Photo by Greg Larson Dunkirk City Historian Diane Andrasik holds a copy of the new book on which her March 14 Opera House lecture is based, “Dunkirk Then and Now: Three Critical Streets.”

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center kicks off the spring installment of its Chautauqua County History Lecture Series on Thursday at 7 p.m., with Dunkirk Then and Now: Three Critical Streets.

The program’s speaker, Dunkirk City Historian Diane Andrasik, will discuss a new book published by The Historical Society of Dunkirk that features her photography. The book, also titled Dunkirk Then and Now: Three Critical Streets, explores three main North-South streets in Dunkirk: Central Ave., Main St., and Washington Ave. Once considered among the most important north-south thoroughfares in the city, the three came into being with different names: Center St., Buffalo St., and Lion St.

The book focuses on the changes Dunkirk has experienced over the decades, including the loss of critical commercial, private and historic structures, often to be replaced with smaller more modern buildings or, in some cases, nothing at all.

The book and this talk were inspired by a 2018 lecture and photo exhibit of historic photographs of important locations juxtaposed against the same locations today. Copies of the book will be available for sale at this presentation with all proceeds benefiting The Historical Society of Dunkirk.

In addition to serving as Dunkirk City Historian, the retired Dunkirk High School English teacher is an ardent community supporter. Her tireless efforts often focus on the Historical Society of Dunkirk and beautification projects within the City. A professional photographer, and a photography instructor at Chautauqua Institution, she also published Images of America: Dunkirk, which is available on Amazon.

Admission to the lecture is free, with donations gratefully accepted. Opera House programming is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the Ralph Wilson Jr. Arts & Cultural Initiative as administered by the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.