Help Save A Drive-In!
This drive-in is in danger of being torn down for a Walmart. We drove past it this weekend while out taking pics and I found out about its plight in a search for more information on when it closed.
As far as I can tell, a bit of “trivia” I turned up is correct-this is the only drive in in the US with commercial rental space built into the base of the screen. There is a grass roots effort underway to save it. Even something as quick and easy as sending them an email to forward to the town and Walmart can help, by showing support and interest in saving this treasure. Drive ins across the country are going dark, this is a chance to save one from that fate. The site for the group trying to save it from the wrecking ball can be found here: http://members.bluefrog.com/ttroidl/
Drive-ins and classic cars go together as part of our culture. The loss of drive ins and decay of places like Route 66 just chips away at the automotive past…
If you can, write them a quick letter of support and spread the word. the more interest is shown, the more likely that this one place can be saved…
Bicentennial Barn
The first of 12 barns to be painted with the Niagara country bicentennial logo, the 30-by-50-foot front half of the Sweeney barn dates to the 1840s. It currently houses a dairy herd-it’s a wonderful thing that the county chose a working farm for the first barn to be painted. As the painting is completed, we will be driving out to each barn to photograph it-it would be great if each barn chosen was still in use! We were a little disappointed that the logo being painted on the barns is really just the falls and doesn’t take into account the rest of the county’s heritage. Although Niagara Falls is certainly the most well known part of Niagara County, there are many other historic and interesting parts to is. At the south. there is North Tonawanda, once the largest lumber port in the world. It is bordered on it’s south end by the Erie Canal, and is home to the famous Herschell Carrousel factory. At the north of the county, there is Youngstown-home to the historic Old Fort Niagara, which dates back to the 1700’s. In between, there are many wonderful little towns like Wilson, Lewiston and Hartland-as well as acres of grapes, apples, peaches and other crops. If you’d like to bring some of this unique Niagara County heritage into your home or office, click on the photo above or follow this link to our Americana and Rustic Country section in our shop: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633112.
Eternal Flame Falls
This unique and unusual photograph is of a natural phenomenon known as the Eternal Flame Falls. Located in Shale Creek Preserve in Orchard Park New York, this naturally occurring flame behind a waterfall is the result of a small natural gas leak. The day we visited the water was pretty low due to a dry spring, but the flame was high enough to touch the top of it’s cavern. It is about a 1 mile hike into the park and up the creek bed to get to the falls-but it’s well worth the walk to view this amazing site. We have heard that there are times the flame goes out, however it’s usually relit by a hiker with a match or lighter. There are several natural gas wells in the area, so it’s no surprise to find a leak or two that has reached the surface-it is rather unusual to find one behind a waterfall! If you’d like to add this unique sight to your home or office decor, click the photograph above or follow this link to the Scenic Photography section of our shop: .http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633138
Niagara Falls at Night
The beautiful city of Niagara Falls looks even more striking at night. Lights from the various buildings create a fantastic skyline view for those on the American side of the falls. This photograph would make a great souvenir from a vacation to the falls, or just beautiful accent to an urban styled decor. Available on framed prints, mousepads and more, your sure to find the right item to suit your taste! To purchase products featuring this photograph, click on the photo above or follow this link to our Architecture & Urban Photography section in our shop: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633153 .
Whirlpool State Park-Niagara Falls
Just beyond the tourist attractions of the city of Niagara Falls is a state park situated on the edge of the Niagara Gorge. Down river from the falls, the water here is a beautiful blue-green and the rapids and whirling eddies add frothy white to the top. You can take a set of stone steps down from the top to the water below-it’s a popular fishing spot for anglers. This isn’t a trip for the faint of heart (the steps have had some erosion issues through the years and some sets are set at an intersting angle) or the out of shape (there’s A LOT of steps!), but it’s well worth the climb. Once at the bottom, there are several stone picnic benches as well as a nice walking trail that winds along the river. If you’d like to bring home some of the beauty of the gorge, click on one of the pictures above (a flight of stone steps as well as a view of the beautiful blue water), or visit our scenic section in our shop for those and more here: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633138 .
