Index of Community Info

Local Government    Village of Lancaster    Town of Lancaster    Village of Depew    Town of Elma   Community History    Village of Lancaster    Town of Lancaster    Village of Depew    Town of Elma   Schools In the Community    Lancaster Public/ Non Public    Depew Public    Elma   Religious Organizations    Lancaster    Depew    Elma   Parks, Recreation & Areas of Interest         Village / Town of Lancaster

Frequently Used Phone Numbers

Lancaster Post Office
5406 Broadway
Lancaster, NY 14086

716-683-1110
 

Depew Post Office
165 Warsaw
Depew, NY 14043

716-683-2656
 

Elma Post Office
2300 Bowen Rd.
Elma, NY 14059

716-652-3937
 

General Service Numbers

Small Business Administration

716-551-4301

Attorney General-NYS

716-853-8400

Business Permits Information

800-342-3464

Business Assistance Hotline

800-782-8369

Business Specialty Tax Line

800-829-4933

Social Security Administration

800-772-1213

Local Government

Village of Lancaster   Municipal Building   5423 Broadway   Lancaster, New York 14086       Mayor’s Office  Clerk/Treasurer, Village 5423 Broadway  5423 Broadway Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York  716-684-4891 716-683-2105     Village Justice Court Clerk/Justice Department 5423 Broadway 5423 Broadway Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-683-6780 716-683-6780     Fire Department Police Headquarters/Court 5423 Broadway 525 Pavement Rd. Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-683-3100 716-683-2800     Citizens Hose Detective Bureau 24 W. Drullard 525 Pavement Rd. Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-683-2602 716-683-3120     Tax Clerk/ Sewer Billing Vital Statistics 5423 Broadway 5423 Broadway Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-683-1901 716-683-2105     Building & Zoning Inspectors Special Events Coordinator 11 W. Main Street 5423 Broadway Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-684-4171 716-683-7026     Community Development Public Works Department 5423 Broadway 5200 Broadway Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-684-4891 716-683-1028

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Town of Lancaster   Town Hall   21 Central Avenue   Lancaster, New York 14086       Town Supervisor Town Clerk 21 Central Avenue 21 Central Avenue Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-683-1610 716-683-9028     Highway Superintendent Town Attorney 21 Central Avenue 21 Central Avenue Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-683-3426 716-684-3342     Assessors Department Tax Office 21 Central Avenue 21 Central Avenue Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-683-1311 716-683-1328     Dog Control Officer Vital Statistics Office 3789 Walden Avenue 21 Central Avenue Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-683-5129 716-683-9028     Police Headquarters Town Attorney’s Office 525 Pavement Road 21 Central Avenue Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-683-2800  716-684-3342     Highway Office Historical Museum 525 Pavement Road 40 Clark Street Lancaster, New York Lancaster. New York 716-683-3426 716-681-7719     Building and Zoning Inspectors Youth Bureau 11 W. Main Street 200 Oxford Street Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-684-4171 716-683-4444     Justice Office Recreation Office 525 Pavement Road 525 Pavement Road Lancaster, New York Lancaster, New York 716-683-1814 716-684-3320

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Village of Depew
Assessment Offices
85 Manitou Street
Depew, New
716-683-1400
Justice Court	Police Headquarters
85 Manitou Street	85 Manitou Street
Depew, New York	Depew, New York
716-683-0978	716-683-1123
Village Treasurer	Village Clerk
85 Manitou Street	85 Manitou Street
Depew, New York	Depew, New York
716-683-7451	716-683-1400
Recreation Department	Swimming Pool
Fireman’s Park	Fireman’s Park
Gould Avenue	Gould Avenue
Depew, New York	Depew, New York
716-685-4910	716-684-6400
Public Works Department	Senior Citizen’s Center
Rutherford Place	85 Manitou Street
Depew, New York	Depew, New York
716-683-5700	716-683-9534

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Town of Elma
Administrative Offices, Town Hall
1600 Bowen Road
Elma, New York
716-652-3560
Justice Court	NY State Police
1600 Bowen Road
Elma, New York	Elma Satellite
716-652-1855	716-805-1096
Building & Zoning	Highway Department
1600 Bowen Road	2170 Bowen Road
Elma, New York	Elma. New York
716-652-2188	716-652-2515
Water Department	Town Museum
5730 Seneca Street	3011 Bowen Road
Elma, New York	Elma, New York
716-674-8855	716-655-0046

