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47-677: The Courier-Express was created in 1926 by a merger of the Buffalo Daily Courier and the Buffalo Morning Express. William J. Conners , the owner of the Buffalo Courier , brought the two papers together. The combined newspapers claimed a heritage dating to 1828. One notable part-owner and editor of the Buffalo Express was Samuel Langhorne Clemens , also known as Mark Twain, whose tenure at

94-569: A South Buffalo native, is also notably conservative. Carl Paladino , a former school board member and gubernatorial candidate, was a registered Democrat from 1974 to 2005, but he changed his registration to Republican and ran on that party's line in the 2010 New York gubernatorial election . Within South Buffalo are two parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted . These parks, Cazenovia and South Park , were connected by wide elm -lined streets. McKinley Parkway and Red Jacket Parkway are two of

141-565: A bat with the handle up to one captain, who would grab it in one hand. Each captain would alternately place a hand on the top of the others hand until there was no more room on the bat. The last hand determined the first choice. The area is represented by the South Buffalo Celtics in amateur American football . The Celtics won the 2011 Mid Continental Football League championship in October 2011. Two neighborhood movie houses,

188-659: A gamut from some of South Buffalo's best known Irish-American families. Each year, starting in 2004, the Moe Talty-Franz walk for breast cancer awareness and fund raising is conducted in Cazenovia Park. Hundreds of people come together to support this worthy event. The South Buffalo Italian Festival is held each summer and attract hundreds of people who come to honor the Italian-American contributions to South Buffalo. Another new festival tradition

235-454: A nine-hole golf course, a wading pool, playground, basketball and tennis courts, three soccer fields, as well as a casino, typical of the era when the park was designed. The road running through the park was named after South Park High School Alumni Warren Spahn in 2004. South Park is located along the border of Lackawanna. It also contains a nine-hole golf course, as well as two softball diamonds. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

282-430: A result, two of its campuses in South Buffalo closed. Public Schools in South Buffalo include Hillary Park Academy, Southside Elementary, Lorraine Academy, and many charter schools. South Park High School is the neighborhood's only public secondary school. The two remaining Catholic high schools in South Buffalo are Bishop Timon - St. Jude High School for boys and Mount Mercy Academy for girls. The South Buffalo area

329-593: A saloon in Buffalo, which within a few years became successful. In 1885, he made a contract with Washington Bullard to handle all Buffalo freight for the Union Steamboat Co. This was followed by more contracts with other carriers, ultimately acquiring a virtual monopoly of the business in Buffalo and a few other lake ports. By 1898, he had contracts for loading and unloading in Buffalo, Chicago , Milwaukee , and Gladstone, Michigan for all vessels belonging to

376-406: A strong presence of various other nationalities. The once-heavily industrialized district was home to many steel mills , automotive parts manufacturers, petroleum refineries , foundries, and machine shops. However, due to increasing deindustrialization and rising unemployment, the area has experienced growing problems with poverty and population decline. South Buffalo, as officially designated by

423-609: Is also in the park. It is a favorite summer time habitat for Canada geese . Hillery Playground, located in the Seneca Street neighborhood, is a main recreational area for the residents of the Seneca Street area of South Buffalo. In addition, there are numerous fishing spots on the waterfront such as the Small Boat Harbor, Gallagher Beach, and Union Ship Canal on the Lackawanna border. The South Buffalo area

470-554: Is also served by two libraries. The Dudley Branch of the Erie County Library System is located at 2010 South Park Avenue. The Cazenovia Library functions as an independent library and community resource center and is located at 155 Cazenovia Street. South Buffalo has one of the highest concentrations of Irish Americans west of the Hudson River outside of Chicago , many of whom settled in Buffalo after

517-617: Is celebrated at the shrine of St. Joseph the Worker on the grounds of St. Thomas Aquinas Church. The shrine was erected by Msgr. John P. Boland, known as the "Labor Priest." Msgr. Boland was noted for his contributions to the New York State Little Wagner Act. The parade and Mass are followed by a picnic in Caz Park. Famous natives include political activist and property developer Carl Paladino , who moved from

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564-493: Is located on Abbott Road and has another campus on Seneca Street in South Buffalo. Recently, the South Buffalo Catholic Schools have consolidated to form one school, called South Buffalo Catholic School located on Abbott Road. The school struggled financially because of the high cost associated with operating private education, and the 2008-2009 school year closed with a $ 340,000 operating deficit; as

