USA > New York > Erie County > Kenmore > History of Kenmore. Erie County, New York > Part 7
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KENMORE BRANCH Y. W. C. A.
The Kenmore Y. W. C. A .- originally called the Industrial Service Center of Kenmore, came into existence August 29, 1918. Mrs. James Foster of Colonial Circle was the first chairman. Serving with her were Mrs. Darwin D. Martin, chair- man of the House and Equipment, Mrs. E. J. Barcalo, chair- man of the Industrial Committee, Mrs. William Pennypacker, chairman of Activities, Mrs. Paul Dold, Cafeteria chairman. Miss Carolyn Grimmell was the first executive of the branch. Mrs. Helen G. Wagoner assumed the duties of House Mother and Miss Ruth Fairbairn the duties of Business Secretary. To the above group belongs a tribute for all the difficult work of seeing an organization begun.
The first club night, for employed people was held Feb- ruary 3, 1919 with 85 girls present. Following close on this, the Mothers of the community asked for clubs for the school girls and clubs were formed under Miss Rhoda Harris.
From these beginnings the work has progressed until in
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1925 over 100,000 people were served in some way by the Kenmore Y. W. C. A. While the organization was started by Buffalo people, the Kenmore women soon became interested and today the Committee of Management is mostly made up of Kenmore women.
At present the officers are: Chairman of the Branch, Mrs. F. C. Densberger; Vice Chairman, Mrs. E. R. Griffiths; Secre- tary, Mrs. Oliver MacLean; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Clarence Miller.
As the work has grown, additional people have been added to the staff as follows: Executive, Lucia P. Davenport; Busi- ness Girls Secretary, Blanche Knowles; Industrial Girls Secre- tary, Lillian Freund; Girl Reserve Secretary, Olive Degan; Cafeteria Secretary, Hazel Kidder; House Secretary, (Mrs.) Jennie E. Rader; Office Secretary, Lillian K. Buckley.
KENMORE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION, INC.
On April 23rd, 1923 nineteen business men of Kenmore met at Neustadter's dry goods store and organized under the name of the "Kenmore Retail Merchants Association." Its aims and objects were to protect and advance the business and civic interests of the village of Kenmore, foster a spirit of commercial harmony and establish a bureau of credit information for the benefit of its members. Henry J. Ebling was unanimously chosen for President; Robert K. House, Vice President; Vern F. Palmer, Treasurer; Katherine B. Pinch, Secretary. Directors: Ray E. Clark, George J. Schlehr, C. R. Schickluna, John H. Durkin and Harrison H. Bury. Since organization the association has increased its member- ship to ninety members. It has aided by united effort all public enterprises of merit. A contest was held in 1925 for the purpose of adopting a slogan to be used on stationery and advertising matter. The first prize was won by Henry A. Engel, 277 Parkwood Avenue who submitted, "Kenmore's Made of Kenmore's Trade," which was adopted by the associa- tion. Other slogans were submitted as follows: "Buy More, Boost More, Kenmore," by Arthur S. Hood, 127 Wardman Road and "Trade in Kenmore," by John Blankheit, 183 Tre- maine Avenue. The organization incorporated in February, 1926 under the name of the Kenmore Merchants Association. F. F. Barber was chosen as President for 1926. The regular meeting of the association is held on the third Monday even- ing of each month.
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ROTARY CLUB OF KENMORE, NEW YORK
"Service Above Self-He Profits Most Who Serves Best"
Charter granted by Rotary International was No. 1701, organized on March 31, 1924, by George C. Diehl, special representative of Andy Wallace of St. Catharines, Ontario, District Governor of the 27th District of Rotary International. Officers : President, Frank C. Moore; Vice President, Edward A. Jones; Secretary, Benjamin A. Keeney; Treasurer, Edward H. Boehringer; Sergeant-at-Arms, Vernon Eager.
Directors: Frank C. Moore, Vernon Eager, J. Fred Moore, Benjamin A. Keeney, Frank C. Densberger, Edward H. Boehringer, Edward A. Jones, Henry J. Ebling, Elmer L. Sleeper.
