2015 BIDWELL FAMILY REUNION
BUFFALO, NEW YORK
June 25 – 29, 2015
Salvatore’s Garden Place Hotel ~ 6615 Transit Road ~ Williamsville NY 14221
716-635-9000
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, June 25 Arrival Day
3:00 pm
Hotel Check-in & Registration Begins
Dinner on your own
Evening is free to catch up with cousins
Friday, June 26
6:00 am – 10:00 am
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Margaret L. Wendt Center/Forest Lawn Cemetery
Breakfast served in hotel courtyard
BFA Board Meeting – Fiore Room
Non-board members are welcome to sit in with us, ask questions & participate in
all aspects except voting.
Noon – 1:30 pm
Morning is free for non-board members
Tour begins with Buffet Luncheon – Fiore Room
Enjoy a buffet lunch with fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps and dessert.
2:00 pm
2:30 pm
Bus departs for afternoon tour
Margaret L. Wendt Center and Historic Forest Lawn Tour
Our tour will begin at the Margaret L. Wendt Archive and Research Center.
Opened in August of 2014, the center has 1.2 million historic documents with over
350,000 individual family records, including those of General Daniel Davidson
Bidwell and many other Bidwell family members who are buried in the cemetery.
After our time at the center, we will engage on a 1 hour narrated walking tour
through part of the cemetery. We will visit the grave site of General Bidwell, U.S.
President Millard Fillmore, and other prominent people who played an important
part in the history of Buffalo.
We will depart the cemetery and travel to “Colonial Circle” (previously called
“Bidwell Place”) to view the bronze statue of Brigadier General Daniel Davidson
Bidwell.
6:00 pm
Return to hotel
Dinner on own/evening is free
1 Saturday, June 27 Buffalo Niagara Heritage Museum/Banquet & BFA Auction
7:00 am – 11:00 am
Breakfast served in hotel courtyard
9:30 am
Bus departs for tour
10:00 am
Buffalo Niagara Heritage Museum
The Bidwell Family Association has been invited to participate in the museum’s
first annual Civil War event with an emphasis on honoring the 49th New York
Infantry Regiment during the year of 1864. The museum wishes to honor the
soldiers, families, and descendants of General Daniel Davidson Bidwell. This first of
its kind event is not to be missed. We are honored to accept the museum’s
invitation to attend. We will also be able to “step back in time” to explore the
historic homes, rural church, one-room school house, blacksmith shop and even a
barbershop that have been erected on the 35 acre grounds. Burgers, hot dogs,
and drinks will be available for purchase for lunch.
2:30 pm
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Depart Buffalo Heritage Museum
General BFA Meeting – Fiore Room
Memorial Service
Banquet Dinner followed by the Bidwell Family Annual Auction
Sunday, June 28 A Day in Buffalo
7:00 am – 11:00 am
Breakfast served in hotel courtyard
9:00 am
Bus departs for tour
10:00 am
Arrive at Buffalo’s Waterfront
10:30 am
Buffalo River History Tour—Buffalo’s #1 Attraction in 2014!
A 90 minute narrated Buffalo River tour. We will hear the story of the Erie Canal
and Buffalo’s history as the largest grain port in the world and experience the
nation’s largest collection of standing grain elevators from just a few feet away.
There is a Bidwell connection to the Buffalo waterfront! The Buffalo shipyard was
started in 1808 by Nathan Bidwell!
12:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Free time to explore the Buffalo Waterfront/Lunch on own
Enjoy time on your own to explore the revitalization of the Buffalo Waterfront.
Have lunch on your own and take time to stroll through the Buffalo’s Veteran’s
Park. Tour a World War II guided missile cruiser, submarine, and destroyer at the
Buffalo Naval Park. (Fees required for ships/submarine tour)
3:45 pm
4:00 pm
Depart Buffalo Waterfront
Arrive Buffalo Transportation/Pierce-Arrow Museum/Guided Tour
The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum honors and preserves the
company’s long and prestigious history. The Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company
was a symbol of one of Buffalo’s most significant era of growth and prosperity.
Museum owner, James Sandoro, has spent more than 45 years collecting
and assembling a display to honor the rich transportation history in Buffalo.
Mr. Sandoro will give our group a guided tour through his amazing collection.
In addition to the vast collection, the museum also has on site the 1927 Buffalo
Filing Station by world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The unique fuel
filling station was intended to be built in downtown Buffalo but never was. It has
now been re-created inside the Buffalo Transportation Museum.
6:15 pm
Depart Buffalo Transportation/Pierce-Arrow Museum
2 6:45 pm
Arrive at Duff’s Restaurant/Dinner on you own
Our day will end with dinner at Duff’s Restaurant. Duff’s offers casual
dining with a menu full of some of Buffalo’s favorite foods! Try Buffalo Chicken
wings or Beef on Weck. Enjoy some delicious sweet Loganberry, a hybrid of a
raspberry and blackberry, loganberry is an actual berry which is one of Buffalo’s
favorite non-alcoholic drinks. Duff’s also offers traditional burgers, sandwiches,
and salads. The cost of your meal is NOT included in tour price.
8:30 pm
Depart Duff’s Restaurant/Return to Hotel
Monday, June 29 Departure Day
6:00 am – 10:00 am
Breakfast served in hotel courtyard
11:00 am
Hotel check out
MAKING HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Salvatore’s Garden Place Hotel
6615 Transit Road ~ Williamsville NY 14221
716-635-9000 or Toll Free at 1-877-456-6036
ROOM RATES
ROOM TYPE
Standard King*
Double Queen*
Jacuzzi King*
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
109.65
139.40
139.40
118.15
147.90
147.90
118.15
147.90
147.90
*13.75% local fees and taxes will be added to above price
SUNDAY
96.90
105.40
105.40
Room Price includes hot buffet breakfast served in the hotel courtyard daily.
