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Dunkirk Museum offers holiday gifts for sale

Pictured is an item for sale by the Dunkirk Historical Society.

Once again the Dunkirk Historical Museum is offering special items for sale especially designed for those interested in local history. These items would make an interesting addition to your holiday shopping.

The pictorial history book called Dunkirk will be available for sale for $21.95, and gives readers a great overview of the city’s rich history. Photo notecards with a variety of images provide a practical gift for others or by which to write greetings to others while sharing Dunkirk history. The covers include the Neptune Fountain, Brooks’ made locomotive #444, local church windows, artwork by local artist George. W. Eggers, and more. Some of the images are available as magnets. New this year is the “Dunkirk Magnet” which is decorated with important dates and locations from the city.

A favorite item back from last year is a reprint of a section of a 1881 map of Dunkirk and its harbor. The reproduction is a high quality print that is 16 by 26 inches in size, and it serves as a reflection of Dunkirk’s history at that time. The map shows the four docks that existed then, as well as the Erie Railroad running from its own dock to the main trunk line on Third Street. Also present on the map are the old Depot and Erie Hotel, St. Mary’s and St. Mary’s Orphan Asylum, the Episcopal church, schools that include the Dunkirk Academy and Schools 1, 3, 4 and 6, and Washington Square. Of special interest are the old estates that lined Central Avenue, and these properties highlight the families of influence in the city at that time. These include locations of the home of Horatio Brooks on the corner of Central and Sixth; the property owned by the Williams family, the founders of the OBSERVER; the Charles Hequembourg home (a contractor by trade who designed and built the present Presbyterian Church and who also served as village engineer. He became mayor of the city in 1894). The home of Brooks Works Vice-President Marshall Hinman is found, a building which became the Gross mansion, and then rectory for Cardinal Mindszenty. At that time East Front Street lined the lake (it would be renamed Lake Shore Drive later), and Washington Avenue is still named Buffalo Street and Park Avenue is still named Elk Street. Old and long gone businesses such as the Dotterweich Brewery, Dunkirk Iron Works, and Brooks Locomotive Works appear on the map as well. The cost of each reprint is $35.

Another item for sale is a re-print of an 1882 sketch of Dunkirk. The sketch focuses on the waterfront and is 21 by 36 inches in size. It is graced by the words “Dunkirk, NY 1882” beneath the drawing. The sketch reveals individual and recognizable buildings including the Brooks Locomotive Works. Four docks with ships at each dock are shown, along with the home of Horatio Brooks, the Dunkirk Academy, and other recognizable buildings. The Erie Railroad cuts through the city along Third Street, with a locomotive and cars seen on the tracks. This print has a sepia tone and is a very attractive item depicting our city in a unique way. Each print costs $55.

The final reprint for sale is that of the sketch of the ALCO-Brooks plant of 1918. It is available as a 24×12 costing $30, 16×8 at $15 and 12×6 for $8.

Pictured is an item for sale by the Dunkirk Historical Society.

Most of these items may be viewed on the museum website at www.dunkirkhistoricalmuseum.org in the Store section of the “About” drop-down menu.

Pictured is an item for sale by the Dunkirk Historical Society.

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