WELLSVILLE — In 1911 it was the talk of the town, showcasing the village’s economic development; 115 years later it is again, showcasing the community’s dedication and concern for historic preservation.
When the Middaugh Real Estate for sale signs went up at the beginning of the month the public became informed that the historic Erie Depot is once again on the market, at a price of $187,000.
Chan Whitford of the LC Whitford Company, architect Andrew Sisson and Garret Stephen of Wayne Paving purchased the property at 10 Depot St. for $40,000 in March 2022, with the intent on restoring the building.
For the last three years locals have been telling curious visitors and inquiring former residents that the depot was going to be restored thanks to a New York Forward Grant and the intercession of three developers who formed The Depot LLC. They submitted an application for nearly $1.6 million and received $1.2 million in grant funding. Their plan was to transform The Depot into a modern event center and museum utilizing the outside spaces for gatherings.
The passage of time and life took its toll and the New York Forward
funding awarded in 2024 was never tapped, and while other projects progressed, The Depot continued to deteriorate. Some excuse for the lack of progress was the construction of the Madison Street Bridge in 2024-25. The grounds of the depot were used for staging purposes.
Andrew Sisson, one of the developers, wrote about the sale of the building: “There is a designed renovation for the building, which has been awarded grants to assist with the construction. The awarded grants are $500,000 from Restore NY and $1,228,000 from NY Forward. This money is still available to a qualified buyer to allow the design project to move forward.”
He continued, “Structurally, this building is sound. Through many years of neglect, the building needs a new roof, (terra cotta tiles are
available) doors, windows, and sidewalks. There are also portions of the floor that will need to be replaced due to roof leaks.”
Sisson explained, “Everything came together and we’re at different places in our life. We’ve gotten the project to where it is now where we still have grant funding. We’re just really looking for someone to take it and run with what we’ve started. We decided to sell it and try to find the right buyer.”
For more information about the sale of the building, contact Middaugh Real Estate in Wellsville at (585) 593-3457.
The Depot was a betterment for the community, according to newspaper articles in the archives of the Allegany County Historical Society.
“A new artistic and very cozy station has
been erected at Wellsville, on the Allegheny Division, and, while proving how well the Erie is progressing in the general betterment, the benefit will be gained by Wellsville itself, as a result of the attractive structure, can easily be imagined. Because the town is going to the front by leaps and bounds, and even a big red flag can’t stop it.
“The station is in the Roman style of architecture, proverbial for its
beauty and solidity, and is 132 feet long by 30 feet wide. The material used in its construction is dark red brick laid in cement mortar, with red joints to match and fineaxed bluestone trimmings, which furnishes a pleasing contrast.
“The roof is of red terra cotta, with broad overhanging cornice and cypress gutter, for the protection of the public while using the platforms. The cornice is supported by massive brackets of ornamental design.
“The treatment of the interior has been very happily conceived. The entrance from trackside is into a well-lighted lobby which leads below an arch into the general waiting room, which is in the center. The latter is 36x33 and trimmed with red oak, the walls being plastered and tinted. The high ceiling is finished in panels, with molded plaster beams, and a molded cornice runs around the entire room. The seating
capacity is for 60 people. The room is provided with a telephone booth, and the spacious ticket window is located in an archway with ample shelf and a satchel rest below it. The women’s waiting room contains 16 seats and the smoking room 17 seats.
“All modern improvements go with this station, and a spacious baggage room at the west end is one of its important features. The express room at the east end is also spacious and provided with a cozy office. Heat is obtained by a hot water system, and both interior and exterior are lit by electricity.
“The location of the station is very fine and convenient. It stands between two streets, having a 20-foot-wide brick-paved driveway at the rear and a massive concrete platform, which is accessible from both streets.
“The new station opened for business on Tuesday morning, Sept. 19, 1911.”
Photo by Kathryn Ross
in Wellsville is
dining
BY KATHRYN ROSS
WELLSVILLE —
Twenty-three Wellsville High School students have donned habits to bring the wacky musical “Nunsense” to the stage this coming weekend.
Directed by Matt Warren and produced by Diane Willard, this 1985 musical written by Dan Goggin has, as one would guess, a predominantly female cast, which features only three males in roles. It is not the “Sister Act” or the lay version
& Entertainment
of that Hollywood blockbuster, and while similar in theme, features no Las Vegas showgirls or connections. It is the story of a small cluster of nuns living in Hoboken, New Jersey, who attempt to raise funds to bury four of their fellow sisters by showcasing their questionable musical talents in a variety show. The play follows their antics and reveals their secrets. Warren, a veteran of several Wellsville productions, said the cast has been rehearsing for the past several months.