611-591: Is serviced by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority buses on Seneca St. (No. 15), Abbott Rd. (No. 14), and South Park Ave. (No. 16). During the 1940s and 1950s swimming was a favorite summer pastime at the two outdoor swimming pools in Cazenovia Park. The two pools have since been removed, and replaced with one indoor pool, used year-round. Fishing in Cazenovia Creek was an alternative summertime activity. In

658-666: Is the South Buffalo Business Expo and Irish Feish, usually held the first weekend of September in Cazenovia Park. A day long event featuring local businesses, services, food, dance and music draws residents from all over. Another favorite is the Labor Day parade, where union members from all over Western New York proudly march from the Irish Center to the Casino in Cazenovia Park. A Mass of thanksgiving

705-844: The Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico . Conners had a large farm in Florida along the shore of Lake Okeechobee that raised thoroughbred cattle and hogs. He entered into a contract with the state of Florida to build the Harding Memorial Bridge across the Kissimmee River , which was built in record time. In 1921, he leased the New York Central car shops in East Buffalo, which were idle during

752-655: The Buffalo Common Council is currently vacant, and Theresa Schuta represents South Buffalo on the Buffalo Public Schools board of education. Some South Buffalonians who are involved in politics favor the Democratic Party, but many lean more socially (and sometimes fiscally) conservative than the party as a whole, typical of most working-class Roman Catholic communities. Former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder , for instance,

799-722: The Buffalo Courier and consolidated it with the Enquirer under the name the Buffalo Courier-Record . The newspaper was later renamed the Buffalo Courier . He continued publishing the paper until 1925, when it turned into a tabloid newspaper called the Daily Star . In 1926, the newspaper was merged with the Buffalo Express and turned into the Buffalo Courier-Express . He transferred the newspaper interests to his son William in 1919. Conners

846-577: The Buffalo Police Department and Buffalo Fire Department . Others found jobs in the various unionized building trades , such as in the labor unions representing the carpenters , bricklayers , iron workers , and operating engineers . Youth ice hockey is hugely supported in South Buffalo. The Cazenovia Chiefs hockey program provides recreation for hundreds of children in the neighborhood. This program has produced such hockey talent as Patrick Kane . The neighborhood plays host to

893-525: The Depression of 1920–1921 . He reopened them under the name W. J. Conners Car Company and soon had them operating at capacity and employing hundreds of men. Interested in spending more time in Florida, he transferred all his northern properties to his son William. In 1925, he set aside a million dollar fund for the William J. Conners Foundation, the proceeds for which went to the poor and needy. Conners

940-697: The Buffalo City Council, is bordered by the town of West Seneca on the east, the City of Lackawanna on the south, Lake Erie on its western edge, and the Buffalo River on its northern border. New York State Route 16 (Seneca Street), Abbott Road, and South Park Avenue are the major streets serving South Buffalo. South Buffalo has various educational institutions, including public elementary and high schools, elementary charter schools , and Catholic elementary and high schools. Trocaire College

987-510: The Capitol and Shea's Seneca shows, provided entertainment at very reasonable prices. Saturday matinees were 14¢ for the Capitol and 20¢ for the Seneca. The Strand also provided motion picture entertainment. Spoonley The Trainman on Choate was a major attraction in South Buffalo. This toy train shop, owned and operated by Chester Spoonley, drew people from all over western New York to experience

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1034-703: The Front Page Group, The Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce newsletter, and the South Buffalo & Southtowns Online news website. As of 2024, South Buffalo is represented by Pat Burke in the New York State Assembly , Michael "Mickey" Kearns as Erie County Clerk, a vacant seat in the New York State Senate , and Tim Kennedy in the United States House of Representatives . The South District seat of

1081-523: The Goin' South Irish Feis every year, an event that is extremely popular. It features food, fireworks, and live music, including Crikwater and Jackdaw , and a number of local Celtic bands. Because South Buffalo also has a number of Italian Americans, it hosts an Italian Festival each summer. Another popular event which takes place is the annual Seneca Street Car Show, which draws many people into South Buffalo. Several traditional Irish Dance Academies operate in

