The Historical Association of Lewiston will host Douglas DeCroix at its February program: “The Niagara Gorge Belt Line”. The presentation will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah Fellowship Hall, 915 Oneida St., Lewiston.
In the post-Civil War era, the increased affordability of railroad travel made Niagara Falls one of the nation’s most popular tourist sites. As more and more visitors came to view the Falls, enterprising promoters and entrepreneurs began finding ways to separate them from their money with all kinds of attractions and entertainment venues. Despite decades of self-promoters, daredevils and even scoundrels, there emerged one attraction that utilized emerging technology and engineering to combine a thrilling experience with an extraordinary and unobstructed view of all of the most spectacular features — the Niagara Gorge Belt Line.
Historian Douglas DeCroix will discuss the factors and events leading to the line’s creation, as well as its downfall.
A familiar presenter to HAL members, DeCroix has served as executive director of Western New York Heritage, Inc., the nonprofit publisher of Western New York Heritage magazine, since 2009. His contributions to regional and national history have included several nationally aired historical documentaries produced by WNED-TV and The History Channel, as well as numerous articles and several thematic books published by Western New York Heritage. In recognition of his work, he was selected to receive the prestigious Owen B. Augspurger Award by the Buffalo History Museum in October 2015. This past year, his efforts to publish “Legends of the Chautauqua-Erie Grape Belt” were recognized with the Jim Finkle Industry Award, presented by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. DeCroix continues to collaborate with a variety of cultural and educational organizations, working to celebrate the region’s rich history while seeking creative ways of bringing that history into the lives of the region’s inhabitants.
This community event is free and open to all but donations are greatly appreciated to help support our museum, refreshments will be served.