Niagara Whirlpool Jet Boats
The jet boat tours of the Niagara river rapids (below Niagara Falls) are a very popular attraction-for locals and out of towners alike. They have run for 15 years, with daily rides up the Niagara through the whitewater created by swirling water running down river from Niagara Falls. Those not interested in getting soaked now have an option of riding in an enclosed boat! There’s no doubt the scenery is beautiful as well. There is a growing debate on these boats however, as residents living along the river find the constant noise and wake disruptive and question it’s effect on wildlife and shoreline erosion. For now however, the boats will continue to run the river rapids, providing excitement for every one who’s brave enough to ride. If you’d like a great action shot of the boats in action, they are available on a variety of products in our shop here: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/3061429 as well as some great souvenir items here: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2571294 - or, click on one of the photos above to be taken directly to items featuring that photograph.
Lake Ontario Sunset
A beautiful sunset as seen from the shore of Lake Ontario in Olcott Beach, New York. Lake Ontario is one of the Great Lakes, connected to Lake Erie via the Welland canal and the ocean via the St Lawrence Seaway. It is the terminus of the Niagara River, and home to a great many shipwrecks,
lighthouses and an important part of shipping and trade. It can be beautiful and serene, like in this photo, or churning and wild as the winds whip along it’s length. It helps drop feet of lake effect snow on places to the east, such as Watertown. If you’d like to add a little nautical beauty to your home, click the image above to see the products that feature our sunset photograph, or follow this link to our Landscape section in our shop: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633123 .
Whiteface Castle
Perched on one of the highest peaks in the Adirondacks, Whiteface castle looks out over an impressive view of the region which includes the Lake Placid Olympic area and village. It is accessed by a toll road built in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s as part of a depression are public works project. The castle itself is constructed on granite that was excavated during the construction of Veterans Memorial highway, the toll road which reaches from near the base of the mountain to the summit. Open from spring to fall, the highway has an 8% grade which makes the drive down interesting to say the least. The construction cost an impressive 1.2 million dollars to complete, and the groundbreaking was attended by then governor Franklin Roosevelt. He returned in 1935 for the grand opening as president. If you find yourself in the high peaks are during the time the road is open, it is a spectacular drive for those willing to give it a go. If you’d like to bring a bit of this historic place into your home or office, click the photograph above for products which feature a snowy photograph of the castle. Or, you can visit our landscape section in our photography shop for that and other great landscapes here: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633123
Buffalo Botanical Gardens
Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, architects Lord & Burnham and botanist John F. Cowell all had a hand in designing and building the beautiful and historic Buffalo botanical gardens. It was built from 1897-1899, and it is currently one of only two existing tri-dome Victorian conservatories in America. The conservatory has gone through several renovations and additions over the years, and faced possible closure in the late 1970’s. Saved by the dedication of Florence DaLuiso (who provided tours of the facility to schools in an effort to raise public awareness of the buildings), it’s most recent renovations were to the Palm dome in 2001-2002. It’s a great day trip for locals during the long cold Buffalo winters! If you’d like to bring home a photograph of the historic glass dome, click the photograph above. Or, follow this link to our architecture section http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633153 or this link http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2688373 to our floral section which features many flowers from the gardens. If cacti are more your type, then check out our garden greenery section here http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2725638 for photographs of cacti and succulents taken in the gardens.
That’s Charlotte New York, not North Carolina!
A quaint lakeside community, Charlotte is located north of Rochester at the terminus of the Genesee River. A beautiful park sits on the bank of the river with piers jutting out into Lake Ontario. Charlotte is home to fantastic brick and Medina stone lighthouse. This beautiful building was saved from destruction by the town’s high school in the 60’s and is now operated by volunteers as a historical museum during the summer. Visitors can climb the lighthouse tower for a fabulous view of the area and lake, as well as view historic photographs in the house itself. The lighthouse was decommissioned long ago, when the piers built to keep sandbars from forming in the mouth of the river actually created a build up of silt and sand that moved the shoreline too far from the light for it to be effective. A small electric pier light now guides ships and recreational vessels safely into the Port of Rochester. If you’re in the Rochester area, be sure to visit Charlotte and it’s historic lighthouse. Admission is free, but donations are always gratefully accepted and help the volunteers to keep up the house, light and surrounding landscape. Click on the photograph of the lighthouse if you would like to purchase prints, mousepads or other products featuring the light. Or, visit our website here for architecture products: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633153
You can also choose this unique view of the cast iron spiral staircase from the lightouse:
