By Kate Bartlett
It has been said that ‘In order to know where we’re going, we have to know where we’ve been,’ and this is what drives history enthusiasts like Mary Fox. Mary has been compiling information on the history of Ellicottville for almost as long as she can remember. Having lived in Ellicottville for over 50 years, she’s seen our small town evolve and go through many changes. Mary is in the process of writing a book about the history of Ellicottville, and hopes to give readers a deeper appreciation of our small town by giving a glimpse into it’s past.
Mary moved to Ellicottville in 1969 to open ‘The Barn” Restaurant at 7 Monroe Street, which is now Villaggio. At that time, there were 4-5 bars in town, none of which were dinner style restaurants. Mary wished to bring casual family dining to the village, and had a vision of warm, cozy atmosphere serving a variety of homestyle favorites. “The history of The Barn itself is quite interesting. It was built in the 1800’s as a livery stable for hotels on Main Street. We wanted to preserve the historic barn style, while remodeling the interior to be a cozy restaurant with booths, upper seating level and 2 story feature fireplace.” Mary not only ran the restaurant, but she hosted and cooked in the kitchen too. “We served everything from steaks, seafood, fish fries, and my specialty Beef Stroganoff, which I still get requests for the recipe to this day.”
The Barn was open 29 years and was very busy, frequently with a wait line on weekends. More restaurants popped up in the Village, including The Silver Fox along with more shops “It was nothing like the year round specialty gift shops in the village today.
In 1969, the village was a farming community with a feed store, a five and ten store, a dry goods store, small grocery stores, meat market, bakery and several bars. And a rapidly growing Holiday Valley ski resort. Over the years with more and more restaurants and specialty shops opening up, it has become the destination resort it is today: a town for all seasons. Holiday Valley was the catalyst for Ellicottville’s transformation from a quiet little farming town into a busy resort town.
Mary recalls how the village of Ellicottville was nothing like it is today. “Summers were not like the winters here. Things changed as Holiday Valley added a golf course and hiking trails, but it was not the destination it has become today. Back then, we were hardly on the map.”
Mary decided to write a book about the history of Ellicottville in order to help people gain a deeper appreciation for this area. “A great deal of fascinating history is here, and most people don’t realize this. Many of the buildings were built in the 1800’s and incredibly historic.” She remarks on the rich history of the sometimes-unnoticed Episcopal Church located on the town square. It has been beautifully maintained from its original 1830’s style along with its historical significance, it’s one of my favorite buildings in the area, and a perfect example of Ellicottville’s rich history.”
The book covers the development of the town and village, how settlers came to the area for farming and the timber industry. Mary describes the industries that developed in the town, including hosiery, basketry and upholstery during the turn of the century Industrial Revolution. She highlights the involvement of the area in the Civil War and World War II, as well as the life and times during this era. The book features homes of architectural significance and describes the history of the educational system of the area.
“It’s so important to know our history. I’ve always had such a passion for history, and I love that I’m able to share it with others.” The book also contains many pictures, depicting the village and buildings during these historic times. “So much can be explained with pictures. They bring you back to these times, and you can really visualize what it was like back then, ultimately gaining a deeper appreciation for our history here.”
“What’s always stayed true in Ellicottville, is the welcoming nature of the community. Everyone here has always been warm and friendly. Thanks to being an historic district, the community has kept the quaintness and charm of Main Street.”
Watch for a presentation by Mary at the Ellicottville Historical Society this summer, and stay tuned to The Villager for updates on the much-anticipated release of Mary’s book.