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Schools in the Community
Lancaster Schools / Public
Central Avenue Elementary	Como Park Elementary
149 Central Avenue	1985 Como Park
Lancaster, New York	Lancaster, New York
716-686-3230	716-686-3235
Court Street Elementary	Hillview Elementary
91 Court Street	11 Pleasant View Drive
Lancaster, New York	Lancaster, New York
716-686-3240	716-686-3280
William Street Elementary 5-6	Aurora Middle
5201 William Street	148 Aurora Street
Lancaster, New York	Lancaster, New York
716-686-3800	716-686-3220
Lancaster High School
1 Forton Drive
Lancaster, New York
716-686-3255
Lancaster Non Public
Our Lady of Pompeii	St. Mary’s of the Assumption
129 Laverack Avenue	1 St. Mary’s Hill
Lancaster, New York	Lancaster, New York
716-684-4664	716-683-2112
St. Mary’s High School
142 Laverack Avenue
Lancaster, New York
716-683-4824
Depew Schools / Public
Cayuga Heights Elementary	John Sciole Elementary
1780 Como Park Blvd.	86 Alys Drive East
Depew, New York	Depew, New York
716-686-2452	716-686-3285
Middle School	Senior High School
South Transit Road	South Transit Road
Depew, New York	Depew, New York
716-686-2442	716-686-2422
Depew Non Public
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament	St. Peter & Paul
French Rd & George Urban	52 Burlington Avenue
Depew, New York	Depew, New York
716-685-2544	716-683-8049
St. Barnabas
2049 George Urban Blvd.
Depew, New York
716-684-1444
Elma Public
Iroquois Central & Middle School
Girdle Road
Elma, New York
716-652-3000

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Churches and Organizations
Assembly of God
Tree of Life -- 6090 Broadway Lancaster, NY  716-685-2898
Baptist
Calvary Baptist – 3144 George Urban Blvd. Depew, NY  716-684-3534
Calvary Heights Baptist – 981 Bowen Rd. Lancaster NY 716-655-1988
First Baptist – 1301 Bowen Rd. Elma, NY  716-652-8466
First Bible Baptist – 555 Central Ave. Lancaster, NY 716-684-2502
Hillview Baptist – Rehm Rd. Depew, NY  716-684-4083
Lancaster Community Baptist – 520 Ransom Rd. Lancaster, NY 716-683-7307
Christian
Love Joy Gospel – 5423 Genesee St. Lancaster, NY 716-651-0400
Episcopal
Trinity Episc – 5448 Broadway Lancaster, NY  716-683-1111
Lutheran
Faith Luth – 1230 Bowen Rd. Lancaster, NY  716-652-2221
Lord of Life – 1025 Borden Rd. Depew, NY 716-668-8000
Prince of Peace – 2311 George Urban Blvd. Depew, NY  716-685-2216
St. John’s – 2131 Woodward rd. Elma, NY  716-652-9161
St. John’s – 55 Pleasant Ave. Lancaster, NY  716-683- 8972
St. John’s – 67 Litchfield Ave. Depew, NY  716- 683-3947
St. Paul’s – 380 Main St. Elma, NY 716-668-4320
Pentecostal
My Father’s House – 140 Pound Rd. Elma, NY 716-655-1389
Presbyterian
Lancaster Presby – 5461 Broadway Lancaster, NY 716-684-2278
Roman Catholic
Annunciation – 7580 Clinton St. Elma, NY 716-683-5254
Holy Mother of the Rosary -- 5776 Broadway Lancaster, NY 716-685-5788
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament -- 10 French Rd. Depew, NY 716-684-6342
Our Lady of Pompeii – 158 Laverack Avenue. Lancaster, NY  716-683-6522
St. Augustine – 425 Penora St. Depew, NY 716-683-3038
St Barnabas – 2049 George Urban Blvd. Depew, NY  716-683-2350
St Gabriel’s – 5271 Clinton St. Elma, NY 716-668-4017
St. Mary’s – 1 St. Mary’s Hill Lancaster, NY 716-683-6445
St. Peter & Paul 86 Burlington Ave. Depew, NY  716-683-1645
Ukrainian Catholic
St. Basil’s – 12 Embry Place Lancaster, NY 716-683-0313
United Methodist
Elma United  -- 2991 Bowen Rd. Elma, NY  716-652-5427
Faith United – 5505 Broadway Lancaster, NY 716-683-5293
Wesleyan
The Vine – 85 Woodlawn Ave. Lancaster, NY  716-683-0570
Religious Organizations
God’s New Covenant People – 570 Gould Ave. Depew, NY 716-681-9590
Jehovah Witnesses – 1822 Como Park Blvd. Lancaster, NY 716-651-4503