Charter Members: Frank C. Moore, Elmer L. Sleeper, Benjamin A. Keeney, Edward H. Boehringer, Edward A. Jones, Joseph B. Mang, Harrison H. Bury, James J. Donovan, Henry J. Ebling, A. L. Brainard, Robert Zimmerman, Vernon Eager, L. P. A. Eberhardt, Frank C. Densberger, J. Fred Moore, Eugene R. Linklater, Robert K. House, Ray E. Clark, William Harper, Louis Neustadter, John Richelsen, George J. Schlehr, Willis H. Hall.
Officers and Directors for the year 1925-1926: President, Dr. Clayton C. Morehouse; Vice President, Edwin R. Ashbery ; Secretary, William Harper; Treasurer, Edward H. Boehringer; Sergeant-at-Arms, William F. Beier. Directors: Benjamin A. Keeney, Arthur P. H. Saul, Floyd Barber, Henry J. Ebling, Vernon Eager.
Meets every Monday at 12:15 P. M. at the Kenmore Y. W. C. A.
The Rotary Code of Ethics
My business standards shall have in them a note of sym- pathy for our common humanity. My business dealings, ambi- tions and relations shall always cause me to take into con- sideration my highest duties as a member of society. In every position in business life, in every responsibility that comes before me, my chief thought shall be to fill that responsibility and discharge that duty so that, when I have ended both of them, I shall have lifted the level of human ideals and achieve- ments a little higher than I found it.
THE PROPERTY OWNERS PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION OF KENMORE, N. Y.
Meets First and Third Thursday night each month, Odd
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Fellows Temple; organized December 7th, 1921.
First Officers: Harold V. Cook, President; Eugene F. Stoddard, Vice President; Floyd J. Hurlburt, Secretary; Joseph M. Ward, Treasurer.
Purpose: The purpose of the association is to promote the common welfare, through social and business intercourse among its members, and to do all manner of things which are lawful and proper.
Present Officers: Willis H. Elliott, President; W. H. Finch, Vice President; Henry F. Trout, Treasurer; Stewart W. Jor- dan, Secretary; Chester W. Yount, Assistant Secretary.
ZONTA CLUB OF KENMORE
On December 2nd, 1925, a group of fifteen women met with Mrs. George M. Oppermann at her home No. 2851 Dela- ware Avenue to consider the organization of a Zonta Club. Marion DeForest, past president of the confederation of Zonta Clubs, and Louise Gerry, president of the Buffalo Zonta Club were present and gave valuable assistance.
The Zonta Club of Kenmore was organized and received its charter on February 1st, 1926. The following officers were elected: Katherine Busch, President; Mary Connolly, First Vice President; Mabel Moore, Second Vice President; J. Aurelia Oppermann, Secretary ; Mavis Todd, Treasurer. There were fifteen charter members. As a worthy aim and incentive to the club it assumed the work of assisting a young woman through college. Meetings are held monthly in the Y. W. C. A.
The board of directors is composed of the following women: Katherine Busch, Mary Connolly, Mavis Todd, Mabel Moore, Violet Osborne, Hettie Brosart, Lucia Daven- port, J. Aurelia Oppermann.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
The Kenmore Branch of the Erie County League of Women Voters was organized in May 1925. Its initial membership consisted of fifty-five women. Mrs. Harold V. Cook was its first chairman. The officers for 1926 are: Mrs. Bruce Silver- thorne, Chairman; Mrs. Carlisle Cherry, Assistant Chairman; Mrs. Matthew W. Hauser, Secretary; Mrs. Sidney C. Murray, Treasurer.
The membership of the League is now one hundred and fifty-nine. Its meetings are held once in each month and are open to the public. At these meetings questions of civic importance are debated.
The purpose of the organization is to teach women to vote
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intelligently and to use their own observations and judgment in their right of franchisement. The organization is non- partisan and both sides of every question debated are heard.
WHEEL CHAIR HOME FOR INCURABLES, 2746 DELA- WARE AVENUE, KENMORE, N. Y.
Mrs. Margaret G. Tuttle, Superintendent.
Object: To establish and maintain a home for incurables and chronic invalids and to provide wheel chairs for invalids among the worthy poor.
History: (1) Organized Wheel Chair Guild, May 1, 1910, for purpose of loaning Wheel Chairs to invalids and shut-ins among the poor of Buffalo.
