel, but was hard-surfaced right away. “Poverty [...]
Way Back When – Route 219
By: Betty H.C. Hackett Ellicottville has always been on a main road labeled Route 219. However, it used to go north through Ashford Station, West Valley and Springville. In about 1950 or 1951, a new route was improved. The new road followed the old dirt road which was known as the Buffalo Road. Route 219 now makes a left hand turn, just north [...]
Way Back When – Basket Making
By: Betty H.C. Hackett My friend Helen and I were seventeen and graduating in June nineteen forty eight. We were looking for jobs and heard that the Ellicottville Basket Factory needed workers. We needed working papers and our birth certificates. Walt Lawler was the town clerk and his office was in his general store on Main Street. We trotted [...]
Way Back When – Milk
Way Back When By: Betty H.C. Hackett Purchasing some milk used to be much different way back when. Edward and Eva Chapman and sons Archie M. and Guy E. lived in the Village of Ellicottville. Their dream was a dairy farm just outside of town and they started a delivery service in the Village. The horse drawn wagon was enclosed and they had a [...]
