Carol Fisher-Linn
So, maybe we aren’t Camelot, Narnia, or the Emerald City, but Ellicottvillians elicit the envy of people they meet. Inevitably, if an Ellicottville resident travels afar, someone will know of it, or will have been here and get a glassy-eyed look in their eyes usually saying something like, “Oh you live there? I would loooove to live there”. While in Boston, Massachusetts last month for my granddaughter’s master’s graduation from Northeastern, we sat in a restaurant and glanced out at the guests in outdoor seating … and spotted an Ellicottville t-shirt on a patron.
Truth be told, over the years, Ellicottville has morphed from a sturdy caterpillar to an iridescent butterfly. The community has gone from being known by its Iroquois name De-as-hen-da-qua, first being settled in roughly 1815-1818 to being incorporated in 1837. For over two hundred years, Ellicottville was a leading employer for residents of Cattaraugus and Erie County and served as the county seat for a time. Our hardwood lumber was sent all over the globe, our ash log billets were converted into Louisville slugger bats, and our wooden shoe lasts even found their way to the shoemaker for the Queen of England. It was destiny that our little town was on its way to making a BIG name for itself.
As if looking into a crystal ball, John H. Northrup, at the Ellicottville Centennial Celebration in 1937 said, “Ellicottville has long been renowned as a center for great celebrations. She has attracted great crowds and has been remarkably free from the disturbing elements that usually accompany large gatherings of people.” Ellicottville has truly succeeded in playing host to tens of thousands of visitors, providing them with an array of entertainment choices.
Not all small towns have been as fortunate as ours. The term “fortunate” is used loosely because it took a lot of intentional hard work, planning and dedication to bring Ellicottville to where it is today. Our foundation is solid, our leadership forward-thinking and generous.
The Summer Festival began as a local event in the 70’s at HoliMont Ski Club which had been in operation since 1961, three years after the opening of Holiday Valley (1/7/58). It was a small affair, originally featuring acts from the 40’s with the BPO added in the 1990’s. Being a Summer Festival of the Arts, which was how it was originally known, a Friday play was added in 1995 at HoliMont. Eventually, the outdoor music presentations were held at Holiday Valley.
In the Village, back in those “old days,” people enjoyed the Friday night street dance, the street vendors between the Post Office and Town Hall, the juried art show on the courthouse lawn, and, of course, the much beloved Saturday morning Pet Parade.
We can’t forget the delicious Strawberry Festival that kicked off the Sunday celebration in front of the Town Hall. Some of you may recall the names of Lucille Poole, Dan Siriani and Richard and Lois Siggelkow. They provided the shortcakes as a fundraiser for the Historical Society, picking all those strawberries, cleaning and preparing them, and baking all the shortcakes for roughly 300 people.
“This is an amazing weekend,” stated Brian McFadden, Executive Director of The Chamber. “We’ve been doing this for over 25 years; you can bring your chairs, blankets, picnic baskets and there are no parking fees. It’s a one-of-a-kind event for the whole family.” Holiday Velley has truly been generous.
For readers who have not yet experienced the festival, now fittingly known as the Ellicottville Music Festival, check out some of the acts that the Ellicottville Chamber has brought to the Holiday Valley venue: Since 2000, acts included were: The Rascals, Three Dog Night, America, The Turtles, The Grass Roots, Pat Benatar, Loverboy, Tommy James and the Shondells, Eric Burden & the Animals, Jefferson Starship, Little River Band, Survivor, KC & the Sunshine Band, Rusted Root, Guess Who, and Sister Hazel. Since 2000, acts accompanying the BPO were: The Diamonds, Ben E King, Flash Cadillac, Beatlemania, Star War, Superheroes and Legends, Harry Potter, Old School B-Bo Boys (Motown- Music of Disney, Dance Music Show).
From 1998 ticket prices for the SummerFest went from $8 & $10. Today plan on $45-$55. Worth every penny.
Continuation Caption: For over two hundred years, Ellicottville was a leading employer for residents of Cattaraugus and Erie County and served as the county seat for a time. Our hardwood lumber was sent all over the globe, our ash log billets were converted into Louisville slugger bats, and our wooden shoe lasts even found their way to the shoemaker for the Queen of England. It was destiny that our little town was on its way to making a BIG name for itself.