Buffalo New York

What can you say about Buffalo?  Well, I can think of one thing.  Buffalo Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo (that's a real sentence- look it up!).

Seriously though, Buffalo is a big city.... with issues (and I have to be honest- they have terrible roads).  We have been through Buffalo several times, mostly on our way to Niagara Falls.  I remember catching concerts here.

Its not exactly a city you go to because of its museums or attractions.  There were a couple of things we wanted to see in Buffalo that we had missed before.  More on those things later... but we did have a lot of fun in Buffalo.  here are some random photos for now.

Entrance to Hotel Statler, Cleveland Ohio

Sent from Cleveland in 1950.  The back of this postcard notes that the Hotel Statler is "one of the city's many fine, modern hotels.  The Lounge Bar is a recenet addition for the patronage and entertainment of visitors and residents."

The Union Terminal Tower in Cleveland Ohio

Sent in 1936, this postcard notes "The Union Terminal Tower and Hotel Cleveland.  Cleveland's new railroad station is located on the Public Square.  It is fifty-two stories high and is Cleveland's tallest building.  From the tower one can have an ideal view of the city and surrounding country.  At the top of the tower is a large beacon to guide aviators at night.  At the left is the new Higbee Dept. Store Building one of the finest in the country."

Horticultural Gardens Stadium and Boat Docks, Cleveland, Ohio

"The Horticultural Garden, located on Lake Erie in front of Cleveland Municipal Stadium, is a display of unusual beauty.  The exhibit consists of some of the finest flowers and shrubbery in existence.  It also contains beautiful statues and the water displays are especially picturesque when illuminated.  This garden is a permanent display."

This area is still amazing.  The stadium is not there, but the football stadium, Rock Hall, and other buildings are there.

East Ohio Gas Company's Building- Cleveland Ohio

Sent from Cleveland to southern Indiana in 1917, this nearly century old postcard shows the East Ohio Gas Company's Building in Cleveland!

Cleveland Museum of Art- Cleveland Ohio 1938

A one cent stamp was on this postcard in 1938, as it went from Cleveland to Louisville.  The sender talks about how it rained all the way from Cincinatti to Cleveland.

 

The card shows one of my favorite places in Cleveland, the FREE ADMISSION Art Museum!!!

Hotel Statler- Cleveland Ohio

The back of this unused postcard says-

 

Hotel Statler, Cleveland

 

1000 Rooms with Bath and Radio Reception

 

Euclid Ave., at East 12th St., with the city's finest clubs and retail stores grouped nearby.  Operated in connection with Hotels Statler, Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, St. Louis, Hotel Bufflo, Buffalo, and Hotel Pennsylvania, New York.

Interior of Euclid Arcade, Cleveland Ohio

This postcard was sent from Cleveland Ohio (showing the Euclid Arcade) to Michigan in 1906.  It was postmarked in each area!

The Citizens Savings and Trust Co. Building, Cleveland Ohio

Here's another cool Cleveland postcard.  It was not used and I don't have a lot of info on it other than it shows the Citizens Savings and Trust Company building.

Luna Park in Cleveland Ohio

I don't know if you can see it or not, but the top postcard of Luna Park in Cleveland is highlighted with glitter.  It was sent from Cleveland in 1908!

 

The bottom one was sent in 1906!

East Coast Custard in Painesville Ohio

I MUST give a quick mention to East Coast Frozen Custard.  We stopped here for some custard in waffle cones and it might have been some of the best stuff I have ever had.

 When we lived in this area, we realized that custard is a big deal here.  Especially on the east side of Cleveland, people remember custard that you could get at the old Euclid Beach Park.  Though that place closed in 1969, people still talk about their custard.

James Garfield Memorial, Cleveland Ohio 1919

 

This great postcard was sent from Cleveland in 1919!!

"The Fatal Bullet: The Assassination of President James A. Garfield" by Rick Geary

I mentioned Rick Geary's incredible comic book style interpretation of the Lizzie Borden case several years ago.  Well, after visiting Mentor Ohio again recently, I picked up his graphic novel "The Fatal Bullet:  The Assassination of President James A. Garfield".

This is a fun, quick read that gives a very nicely detailed yet easy to understand account of the assassination.  I also admire Geary's portrayal of assassin Charles Guiteau- he comes off as an annoying coward.  There is no exaggerated rebel loner description for this loser.

