Central Terminal:
Saving a Buffalo Landmark explores the storied
past of the beloved train station in Buffalo,
New York. Built on the cusp of the Great
Depression, the Central Terminal was for
many years a hub of activity, as travelers
moved throughout the northeast and Midwest.
Its massive arched ceilings, majestic light
fixtures, and stately clock - all in the
art deco style - greeted visitors, and the
building itself towered above the city's
East Side as a beacon of technological advancement.
As train travel waned in the 1970s, the Central
Terminal closed. For twenty years, it suffered
from neglect and abuse at the hands of private
owners. In 1997, local preservationists acquired
the building, which by this time had been
stripped of its grandeur and was in desperate
need of repair.
This documentary highlights the building's architectural and social significance,
along with recent efforts to bring it back to life, all through the eyes of local
politicians, architects, preservationists, volunteers and former employees of
the New York Central railroad. It was produced for the Central Terminal Restoration
Corporation as a means to raise awareness of this great building and gain support
for its revitalization. The video was produced by Kirsten Jahn and Scott Richardson,
two digital media arts students working under the guidance of Barbara Irwin,
Ph.D., director of the Canisius College Video Institute. |