“Did our students question why we picked a ‘Nunsense’ when we announced it to them earlier this school year? They did, but after months of rehearsal, cast bonding and lots of laughs they have changed their minds about ‘Nunsense,’” he said.
After 3,672 performances on Broadway, “Nunsense” is second only to “The Fantastics” in its longevity. It has spawned countless reproductions and starred legions of female actresses, including “Golden Girl” Rue McCallahan, Phyllis Diller and Sally Struthers.
The performance is interactive with the audience playing a crucial role. Each performance
will feature a 15-minute long intermission during which refreshments will be served in the lobby.
Many members
A bunch of ‘Nunsense’ going on in Wellsville High production
of the cast are past performers and have appeared in such productions as “Legally Blonde,” “Annie” and “Witness For the Prosecution.” Luke Andrew Fuller as Brother Myopia is the only newcomer to the stage. The other cast members are:
• Pala Alsworth - Sister Mary Catherine,
• Anaira Rodriguez Arenas - Sister Mary Lucia
• Sierra Caruso - Reverend Mother Mary Regina
• Tori Clemons - Sister Mary Amnesia
• Topanga Cook – Sister Mary Donald
• Anna Mumper - Sister Mary Alice
• Madi Schultz - Sister Robert Ann
• Grace Guerin - Sister Mary Rose
• Gabby Hall - Sister Mary Kathleen
• Nora Jocelyn - Sister Mary Leo
• Piper Metro - Father Virgil
Photo provided
Part of the cast of “Nunsense” rehersing for this coming weekend’s production in the newly renovated auditorium in the original Wellsville high school building on State Street.
‘Nunsense’ continued on PAGE 4
• Mavis Mills - Sister Mary Hubert
• Shirley Emma Puppet - Sister Mary Annette
• April Potter - Sister Mary Wilhelm
• Ryan Tyler - Brother Timothy
• Dove Small - Sister Mary Luke
• Emma BurlingamSister Mary Margaret
• Josie SlingerlandSister Mary Francis
• Matthew Stonemetz
- Sister Julia Child of God
• Lexie Sweezyy - Sister Mary Georgia
Both student and adult musicians are part of the pit orchestra directed by Jeff Joslyn. They are Judy Beilin - piano, Ed Beilin - drums, Eli Deneke, Jared Fanton and Jeremiah Pensyl all on trumpet, Dan Malloy and Noah Brogan both on trom-
bone, Tara Luthart – saxophone/clarinet, Melissa Harrison - flute, Noah Luthart - violin, Adam Stack-electric bass, and Matthew Purks-Morris –keyboard.
Kate Martelle of the Martelle Dance Studio has choreographed this show as well as many previous shows while Mark Corwine designed the sets.
The show will get underway at 7 p.m. Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19, in the newly ren-
ovated auditorium in the original high school building on State Street. The cost of admission is $10 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets may be purchased at Brand Name Appliance or at the secondary school office, or at the door. The Wellsville Secondary School Theatrical Club production has been the recipient of many Theater Association of New York State (TANYS) awards over the years.
Dear Car Talk:
I have a 2018 GMC Canyon with 40,000 easy miles and a factory-installed remote starter. I always use the remote starter and am wondering if it makes any difference to the car which starting method I use?
Is the conventional method easier on the
Take the guesswork out of coolant levels
vehicle, is the remote method, or does it not matter? — Bradley It matters not, Bradley. It’s all the same to the car. If the car were a sentient being, it might think, “Oh, sure, Bradley, you stay inside where it’s 70 degrees, sipping your hot cocoa with your slippers on, while I’m out here all
alone in the freezing cold warming myself up.” But that level of spite has never been documented in a motor vehicle.
When you get behind the wheel, a receiver in the ignition system reads a code on your key fob. And once it verifies that, yes, you have the key and you’re inside the car, it allows you to press the Start button, which signals the ignition system to take all necessary steps to get the engine running (fuel injection, power to the coils, starter motor, etc.).
When you use the remote start button on your key fob, you are simply tapping into that same system, but from a distance. The sequence of buttons you press on your remote, along with the information the remote sends to the vehicle, essentially turns your remote into the Start button.
In the old days, cars ran very rich when they were first started, to keep them from stall ing. And if you let a car warm up for a long time like that, you could do damage. Aside from polluting like crazy and
wasting lots of fuel, you would also shorten the life of your catalytic converter by flooding it with unburned gasoline for a long time. But modern engines are computer-controlled, so instead of revving at 2,500 rpm for 20
minutes, or until you stabbed the gas pedal, cars now run at 1,300 rpm for 20 seconds, and then go to normal idle speed on their own. So, use the remote all you want, Bradley. No engines or feelings will be hurt.