1128-763: The September 19, 1982 issue was the last issue published. That left Buffalo with only one daily newspaper, the Buffalo Evening News , now known as The Buffalo News . Cowles Media donated the library to the Buffalo History Museum and Buffalo State College . The library is now housed in the E. H. Butler Library at Buffalo State College. The library consists of approximately one million news clippings, 100,000 photographs and several pieces of artworks and framed photographs. The news clippings and photographs, arranged by subject and person, cover

1175-466: The area in and around the town of Kilrush in County Clare. Indeed, most were post- famine arrivals who were recruited to work the burgeoning steel mills , petroleum refineries , foundries , flour mills , automobile factories , and machine shops sprouting up in this highly industrialized city. Many more of South Buffalo's Irish would wind up working in the ranks of the protective services for

1222-414: The area. In the past there wasn’t an established little league, except for the P.A.L (i.e Police Athletic League), but games would be played spontaneously almost anywhere, including playground ball fields, vacant lots and even the street. Teams would be formed by alternate selection until everyone present was chosen by one team or the other. The team captain to make the first choice was determined by tossing

1269-522: The board of directors, and remained actively interested in the corporation even after he was removed from the position. He started to become interested in developing Florida in 1918, when he purchased and reclaimed 7,000 acres of swamp in the Everglades that then produced sugar cane and fruit. In 1924, he built the Conners Highway , which stretched 51 miles across the state and directly linked

1316-724: The completion of the Erie Canal , as well as the coming of the railroads and the Industrial Revolution later in the nineteenth century. Nevertheless, unlike many other American cities with large Irish-American populations, Buffalo's southside Irish came to the United States relatively late. By far the largest concentrations came from the Irish counties of Clare , Cork , Mayo and Wexford . A large percentage of South Buffalonians can trace their Irish ancestry to

1363-463: The fascinating layouts featuring Lionel and American Flyer trains and accessories. Although the two steel companies, Bethlehem and Republic , provided employment for a majority of South Buffalo residents during this time, they were also a major source of air pollution . The blast furnaces and open hearth furnaces generated huge quantities of airborne particulates that coated every surface inside and outside of homes and buildings. This fact

1410-683: The late 1950s to September 19, 1982. The collection served as the library for the reporters of the paper. The librarians weeded both the clippings and photographic files, discarding older files on a routine basis. As a result, many subject areas are not covered. The library is currently being digitized. While that may take years, photographs will continually be added to the Butler Library Archives Flickr site. [REDACTED] Media related to Buffalo Courier Express at Wikimedia Commons William J. Conners William James "Fingy" Conners (January 3, 1857 – October 5, 1929)

1457-488: The more middle-class neighborhoods of South Buffalo which border McKinley Parkway , Abbott Road and Potter Road . The annual Valley St. Patrick's Day Parade was revived some 20 years ago and serves as a more traditional celebration over the City of Buffalo's main St. Patrick's Day Parade held usually the following day in Buffalo's city center on Delaware Avenue . The Grand Marshals of this less formal event have represented

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1504-562: The neighborhood of South Buffalo, such as Rince Na Tiarna, and Clann Na Cara. In addition to the Irish ethnic population, there are also communities of English , Italian , German , Polish , and Puerto Rican elements in the population of South Buffalo. Each summer, the Italian community of South Buffalo hosts its annual Italian festival. The area is served by newspapers, publications and websites including The South Buffalo News put out by

1551-881: The new union, effectively cutting Conners out of the grain business. Conners was president of the Vulcanite Asphalt Paving Company and the Magnus Beck Brewing Company. He also owned a lot of real estate and helped develop property in South Buffalo . In 1895, he purchased the Buffalo Enquirer . In 1896, he established a morning edition of the paper called the Morning Enquirer , renamed to the Buffalo Record in 1897. Later in 1897, he purchased

1598-610: The newspaper lasted from 1869 to 1871. In August 1979, The Courier-Express was purchased by the Cowles Media Company , a publishing company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota . After a change in corporate leadership, Cowles Media decided to close the paper in September 1982. After the local Newspaper Guild members voted to oppose a deal to sell the Courier Express to Rupert Murdoch 's News Corporation ,

1645-405: The remaining parkways that created a greenway throughout the city in the early 1900s. Cazenovia Park is the larger of the two parks. It contains two baseball and two softball diamonds. The baseball diamonds and one softball diamond reside in an area aptly referred to as the "Bowl". The second softball diamond is situated a little further away and called the "Hidden Diamond". The park also contains

