Built as the summer home of businessman William H. Gratwick in 1903, Linwood Gardens has stood the test of time. Today, Western New Yorkers venture to the gardens in Pavilion for the annual Tree Peony Festival of Flowers each May.

When a fire erupted in the M.H. Birge & Sons Wallpaper Company factory in December 1880, the workers – many of whom were children – had little time to escape. John H. Grandits looks at the Birge fire as an example of the dangers of child labor.

Not everyone in Western New York in the late 1800s was a fan of the drink. Fredonia’s Women’s Temperance Union took a stand against alcohol in December 1873, successfully closing many drinking establishments and laying the roots for the national W.C.T.U..

With an eye for art, Martha Jackson bucked society’s expectations of women at the time and made a name for herself as an international art dealer in the 1950s and 60s.

As the area sees a resurgence in local brewing, John P. Eiss surveys the roots of brewing in canal-era Buffalo, dating back to Black Rock in 1811.

The debate over the Chautauqua Amphitheater has dominated the news in recent months. Brian Berg reflects on the structure’s significant history and looks at the options available as the community struggles with this important regional and national preservation issue.

Buffalo and Western New York are known for wintry weather and the recent lake effect event the area witnessed in November was only the latest addition to the region’s snowy heritage.