COMMEMORATING THE 175th ANNIVERSARY
Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 7PM
The New York and Erie Rail Road was the first railroad to link the Atlantic and the Great Lakes; and when it opened in 1851 it was the longest railroad in the world.
Railroad historian William D. Burt will show how it happened — the choice of Dunkirk as the western terminus, the original line NY&E built and then abandoned in favor of a better one, and the 1851 grand opening celebration. He will discuss how railroad directors speculated in Dunkirk land and laid out several blocks of the city, and how many Dunkirk streets are named for them.
What is the Erie’s legacy in Dunkirk? This well-illustrated presentation covers it all.
Bill published his first history article when he was in high school and has continued writing, off and on, ever since. Following a career in the railroad industry, he took up researching and writing about the history of the fascinating business, with a primary interest in Eastern railroading, particularly the Erie Lackawanna and its predecessor railroads.
He holds a BA in Political Science from SUNY Geneseo and a dual MS in Transportation Planning and Engineering and Management Science from Polytechnic Institute of New York (now part of NYU). He culminated a 27-year career in the railroad industry as President and COO of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad and its subsidiaries B&H Rail Corp. and Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad.
Part of Here & There – Chautauqua County History, Travelers, & Memories
Admission is FREE, although donations are gratefully accepted