1692-418: The residents were forced to leave Western New York and seek employment out of state. The numerous independent small shops which once lined Seneca Street and South Park Avenue suffered most from the economic downturn caused by the many plant closures. What was once the South Buffalo neighborhood's main retail area became a collection of boarded-up store fronts hard pressed for cash flow. Suffering less were

1739-612: The support of Bishop of Buffalo James Quigley , William J. Donavan's father Timothy Donavan, and congressman Rowland B. Mahany . The freight handlers later joined the strike, the International Seamen's Union threatened to join as well, and Daniel Keefe , the president of the International Longshoremen's Association , went to Buffalo several times to aid the strikers. After a month, the shipping companies negotiated directly with Bishop Quigley and

1786-563: The surviving chestnut would be crowned a kinger. Kingships would accumulate from game to game. Any accumulated kingships of a defeated chestnut would be transferred to the victor. Community picnics at Cazenovia Park and at Crystal Beach Park in Crystal Beach, Ontario were provided annually by the Tri-Abbot Southpark Businessmen's Association. Baseball was and still remains another dominant sport in

1833-405: The transport companies Union Steamboat, Western Transit, Lackawanna, Lehigh Valley, Northern Steamship, Union Transit, and "Soo." In 1895, he handled over 3 million tons of bulk freight and employed around 3,000 men, making him the world's largest contractor in the business. In 1899, the grain scoopers under Conners' employment began a strike against him and his business practices. The strikers had

1880-452: The winter, a lagoon off of the creek provided ice skating, but this has also been removed. A game called chestnuts was a popular activity during this time period in South Buffalo. Horse chestnuts would be suspended from a string, usually a shoelace, run through a hole drilled in the center. Participants would take turns holding their suspended chestnut, while their opponent would snap their chestnut against it. When either chestnut cracked

1927-559: Was a Roman Catholic . In 1881, he married Catharine Mahoney of Buffalo. Their children were Peter Newell Mary. Katherine. He then married Mary Alice Jordan of West Seneca in 1893. Their children were Alice, Ruth, and William J. Jr. Mary died in 1924, after which he married Grace I. Hammond. His eldest son Peter died when he was 18, a student at the Michigan Military Academy in Orchard Lake, Michigan , where he

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1974-572: Was a delegate to the 1908 and 1924 Democratic National Conventions . Conners found the Great Lakes Transportation Corporation in 1916, following the enactment of a federal statute that prohibited railroad of water transportation. The new corporation took control of all the railroad-owned boats in the Great Lakes, consisting of three passenger steamers and 21 freighters. He installed himself as chairman of

2021-661: Was an American newspaper publisher, businessman, and politician from New York. Conners was born on January 3, 1857, in Buffalo, New York , the son of Peter Conners and Mary Scanlan. His parents were both immigrants, his father born in Canada and his mother in Ireland. Conners left public school when he was 13, working as a porter on various steamers that travelled on the Great Lakes between Buffalo and Duluth . He then set up

2068-564: Was in his third year and had the Academy Corps rank of First Lieutenant and Signal Officer. Conners died at home from a heart attack on October 5, 1929. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery. South Buffalo, Buffalo, New York South Buffalo is a neighborhood that makes up the southern third of the City of Buffalo , New York . Traditionally known for its large Irish-American community, this community also has

2115-638: Was initially a Republican . But after he bought the Courier , a Democratic newspaper, he became a Democrat. He became a leader of the Party, and in 1906 he became Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee , serving as Chairman until 1910. He was the first newspaper publisher to support Woodrow Wilson for President. A personal friend of William Randolph Hearst , he supported Hearst's gubernatorial candidacy in 1922. He

2162-410: Was not fully appreciated by the residents until the steel mills shut down and suddenly surfaces remained relatively clean. The South Buffalo area suffered in the late 1970s and early 1980s due to the closing of the majority of steel mills , machine shops , automobile factories , oil refineries and flour milling plants which were either within or bordering the community. In search of jobs many of

2209-546: Was the only Democrat in the Assembly to not support longtime speaker Sheldon Silver , a stance initially mirrored by Kearns. One of South Buffalo's most famous politicians, James D. Griffin , served as mayor of Buffalo for 16 years and was noted for both his fiscal and social conservatism, to the point where the Republican and Conservative parties frequently cross-endorsed him. Current Democratic mayor Christopher Scanlon ,

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