November 13, 2015

Citizens Advocating Memorial Preservation (CAMP) members attended the 11 AM Veterans Day ceremony held by the Little Valley American Legion Post #531 at the Little Valley Rural Cemetery in Little Valley, NY. The solemn ceremony was well-attended by the public despite the inclement weather conditions. The ceremony was officiated by Allie Burdick, a member of American Legion Post #531. Color Guards were present from Post 531 and were joined by a Civil War re-enactor Color Guard representing the CAMP organization.

Immediately following the ceremony at the cemetery, CAMP held their own Veterans Day ceremony at the steps of the Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building located a few blocks down Court Street. They were joined by American Legion members and spectators. The ceremony was officiated by CAMP Chairman Tom Stetz.  Pastor Nate Lange of the Little Valley Methodist Church provided the opening and closing prayers for the event.

CAMPers, John Stengel and Tom Place were part of a 5-man re-enactor Civil War Color Guard present during the ceremony. They were joined by another re-enactor, Steve Teeft, who is the executive director of the Echoes Through Time museum in Springville and a representative of the Sons of Union Veterans.

Mr. Stengel placed a wreath at the door of the Memorial Building on behalf of the entire CAMP organization in honor of all American veterans. Mr Teeft placed a wreath at the Memorial Building on behalf of the Sons of Union Veterans.

Several members of the audience spoke in rememberance of their veteran descendants. CAMPer, Nancy Barger, noted that a Mr. Bishop, who is a World War II veteran, honored CAMP by his presence at the ceremony. Mr. Teeft honored his Civil War descendant and spoke about the importance of the Memorial Building as a lasting memorial to all those brave Americans who gave their lives and their service for their country during the Civil War.

A video of the entire ceremony can be viewed on this web site’s Video page: 2015 CAMP Veterans Day Ceremony

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The Veterans Memorial at the Little Valley Rural Cemetery in Little Valley, NY

Allie Burdick Delivers his Veterans Day Speech

The American Legion Color Guard

CAMP’s Civil War Re-enactor Color Guard

The American Legion Presents a 7-gun Salute

CAMPer, Clark Casler at the Am Legion Vets Day ceremony.

CAMPer Nancy Bargar and Chairman, Tom Stetz, waiting for the Am Legion ceremony to begin.

November 9, 2015

Tom Stetz, CAMP Chairman, sent out Letters of Congratulations today to four newly-elected Cattaraugus County legislators. The letters were sent to Legislators Richard Helmich, Joseph Boberg, Robert Neal, Sr. and Barbara Hastings:

NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Legislator Elect ____________________

Congratulations on being elected as a Cattaraugus County Legislator.  Citizens Advocating Memorial Preservation  (CAMP)  looks forward to working with you for the preservation of Cattaraugus County’s most significant Civil War Memorial, the Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building located at the corner of Court Street and Seventh Street in the Village of Little Valley, NY.

Tom Stetz, CAMP Chairman

November, 9 2015

Veterans Day Ceremonies will be held in Little Valley, NY at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion wiill conduct their annual Veterans Day Ceremony in the Little Valley Rural Cemetery across from the Cattaraugus County Fair Grounds.

Immediately following the Cemetery Ceremony, CAMP will hold a brief ceremony at the Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building located at the corner of Court and Seventh St. in Little Valley. The public is encouraged to attend both ceremonies.

CAMP’S ceremony will include:

1) Wreath laying by CAMP and one by the Sons Of Union Veterans from Erie County

2) Veterans Day prayer by a local Little Valley Pastor

3) Reading of the Clark Casler poem

4) Any other appropriate remarks anyone in attendance cares to make.

An Honor Guard of 3-4 Uniformed Civil War re-enactors will also be present.

October 31, 2015

Time Warner Cable News posted a short video on their web site about the Landmark Society of Western New York’s 2015 Five to Revive nominations. Please click the image below to view the video on their web site:

October 27, 2015

The Landmark Society of Western New York announced their 3rd annual Five to Revive list at the Landmark Society’s offices in Rochester, NY yesterday, October 26, 2015 at 3:00 PM. The Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building found its place at number 4 on the prestigious list. The Five to Revive is a list of historic sites that the Landmark Society identifies each year as opportunities for targeted, strategic revitalization.

Each year these 5 properties become priority projects for the Landmark Society who will work collaboratively with owners, municipal officials and developers to facilitate investment and foster rehabilitation. The ultimate goal is to return important historic resources to a place of prominence in their respective communities, as economic and social assets that spark even more investment and revitalization.

Wayne Goodman, Landmark’s executive director, stated at the hour-long press conference that “This is the third year we are announcing a ‘Five to Revive’ list, which has been very effective in calling attention to key properties in Western New York that are in need of investment.” That was certainly music to the ears of Citizens Advocating Memorial Preservation (CAMP) members who attended the press conference.

