Here is an article from Carl Marus about a long ago Gardenville institution.
The Sisters of St. Francis Home Gardenville, NY 1900-1957
More complete history can be found https://discountwomenshoe869.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/canticle-of-welcome-chapter-3/
On the turn from the century, space was running out at St. Francis Asylum, 337 Pine Street, Buffalo, N.Y. and the sisters searched more land. Then when some located them as a gift, the sisters appealed to the general public for funds to build. In April 1902, a weeklong bazaar, endorsed by Bishop Quigley, occurred in Convention Hall in Buffalo to improve the necessary funds.
The Sisters of St. Francis built a home for the aged in Gardenville at 1153 Mineral Springs Rd. (Indian Church Rd.), on 83 acres of land donated by Regina Goetz, a sister with the deceased Sister Mary Walburga. The donated farm and house were found on Indian Church Road, West Seneca, under two miles from the city line. Major George J. Metzger served as architect for the new building which had a frontage of 278 feet.As part of his 1929 history of the Catholic institutions in the Buffalo Diocese, Father Donohue tells how a Home was built just as one irregular parallelogram -so that every room has direct outside light and ventilation. Some residents remained at Pine Street and some moved to the newest location in Gardenville.Sisters supervised the project of the farm and novices did some of the work.It can be interesting to remember that Mother Colette Hilbert of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph also directed a farm in Gardenville concerning this same time.On her community, as for ours, the region and the farm work turned out to be a mixed blessing. The advantage of country air and food and milk for your city needed to be balanced against having sisters to instruct or to farm.The travel distance had to be factored in. In 1902, the convent at 14 Holy Helpers was closed along with the school sisters from there lived at the Home and commuted forwards and backwards. In January 1936, they purchased 500 chicks; in February 1200.The chronicler stated that -Chickens purchased last June (1935) are a sophisticated lot.-The average egg count daily held at 186.-During 1937,- we read inside the Chronicle, -our hennery brought 105,660 eggs valued at $2, 641. 4 seasons end summary for 1939 mentions 800 laying chickens, 28 hogs, and 125 little pigs. Harvest on the farm offers some big numbers to take into account. On August 9, 1934, they thrashed 160 bushels of oats, 80 of wheat, and 11 of rye.The canning season of 1935 yielded 2,560 gallons of canned goods.The 1939 canning season yielded 3,497 gallons of canned food. The summertime canning list of 1937 spells the amounts in detail in gallons: -tomatoes 1558 gallons, peaches 876, pears 258, cherries 404, raspberries 594, rhubarb 122, strawberries 102, strawberry jam 102, prunes 69, applesauce 237, apple butter 185, wax beans 330, carrots, 354, grape jelly 78, cauliflower 28.Some motherhouse sisters found help plus they took many of these canned gallons of excellent things home using them. From 1924, the involvement of Catholic Charities brought greater financial security to the whole operation.Entries inside Convent Chronicle reference the Catholic Charities goal each spring as well as the allotment that came to St. Francis Home for the Aged. In March 1936, we read inside the Chronicle: -Quota was reached; home to receive same am’t as a year ago. Deo Gratias.-The annual charity appeal brought the house about $31,000 per year. In 1928, the sisters and novices moved to their new motherhouse at 400 Mill Street in Williamsville.Their rooms at Pine Street were utilised for residents.In 1937, in the event the Reist Street Holy Family house closed, 38 of people residents relocated to Gardenville.The house received a good report on the typical inspection held in May 1937. In 1956, at Gardenville, the previous convent and three barns were razed.The sisters had moved to the third floor of the main building since the number of residents decreased.Six sisters taught at 14 Holy Helpers school and five with the newly formed parish of Queen of Heaven.Both groups had station wagons drive an automobile to and from school. By 1957, Catholic Charities announced it would develop a new home in Lancaster.As things started to wind down, a farewell dinner and Mass happened in late summer and early fall of 1959.In September, the sisters began moving circumstances to St. Elizabeth Home. The sisters and 78 residents in the Gardenville building moved to St. Elizabeth’s in Lancaster on October 5.The Ladies of Charity while others supplied transportation by car.Several residents were moved by ambulance.The Chronicle informs us that the residents settled in by 4 inside the afternoon.The dedication and blessing of St. Elizabeth’s Home came about on October 7. The cottage for the creekside of Indian Church Road in Gardenville was renovated for your 14 Holy Helper sisters.St. Francis Home for your Aged building closed on October 18 as well as the furnishings and fixtures went up for auction on October 23rd to 25th.
