Curated Archive of Rare Buffalo, NY Ephemera and Antiquities Spanning Two Centuries, from its early days as a western military outpost to its ascension as an American metropolis in the 20th century. (a) Pay Order from Major Moses Porter, Commander at Fort Niagara to Robert Lee for expenses going from Buffaloe Creek to Fort Niagara, July 22, 1801, apparently related to the establishment of the Military Road in western New York. Single sheet (8” x 9 ¼”) folded twice with separation at folds. The actions reflected in this document appear to be related to the federal government’s determination in 1801 that a fort should be built at Black Rock and it was “commissioned to open a communication [road] by land between lake Erie and Ontario.” The work on the so-called Military Road commenced in the summer of 1801 under the supervision of Major Moses Porter, commander at Fort Niagara, using soldiers to clear the route of trees. Moses Porter (20 March 1756 - 14 April 1822) was a general in the United States Army during the War of 1812. His career lasted for over 40 years and he is one of the few officers who served in both the American Revolution and the War of 1812. In a message to the Senate on 11 November 1803, Jefferson appointed Robert Lee of New York, Collector for the district of Niagara in New York, & Inspector of revenue for the port of Niagara. (a-1) Buffalo/Niagara Frontier War of 1812. Return of troops of the 14th Regiment - Captain Montgomery’s Company -- embarracked on 29th November 1812, signed by Lt. Col. Charles G. Boerstler. Also includes return for the 23rd Regiment (Captain Armstrong’s Company). Pencilled annotations on the reverse state: Charles G. Boerstler Lt. Col. & Col 14 inf 1812-1815 - Genl Dearborn’s Command and William H. Winder’s Regt Black Rock to Fort Erie - Nov. 1812-March 1813. - War of 1812 Gen. Dearborn’s papers.” The 14th Infantry was organized in the War of 1812 and, besides its field officers, it had its full complement of captains, first, second and third lieutenants, its ensigns, surgeons and surgeon's mates; most of these officers were commissioned from Maryland. Its first colonel was Wm. H. Winder, who having been appointed a brigadier-general in March, 1813, was succeeded by Col. Charles G. Boerstler, who had been the first lieutenant-colonel. The regiment in whole or in part was in the engagements at Fort Niagara, Frenchman Creek, the capture of Fort George, at Beaver Dams, Chrystler's Fields, De Cole Mill, Chippewa and Cook's Mills. This manuscript return is in very good condition and was prepared shortly after the Battle of Frenchman’s Creek, which took place in the early hours of November 28, 1812, in the Crown Colony of Upper Canada, near the Niagara River. (b) War of 1812 in Buffalo, NY - Abstract of Provisions received from Wm. Baird U.S.S. [] out of the Public Magazines, by Nathaniel Allen Agent for the Contractor, William D. Cheever, to be issued to the Troops of the United States, under the Regulations of the War Department, dated May 24th, 1814, signed by Allen on Nov. 30th 1814. Separation at fold, some writing faded. Nathaniel Allen (1780 - December 22, 1832) was an American politician, and a United States representative from New York; he was commissioner and paymaster on the Niagara frontier in 1812, and was a militia officer during the War of 1812. (c) Autograph single-page contract for the purchase of Stage Line, Buffalo, Jan. 1, 1826. B.D. Coe purchased stage line from C. H. Coe, and detailed the division of the mail carrying business between Pembroke and Buffalo, Buffalo and Thompsons and Buffalo and Hamburgh. (d) Buffalo Almanacs. Steele’s Buffalo Almanacs for 1833, 1834 and others. (e) Manuscript letter from Dr. S.M.C Crawford to his brother Alex in Montgomery, NY, Nov. 27, 1836. Detailed description of life in Buffalo, finding an office on the west side of Main Street, prospects for business, cold weather with deep snow to the East. “I will do well if Buffalo continues to increase in population as she has done the last five years it will be a large city.” “Yesterday the 2d Presbyterian church was dedicated it is a splendid house.” “I don’t think the weather is very cold here but the winds are terrible they howl around us as if they were mad.” Buffalo postmark in blue oval. (f) Two rare shoulder/belt plates for the Buffalo City Guards. Detail is superb with “D Co” in monogram; majestic eagle at the top, a charging buffalo at center, the “C G” for the City Guards below, and prongs intact on the reverse. “D” Company Buffalo City Guard was organized in December 1837, at the time of the Caroline incident. The