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Community History

                                           Village of Lancaster

The Village of Lancaster, New York is located within the Town of Lancaster; both of which are suburbs of the city of Buffalo, NY. The Village of Lancaster is approximately 15 miles east of Buffalo and 6 miles from the Buffalo/ Niagara International Airport and the New York State Thruway. The NFTA Metro Bus system, services Lancaster to Buffalo and other suburbs. Lancaster is only a fifteen-minute drive away from Buffalo/Niagara's largest shopping mall, the Walden Galleria. Western New York's Amtrak station is located in the neighboring village of Depew.

The Village of Lancaster Historic District has one the richest concentrations of buildings, both commercial and residential, which have significant architectural value in Erie County, NY. To preserve this rich diversity, application was made to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to be recognized as a historic district and the Village of Lancaster Historic District was than sanctioned.

Historic Preservation is a Powerful Economic Generator. The increase in the tax base and creation of new jobs in preservation districts are real and significant benefits of preservation activity.

Build Community Pride and Preserve Values. Preservation activity results in the intangible benefit of linking the preservation of buildings with the preservation of community values. Pride is strengthened.

Become Part of Community Planning. Historic preservation can work with local government to strengthen a commercial core while retaining a community identity.

In 1999, the Village of Lancaster commemorated its 150^th Anniversary. This Sesquicentennial event was a yearlong celebration that included a “Lancaster Remembers When” that walked participants through 150 years of memories. This walking tour consisted of:

• Historical Museum – which offered up a Golden Anniversary Tea reminiscent of the 1900-1929 era.
• Lancaster Opera House – which showed silent movies from the 1940’s.
• Moose Lodge – which held a Big Band Buffet.
• Village Municipal Building – which hosted a Sock Hop Ice Cream Social and culminated an Up to Date party at the Elks.

The festivities continued throughout the year and area residents and visitors were encouraged to take a wander down memory lane with us.

                                         Town of Lancaster

The Town of Lancaster is located in Erie County, in Western New York State, about eleven miles east of downtown Buffalo. The town measures approximately six miles north/south and six miles east/west for an area of roughly 37 square miles. About 40,000 inhabitants call the town home. Lancaster is part of the 26th U.S. Congressional District, the 59th New York State Senate District, the 143rd New York State Assembly and the 5th and 8th Erie County Legislative Districts. A five member Town Board administers the town, presided over by the Town Supervisor.

Lancaster is drained by seven streams flowing from east to west. The watersheds are from north to south: Cayuga Creek; Ellicott Creek; Scajaquada Creek; Spring Creek; Plumb Bottom Creek; Little Buffalo Creek; and various branches of Slate Bottom Creek. Ellicott and Cayuga Creeks carry the greatest volume as they originate in the hills of Genesee and Wyoming counties.

The area was first inhabited by nomadic hunters who followed wooly mammoths and other large animals along the fringes of melting glaciers about 10,000 years ago. Evidence of later camps and tool working sites have been found near both Cayuga and Ellicott Creeks. The area was later occupied by the Seneca Nation of Indians. One of the five original nations of the Iroquois, the Senecas tilled the soil, raised corn and other vegetables, and tended to fruit orchards. A log cabin, still standing about 600 feet southwest of the intersection of Wehrle Drive and Harris Hill Road, was built by the Indians about the time of the Revolutionary War.

