Event honored those who facilitated Frontier House sale

The Historical Association of Lewiston held its annual “Lewiston Jeopardy” beer and pizza night fundraiser Thursday at the Brickyard Brewing Company.

Four teams of local history experts competed for bragging rights and trophies – team one: Mayor Anne Welch, husband Bob Welch, and Niagara County Assistant District Attorney Peter Wydysh; team two: Peter Coppins, Trustee Daniel Gibson and Bill McEvoy; team three: Curt Stuart, Michael Vitch and Lisa Lannon; and team four, which won: Sandy Blackwell Yates, Ralph Borelli and Tim Miller.

In between rounds, the audience could answer questions. A correct guess earned the observer one raffle ticket, while an incorrect answer resulted in a $5 donation to HAL.

Lee Simonson served as host and emcee. He was accompanied by Leandra Collesano and Lisa Ohanessian. BBC staff served house-rub chicken wings, cheese and pepperoni and cheese pizza, beer and soft drinks.

The event boasted several sponsors, including speakers Rocco DelGrosso of Krislyn Co. LLC, Michael Ragusa of Vision Financial Group, and Niagara County Legislature Chairwoman Rebecca Wydysh.

Special recognition went to the individuals responsible for the 2018-19 sale of the Frontier House from Hastings Lewiston to 4600 LLC Group (Bill Paladino/Ellicott Development, Lewiston residents Jeffrey Williams and Jerry Williams, and William Game), as facilitated by the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees and counsel Joseph Leone Jr.

HAL President Ken Slaugenhoupt presented awards to:

•Former Mayor Terry Collesano received the Benjamin Barton Leadership Award for leading the village’s successful effort to purchase the historic building and grounds. 

•The Friends of History Award was presented to Collesano’s 2018 Village Board colleagues, Victor Eydt, Dan Gibson, Nick Conde and posthumously to Bruce Sutherland. Gibson accepted.

•The Calvin Hotchkiss Victory Award was given to Mayor Anne Welch for her successful efforts in recruiting a private developer who would take over the purchase agreement and invest the funds necessary to restore the Frontier House and keep it on the tax rolls.

•The Josiah Tryon Achievement Award was presented to Leone, who provided remarkable legal work during the complicated negotiations to acquire and transfer the Frontier House property.

•The Business of the Year award was bestowed upon 4600 LLC Group. Accepting were Jeff Williams and Game.

•Historical Association of Lewiston board member Jeffrey Streb was honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award for his leadership in completing the most successful membership campaign ever conducted by the nonprofit group. His effort saw a 40% increase in annual memberships.

•Village of Lewiston Historian Russell Piper was the recipient of the Bruce Sutherland Outstanding Contribution Award for his stewardship of the Village of Lewiston cemetery located next to the First Presbyterian Church. Piper could not attend.

Can you guess the final “Lewiston Jeopardy” question? …

 

The answer is the “Mudball Heroes” or the “Mudballers.”

 

(NFP GM/Managing Editor Joshua Maloni contributed to this report and took the photos)

 

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