Niagara Falls News
Martians Land Near Niagara Falls 47 Years Ago On Radio
Martians landed on Grand Island, Halloween night forty-seven years ago and invaded the Niagara Frontier, at least on WKBW radio. The show was “War of the Worlds” and it was adapted by KB Program Director Jeff Kaye and based on the 1938 Orson Welles radio drama. In Kaye’s drama the Martian invasion wiped out Niagara Falls, Buffalo and most of the world until the common germ put them down.
North Grand Island Bridge
The radio dramatization was intended to be a tribute to the famous Welles broadcast and Jeff Kaye tailored it to the Niagara region. The first Martian capsule landed on Grand Island and local authorities blew up both bridges connecting the Island to thwart their advance. Of course it didn’t stop the aliens and the broadcast had people on the north Grand Island bridge being swept down the Niagara River and over the Falls.
Martians Avoided Niagara Falls
Ironically, according to the reporters on WKBW radio the Martians headed south towards Buffalo and not north to see the majestic waterfall just one mile down river from Grand Island. Niagara Falls did play a part in the broadcast however as a fictitious Professor from Niagara University was brought in to explain the explosions on Mars and possible meteor landing on the Island.
The radio broadcast was promoted by WKBW radio and was intended to be part of the annual Halloween fun that the 50,000 watt juggernaut radio station did each year. Jeff Kaye and the show’s director Dan Kriegler created a radio masterpiece and it indeed scared a number of people who had no idea what the Orson Welles broadcast had done thirty years earlier.
The next day the Niagara Gazette and Buffalo News reported on the martian invasion and the number of phone calls local police agencies received asking about the explosions on Grand Island and the chaos that ensued. Now forty-five years later the WKBW “War of the World’s” broadcast has become the single most famous radio show in the history of Buffalo radio.
Niagara Falls News
Headless French Soldier of Old Fort Niagara
Headless French Soldier of Old Fort Niagara
The headless French soldier of Old Fort Niagara has become as much a part of the fort’s history as the Revolutionary War. The Fort was first constructed by the French, occupied and maintained by British and then eventually the Americans. However, in October it’s the specter of a ghostly headless French soldier that commands all of the attention.
French Castle well
During the French occupation of Old Fort Niagara a party was held in the building known as the French Castle. The French Officers had brought in Seneca maidens from a near by village to give the party a much needed female presence.
Henri Le Clerc was one of the French officers who had escorted the maidens to the castle and one of the maidens was named Onita whom Le Clerc was particularly fond of.
When Le Clerc arrived with Onita and the other native American women, the party was well underway. Also, many of the French officers had already drank more than their share of wine.
Officer Jean-Claude De Rochefort, who was strongly disliked by Henri Le Clerc, made a point of sitting himself on the other side of Onita. Henri Le Clerc tried to ignore Jean-Claude’s advances, but it was useless. Jean constantly interrupted and his boorish behavior worsened as he drank more and more wine.
Fueled by the wine and genuine dislike for each other the argument led to a duel by swords. The duel took the pair to the twisting stairwell and Henri tripped and fell, striking his head on the stone floor. The drunken and enraged Jean-Claude took advantage of his unconscious foe and speared him with his sword as he lie on the floor helpless.
The sense of triumph quickly faded as the reality of his deed began to sink in for Jean-Claude. Now faced with the prospect of hanging for the obvious murder he had committed, Jean-Claude panicked. Wanting to hide his crime, Jean-Claude began to hack at the body of Le Clerc.
Jean-Claude’s plan was to take the body parts and toss them into Lake Ontario, just yards behind the French Castle. Jean-Claude apparently felt that if the remains of Le Clerc were to be found it would look like the deed of hostile Indians
Jean-Claude did hack off the head of Le Clerc and ran with it out to the lake. Returning, he noticed the blood he left on the floor and he quickly mopped it up. Ready to resume his horrible task, he heard the sound of voices from above and realized that the party was ending and the officers and the girls would be coming down the stairs at any moment. Lacking time and fearing discovery, Jean-Claude mustered all his strength and carried the body to the stone well and threw it in.
Bottom of French Castle well
Interior of French Castle
The party ended and the officers staggered back to their barrack. No one wondered where either Jean-Claude or Le Clerc were and assumed they must have retired ahead of them. In fact, surprisingly it took several days before anyone questioned where Le Clerc had disappeared to.
A search was organized to locate Le Clerc, but of course it was doomed from the start. Onita was convinced that Henri had been murdered by De Rochefort, but she had no way of proving the deed.
As the story goes, Onita stopped going to parties at the castle, feeling her beloved was dead. Then after several months on a September night Onita decided to attend a party, but only to listen and learn whatever she could on the fate of Henri Le Clerc.
Onita ended up meeting another French Officer by the name of Jaques, who was greatly impressed by her. So much so that weeks later Jaques went to Onita’s village to see her again.