The formation of the Town of Lancaster was approved by state legislature on March 20, 1833. In 1849, residents petitioned the state legislature to create the Village of Lancaster and in 1850, Roman Catholics erected a church of locally made brick on St. Mary's Hill. In 1854, the Town of Elma was formed and in 1894, the Village of Depew was incorporated, thus reducing the Town of Lancaster to its current boundaries.

Today, the town and its two villages, Lancaster and Depew, are among the safest communities in the nation. They provide a wide range of housing choices, social and cultural opportunities, with extensive services for the youth and elderly. Residents are employed in a diverse economy.

Unemployment in Lancaster is among the lowest in the Buffalo Metropolitan area, reflecting both the strength of local companies, and the access to a growing diversity of employers within easy traveling distance.

History provided by Stanley J. Keysa, Esq.

                                           Village of Depew

The Village of Depew is a 4.78 square mile municipality of Erie County. The village was incorporated in 1894 and is located partly within the Town of Lancaster, to the east, and the Town of Cheektowaga, to the west, with Transit Road the dividing line between the two towns.
  Depew was named for Chauncey M. Depew (1834-1928), a Yale graduate, attorney, and once republican Secretary of State. He served the New York Central Railroad as general counsel. Vice president, and then president, and in 1899 became a US Senator.  It was his dream to create a great industrial city in Depew, where five railroads crossed the village within a span of a quarter mile. During his New York Central Railroad term as president, the railroad purchased 6 acres of Depew farmland for railroad shops. This move heralded a tremendous real estate boom, which within a few years changed the rural farmlands into an industrial center to which competent workmen flocked for jobs. Many came to Depew from Buffalo on the New York Central railroad, for some time on a free work train.
  Early village settlers came from England, Poland, Germany and other Eastern European nations seeking railroad related employment. Early Depew was home to New York Central Locomotive erecting shops, the Gould Coupler Company, Gould Storage Battery Company, Union Car Co., National Car Wheel Works, American Car and Foundry and the Pullman Company. Many smaller rail related industries flourished in and around the larger foundries and erecting shops.
  Residential development continued unabated until the closing of the New York Central facility in 1930. With the steady decline in the fortunes of thermal related employers, the village sought to diversify the employment base by exploiting its location and proximity to the Buffalo Airport and Amtrak station. A second residential boom took place in the early 1960's as the village actively sought to attract new industry and the resulting economic stability.
  Depew is currently home to Quebecor Printing, Harlequin Books, Leica Industries, Elmar Industries and PCB Piezotronics. These and other smaller but equally important industrial and technical employers have helped Depew stem the economic decline so prevalent to the Northeast.
  Being one of New York's largest villages in area and population, Depew has long prided itself on its self-sufficient nature in service to its residents. The village maintains a 35-member police force, 6 volunteer fire companies, and a 35-employee Department of Public Works. If Chauncey M. Depew were only here to see his dream become a reality!

                                                         Elma

Elma is the youngest town in Erie County. It is six square miles and has five small communities; Blossom, East Elma, Elma Center, Elma Village and Springbrook.  The Seneca Nation of Indians had possession of the land in Elma for two hundred years. The Holland Land Company contracted the land in the early 1800's. When white men moved west in New York State, they started to settle among the Seneca and Iroquois Indians. That was in Blossom, Elma Village called "Big Flats" and East Elma on the banks of Buffalo Creek, near the Marilla line from 1825-1842.
   In 1856 the Erie County Board of Supervisors determined there was a need for another town between Lancaster and East Aurora. The people in this area had requested a Post Office, so they could have an address. In 1858, at a meeting at the local and active resident C.W. Hurd's home, now the Elma Town Museum, the Town of Elma was organized and named. Originally the name Elm was suggested due to the number of Elm trees in the area, however, the addition to the "a" to the word Elm was suggested and adapted. A Post Office was established and the residents received their mail twice a week from Lancaster and East Aurora.
   In 1873, the first fire company was created in Blossom, with others soon to follow. When the roads were created, they were named after Elma's original residents. The oldest home in Elma is the Hatch House. Located on Hemstreet, it was built in 1825 by Zina Hemstreet and is now a landmark. The oldest business in Elma is the North Star Tavern. Located on Seneca Street and North Road, it was built by Martin Taber and is also a local landmark. Currently it is owned and operated by Marie Young O'Brien. The oldest farm in Elma is the Jacob Davis farm on Wilshire Road. Settled in 1831, five generations of the Davis family have worked this land. Charles Davis is the fifth generation and is currently running the family farm.
   The first of now 13 churches in Elma was St. Vincent's of Springbrook, establishes in 1850. District Schools were formed in 1857.