Complimentary parking and Wi-Fi.
Refrigerators, hair dryers, and coffee makers in all rooms. Hotel is 100% smoke free.
“Bidwell Family Reunion” must be mentioned when making reservations.
RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE BY THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015
Sunday rates will be extended to June 22nd – 24th and June 29th – July 1st
Transportation to Hotel
Salvatore’s Garden Place hotel is conveniently located off exit 49 (Depew-NY -- Route 78) of
New York Thruway I-90.
Please contact hotel for information regarding their complimentary airport shuttle.
3 BIDWELL FAMILY AUCTION ITEMS
Please remember to bring your items for the BFA’s annual auction to help raise money for the Bidwell
Family Association. If you are traveling via air and wish to mail auction items ahead, please send to:
Tina Bidwell 47 Doe Haven Circle Depew NY 14043
THE BIDWELL FAMILY ASSOCIATION OFFICERS 2015
President
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Newsletter Editor
Webmasters
Tina Bidwell
Zeb Bidwell
Kevin White
Beth Kranick
John Bidwell Jr
Beth Kranick
Shirley Aravich
Zeb Bidwell
Beth Kranick
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
BIDWELL FAMILY ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
We are excited to announce www.bidwell.org is currently undergoing reconstruction.
Watch for our new and improved website soon!
THE BIDWELL FAMILY NEWSLETTER
The BFA Newsletter is mailed or emailed quarterly to all dues-payers.
Please send articles about Bidwell happenings including, but not limited to births, deaths, and
marriages. Articles pertaining to genealogy, puzzles, recipes, etc. are always welcome.
Send newsletter contributions plus address changes by the quarterly deadlines of
the 15th of February, May, August, and November to the Newsletter editor.
Beth Kranick
6 Village Green Apt G Budd Lake
[email protected]
New Jersey 07828
BIDWELL FAMILY HISTORY TWO VOLUME SET
The two volume set of The Bidwell Family History is available for purchase.
The price for the two volume set is $75.00
If interested in purchasing, please provide your name, number of sets requested, and shipping
address along with your check made payable to “Zeb Bidwell” to:
Zeb Bidwell, BFA Historian
3903 Highway 63
[email protected]
4 Tama, IA 52339
REGISTRATION FORM 2015 BIDWELL REUNION
First & Last Name of those in your party and age if under 12 (for making name tags)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________________________________
Phone__________________________________________Email_______________________________________
Are you a BFA Member? YES
NO
First reunion? YES
NO
Tours:
Adult Price:
$135.00
Child (11 and under)
$110.00
Includes: Three days bus transportation including fees, taxes, and gratuities. Luncheon buffet on Friday and
guided tours as described for Friday, Saturday, & Sunday.
How Many Participating in Tours
Adults ____________
Child _____________
Amount Enclosed for Tours _____________
BFA Annual Banquet Dinner Saturday June 27, 2015
Adult Price:
$40.00
Child (11 and under)
$25.00
BFA Banquet Adult Dinner Options:
1.
2.
3.
Fresh Salmon served with lobster dill sauce
Sliced Pork served with cran-apple chutney
Chicken Saltimbocca -- chicken breast with provolone cheese, prosciutto, spinach, and seasonings
served with a marsala mushroom sauce
All meals are served with a fresh fruit cup, fresh garden salad, twice baked potatoes, chef’s blend of vegetables and apple
cobbler with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
BFA Banquet Child Dinner Options:
1.
Chicken Fingers and Fries
How many attending banquet:
Selection for Dinner:
2. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Adults___________________
Child ________________
Name_______________________ Dinner Choice_____________________
Name_______________________ Dinner Choice_____________________
*please use reverse side for additional banquet names and dinner choice*
Amount for Banquet_____________
TOTAL AMOUNT PAID__________________
Payments are due in full by Monday, May 11, 2015
Please make your checks payable to: Bidwell Family Association
Please mail completed form and your check to: Tina Bidwell 47 Doe Haven Circle Depew NY 14043
PLEASE MAKE A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS
5 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
6 A WORD ABOUT THE WEATHER IN BUFFALO…
It is true that Buffalo gets more than its fair share of snow. Yes, we did have a storm in
November of 2014 that dropped 7 feet of snow in a mere 24 hours, but the BFA Reunion
Committee guarantees (99%) that there will not be snow in Buffalo in June!
Summers in Buffalo are usually mild and pleasant with breezes from nearby Lake Erie keeping
temperatures moderate and humidity low. Sunshine is also plentiful. Temperatures above 90
degrees are very rare and the National Weather Service in Buffalo has never recorded a
reading above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Evenings and mornings can be cool in June, please bring a light jacket or sweatshirt but
leave your Parkas and snow shovels at home!

TO JOIN THE BIDWELL FAMILY ASSOCATION OR TO RENEW MEMBERSHIP
(Use form below to send in dues)
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Enclosed are BFA dues for 2015.
Annual Membership $20.00 or LIFE membership $200.00
Renewal Annual Membership _________
New Membership ____________
LIFE Membership _______________
NAME & BFA # (see mailing label) __________________________________________________
(Names of self and spouse)
ADDRESS______________________________________________________________________
CITY/STATE/PROVINCE/ZIP CODE __________________________________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS_________________________________________________________________
Please make checks payable to: Bidwell Family Association
(U.S. FUNDS ONLY)
AMOUNT ENCLOSED: _______________________
John Bidwell Jr, BFA Treasurer
47 Doe Haven Circle Depew NY 14043
MAIL TO:
7 BIDWELL FAMILY ASSOCIATION BFA Secretary, Beth Kranick 6 Village Green, Apt G Budd Lake, NJ 07828