This 15" section of terra cotta was removed from the front of the Union News corner stand near the train concourse exit before the damaged area was temporarily filled in with concrete. The floor directly below the marble corner stand had heaved up due to long periods of exposure to ice and water from the vandalization period of the 1990's. The edges were encrusted with a hard grit and you'd be hard pressed to have much encouragement that it would ever look like this again, but as you can see, with a little work, it still shines brightly!

From a side view, you can see over an inch of the orange, white, red and pink marble chips encased in a black marble resin. There is another inch or so of concrete below the terra cotta and two inches of cork below the concrete. The chipped marble mixture was poured into permanent brass forms, giving the floor its geometric patterns and borders. The top layer was ground down, sanded and buffed to a sheen.

When I got this section home, I used coarse grit sandpaper, then fine grit and washed it thoroughly. Once dry, I applied 6 coats of professional grade floor finish. This floor surface is damn near indestructible! Underneath the light dust layer currently covering the rest of the concourse floor lies a beautiful terra cotta shine! Even the few damaged areas can be easily repoured to match.

I estimate that nearly 20 million people must have stood on this section of floor over the last 77 years (50 as an active train terminal), buying their postcards and newspapers.

Friends of the Buffalo Central Terminal Membership - Current Addresses

I received returned newsletters "address unknown" from the following members:

Jim & Meredith Wilson
Larry & Ruth Coleman
Michael Smith
Brenda Lehrman
Robert Rothrock

I sent emails to those who had them, but some of those were undelivered as well. Please contact me at mmiller@mandtbank.com with your current addresses. Thanks!

Have you seen the "Liberty Alive" sculpture by Cousin Kelly as you approach the Terminal? Watch this short interview with Cousin, courtesy of WNYMedia.net!

Work sessions this week

Work Sessions at the terminal this week Wednesday (5/24), Saturday (5/27), and Monday (5/29) from 8am - 2pm (or later). Glass removal and general clean up will be the focus. There may be also some work on restoring doors and windows. For more info call 954-2225.

Central Terminal is on the road to recovery

5/21/2006

Being interested in the fate of the H.H. Richardson complex and knowing the reputation of architect Robert T. Coles, I was expecting a thoughtful and informed opinion in his May 10 Another Voice. Instead, I was shocked to read his passing remarks on the Central Terminal.

To read his description of the Central Terminal as "empty and deteriorating" ignores the past three years, in which 65,000 visitors have come to the building for events ranging from historic architectural tours, art installations, the 75th anniversary celebration of the building's dedication, public forums, etc.

The restoration started with the return of the Concourse Clock in 2005, currently on display at M&T Bank, and the installation of the mezzanine railings. The Central Terminal Restoration Corp. is now in discussion about the return of some of the original light fixtures of this art deco National Historic landmark.

A few weeks ago, the University at Buffalo Art Department held its 2nd annual Senior Thesis Art Show, with attendance at 2,500. And the seventh spring Clean Up was held May 6-7. The event attracted more than 300 volunteers.

The Central Terminal is on the road to recovery and is ill served by uninformed comments about its condition and the level of community activity taking place there. The summer and fall of 2006 will see the building playing host to corporate events, plays, concerts, Oktoberfest and the Buffalo Brew Fest. It is not "empty and deteriorating."

RUSSELL E. PAWLAK

President, Central Terminal Restoration Corp.
Buffalo

For those of you that couldn't make it to the SCVA show this weekend, Broadway-Fillmore Alive has put together a video of the event. Be sure to check it out, as well as all the other great work they're doing for the East Side!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Buffalo, New York

On June 23rd at 6pm EST, Red Scream Films LLC, in association with The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, Buffalo Nickel Productions, Sound Video Solutions, Fright World and The Voodoo Dollies will present a sneak peek screening of the feature film Prison of the Psychotic Damned to Benefit the Buffalo Central Terminal restoration efforts.

Prison of the Psychotic Damned is the first feature film by Buffalo based production company Red Scream Films LLC. This suspense-horror film is about five ghost hunters who come to the Terminal to investigate whether or not it really deserves its reputation as one of the most haunted places in the world. When the sun sets they find the terrifying answer.

Prison of the Psychotic Damned was shot on location in the Western New York area with the majority of the film shot inside the Buffalo Central Train Terminal. The film was directed and edited by D.W. Kann from a screenplay by Red Scream Films LLC CEO David R Williams who also produced. Plans call for several of the film’s cast, including stars Melantha Blackthorne and Demona Bast, to attend. They will answer questions about the film and sign autographs.

“This will be a unique film experience,” said Williams, “The audience will not only be the first audience to get to see this film outside a small group of production people, but they will also get the opportunity to watch the film where it was shot.”

Built in 1929, the Central Terminal is a massive art deco masterpiece that time, weather, uncaring owners, and vandals have not been kind to.

“The purpose of this event is not to promote our film,” said Williams, “The purpose is to help restore the Buffalo Central Terminal. We were shooting here for a full nine days and everybody, cast and crew alike, fell in love with the place and by the end of the shoot, nobody wanted to leave. This is our way of giving something back and hopefully generating publicity for the terminal and the efforts of the CTRC to save it.”

Digital Projection equipment is being provided by Sound Video Solutions. punk girl-band The Voodoo Dollies will perform the opening credits song “Suffer Cake” as well as several other numbers. Special BCT copies of the film will be available for purchase.

Where: THE BUFFALO CENTRAL TERMINAL!
Date and Time: June 23rd, 2006…Doors open at 6pm.
Digital Production Services by Sound Video Solutions.
Tickets: $5 at the door.
The Buffalo Central Train Terminal is Located at 495 Paderewski Drive in Buffalo, NY.

WARNING! Prison of the Psychotic Damned has not been rated. It features nudity, violence, gore fx and scenes of extreme terror. No one under 21 admitted.

Merchandise has been shipped!

For those patiently awaiting arrival of merchandise they purchased from our web store, most orders were shipped yesterday. We are also working on the creation of new merchandise for our lineup this year. Come see our display at the SCVA show this weekend!

Student Celebration of the Visual Arts Show at the Terminal

The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation and the local art teachers from more than 20 area schools (elementary to college) are busily setting up the galleries in the main concourse and first floors for our 2nd annual Student Celebration of the Visual Arts show. The show runs from 11AM to 4PM on Saturday May 20th and again for those hours on Sunday May 21st. Food and beverages will be available and admission is free. Come on out and see some great, young creative talent!

I'm pleased to say that our 9th annual Spring Clean Up was one of the most productive ever! Many of those who were there, came both days and worked extremely hard for hours.

A special thanks to Bill and Tracy, Adam and Nathan, Nick from Philadelphia, the hard working young guys from North Tonawanda and Dan for cooking for us on Saturday. Our grounds look better than ever before and I'm pleased to announce that we will soon be able to open the Baggage Check room and Train Concourse area, as well as reuse the Union News corner kiosk and some of the small shops at the rear of the concourse.

Tons of rusted metal, broken glass and marble was removed from these areas by our dedicated volunteers. Also, special thanks for Ed, Yuri and Ben for coming up with such a successful plan and making it all happen! Great work everyone. Stay tuned to this website for pictures from this weekend.

Don't forget... our 9th annual spring cleanup takes place this Saturday and Sunday, May 6th and 7th from 9am until 1pm. Work will take place both inside and outside the building, depending on weather. Food and drink will be provided. Please bring gloves and any tools (shovels, brooms, etc.) that you think will be helpful!