BUFFALO, N.Y. — Long before the growing City of Buffalo had stretched it's boundaries this far north, 1950 Delaware Avenue was just a farmhouse.
Built in 1850, it would eventually play a role in one of the biggest events this town has ever seen, the Pan American Exposition of 1901.
Former Common Council member and State Senator Al Coppola has owned the building for a half century, and he is all about preserving it, and the history it holds.
"They brought in the Indians. It was part of the Pan American Exposition."
If you take a look at the maps of the Pan Am grounds, you will see it, labeled "Indian stockade". It was part of the Six Nations exhibit. The house, covered in bark for the expo, was used to also house the Native Americans who were visiting and taking part in the exposition.
Coppola points out that one of the Native Americans who stayed here was actually famed Apache warrior and medicine man Geronimo.
Coppola has always been proud of the history and wants everyone to know it as well, so he brought in noted muralist Tim Martin to celebrate the ground-breaking event that put Buffalo on the map, as the City of Light.
"We were the first city in the country to light up our city and that's that's amazing. Everybody should be bragging about that. I mean, there's a lot here to brag about, but this is amazing."
Tim Martin is no stranger to paying tribute through brush and paint. He has painted several murals around Western New York, including the massive homage to entertainment on the side of North Tonawanda's Riviera Theater.
With his latest work he tells the story of a Victorian-era family visiting, and gazing with amazement at Expo's centerpiece, the electric tower, and it's reflection in the water. He also includes images of Nikola Tesla, who's inventive mind made this display of power possible, Teddy Roosevelt, who was sworn into office here after the McKinley assassination, and a tribute to the people who stayed in this home.