The thing I REALLY enjoy about the books by Rick Geary is his dimensional artistic story telling.  The artwork is in black and white, but it pops off the pages.  Using maps and vibrant drawings of locations, the reader has a very good understanding of how (and where) the assassin stalked Garfield, and where all of the events took place.

James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor Ohio

We stopped by to see the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor Ohio back in 2012.  Sadly, it wasn't open that day so I have been itching to go back for a while!

The Garfield House is famous for the fact that James A Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, lived there, and made campaign speeches from his front porch on his way to becoming President.

Garfield got the home in 1876, then became President in 1881, dying later that year.  His wife, Lucretia, added a library wing to house James' important documents, influencing the establishment of other Presidential Libraries.

The home was in possession of the Garfield family until 1936 when the family donated it to the Western Reserve Historical Society.  It is now managed by the National Park Service.

Ox Roast in Mesopotamia Ohio

Mesopotamia Ohio and the Ox Roast.....  One of my favorite towns and one of my favorite events anywhere....

AND, the very old End of the Commons General Store really makes this a place that should be on your bucket list.

I love this particular community outside of Cleveland.  My wife and her family lived here for several years.  If you like country living, and a fun Amish community this is the place for you.

I have mentioned this area and event before here, and I posted an old photo of the End of the Commons General Store here.

So, we were able to swing by for the 2016 Ox Roast!  MANY vendors were here selling cool old signs, paintings, books, etc.  We passed by a band playing traditional country music.  We saw the meat being roasted for the festival's famous sandwiches.  Collectibles, food and entertainment were everywhere!

We visited the End of The Commons General Store for the first time in a while too!  I can't say enough about how much we love this place.  The Schaden family has ran the store for some time now.  The store itself opened in 1840 (you read that right!).

We talked briefly to Peter Schaden during the Ox Roast this year.  He talked about how the store has been upgraded and improved since we were there last.  The great, old store is still there, but they have added on to it.  It still looks very traditional.  They have really gotten in to selling fried apple fritters here, just like the ones we enjoyed near Sugarcreek last year.  We talked to a lady from Pittsburgh who bought one to eat immediately, and she was buying some to take home.

Mesopotamia is a great town to pass through anytime. but it is so vibrant during the Ox Roast.

The Steele Mansion in Painesville Ohio

The Steele Mansion in Painesville Ohio (just outside of Cleveland) has only started taking guests over the last year or so.  This great, historic inn is truly lucky to still be around, and I am glad that you can stay there now!

George Steele had the home built in 1867, and his family lived there until the early 1900s.  Then, it was sold to Lake Erie College.  The college utilized it as the President's home and in other ways.

It was sold again in the 1970s and turned into apartments.  In 2001 a fire destroyed a large portion of the formerly fabulous structure.  It was not repaired, and it was left abandoned for the rest of that decade.

In 2010 the Shamakian family bought the Mansion, which was literally falling apart and was scheduled to be demolished.  So, for the last several years, the Shamakians have hustled to save the structure from falling apart and destruction.

Now, in 2016, the Steele Mansion looks absolutely beautiful and flawless.


You know that I love visiting sites associated with Presidents.  Well, several stayed here, but I was even more fascinated by the fact that AMELIA EARHART was a guest here shortly before she disappeared!

Jack of all trades/owner Carol Shamakian was all over the place during our stay.  We saw her decorating and doing work in the yard, and she seemed excited to talk to us about the Mansion.

She confirmed the Earhart was there visiting the local college.  During her visit, she did stay at the Steele Mansion, which, at that time, was the President of the college's home.

We mentioned to Carol that we would be visiting the James Garfield home on this trip, and she said that Garfield had been to the Mansion during his days in the area.  She said that he made speeches from the front porch of the Steele Mansion, in addition to speaking from his own front porch.

Concerning our stay, we wanted to enjoy as much time at the Steele Mansion as we could, so we planned much of our evening around just hanging out in our room, and on the porch.

There are some cozy rocking chairs on the back porch.  We did relax in that area as we read.

The Steele Mansion is in an urban area.  There are houses, shops (including a large shopping mall) and traffic going by.  It is easy to forget about all of that here though.  The inn has a very relaxing feel to it.

There is a bar inside.  Private events are held here frequently too.  An actual restaurant would do great here.


We did have a great hot and cold breakfast buffet in the morning before we left.  Breakfast is in the Mansion's cavernous basement.  The rest of the building feels old but updated.  The basement is very authentically old.  They don't make them like this these days!  It was a very cool place to enjoy breakfast!

Check this place out the next time you are in the Cleveland area!