BY RAY MAGLIOZZI automotive
home improvement
Repurpose rooms and breathe new life into a home
Homeowners do not need to get hung up on room labels as they explore ways to reinvent their spaces. Just because a floor plan labels a space as a formal dining room doesn’t mean the area has to remain that way. Repurposing rooms in a home comes down to aligning the space a person has with their lifestyle needs. Here are a few ways to rethink interior spaces and make a switch to improve utility.
• Identify unused or under-used rooms. Take note of spaces that are cleaned but rarely used. For many people, this is a dining room or a guest suite. Either of these rooms can be transformed into something new.
or yoga studio, but still provide a space for the occasional houseguest to sleep. A pull-down shelf desk in a bedroom or even a walk-in closet
• Invest in multipurpose furniture. Even people short on space can transform their
sanctuary with just a few modifications.
Analyze areas around the home that seem like they don’t serve a purpose, and then fig-
ure out a way to make them more functional.
• Establish room zones. Some people simply cannot transform an entire room into
something else. Visual partitioning makes it possible to create rooms within rooms.
An area rug can be used to define a border of a space. Open bookshelves can serve as a wall to separate a sleeping area from a lounging spot. Lighting can add
dimension to areas in a space. A pendant light over a crafting or work table can be used define the space.
• Look at utility areas. Unless you are a doit-yourselfer or have a hobby that takes up much of the garage or basement, utility areas are major spots
in a home to consider repurposing. A garage can be turned into a home gym, kids’ play area or even a hobby shop. Modular flooring and insulated walls can make the room comfortable.
Attic lofts are the ultimate quiet zones, and can be serene
spots for reading, meditating or doing homework. An unfinished basement can be converted into a finished space to serve many different purposes. From media rooms to a teen lounge to a hobby cave, the opportunities are endless.
home improvement
Health and wellness fair April 28 in Friendship
FRIENDSHIP — A free public health and wellness fair will be hosted at the Bible Baptist Church in Friendship on April 28, through a cooperative effort between UR Medicine | Jones Memorial Hospital Community Wellness and What God is Doing in Friendship ny alliance of participating churches Community of Care initiatives.
The hospital will provide the screenings from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 28 at the church, 43 W. Main St. Services and screenings provided include blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, bone density, flexibility, pulmonary function testing and Tanita Scale, which includes body mass index and body fat.
Hospital personnel will review the screening results with individuals to compare with recommended standards.
Outdoors
“Knowing your wellness numbers is an important first step in making smart decisions about your health,” Brenda Mong-Szabo, vice president of specialty services at JMH and chair of the Wellness Committee, said. “You will be able to compare your health numbers with the national guidelines and then be able to discuss the results with your personal physician.”
Additional information will be available on healthy eating, community stroke education, smoking cessation and more. Other health-related organizations also will participate in the event, providing information on a variety of wellness initiatives.
The alliance of churches Community of Care focus incorporates a holistic approach to health, including physical, mental/emotional
and spiritual wellness, in which it seeks to build awareness about often unknown community resources in all three categories.
The Health and Wellness Fair is provided through fundraising efforts including Ridgewalk & Run and the annual GLOW 5K, coming up on May 1. Other initiatives that the Wellness Committee oversees have included $40,000 in donations to
The Health & Wellness Fair will be open to the general public and walk-ins are welcome; however, pre-registration is recommended to avoid wait times. The event will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information or to schedule a time, call (585) 596-4024. The church is handicapped accessible.
Alfred State archery team solidifies standing at East Regional Championships
ALFRED — Alfred State Archery reinforced its position as a rising power in the Eastern region by bringing home five medals and three All-East designations at the USA Archery Collegiate East Regional Target Championships held in Harrisonburg, Va. The Pioneers competed versus a field that features archers from nine colleges and universities.
Brianna Fagan delivered a standout performance during the individual head-to-head elimination rounds. She entered the tournament as the #1 seed in Women’s Fixed Pins, capitalized on a personal-best qualification score to dominate her matches and secure the gold medal. In the Men’s Fixed Pins division, Adam Winter parlayed a strong #2 seeding into a deep tournament run. He navigated a crowded field and several high-pressure matches to ultimately earn the silver medal. In the Men’s Compound category, Brandon Stanton entered as the #1 seed and battled
through a competitive bracket to finish in fourth after a narrow one-point margin in the final end of the semi-finals.
The Pioneers also found success in the team rounds:
• In the Mixed Team
Pins division, Adam Winter and Brianna Fagan achieved the gold medal after topping Liberty University in the final match.