The Landmark Society has been with CAMP since the first voices of protest were raised against demolition of the Memorial Building in Little Valley, NY in October of 2013. CAMP realizes that its efforts would have gone nowhere without the expert professional help from the staff at the Landmark Society.

CAMP members Nancy Bargar, Rose Mary Carvella, Warren Patterson, Gail Bellamy, Cyndy Whited, John Stengel and Tom Stetz were among a crowd of 30 attendees at the Landmark press conference.  They all were in agreement that this was another very important step on the long march towards preservation and reuse for Cattaraugus County’s most significant Civil War Memorial.

The event was also attended by a representative from US Senator Charles E. Schumer’s office and by Clinton Brown of Clinton Brown Company Architecture. And the press conference was recorded by a Rochester, NY television station crew for news broadcast later in the day.

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Landmark Society Executive Director Wayne Goodman announcing the lisiting of the Memorial Building as one of the Five to Revive with LSWNY Preservation Planner, Caitlin Meives

The Five to Revive listing of the Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building by The Landmark Society of Western New York

CAMPer and Civil War re-enactor John Stengel at Five to Revive

CAMP Chairman Tom Stetz and CAMPer Nancy Barger

From left to right; CAMPers Nancy Barger, Warren Patterson, Tom Stetz, John Stengel, Cyndy Whited, Rose Mary Carvella and Gail Bellamy at Five to Revive

October 22, 2015

CAMP Chairman, Tom Stetz, received 3 more Memorial Building Poll responses from 2015 Cattaraugus County Legislative Candidates on the deadline date, October 21, 2015. The responses were from: New Candidate Karen Fenner, New Candidate Joseph Boberg and New Candidate Dianne Ball.

CAMP has received 9 responses from a field of 26 Legislative Candidates.

The last of the candidates’ responses appear below:

New Candidate Karen Fenner, District 3:

—–Original Message—– From: Karen Fenner
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 8:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: C.A.M.P.

Dear Tom,
I am writing to you in response to your letter regarding the Civil War
memorial in Little Valley. I was unaware until I tried to do a little
research on this that the memorial was scheduled for demolition. What
information I was able to get did not really touch on the extent of damage
or needed repair to keep this landmark intact. I am surprised that little or
no effort is being put forth to keep it and or reuse it.
I am interested in exploring avenues to preserve this as a historic
landmark. I believe with a coordinated effort this should be able to be
preserved for what it was intended to be, a memorial to Civil War soldiers
and Sailors. I am curious if you could tell me what avenues have been
explored and what responses has your group gotten? As someone who grew up in
this area and spent most of my adult life here I have to admit until I got
your letter I was unaware of this memorial. It’s a shame it has been so
neglected.
I think at this time I would have to say that I am in favor of
Cattauragus County working with C.A.M.P. and other organizations to
preserve, rehabilitate and maintain the Memorial Building.
Thank you so much for contacting me on this issue.

Karen Fenner
Candidate for Cattauragus County Legislator, District 3

New Candidate Joseph Boberg, District 2:

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New Candidate Dianne Ball, Dist #5:

October 20, 2015

CAMP has received two more responses from Cattaraugus County Legislative candidates. They are from New Candidate Linda Witte and Incumbent Candidate Paula Stockman.

So far, CAMP has received only 6 responses from 27 Legislative Candidates. The deadline to respond to CAMP’s poll is tomorrow, October 21, 2015.

Here are Ms. Witte’s and Ms. Stockman’s responses:

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New Candidate Linda Witte, District 8:

Incumbent Candidate Paula Stockman, District 1:

October 19, 2015

A real-photo postcard has been discovered and purchased by CAMPer, Kyle Stetz, that pre-dates the dedication of the Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building in Little Valley, NY. The postcard is postmarked May 21, 1914.

The postcard was mailed from Little Valley, NY almost 4 months before the dedication of the Memorial Building that took place on September, 7, 1914. The card contains a real photo of the building rather than an artist’s rendering. The detail is very good as a result. The front and back of the postcard are displayed below:

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Responses to CAMP’s legislative candidates poll have already started to come in. Each of the responses that have been received so far appear below. They were sent in from: New Candidate Barbara J. Hastings, Incumbent Candidate James J. Snyder, New Candidate Richard F. Helmich, Jr. and Incumbent Candidate Linda Edstrom.

We will post other responses from other Legislative Candidates as they come into CAMP Chairman, Thomas Stetz.

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New Candidate Barbara Hastings, District 6:

Incumbent Candidate James Snyder, District 8:

New Candidate Richard Helmich, District 2:

Incumbent Candidate Linda Edstrom, District 8 :