(2) Opened our first Home for Chronic Invalids Septem- ber 1, 1911, at 93 Seventh Street, Buffalo, N. Y.
(3) Moved to 344 Hudson Street, May 1, 1912.
(4) In June 1913, changed name Wheel Chair Guild to Wheel Chair Home for Incurables.
(5) Incorporated March, 1915.
(6) Moved into its own building, corner Delaware and Kenmore Avenues May 1, 1916.
(7) Moved into new addition to same building July 15, 1923.
(8) Incurables and Chronic invalids cared for.
(9) No salaried officers.
Originally it was an organization with active members paying three dollars annually and associate members one dollar a year for dues. Donations from public-spirited citizens, sales, bazaars, parties, etc., given by the women to raise funds, and whatever sum the incoming patients could contribute toward their support, maintained the Home until it joined the Joint Charities in 1919, from which it now receives most of its operating expenses.
Success has attended this enterprise from the first. Twelve years ago last September was the humble beginning. Soon an eleven room house on Hudson Street was taken. In May 1916, it moved into its present quarters, to which a large addition was just completed last summer. It can now accom- modate forty-five patients and has a waiting list all of the time.
THE AMERICAN LEGION, MILTON J. BROUNSHIDLE POST NO. 205
The American Legion was born in Paris, March, 1919, as
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Monument to General Sheridan on Sheridan Drive as it will look when completed.
the result of the spontaneous demand of all veterans for some expression in peace of those ideals for which they fought in the World War.
The boys who represented the Town of Tonawanda and Village of Kenmore, started to realize this ideal in June, receiving their temporary charter in August. Forty signed the application and received the designation of Post No. 205.
Its name honors Milton J. Brounshidle, who was killed in action during the "Argonne Drive."
Post meetings were held for a number of years in the Village Hall until 1923, when the Odd Fellow's hall was secured for combined use of the Post and its newly-formed Auxiliary Unit, composed of the mothers, wives, widows and sisters of Legion members. The Post is now so large that these quarters are too small, and some means must be found to house its activities properly.
The Post has had a representative on the Executive Com- mittee of the Erie County Committee ever since that body was formed in 1920. It also elected a member of the Post as Vice-Commander, who later became Commander of the County.
Officers: Leonard G. Sipperley, Commander; Miner Wildey, First Vice-Commander; Frank McCadden, Second Vice-Commander; Karl Franklin, Third Vice-Commander; Irwin Brounshidle, Finance Officer; Richard Holbrook, Adju- tant; Charles MacDonald, Sergeant-at-Arms; Frank C. Moore, Post Attorney; Henry A. Brown, Post Historian; Richard Hol- brook, Robert House, Delegates; William Burlingame, Lewis Blackley, Alternates.
Executive Committee : Robert K. House, Earl Butler, Henry A. Brown, Lewis E. Blackley, William T. Burlingame, Fred S. Mathewson, Adelbert Dove.
LADIES' AUXILIARY
Officers: Mrs. W. H. Round, President; Mrs. L. E. Faux, First Vice-President; Mrs. O. C. Keener, Second Vice-Presi- dent; Mrs. George Diebold, Secretary; Mrs. Thomas Prior, Treasurer; Mrs. Arthur Burke, Sergeant-at-Arms; Mrs. John Hawk, Chaplain; Mrs. Edward Courtney, Historian.
Executive Commitee: Mrs. Henry Brown, Mrs. Clarence Yochum, Mrs. Roy McQuillan.
Delegates to County Committee : Mrs. Round, Mrs. Faux, Mrs. Diebold, Mrs. Burlingame.
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HISTORY OF THE KENMORE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The organization of the Kenmore Fire Department was first proposed by the Business Men's Association of Kenmore in the spring of 1893. The little village of a few houses hav- ing laid some water pipes, and desiring to be independent of Buffalo, called a meeting in the Sunday school room of the Presbyterian Church, on May 19th, at which the fire depart- ment was organized. Myron A. Phelps was elected president; James R. Barker, Vice-President; Edward H. Moffett, Secre- tary; George H. Meyer, George A. Besch, D. A. Phelps Trustees. The first chief was Frank C. Stillwell and George F. Striker, assistant. All the able bodied men of the village joined the department, one of the attractions being that mem- bers were not required to pay the poll tax.