• In the Men’s Fixed Pins division, the trio of Adam Winter, Ja-
IMPACT I Love My Park Day set for May 2 in West Almond
cob Betrus and Gabe Moultrop secured the bronze medal after a hard-fought semi-final against Liberty University.
• In Men’s Compound division, Brandon Stanton, Joe Matthews and Devon Moises finished with the bronze medal following a close medal match against James Madison University.
The victory carries extra weight for Fagan as she nears the end of her collegiate career.
“Capping off my final Regionals with a gold medal and a personal best is the best way I could have finished the season. This
program has become my family over the last four years, and I’m honored to have represented the Pioneers one last time on this stage,” she said. For their performances, Adam Winter, Brianna Fagan and Brandon Stanton were named to the All-East Team. This honor recognizes their cumulative excellence across both the Regional Championships and the USA Archery Indoor Nationals held in February.
Alfred State will conclude the 2025-26 season next month at the USA Archery Collegiate Target Nationals, hosted by Michigan State University in East Lansing.
WEST ALMOND — To celebrate I Love My Park Day, IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails, Inc. (IMPACT) is sponsoring a spring clean up on May 2. This year the location is the Stewart Forest Road Horse Camping Area, accessible from Turnpike Road or the NorthSouth Road in West Almond. IMPACT volunteers will be restaining the accessible horse ramp, sweeping debris from picnic shelters, cleaning up wood debris from camping areas, and repairing the kiosk bulletin board. Please bring loppers, pruners, and wheelbarrows to prune and move wood. Firewood collection and accessible horse ramp staining are family friendly projects. Volunteers can meet at the Stewart Forest Road Horse Camping Area at 9 am. All volunteers will be asked to sign a Volunteer Steward Agreement for the day. Please bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after the work is completed. Water will be supplied by IMPACT. Pre-registration is required. To register, go to: www.ptny.org/events/i-love-mypark-day. IMPACT’s upcoming special events include:
Black Creek site, noon to 3 p.m.
• April 25, serving at Hot Dog Days, Alfred
• May 2, I Love My Park Day at Stewart Forest Road
• May 9, Bird Walk at Palmer’s Pond-West Almond Trails, meet at 7 a.m.
• April 18, tree and shrub planting at WNY Conservancy
• Aug. 29, IMPACT’s signature event — 5K/10K Walk-Run and 25K Run on the West Almond Trails For more information on IMPACT and to sign up for events visit impactfriendsgroup.org or contact impactfriendsgroup@ gmail.com.
Photo provided by Alfred State College
Alfred State archery earned five medals at the USA Archery Collegiate East Regional Target Championship in Harrisonburg, Va.
Allegany County area food banks since 2024.
health & Wellness
Types of arthritis and what’s behind each
Arthritis affects people all over the world. Approximately 53.2 million adults in the United States have doctor-di-
agnosed arthritis, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But many more suffer in undiagnosed silence.
Hart Bros. & Sons Memorials
Globally, nearly 300 million people may live with arthritis. Arthritis can range from mild to debilitating and stem from a variety of causes. Understanding what’s behind arthritis can help people get the treatment they need. Here are the major types of arthritis and their causes.
• Osteoarthritis:
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, says the Cleveland Clinic. It forms as the result of wear-and-tear on cartilage, which breaks down over time. Aging, repetitive movements or previ-
Office for the Aging
Providing expert, unbiased information and assistance to Allegany County residents since 1975. We provide assistance with:
HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program)
Transportation
Home Delivered Meals & Congregate Luncheon Centers
Person -Centered information & assistance for anyone living with a disability– regardless of age,
And much more!!!
The Allegany County Office for the Aging can help you! Call us at 585-268-9390 or toll free at 866-268-9390 Or visit us at: 6085 State Route 19N Belmont, NY 14813
ous joint injuries can cause osteoarthritis. Gout: Gout is a metabolic condition caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. The Mayo Clinic says the buildup occurs when the kidneys cannot filter the uric acid effectively or when the body produces too much. Pain, swelling and tenderness can occur in the joints, often in the big toe.
• Autoimmune: Some forms of arthritis are autoimmune in nature, meaning that the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. This occurs with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, according to Penn Medicine.
• Infection/injury: Sometimes viral or bacterial infections or acute joint injuries can trigger arthritis, says the Cleveland Clinic.
Certain risk factors elevate the chances of developing arthritis. Risk elevates as joints age and wear down, so older adults are more likely to experience arthritis. Carrying extra weight puts pressure on joints like the knees, so those who are overweight are more likely to get arthritis. Genetics can make a person more vulnerable to diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and women are more likely to develop it. There are various treatments for arthritis, and anyone in pain can work with a doctor to make lifestyle changes that can alleviate symptoms and help them live fuller lives.