On the night of Jaques visit the moon was full and with a red haze, sometimes called a “blood moon.” Jaques and Onita sat among several of her tribesmen talking when she brought up the subject of Henri. Jaques was uncomfortable discussing the missing officer among Onita’s tribe and suggested they walk over to the castle.
The pair arrived at the vacant castle around midnight and the soldiers were fast asleep in a neighboring barrack. Jaques attempted to tell Onita how he looked for Henri on the night of his disappearance when suddenly both heard a noise like something scraping against stone.
Headless French soldier looking for his head
As the clock struck midnight the pair stood paralyzed as first one hand then the other reached out over the edge of the well located in the front hall of the castle. Next the forearms of a man emerged dressed in a worn and tattered French soldiers uniform. The figure pulled himself up and out of the well, but atop his shoulders there was nothing. It was a headless French soldier looking for his lost head.
The headless French soldier, dressed in the uniform of Henri Le Clerc stood there in front of a horrified Jaques and Onita. The pair ran from the French Castle as fast as their legs could carry them, but they were now certain they knew the truth.
It was obvious to them that De Rochefort had murdered Henri and dropped his headless body into the well. Their theory was verified the next morning when Jaques had the well explored and the body of Henri was found. Soon after Jean-Claude De Rochefort was hanged.
The story did not end there as witnesses over the years claim when the full moon is high over the castle and exactly at midnight, the ghost of the headless French soldier, Henri Le Clerc, rises from the stone well. Standing there dripping wet, the headless French soldier then stalks awkwardly through the cold, stone halls of the castle in search of his long lost head.
When the British took over the occupation of Old Fort Niagara in the 1700’s they actually filled the well in and covered it over fearing it had been poisoned by the French. In the 1920’s the well was reconstructed by the caretakers of the historic structure and it remains today along with the legend of the headless French soldier.
In October Old Fort Niagara has “haunted” tours of the French Castle and other areas of the complex. The story of the headless French soldier is always the highlight.
Niagara Falls News
Halloween in Niagara
Halloween in Niagara
Halloween in Niagara is a fun time for all. Whether it is the various pumpkin patches offering everything from carving pumpkins to haunted hayrides and amusement rides for the kids. Or, the very scary commercial haunted houses located on both sides of the border.
On the American side one can find pumpkins for sale at the various roadside stands on many of the rural roads. Up a few notches from the mound of pumpkins for sale at the usual farm house you have the Pumpkin Farm located on Nash Road in Wheatfield. The Pumpkin Farm has pumpkins of all shapes and sizes to choose from, but that’s not all. There are nightly haunted hayrides, a haunted “tent” and farm animals for the children. 
Also in Niagara County out near Gasport is Becker Farms. Becker farms has apple picking and wine tasting during the autumn months and a special pumpkin zone exhibit that features interactive activities for the small ones.
If one ventures into nearby Erie County the famous “Great Pumpkin Farm” on Main Street in Clarence is a popular destination. The “Great Pumpkin Farm” has thousands of pumpkins, carnival rides, fresh baked goods, hayrides, pumpkin catapult contests and much more.
Halloween in Canada
On the Canadian side in Stoney Creek, Ontario, you will find the Green Mountain Haunted Hay Ride. This farm area is open to the public from the end of September through October 30 each year, and offers you a full pumpkin patch as well as a variety of pumpkins that have already been picked for your convenience. Your family will love the experience of getting lost in the haunted corn maze, as well as the wagon rides, haunted house, and haunted hayrides. To add to your experience, you will also find other types of produce for sale, a picnic area, restrooms, and face painting on-site. The Green Mountain Haunted Hay Ride is open daily.
The Howell Family Pumpkin Farm is another popular destination for fall family fun and is located in nearby Fonthill. The Howell Family Pumpkin Farm gives you the full fall experience, with pumpkins for sale, a pumpkin patch, wagon rides, and corn mazes. There are also plenty of special features as well, like duck races, the pumpkin slingshot, the pumpkin-eating dinosaur named Pumpkinosaurus-Rex, a puppet show, scarecrow displays, pumpkin carving demonstrations, farm animals, and more. Please call ahead for hours of operation.
The Warner Ranch and Pumpkin Farm is located on the outskirts of Niagara Falls, and is open for family fun from mid September through November 1. Here, you can find plenty of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, as well as apples, squash, gourds, corn stalks, Indian corn, and straw. This pumpkin farm carries those specialty pumpkins as well, including the white full moon pumpkins, the black and orange bat wing pumpkins, and giant pumpkins. Before you leave, check out the specialty hand painting pumpkin service that is available on-site, where you can get a company logo, a name, or anything else painted on your pumpkin.
