The
U.S. postage stamps issued in conjunction with the Pan-American Exposition forever
changed the way stamps are collected in the United States. Because of a series
of unusual planned and unplanned events, the Pan-Am stamps, officially called
the "Series of 1901," captured the imagination of the American public,
and stamp collecting by ordinary people was born. The stamps' popularity has
its roots in the advertising for the Exposition. The promotion of the Pan-Am
created the largest publicity and public relations campaign the world had ever
seen. "Spirit of Niagara" posters and other advertising reached millions
of people all over the western world.
To read more of Robert Gurn's story, see page 55 of the Fall 2001 Heritage Magazine. Subscribe now!
Now and then my research into the rich history of
Buffalo baseball takes me to the downtown ballpark where I can rummage 
around in the Bison Archives and lose myself in the yellowed photographs of
Ollie Carnegie, Luke Easter and Del Bissonette playing that little piece of
heaven called Offerman Stadium. On those days I try to get there early before
any of the players are out on the field. If I'm lucky and I have a few minutes
to kill before my appointment in the upstairs office, and if no one is looking,
I'll sneak out into the stands and have the place all to myself. The beauty
of this crown jewel of the minor leagues, wihch by its intimate atmosphere pays
homage to Offerman, is especially evident when it is my personal stadium. The
gently curving rows of brick seats contrast with the checkerboard green of the
manicured field and the tawny brown of the infield. The white foul lines frame
the symmetry of the diamond and then seem to disappear into the industrial neighborhoods
beyond. The result is a feeling of timeless sanctuary. Sometimes I'll walk out
onto the diamond, take a deep breath, and dream the dream that all American
kids have - of diving catches, no-hitters and game-winning home runs.
To read more of W. Richard Ohler's story, see page 59 of the Fall 2001 Heritage Magazine. Subscribe now!
Combine
Buffalo's reputation for hospitality and the longevity of its architecture and
housing, and it's no surprise either that this city opened its arms and its
houses to Pan-American Exposition visitors a century ago - or that many of the
buildings that became homes away from home for fairgoers still survive today.
Unlike the buildings from the Exposition grounds itself, the hotels of the Pan-American linger throughout the city...
To read more of Paul Redding and Mike Vogel's story, see page 59 of the Fall 2001 Heritage Magazine. Subscribe now!
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