While sorting through some old newspapers earlier this week, imagine my surprise when I came across a short article and an ad for Mr. Vary, the inventor I have recently featured on this site.

Thought you might enjoy reading what was written in the Middleport Herald, a semi weekly newspaper” circulated throughout the richest agricultural district on Earth”.

Rates for the paper were $1.50 for the year according to publisher Lewis A. Jones.

The post Middleport Herald, July 12, 1912 appeared first on Life in the Village of Middleport, New York 14105.

The caption dates this at 1909 and says: “The makers of house trim, sash and doors. It was located on Kelly Ave. and is presently occupied by Barden and Robeson Corp. Lower photo shows workers from left, Art Webber, Art Vale, Frank Owens, Tim Riordan, and Bill Mahar. Photos are through the courtesy of Tim Riordan.”

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The post Niagara Woodworking was in the news! appeared first on Life in the Village of Middleport, New York 14105.

The first dial telephones in the area were installed in 1938 at Middleport and Gasport, apparently as a “trial run”.

Lockport, with 10,000 customers, received their dial system in 1951. In 1950, New York Telephone Company was granted the first rate increase in 20 years.

Middleport residence private lines cost $3.25; 4-party lines and rural, $2.50. Business private, $5.50; 2-party lines $4.75, rural $3.75. There were 1385 phones in Middleport and Gasport. In 1930, Middleport could call only 1050 phones toll-free; now Middleport subscribers could reach 1550 without toll.

All Middleport numbers received 5 digits, beginning with the office designation “6” in 1951, the first step in the program, which in the future would make it possible for direct dialing over a wider area.

The Middleport Central Office building on Vernon Street was enlarged to increase their facilities by 70%, as their daily volume of calls had increased from 2000 to 4000 in five years.

The public was invited to attend an informal Open House to see how the dial system works. Fees of 5 cents per minute were cancelled for Middleport-Medina calls.

A few years later all NY Telephone numbers were changed to a 2-letter, 5-numeral plan to prepare for eventual nation-wide dialing by all customers. The Middleport Central Office name assigned was Republic-5 — now “735”.

Those strange looking radio relay antenna towers like the one on Mountain Road, are spaced about 30 miles apart and speed travel of the long distance calls and television programs. In 1963, Direct Distance Dialing connected 83 million telephones across the country.

The post Calling Middleport! appeared first on Life in the Village of Middleport, New York 14105.

“Labor Day, Monday, September 4th, 1911, will pass into the history of the Union Free School District No. 1 of the Towns of Royalton and Hartland, Niagara County, NY and the Village of Middleport as a notable day in many ways.

The day was the occasion for the laying of the corner stone of the beautiful new $55,000 Union High School building and therefore marks the beginning of a new epoch in educational matters in this district and village.

Following the parade the new cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremony.”

The post Cornerstone of New School Building Laid appeared first on Life in the Village of Middleport, New York 14105.

The annual commencement exercises of the Mdpt. Union High School will be held at the opera house this eve. at 8:15, June 26, 1901. The class motto is “Climb though the rocks be rugged”. Grads. in the academic course are: Misses Clara Louise Bates, Gertrude Louise Benson, Cornelia Lucy Freeman, Martha Eleanore Pollard, Elizabeth Loretta Bray, Bernice Mary Freeman, Lucy Freeman Graves, Messers Leslie Willard Allen, Charles Floyd Ewing, William Henry Watts.  In the advanced academic are: Messers Elijah Henry Seaman, Frank William Sterritt, Glenn Henry Wakeman.  Music for the occasion was furnished by Hammond’s orchestra.  Mr. W. J. Sterritt presented the diplomas in his usual graceful manner making a few remarks appropriate to the occasion

The post Commencement at Union School appeared first on Life in the Village of Middleport, New York 14105.