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jacob kedzierski | all galleries >> Galleries >> North Tonawanda, NY > is this castle in NT?
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is this castle in NT?


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Ganesa Glose 17-Aug-2018 16:28
Correction to my previous comment, the boathouse roof, burned down in 1977 not 1970.
Ganesa Glose 17-Aug-2018 16:27
This is the old boathouse on Ellicott Island which was also known as 3 mile island or the island at 3 mile bend. The island itself is 100 yrs old this year, as it was created in 1918 when they cut a new path for the Erie Canal to make it more navigable to barge traffic. NYS gave the land to Erie County for their parks system, in the 1920's on the condition that a playground be put there. This building was one of many structures built in the county parks during the 1930's as part of the Works Progress Act, designed to put men back to work after the depression. In addition to the boathouse, they also built a shelter house on the Ellicott Island. The shelter house was used for restrooms & concessions, while the boathouse was used originally for a kayak & canoe rentals. You can find pictures of this building & of the shelter house on livingnewdeal.org. It appears that the county stopped renting boats sometime in the 50's, as newspapers in the early 60's report that it was no longer in use when the county gave the Niagara Frontier Rowing Club permission to use the boathouse as their headquarters. Students from Cardinal O'hara were a part of this rowing club as well as students from Kenmore East & West & Sweet Home High Schools. The rowing club also used another building on the other side of the Island that is no longer standing for storing their racing shells. I believe it was an old maintenance building of some sort, but otherwise, I have been unable to find any pictures of that building, nor any historical accounts of when it was built or demolished. The foundation for that building still exists. The rowing club continued their use of the park buildings until 1970 when 9 of their 11 racing shells & oars were destroyed by vandals. Due to the extreme cost of replacing their equipment which was originally obtained through donations & fundraising, it appears they decided to fold at this point. No newspaper records of the rowing club exist beyond this point. Once the rowing club left, the park itself fell into neglect & was frequently vandalized from the 70's on through to the early 90's. It was during this time period in 1970 that the roof of the boathouse was burned down. A picture of the fire can be seen in the About section on the Ellicott Creek Volunteer Fire Dept.'s webpage. In January of 2014, Erie County granted Friends of Ellicott, Inc. a charter to operate Ellicott Island as a dog park. Friends of Ellicott, Inc. relies on volunteers & donations from the community to provide seasonal cleanups, carry the insurance to run it as a dog park & organize additional projects for the betterment of the park. In 2016, an art program from Buffalo State College was granted permission to paint murals on the inside of the castle which compliment the archways of the structure. Each section focused on a them related to the natural element of the park including the dogs in addition to historical times, places & faces relevent to the area. Buffalo State College's website has a picture of the murals that was published in an article posted on November 15, 2016. Currently Friends of Ellicott, Inc. is in the progress of obtaining funding to stabalize an area on the island that has suffered erosion issues from use & water runoff. Once this project is completed, there other areas of the park that Friends of Ellicott, Inc. would like to assist in preserving.
Guest 08-Jan-2015 22:27
There was a men's and women's rowing club that practiced by rowing around the Ellicott Creek Island in the early sixties from that building. The guys were from the Cardinal O'Hare's High School and coached by my Science teacher, Mr. Doyle, who I think taught at Payne Jr. HS. I ended up being asked to participate on the girl's team when I was only 13! Best exercise for your waist! {and bust).
Dick Jones, NT 57 24-Apr-2013 03:47
Sorry about the blank. My link didn't show up. www.pbase.com/meterman.
Dick Jones, NT 57 24-Apr-2013 03:46
We rented canoes there is the mid 50's. The creek was a lot cleaner then. I lived on Sweeney Street before Parkview existed. Look here for a few more views of NT;
molly01-Apr-2012 04:43
actually this is what they call "bird island" on creekside drive! i lived right across the street from this castle. teenagers got into it in the 70's and much of it was burned down. there is no more hot dog stand on the island but i caught my first sunfish there too! spent many happy times as a child there- we used to tobaggon from the island hill onto the frozen creek with my parents :)
Guest 22-Dec-2011 14:05
This was not the hot dog stand that was on the middle of the island.
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optodielmived 11-Jul-2011 05:34
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effildIncitle 11-Jun-2011 12:30
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john ziehm 20-May-2011 22:22
They rented boats and sold food there in the 60`s. You could get a rowboat or canoe.
Marion Lambert 22-Jan-2010 21:23
That was originaly a boat livery for a rowing club. I lived on Parkview drive back in the fiftys and sixties. As kids we used to swim across the canal and play here. In winter when the canal was frozen the older kids would make a huge snow pile on the front of this livery and make a slide to slide down on to the frozen canal. At nite there were lights under the front part and it was very pretty to see with the reflection of the water. In summer the rowing club used it. Then it burnt at one time. Don't remember how it happened. Alot of meomories I have of this park. Even riding our horse here. I don't ever remember it being a hot dog stand. Guess that part of my recall button isn't working! Just wanted to say thanks for this site! I was to all our class reunions and I am going to send this to alot of old classmates out of town to apppreciate as I do! Oh yes I oil paint and I did a painting of it and sold it to a canal memorabelia collector for a good price! I had alot of pictures of it but do to a fire I no longer have them! Thanks again Marion Great memories here!
Joel Alexander 30-Jul-2006 23:00
My brother use to take me fishing here, this is where I caught my first sunfish! I haven't seen this castle in 25 years....I can't beleive it's still there!
Guest 17-Feb-2006 03:04
That's Ellicott Creek Park in Tonawanda... it actually used to be a hot dog stand in the 70's