Shelter 31 Entrance The sign and area of the big bash.	Shelter 31 The site of Reunion 2005.	First Arrival Craig Mott sitting in the shade with a cool one.
Good Laughs Simz, Tom, Lindsey, Betty, Alissa and Denise with Bagsz in the background.	Party Arrivials Parking around the shelter and hanging out.	Moto Vito passed out the Cuban cigars while Adrienne and Rick talked it over in the background.
Harleys Dale and big Al drove the bikes up.	Water Pump Old stone structure near Shelter 31.	Sikorsky's Classic car of the day and crew.
Shale Creek View from the bridge to Restrooms from Shelter 31.	Rapp It Up Rob makes last call at sunset and takes it home after the big day. Thanks for coming!	Chestnut Ridge Park Erie County Parks closed from January 31st to June 1st, 2005 due to the Erie County budget crisis. This view is toward Buffalo, with the sled hill and casino building nearby, during the summer.
Million Dollar Shelter 37 is where the last big reunion picnic was held twenty years ago in 1985.	Memorial Weekend Classic road trip to Birdsall, in Allegany county for the Steelton Shock Camp 2005.	The Towne House On Wednesday, September 15th, 2004 a meeting was held at our favorite local waterhole. Dougie, Jules, Tommy, Rory and Jimmy attended, and others in next picture.
Towne House Meeting Dave, Jerry, Rob, Craig, Judy, Mary Beth, Sandy, Jill, Cathy and Laurie visits from Florida.	Towne House Girls Don't bother knockin' when the house is a rockin' with Judy, Mary Beth and Jill.	Sam Adams Cheers from Sandy, Jill, Cathy and Laurie at the Towne House.
Bristol Mansion The old Bristol Woods Inn now owned by Avanti Catering.

A long time ago....In 1805, founding father Nathan Bristol settled into the first home in Steelton...200 years have past.  Since then, the community has grown and has long been established as a quality place to live.  In the spirit of pioneers who settled long ago and many others residents who have prospered and shared good times, we will celebrate.  This all began on Wednesday, September 1st, 2004, as an open letter email was sent and posted to all known current and former residents.  Initial planning efforts began for the Steelton Neighborhood Bicentennial and 2005 Reunion bash.  Numerous requests were made and a long overdue reason arrived for the get together of old friends at a big party.

History:  Current day Geneseo was once the site of a giant tree on the Genesee River where the the Seneca tribe sold WNY to Robert Morris of the Holland Land Company. This deal was known as the 1797 Treaty of Big Tree or the Holland Purchase, which included the Steelton neighborhood.  Many neighborhood homes list agent Wilhelm Willink on their deeds as the original land owner. As an agent of the HLC, he sold land to settlers like New Englander, Nathan Bristol.

The founding father of Steelton was also believed to be an American Revolution veteran. He purchased land in 1806 from the Big Tree Road, north to the old Buffalo Creek Indian Reservation.  Nathan Bristol was a Vermont native and one of the first settlers who came to build a home in the wilderness, choosing land on the very edge of the reservation.  A crude road was cut through his property, north from Big Tree Road, across Rush Creek, to Smokes Creek, ending well inside the bounds of the reservation. A part of this Bristol Road is still in use, though the north end has long since been abandoned.  Nathan Bristol had several daughters who remained spinsters, and for some reason, the woods on both sides of Rush Creek have come to be called the Old Maids' Woods more often than Bristol Woods. Late in life, these Bristol Girls would reminisce about the days when cougars scampered over their roofs, filling their young hearts with terror.  During the War of 1812, settlements were burned.  In 1826 the village of Blasdell began when this area was split in half and Milestrip Road was built, from South Park to Lakeshore.

The former U.S. Sugar Company office building on South Park Avenue in Hamburg was built during the 1890's and last used as a restaurant.  The parcel includes a three-story 19th century mansion and 26.5 acres, including eight acres of front lawn. The structure was built as a country house by Pliny B. McNaughton, who was vice president of Buffalo Dredging Company.  In the 1970's, it became U.S. Sugar, and in 1996, the Bristol Woods Inn restaurant.  The first floor includes a beautiful dining room, commercial kitchen, library, bar and sunroom. The second floor contains seven bedrooms and servants' quarters.  There is also a third floor.  The building includes an intercom system for a butler and maid.   The huge chain fence across the front of the property was part of an anchor chain from a Buffalo Dredging vessel.  There is a water tower and cottage in the back.  There use to be a bridge over Rush Creek by a small waterfall that locals called Hubbles Dam.  The stable contains two apartments.

Avanti Catering & Special Events - The long vacant Bristol Woods mansion is now a catering and special events business.
The new owner is Laurie Clark who also owns a business in Orchard Park.

Disclaimer:  ClassicBuffalo.com accepts no responsibility or liability for the above event.  Participation was on an individual, volunteer and As Is basis.
All attending agreed to these terms.