DELAWARE HOSE COMPANY
In July, 1893, the Delaware Hose Company was organized by the men of the south Kenmore-Buffalo section. Freelon Hunter was chosen first president. The men of the north end of the village formed the Alert Hose Company with John I. Keller as president. In 1905 the old companies being kept up with difficulty and a truck being needed, a Hook and Ladder company with men from both hose companies was organized and later a Chemical Company was formed. In 1919 motor apparatus took the place of old hand carts. The Chemical Company disbanded and the Delaware Hose Com- pany, and the "Hooks" were merged into the Delaware Hook and Ladder Company. The flag pole on the village green was raised by the department in 1915. In 1919 Ross McIntosh, a Kenmore fireman, designed the kiosk containing the old fire bell which was dedicated on November 16th, 1919. The de- partment is now well organized and effective; fully equipped with modern apparatus and with ample water supply is able to fight any fire that may occur. The department also keeps alive the community spirit in a serviceable way. The depart- ment was the host for the annual convention of the Western New York Volunteer Firemen's Association in July, 1926, which brought forty companies and four hundred delegates.
KENMORE FIRE DEPARTMENT COUNCIL AND WARDENS
Alert Hose Company: Walter Ducker, Henry Schunk, Roscoe L. Rosser, Louis E. DeCourlander.
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Delaware Hook and Ladder Company: Frank V. Schultz, Bruce F. Miller, Charles Weiss.
Ladies Auxiliary: President, Mrs. F. V. Schultz; Vice- President, Mrs. Charles Weiss; Secretary, Mrs. G. Kirtland; Treasurer, Mrs. F. W. Spear.
Alert Hose Company: President, Raymond Kirsch; Vice- President, George Engel; Recording Secretary, Stewart Jor- dan; Treasurer, Henry Schunk; Financial Secretary, Irwin Brounshidle; Foreman, John Yochum; Assistant Foreman, John Kelley; Chaplain, Dr. L. E. DeCourlander; Historian, F. D. Luke.
Delaware Hook and Ladder Company: President, Charles Weiss; Vice-President, Norbert M. Beiter; Secretary, Ray Schurr; Treasurer, F. V. Schultz; Financial Secretary, William Gall; Chief, Edward W. Huebner; First Assistant, Fred W. Spear; Second Assistant, Ray Kirschner; Foreman, A. J. Burke; Assistant Foreman, R. F. Wunsch.
Kenmore Fire Police: Robert K. House, William T. Bur- lingame, Oscar C. Keener, Ray Grant, Leonard G. Sipperley, Richard R. Holbrook.
Roster of Chiefs since department was formed: Frank C. Stillwell, George Pirson, William Schmidt, Edward Schmidt, James Begley, George Brennan, Henry Schunk, George Besch, Charles Large, Henry J. Ebling, Milton J. Brounshidle, Louis A. Wiser, Clarence Yochum, John C. Hider, Pierre De- Lafranier, Edmund Baloun, Victor F. Moreland, Michael Forster, Frank V. Schultz.
INVENTORY OF RECORDS, VILLAGE HALL VAULT
1. Village Board Minutes, August 3rd, 1889 to 1926. 2. Assessment Rolls, 1900 to 1926. 3. Building Permits, January 1st, 1907 to 1926. 4. Correspondence, August 3rd, 1889 to 1926. 5. Erroneous Tax Petitions. 6. Real Property Searches, Deeds, Actions. 7. Attorney's Opinions and Reports of
Officers. 8. Approved Building Petitions. 9. Audited Vouchers. 10. Contracts. 11. Agreements. 12. Deeds. 13. Pro- posals. 14. Specifications. 15. Legal Actions. 16. Plumbers Bonds. 17. Bonds of Officials. 18. Insurance Policies. 19. Returned Mail. 20. Contracts. 21. Argeements and Options. 22. Deeds and Searches. 23. Certificates of Nomination. 24. Petitions. 25. Oaths of Office. 26. Election Expenses. 27. Canvass of Elections. 28. Improvements. 29. Bond Proceed- ings. 30. Compensation Reports. 31. Board of Assessors. 32.
