Lewiston gifts Piper final resting place

DPW provides additional details on Kiwanis Park-area sewer project

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

The Village of Lewiston Board hopes historian Russ Piper lives a long, long life.

But when he passes, trustees have set aside a final resting place for him.

On Monday, the board voted to gift Piper two graves at the Village of Lewiston Cemetery – the same site he has worked to refurbish for several years.

“This for all of Russ’ very hard work in our cemetery,” Mayor Anne Welch said. “He keeps it looking beautiful. Through our appreciation, we’re going to make sure he has a nice, little resting place.

“But not too soon, Russ!”

“I plan to be 100, along with you,” Piper replied.

The approved resolution provides Piper with spaces in section f, row 6, plots 17 and 18, valued at $30,000. The cemetery is adjacent to First Presbyterian Church on Cayuga Street.

Following the monthly board meeting, Piper said, “I am honored to have been recognized for the efforts I have put forth with both the museum collection and refurbishing of the cemetery. Five generations of my family are interred on the grounds. Having worked tirelessly the past almost five years on the cemetery grounds as a volunteer worker, it has been my wish to be buried with my ancestors. Knowing that I will one day join them, I will be resting peacefully in the grounds that I have worked so hard to bring back to its current state.”

The resolution noted Piper “has provided his extensive collection of historical paintings, artifacts and other items of significance for display” at the Red Brick Municipal Building, and “has devoted countless hours and effort to the care and refurbishment of the Village Cemetery, the condition of which had previously been largely bypassed. …

“The Village of Lewiston recognizes that the stipend provided for the efforts of the village historian is markedly less than the contributions received by the Village of Lewiston.”

The plots, therefore, are “in lieu of an increase in stipend, and in recognition of the extraordinary dedication and devotion of the village historian.”

Piper began working on the cemetery ahead of the municipality’s bicentennial in 2022.

“I took it upon myself, with permission from the village, to voluntarily take on the task of cleaning the grounds in time for the village celebration,” he said. “Countless days and nights working in my free time, I managed to get it cleaned and restored just a few days ahead of the formal celebration.

“In the interim, (in) conversations with Eva Nicklas and Tim Henderson of the LCA and Tom Collister, curator of the HAL museum, I decided to start a project to raise funds to place a monument to honor the unknown souls who, for over 150 years, were a part of village history lost with time. I raised the funds immediately and, with the extra funds, placed a memorial bench to complement the monument. The following year, I raised funds to place the historical cemetery plaque telling the history of the two cemeteries being merged into one to become known as the Lewiston Village Cemetery.

“Following the dedication ceremony, a conversation led to the addition of two more memorial benches and a praying angel statue to watch over those resting there. Last year, I raised funds to place a flagpole to honor our veterans, and another memorial bench to honor them with the addition of a kneeling angel to watch over the grounds.”

Metro Creative Graphics

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Mang provides update on storm sewer project

Last week, the Department of Public Works announced it would embark upon a storm sewer upgrade at North Ninth and Mohawk streets, “In response to the ongoing springtime flooding issues present within the Village of Lewiston, primarily in the northeast section.”

Superintendent Anthony Mang provided an update to the board.

“We’re going to be doing some major infrastructure improvements, mostly located in the northeast portion of the village. It's going to go from 771 Mohawk St., which will connect to the large-diameter concrete storm main, and it’s going to go to the corner of Ninth and Mohawk (south side of Mohawk),” Mang said.

He noted the plan is “very optimistic that it's going to take most of the load from the north side and prevent it from ever reaching the problem area, which is by Kiwanis Park. We have an interconnection between two municipalities that we have kind of like a hydraulic dam, but we had a lot of water, so this is going to alleviate that.”

Mang said, “We have about two thirds of the product that I purchased. Hopefully, by Sept. 1, we should be to Baker Drive. We're kind of in a stall at that point. We're waiting for National Fuel. They are going to be eliminating one of their service crossings, so that we can continue our project.

“But while we wait for them, I want to just tell the residents that are immediately affected by the project that, as soon as we reach that point, we're going to turn around and start rehabilitating the yards that were affected by the first part of the project.

“So, hopefully everything all said and done, October – end of October, sometime – is kind of where I’m shooting to be for completion. Obviously, there's things that fluctuate for that, but as long as we're ready before it’s spring, I think it should be a really good thing for that part of the village. It should make a big difference in the water.”

Welch said, “I appreciate you're doing this. It's really going to alleviate that water flooding problem.”

Mang said, “It's going to prevent a lot of that northside area that has had flooding issues because of the hydraulic dam. It's just going to reroute all of that away from that discharge area. Most definitely, it should at least make it so that it drains faster in that area.

“Those areas that still could be affected are the Oxbow/Baker area, but that is because we share interconnection with the town. Even though those areas might not see the direct benefits from that, they will be drained significantly faster than they have been, just because there won’t be that supply into that area.”

Mang explained the DPW will restore any asphalt driveways that are impacted by the storm sewer upgrade. The village does not replace concrete driveways, but “a discussion can be had with myself and the resident as to what material they want back in there.”

Upgrades await the Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce office/welcome center.

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Exterior changes planned for Upward Niagara office

Trustee Tina Coppins said she is working with the Town of Lewiston in identifying funds to make exterior improvements at the Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce office/welcome center in Academy Park. She said the replacements would be in keeping with the building’s historic designation.

Following the session, Coppins explained, “As a trustee sitting on the Village Board, I am currently collaborating closely with town Supervisor Steve Broderick on a project for a village historical building. The repairs and maintenance falls within the village budget.

“This project is long-overdue, and Supervisor Broderick has reached out to me to let me know that the town is willing to help through its energy funding for new windows, doors and roof. 

“We will go through all the correct procedures to include our Historical Preservation Board and village engineer to see this project through completion.

“I am happy with the open dialogue that the town supervisor and I have developed for this project.”