(Submitted by the Elma Town Historian)

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Parks and Recreation

Como Park located on Como Park Boulevard in Lancaster, New York.
(716) 683-5430
   Como Park is open from dawn to dusk and includes:

• Tennis courts
• Softball diamonds
• Volleyball courts
• Playground equipment

Events and Entertainment
Events include; Lunker Angler’s Kid’s Fishing Derby, Volleyball Tournament, Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween in the Park, and Photo opportunities for weddings are available.

Entertainment includes; Summer Music Concerts , Lancaster Town Band – held at the lighthouse by the lake.

Como Park also includes an open-air gazebo and a large indoor casino for large party rentals. There are also many open-air picnic areas with picnic tables and grills available. Restrooms also available.

Keysa Park is located on the corner of Brady.
(716) 684-3320
The park has a swimming pool, wading pool, large covered picnic shelter, baseball diamond, and softball field and playground equipment.

Walden Pond Park is located between Walden and Ransom Rd.
(716) 683-3949
The park is open from April to October. Included in the park are picnic shelters, softball fields, volleyball courts, soccer and football fields, and playground equipment.

Westwood Park is located on Pavement Rd.
(716) 684-3320
Westwood has a park pavilion, picnic shelters, baseball- soccer and football fields, a two-mile bike path, a pond, and nature trail and playground equipment.

Annual Events
Lancaster kicks off the new year with the following events:

• 4^th of July celebration which is one of the largest celebrations in Erie County.
• Taste of Lancaster which takes place every summer.
• Labor Day Weekend Art Festival, which is one of the Village’s newest features.
• Annual Christmas Walk in November, which starts with Breakfast with Santa and offers much, much more.

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Areas of Interest

Library
Lancaster Branch Library
5466 Broadway
Lancaster, New York 14086
 

Hours Open:   Monday 10:00am – 6:00pm Tuesday 10:00am – 9:00pm Wednesday 10:00am – 9:00pm Thursday 10:00am – 9:00pm Friday 10:00am – 5:00pm Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm Sunday CLOSED

Member of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System

Lancaster Historical Society Museum, 40 Clark Street, Lancaster, New York
(716) 681-7719.
     The Lancaster Historical Society Museum was originally constructed in 1895 on Broadway near the intersection with Central Avenue. The house was built by Dr. Samuel Potter and was used as his home and office. The house was then moved to Clark Street in 1940 and was remodeled for use as Lancaster’s library and it remained a library until 1973. The building was then used as the Lancaster Senior Citizen’s Center. Today the Historical Society houses this building which has many notable architectural features, including a round porch and a widow’s walk. The museum contains several artifacts, which chronicle the history of Lancaster.

The Little Red School House, William Street & Bowen Rd, Lancaster, New York
(716) 681-7719.
     The Little Red School House was opened in 1869 as District No.6. Today, the school is a working museum used by the area school districts that allows students to experience school as it was in the late 19^th century. The school features a variety of period artifacts, a pot-bellied stove, single and double desks with ironwork sides, a teacher’s desk from 1880, recitation benches, slate blackboards and a “Chautauqua Desk.”

1810 Warren Hull House, 5976 Genesee Street, Lancaster, New York
(716) 837-0893
     The Hull House harbors the story of the multifaceted cultural heritage of the Niagara Frontier, a story of distinctive Federal architecture. It tells of early pioneer farm life and agriculture, and the saga of Warren and Polly along with their 12 children. The Hull House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Avenue, Lancaster, New York
(716) 683-1776
     The Lancaster Opera House has been in existence since 1897. The interior is based on an early American tradition when it was popular to combine a music hall with a town’s main government building. These multifunctional halls were often called “Opera House” whether or not opera was performed. In 1975, the Opera House was in progress of being restored and the doors were reopened in 1981, to reveal a performing arts center that resembled opening night in 1897.

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