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Regular and Special Elections. 33. Superintendent's Weekly Reports. 34. Long and Short Vouchers. 35. Blue Prints. 36. Maps and Surveys.
KENMORE REAL ESTATE
L. P. A. Eberhardt
Probably next to location, as to approach from Buffalo and strategic position on the Niagara Frontier, the real estate com- panies played the next important part in advancing the de- velopment of Kenmore.
The pioneer in this line was L. P. A. Eberhardt, fondly known as "Daddy" Eberhardt of Kenmore. Mr. Eberhardt started in business in 1884 sub-dividing the Leonard Farm of forty acres which tract is now Hinman and Ramsdell Avenues on the Buffalo side of the line. In 1896 he had associated with him Philip Walters and developed the Villa Avenue section. Later on the Ruff Farm of forty-five acres in the Elmwood Avenue section, including Hoover and Keller Avenues, was developed. Eberhardt & Sanborn were associated in 1892- 1896 and developed the Isadore Mang and Fred Mang tract on the south-west corner of Delaware and Kenmore Avenues and the Ackerman Farm of seventy-four acres on the south- east corner of Delaware and Kenmore Avenues. In all Mr. Eberhardt improved eighty-four different tracts of land and is the oldest and largest dealer of real estate in Kenmore and is still actively engaged in the business. Much time, hard work, and money was spent in the early days to make Kenmore presentable and habitable. The real estate men were eager to improve the looks of the new village. There were many unsightly barns and sheds to be removed and unsanitary ditches to be drained. Objections were raised by the owners of barns at having these old landmarks torn down. One such building located near the Lackawanna Railway was in the way of progress. All pleas to remove it fell on deaf ears, but at last Providence (?) came to the aid of the real estate men- the barn burned down. Ugly and offensive ditches were drained by the forward looking men. Dead and straggley trees were cut down and the landscape beautified. In this task all the new settlers took part, being anxious to make Kenmore attractive.
Jacob B. Rickert
Jacob B. Rickert was born at Manheim, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada. He came to the United States in 1890 and
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located in the newly settled village of Kenmore. He helped to construct the brown stone houses of L. P. A. Eberhardt, and Fred B. Eberhardt in Delaware Avenue in 1893-1894. Later he engaged in general contracting business building homes for the early settlers in Kenmore. Mrs. Hannah E. Rickert, his wife, became a resident in Kenmore in 1891 and resides at 27 LaSalle Avenue, being one of the few remaining pioneers who have witnessed the wonderful growth of the village. Mr. Rickert continued in the building business until 1914 and claimed the distinction of building four out of every five houses in Kenmore up to that time. In 1914 he formed the Hall-Rickert Co., Inc., with Mr. S. C. Hall and carried on home building on a large scale in the Hertel Avenue section of Buffalo, until the time of his death which occurred February 12, 1916. Like all the original settlers in Kenmore, Mr. Rickert was interested in everything that helped to make Kenmore an ideal community. He was one of the organizers of the Method- ist Episcopal Church of Kenmore.
Clare L. Rickert, 2959 Delaware Avenue
Clare L. Rickert, son of Jacob B. Rickert, worked as a car- penter for the Hall-Rickert Co., Inc., and took over the con- struction work of the company at the death of his father until the fall of 1916 at which time he went into business for himself, building and selling homes exclusively in Kenmore. In 1917 he combined with Eugene F. Stoddard, forming what was known as the Stoddard-Rickert Co., and built houses in Lin- den Avenue until entering the U. S. Service in the World War November 21st, 1917. He served eighteen months. After return- ing from the war Mr. Rickert sold his interest in the company to Stoddard and Quin, Frederick J. Quin having become a member of the firm of Stoddard-Rickert Co. In July 1919 Mr. Rickert formed the Rickert Building Co., Inc., with Charles W. Hall. In 1921 he bought out Mr. Hall's interest and formed the Rickert Building Co., Inc., 2959 Delaware Avenue, where he carries on a general business of building, real estate, and insurance. Like his father Mr. Rickert be- lieves in the future of Kenmore and is placing all his invest- ments in and near the village and shows a lively interest in everything that relates to the development of the coming city of 25,000 population which he believes will be the Kenmore of 1936.