Caroline, was a vessel in the Buffalo harbor, and set afire and sunk with the loss of one life by the British. Also included is a Buffalo City Police Patrolman badge, with a remarkable similarity to the City Guard image, with eagle and charging Buffalo. (g) Small, 24-page tourist book entitled Legend of the Whirlpool and Map of Niagara Falls with Guide Table to All Places of Interest in the Vicinity. Buffalo, Press of Thomas & Co. 1840. Large foldout Map of Niagara Falls, with illustrations of a Bird’s eye View of Niagara Straight and Lake Erie, Map of Niagara Falls and Adjoining Shores, Village of Niagara Falls, with a complete directory and guide to the Falls and Vicinity - “Lith of Hall & Mooney, Buffalo.” Loose binding, otherwise good condition. (h) Catalogue of Works of Art on Exhibition at the Gallery of the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy (1873). 20 pages, with list of the Officers for 1873, Curators, Executive Board, Standing Committees, Life Members (including Millard Fillmore, Bronson Rumsey, L.G. Sellstedt) and Annual Members - a virtual social register for the City of Buffalo. (i) Hay, Stock and Coal Scale - Circular of Buffalo Scale Company, Manufacturers of U.S. Standard Scales, Buffalo N.Y. Four pages, richly illustrated, dated November 1882. (j) Letter from B.C. Rumsey on A. Rumsey & Co. (Exchange St.) letterhead, to Edward W. Kinsley, Esq. New York, dated Jan. 30, 1884, concerning Kinsley’s letters of introduction and passes for Rumsey’s son “who has decided to leave here . . . in spite of the snow & thinking he can get a good idea of the capabilities of the country.” Bronson Case and Dexter P. succeeded in placing the leather firm of A. Rumsey & Company among the leading industries of that nature in the United States, which held until the business was absorbed by the United States Leather Company. After Bronson and Dexter sold their father’s tannery, they invested the $10 million each received in railroads (where they partnered with the Vanderbilts), banking and real estate, much of it in Buffalo. At one time they owned 22 of the 43 square miles that comprised Buffalo. (k) Two Postal Cards advertising performances by The Buffalo Orchestra Association, 1889, postmarked Buffalo, NY. (l) Larkin Co. Inc. catalogue for Spring/Summer 1926 (238 pages). Elegant full-color cover illustration of idyllic family scene (detached), color and black and white advertisements of items for sale, wallpaper sample, and more; also included “Larkin” sterling child’s spoon with slogan “Factory to Family” (m) Lithographic Trade Card, International Baking Powder, manufactured by Queen City Chemical Company, Buffalo, NY. Color illustration of young child sketching nature, with another child with parasol. Printed by Clay & Richmond, Buffalo, NY; (n) Postal Card advertising “Browning, King & Company, 571 to 575 Main Street Buffalo.” Illustration of elegantly dressed man - Beau Brummel -- with cane and top hat. “Our new goods for the Spring and Summer of 1906 are simply waiting to be seen . . . This card is an invitation to you to inspect them at your earliest convenience.” (o) Pin back button “I read the [Image of Buffalo] News Daily and Sunday, deep blue background (The American Art Works, Union Label, Coshocton, Ohio); (p) Sterling spoon engraved “Buffalo.” (q) Pocket Mirror, The Overland Restaurant, Inc. - Good Things To Eat - 11 Court Street, Buffalo, NY, bordered with gemstones for each month. (r) Two Buffalo, N.Y., newsboy badges. One states “Street Trades Permit Newsboys Bootblacks Board of Education City of Buffalo” and the other states: “Buffalo Newsboys Association.” (s) G.A.R. Badge for Delegate, encampment May 1923, ribbon intact, seal of the City of Buffalo with Buffalo at the top on the Badge. (t) This Week in Buffalo (Nov. 13-20, 1926, Buffalo’s Biggest Business Booster (Buffalo Chamber of Commerce), 34 pages, with detailed reports concerning events in advance, radio stations’ programming (i.e., WGR broadcasting from the Hotel Statler), and advertisements for local attractions such as Shea’s Buffalo, Paul Whiteman (King of Jazz). (u) Early post cards of Buffalo, NY, circa early 1900s, including City Hall (4), Buffalo Yacht Club, Main and Niagara Streets (commercial scene), St. Paul’s Church (along with Prudential Building, Erie County Savings Bank, City Hall, Niagara River in distance), Bird’s-eye View from Niagara Street (showing Prudential Building and City Hall), Niagara Suspension Bridge, and Ansley Wilcox Residence [Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office at the Wilcox mansion in September 1901].
