Buffalo Central Terminal

This year’s Brewfest was bigger and better in every way! The congestion inside was relieved by the beautiful weather and food vendors in the tent on the rear lot. I’d say that the crowd this year was bigger and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

We had record sales in the merchandise booth, but it will be days before we get the final tally on attendance and ticket sales.

All in all, it was a nice day and a great event!

The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation celebrated it’s 10th Anniversary on Friday, August 17th. President Russell Pawlak added his comments to the festivities:

Ten Years…. but this story started long before there was an organization dedicated to saving the Central Terminal.

20 years of neglect, abuse and vandalism destroyed this great building and the future for the Central Terminal in 1997 was even darker.

But dedication, commitment & hard work by an intrepid group of volunteers: began the journey which still continues to this day & beyond.

Many had a dream for this grand building, and in dreams begin responsibilities. Dreams alone will not accomplish anything; it was long and hard to get to a 10 year point with this project. Small successes and large set backs were experienced and yet we persevered.

Many of those early believers are here tonight and some not but they all have earned our appreciation for to work on a project ridiculed and denigrated by most was not easy and it was their faith and passion that carried them forward. With no money, little public support (the hew and cry was for demolition, to not waste any resources on it etc.) and a building that was unusable we stand here today to mark that recent past.

This Quote from Thomas Paine captures that time: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis. Shrink from the service of their country (cause); but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man & woman.”

I look upon the past as work well done, insurmountable obstacles removed and a sea change in the public’s perception towards the Central Terminal. Now recognized throughout WNY and beyond as an important and necessary part of our cultural heritage.

Much work lies ahead that will require the same dedication, pursuit of excellence and commitment as made by those in our past.

The effort needed to advance the Central Terminal to the next level is not for the casually interested or the hobbyist (I’ll pick it up when I feel like it) or those Thomas Paine described as the “summer soldiers” but needs a committed focus on the Central Terminal and what can be done to move this enormous project to the next stage, and that is to roll up our sleeves, putting everything else aside and get to work.

Thank you all for coming and playing a role in the most challenging preservation project in WNY.

Finally, Margaret Mead said and it bears remembering,

“Never doubt that the work of a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

On a personal note:
In some ways the shared struggles that we had when the building was beyond use and our opponents were legion are what I am most proud to have been associated with.

Sto Lat, may the Central Terminal survive for a 1000 years.

Russell E Pawlak