Myron A. Phelps
Mr. M. A. Phelps, the first President of the Village of Ken-
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more, was one of the first to engage in real estate dealing in Kenmore, also to superintend the erection of houses. Under the title of "The Kenmore and Villa Avenue Land Company," and "Messrs. Phelps & Barrus," and as general agent for the "Kenmore and Delaware Avenue Land Company," Mr. Phelps not only sold land and houses, but labored with heart and hand to establish and build up the new suburb of Buffalo. He was respected and honored throughout the county and state. His work and influence for the good of the community still abides. Large & Hider, National Bank Building, Delaware and Lincoln
Charles Large, under the firm name of Large & Company (Charles Large and William Rowland) was among the first in contracting and building in Kenmore on an extensive scale. Among the residences built by this firm are the E. B. Olm- stead of Eugene Avenue, in old colonial style; the substantial George V. Eberhardt house 2768 Delaware Avenue, now occupied by Henry A. Brown; the handsome brick residence of Willis H. Hall, 84 Tremaine Avenue, also the fine homes of Harold V. Cook, 57 East Girard Boulevard, Richard W. Werner, 94 Delaware Road and many others including several in Deerhurst Park. Among the public buildings and mercantile blocks built by this firm are the Washington Gram- mar School (1910) which was the original High School. The Odd Fellows Temple (1914), the Ebling Hardware block, and the rectory of Saint Paul's Church.
Under the firm name of Large & Hider (Charles Large and John C. Hider) the Y. W. C. A. Cafeteria was built in 1918. More recently some of the notable public buildings erected are the Presbyterian Church, the National Bank, the Masonic Temple, and the Rosing block, Delaware and Euclid, (1926) which important site was occupied for many years by some of the landmarks of early Kenmore.
Rowland Corporation, 23 East Hazeltine Avenue
This firm of general contractors and masonry work is among the oldest and leading builders in Kenmore. William Rowland was formerly associated with Charles Large, as Large & Company and until 1918 shared in the operations of that firm. Since that date the corporation built the State Bank of Kenmore, the Kenmore Theatre Block, and the Szur Shoe Shop No. 9 Mang Avenue. The corporation has built twenty-five substantial houses in different parts of the village.
Kinsey Realty Company
A branch office of this company is located at 2830
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Delaware Avenue. Mr. Kinsey Sr. co-operated with L. P. A. Eberhardt in the realty business in Kenmore's earliest history. The present company operated in Kenmore on February 7th, 1907. Kinsey Avenue was the first street developed from Elmwood to Delaware Avenue. The Kenmore Estates develop- ment included Somerton Avenue, West Girard Boulevard, North End, Palmer, and Stillwell Avenues. The company has built 150 houses in the village including many on West Hazel- tine and Tremaine Avenues. In the town of Tonawanda sub- divisions include Colvin Avenue, Sheridan Drive and Eggerts- ville Road.
Louis J. Eisenberger
Louis J. Eisenberger, building contractor, 58 Tremaine Avenue, began building in Kenmore in March, 1914, finishing four houses in Knowlton Avenue. In 1915 he moved into the village and since that time has built 160 houses in various parts of the village. He finished the interior wood work in both the State Bank of Kenmore and the First National Bank.
Boehringer Homes, Edward H. Boehringer and Clarence C. Boehringer, No. 2955 Delaware Avenue
In March 1922 under the firm name of Hall & Boehringer, a number of houses were built on Mang Avenue and twenty houses on Lincoln Boulevard. At this time the office was located the farthest north of any of the real estate and build- ing offices, leading the way in development on Delaware Avenue. The present company since 1923 has built forty or more homes on both sides of Hazeltine and Tremaine Avenues, in the Elmwood Avenue section which is rapidly expanding as a business and residential district.
Ebert & Ebert No. 44 Columbia Road
This company commenced building operations in Kenmore in 1922 and has made a remarkable record in the erection of fine residences. Twenty-five houses on Columbia Road; fourteen on Lincoln Boulevard; fifteen on Mang Avenue; two on Victoria Boulevard and others in the north Delaware sec- tion. All these high class homes found ready sale as soon as or before completed.
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