Lockport in Niagara County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Niagara Grape

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, November 29, 2021

1. The Niagara Grape Marker

Inscription. Throughout the 1970s, the Widmer Wine Company maintained a sign on Lake Avenue, Lockport at the Odd Fellows and Rebecca Home property. This sign gave the history of the Niagara Grape and directed visitors to an old vine on the property which was part of the original planting in Niagara County.

Prior to his death in 2008, Mr. Howard Hunter, Wilson, NY, maintained the vine and, wisely, propagated cuttings from it in the event that the original would die. In 2008, the original vine is still living but "a chip off the old block" is growing next to this sign.

The Niagara Grape was produced by C.L. Hoag and B.W. Clark of Lockport. This variety was grown from the seed of Concord fertilized with Cassidy in 1868. The vine first fruited in 1872. Hoag and Clark protected and marketed this white variety after 1882 much the same as licensed varieties of apples are today. The variety was overpraised by the company and for awhile, a negative reaction to its qualities set in. Still the variety is surviving and despite cycles of profitability, has enjoyed market demand for fresh juice, blends of juices and even wine.

Souce: NYS Horticulture Society, 1922, plaque at original vine site. "The Grapes of New York" by U.D. Hetrick, 1908.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 2008.

Location.

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43° 11.504′ N, 78° 40.482′ W. Marker is in Lockport, New York, in Niagara County. It can be reached from Lake Avenue (New York State Route 78) half a mile north of Old Niagara Road. Marker is by the 4-H Training Center building, within a fenced complex of buildings and grounds. Enter from Lake Avenue (NY 78) at gate 4. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport NY 14094, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Western New York,

and in the Buffalo Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gertrude Warren (within shouting distance of this marker); Toll Gate Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wyndham Lawn (approx. ¼ mile away); City of Lockport Medal of Honor Recipients (approx. ¼ mile away); Original Niagara Grape Vine (approx. half a mile away); Lockport (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cold Springs Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Lowertown Historic District (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lockport.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, November 29, 2021

2. The Niagara Grape Marker

View is westward.

The Niagara Grape Marker & Vine image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, November 29, 2021

3. The Niagara Grape Marker & Vine

Gate to The Niagara Grape Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, November 29, 2021

4. Gate to The Niagara Grape Marker

Enter through fencing at gate 4 from NY 78 to reach the marker. View is northward.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2021, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 555 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 29, 2021, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.