2025 3rd Quarter Newsletter
Our Museum in Action
Doreen Boyer DeBoth – Woman of Distinction
On August 8 NYS Assemblymember Bill Conrad honored Doreen Boyer DeBoth as a 2025 Woman of Distinction. Doreen was a founder of the Black Rock Historical Society, where she continues to serve as Museum Curator and Board Member. As owner of the Artsphere Studio & Gallery at 99 Chandler Street, she is renowned as a prolific artist and art teacher. Her paintings of Buffalo, Black Rock and Riverside, with a signature focus on the city’s rich history and grand architecture, are truly master works.
Doreen was nominated by Mary Ann Kedron – a fellow Society founding trustee and Board Member – who said it best: “She loves the community and everybody in it, and we are so, so lucky to have her.” Doreen’s family and friends joined Assemblymember Conrad at the BRHS museum as he thanked her for using her talents and time to beautify, teach, and enrich WNY.
Upcoming Events
New Acquisitions
THE QUAKES “VOICE OF AMERICA” 33 RPM ALBUM & PHOTO
This album is a 35 year anniversary of their second album that came out in 1990 while they were living in an apartment (1989-1996) in this building at 436 Amherst Street, currently the BRHS
Donated by Paul Roman/The Quakes
GIRL SCOUT PIN WITH 10 GIRL SCOUT RULES ATTACHED
This bracelet features engraved ten girl scout rules on ten circular gold disks.
Donated by Kathy McNally
Historic Photos
This is the site of the original Radio and TV Repair Shop opened by Louis Rigler in 1958 at 911 Tonawanda Street. Eventual expansion took in the entire first floor and an adjoining building, for a total 1,200 square feet of shop and display space. Louis, an electronics engineer, and his wife Maria emigrated from Budapest, Hungary. Photo by Dick Litz.
Maria Rigler looks on at descriptive literature on some of the TV sets on display, as Louis checks orders. Working together they successfully created one of the largest privately owned operations in the city. Photo from Riverside Review, September 15, 1966.
New Articles
Historic Homes of Black Rock
Commercial Development in Black Rock
2025 1st Quarter Newsletter
Our Museum in Action
The first quarter of 2025 has proven to be a very busy time for our museum. We have been fortunate enough to be the host to authors who were happy to present their new books and provide us with some insider information on the subject. Fredricka Barton and the Friends of Freedom Park held a presentation on the importance of Freedom Park as the last stepping stone to freedom for so many of our brothers and sisters as part of the Underground Railroad.
Tim Bohen and his presentation on “The Emerald Thread” the impact of the Irish on Buffalo and Black Rock presented March 6th.
We look forward to more informative presentations with our upcoming Spring Speaker Series to Commence in May.
New Acquisitions
The Black Rock Historical Society received a new acquisition – a Civil War-era shoe that was found in the rafters of a house on East Street. It seems that this was a custom from Europe used to keep “evil spirits” away.
Here is an Old World example of the tradition found today in the 13th century Dominican Cloister, Tallinn, Estonia.
Historic Photos
New Articles
Polish Bakeries of Black Rock