For a chilling experience, head to the Nightmares Fear Factory in Niagara Falls. This haunted house will scare the shirt off of you with its creepy special effects, haunting ghouls and eerie special effects. The house boasts both an old-fashioned house ambiance as well as a haunted factory section, each said to be haunted by the owner who passed away under questionable circumstances. Please call ahead for hours of operation. You can also visit the Haunted House in Clifton Hill, right in the heart of Niagara Falls. This creepy house makes your worst nightmares come to life with actors in scary costumes popping out at you, plenty of frightening special effects and d?cor, and much more. This house is open year-round, with hours of 10am to 10pm in the fall months.
asdNiagara Falls News
Town of Niagara Electric Lights Parade November 7th
The 11th annual Town of Niagara Electric Lights Parade will be held Saturday November 7th at 5:30PM on Military Road. Bob Koshinski, veteran broadcaster and President of All Services WNY will once again be Master of Ceremonies for this year’s parade
A major highlight of the ELECTRIC LIGHTS PARADE is the appearance of Santa Claus who will be on hand to greet the crowd.
A Food Drive will also be part of this year’s NIAGARA ELECTRIC LIGHTS PARADE. Volunteers will gather non-perishable food donations from parade spectators for local soup kitchens. If participants wish, Parade organizers encourage donations the food to their Church Food Pantries and let them know it is on behalf of the Niagara Electric Lights Parade.
The major sponsor for the parade is Republic Services (Allied Waste Industries of Niagara Falls, NY). Allied Waste owns and operates the Niagara Falls Sanitary Landfill, located at the intersection of 56th Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard.
Last year’s ELECTRIC LIGHTS PARADE drew several thousand spectators, along with the hundreds who were part of the bands, floats and community groups which took part.
DEADLINE FOR NIAGARA ELECTRIC LIGHT PARADE ENTRIES IS NOVEMBER 2, 2015. APPLICTIONS ARE ONLINE AT TNBPA.COM, TOWN OF NIAGARA TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE.
The ELECTRIC LIGHTS PARADE is organized and presented by the Town of Niagara, the Town of Niagara Business and Professional Association, Inc.
asdNiagara Falls Sights
Niagara’s Wine Trail
Niagara’s wine trail has become a seasonal attraction in the Niagara Falls region and a tourist attraction in its own right. Situated to the northeast of Niagara Falls itself and just forty minutes from the metropolitan Buffalo area, the Niagara Wine Trail is becoming highly regarded among wine connoisseurs.
Niagara Wine Trail
Although the Niagara Wine Trail is being discovered for the first time by many the art and science of grape growing and wine making has been in this area for many years. There is one winery on the trail that has produced grapes in its vineyard for over 100 years and has been open since the 19th century.
The Niagara Wine Trail has grown in an area that is situated between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. This location has created a unique micro-climate which is conducive to the growth and harvesting of the fine grapes that are used to create the fine wines sold on the Niagara Wine Trail.
It is not just the climate created by the close proximity to Lake Ontario that creates the fine wines of Niagara. The soil itself which contains the dolomitic limestone of the Niagara Escarpment and the gravel silts which are found near the lake shore add to the fine taste of the wines of the region.
Combining the soil with the moderate climate created by the cool lake breeze in the summer which also protects the vineyards from extreme freeze in the autumn and it’s ideal for growing a wide variety of fruit. Grown in the vineyards are vinifera grapes such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot.
The aromas and the flavors found from the vineyards of the Niagara Wine Trail are from chemicals in the fruit called fruit esters. The fruit esters take time to grow in the fruit so the longer growing season found in Niagara produces better smells and tastes.
Ice Wines
The Niagara Wine Trail is also becoming known for what is called “Ice Wine”. Ice Wines are created after the grapes experience a hard freeze, at least 17 degrees Fahrenheit, after they become ripe. This means that the grapes must remain on the vine for several months after the normal harvest time. Ice Wine is a very sweet wine and not for everyone, but more and more it is being served after a meal and with dessert.
This can be a tricky business for the producers of Ice Wine and the owners of the vineyards because if a freeze does not come quickly enough, the grapes may rot and the crop will be lost. If the freeze is too severe than no juice can be extracted and the crop is lost.
The Niagara Wine Trail ranks among the finest grape growing regions in the world for the production of Ice Wine.
Niagara Falls Culinary Institute Winery
For those who would like to do more than taste the wine from the Niagara Wine Trail, the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute offers wine making classes in a partnership with The Freedom Run Winery. The classes instruct those attending how to perform the necessary skills for seasonal vineyard operations of pruning, disease and pest control, grapevine canopy management, crop regulation and how they relate to wine quality.
There are also classes in how to identify wine varieties and describe the historical and cultural geography of the wines of the world and the context of how cool-climate New York and Niagara Escarpment wines fit into the wine market place. The Niagara Falls Culinary Institute offers a Certificate in Wine and Beverage Management and an AAS in Winery Operations.
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