By Norma Higgs
The father and son orthopedic medical team, Nicholas Ardan, M.D. and Nicholas Jr., M.D. occupied 424 Pine Ave. on the south side of Pine just past Park Place. Across the street was land originally known as the Schoellkopf triangle bound by Main Street, Park Place and Pine Avenue. Lots to talk about here, but first a little history on the early city parks.
The City of Niagara Falls began seeking land for city parks in residential areas in 1913. The first park was on land owned by George Wallace on South Avenue and 15th Street. He offered to sell it to the city for $11,000. Instead, the prominent Schoellkopf family purchased the land from him and donated it to the city stipulating that it be designated as a park in honor of the late Arthur Schoellkopf. It was named after Arthur’s widow Jessie Gluck Schoellkopf by City Council action and is still known as Gluck Park.
In 1922, the city purchased land at Maple Avenue and Lewiston Road for $20,575 and named it Bellevue Park. The north end of the city was called Bellevue at one time, which means “beautiful view” in the French language. Previously, residents in the area who used it as a park, named this land Riverview.
In 1927, the Schoellkopf triangle was purchased by the city for $18,000 following a special election. Seven hundred voting taxpayers authorized this purchase with a majority of almost 300 votes. Earlier, when the Schoellkopf Apartments, Inc. owned this land, a local organization known as the Women’s Relief Corps raised funds to erect a cenotaph shaft as a memorial to World War I servicemen. This was completed in 1920 with the following inscription: In honor of the soldiers, sailors and marines who made the supreme sacrifice in The World War 1917-1919. “Sleep, heroes, sleep, your deeds shall never die. They’ve climbed the heights, they’re over the top and safe in the arms of God. The high ideals for which they died shall ever be maintained.”
In June of 1979, the Niagara Women for Progress, led by Josephine Muhlbauer, completed extensive remedial work in the park. They bought trash receptacles, purchased, and planted rose bushes and were thanked publicly in a letter to the editor in the Gazette from William Szabo, adjutant DAV Chapter 12. His organization assisted in the project by cleaning and painting the cannon sitting at the south end of the park. There is also a monument dedicated to the Armenian victims during the Turkish genocide where a memorial ceremony is held each year.
Although the park is officially named Wright Park after the first mayor of Niagara Falls, George W. Wright (1892-1894), it is commonly known as Cenotaph Park and/or Veteran’s Park. It may be the city’s smallest park but it has been used extensively during remembrance ceremonies for veterans on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day, often following parades. Flag Day celebrations are held here each June 14, sponsored by the Main Street Business & Professional Association and the Niagara Falls Block Club Council.
The City of Niagara Falls Strategic Master Plan of 2004 created a Heritage District to be named Wright Park Heritage District. The plan calls for enlarging the park area to encompass the current service station on the northwest corner. It is just a plan at this point.
Let’s go back to 1956, and across Main Street to 507 Pine Ave. and Stine’s Corset Shop owned and operated by James and Amy Hill. Next door was George Petas’ Pine Coffee Shop and then at 511 Pine, Gardner’s Sulphur Vapor Baths run by Nellie Gardner. Richard Mountain lived at 513 Pine and Drs. Courtland Van Deusen, Wilfred Irwin and Karl Garten were across the street at 598 Pine.
Crossing Sixth Street, Ralph Spreeman and Nicholas Stephans lived in apartments at 600 Pine. Mr. Spreeman was the service manager at Mullane Rosengold, Inc. This dealership was located at 1302 Main St. and sold and serviced Dodge and Plymouth passenger cars and Dodge trucks. During the early 1960s, it became Falls Dodge. Nicholas Stephans and his brother Anthony, who lived at 605 Pine, owned and operated the Harbor of Lost Soles at 607 Pine. This was a shoe repair business and I seem to recall they also sold orthopedic and children’s shoes. I think they had one of those machines where you could see the bones in your feet. Does anyone remember this?
Anne Jenny lived at 603 Pine. She was the office secretary at the YWCA and Fred Blue who was the manager at the Pierce Marine store at 447 Third St. lived at 603 Pine with his wife Ada. Francis and Katherine Murphy lived at 605 Pine also. He worked as a postal carrier.
The 600 block was a residential and commercial street and I recall Johnny’s Cleaners at 613 Pine. John Moshides operated this small shop with a counter across the front and racks of clean garments waiting for pick up behind him. I remember him well. He lived on Ashland Avenue, I believe with his wife Tulla who was very active in the Republican Party. Sharing this commercial building was Albert Leone Upholstery. He lived around the corner at 649 6th St. I will have to leave the rest of this block until the next time.
Norma Higgs serves with theNiagara Beautification Commission and Niagara Falls Block Club Council. Her columns appear Mondays in the Gazette.
