Laura Cole Photography

One more image to go!! The 11th Edwardian Olean image is up on the blog. The church in this image is actually the oldest extant building in Olean, and is in current need of donations in order to save it You can find out more information or donate by contacting the African American Center for Cultural Development , which is currently raising funds to match a grant that they received for some major renovations to the building to save it from ruin and put it to good use.

Some of my favorites from the box of photos I snagged at last weekend’s estate sale... @ Olean, New York

Some details from the scrapbook from this past weekend’s estate sale haul... The handwriting on the front says that the book is from Uncle Mason’s and the inside tells us that the book was a Christmas gift to Mason from Lettie. Mason was obviously a druggist and pharmacist in Strykersville, NY, based on all of the little cards pasted inside that bear his title. Business cards, perhaps? I peeled one up just enough to see that there is nothing on the reverse side of them.... Most of the pictures are ads...even the ones that don’t appear to be at first glancelike the last picture of a woman whose hat hides the tiny lettering of DB Thomas’ Electric Oil in its brim. I couldn’t pass up on this colorful, eclectic collection of history. @ Strykersville, New York

Estate Sale Finds!! A beautiful bubble glass frame, a colorful scrapbook, a post card album, leather-bound photo albums full of tintypes, cabinet cards and CDVs, a box of loose photos, and 4 cased daguerreotypes!! and I didn’t even walk away with everything. There were some framed photos and scrapbooks that I had to leave behind because, well, you know, money and all. But, when you pay 3 bucks for a daguerreotype, it feels like a win!

If you've ever wondered if it's Allegheny, Alleghany, or Allegany, head over to the blog...

I've been powering on through this crazy heatwave we've been having, in my air-conditioner-less office, and have a new Edwardian Olean image up on the blog

I'm getting really close to finishing this series!

More information about the only building on the north side of the 300 block of W State that has survived to today...

My seventh "Edwardian Olean" image is up on the blog...along with a post that includes everything from a forgotten cemetery to movies stars to mob-related disappearances. Even if that doesn't entice you, there are lots of extra photos in this particular post, so it's worth checking out. Plus, if we happen to be related, there is some interesting family history at the end.

A place that many locals drive past frequently without realizing what a popular spot it once was...

Were these massive rocks part of vast city constructed thousands of years ago using alien technology? Ancient astronaut theorists say yes. I, however, have a slightly different version of events on my blog. Rock City Park

A new image is up on the Blog...it shows the Exchange National Bank in 1912, then a one story structure, and now currently Community Bank building. The brick building on the opposite corner was the bank's original home before the new building across the street was constructed in 1907. At some point before 1919, the additional stories were added to the Bank building, and Harry Houdini scaled the exterior to climb in an open 5th story window. More info and pictures on the Blog!

New blog post up about the third piece from "Edwardian Olean"..."Squirrel for Supper". More images of the post cards that went into this piece, plus a little info about how Teddy Roosevelt frequented one of these places during his presidency... #oleanny