1166 Niagara Falls Boulevard - The Forbes Home

1166 Niagara Falls Boulevard

Photo:  Courtesy of Bonnie & Charles Giammusso

A photo of a photo of the Forbes homestead when Niagara Falls Boulevard was still a dirt road.  Established in 1828, this 177-year-old property (in 2005) has quite a history.  George Forbes purchased the property in 1906.  He owned the land from the Niagara Falls Boulevard and Forbes all the way back to Nash Road and Niagara Falls Boulevard up to Sawyer Creek.  In 1934, it was willed to his son, Arthur, and subsequenty divided into parcels.  Forbes Street was officially the name of the side street at Niagara Falls Boulevard.  In 1987, Doris Forbes inherited the property.  There was one other owner before the present owners who purchased the property in 1992.  Begun as a dirt road, Niagara Falls Boulevard was later paved with bricks.  The present owners have some of the original bricks in their gardens.  The original part of the existing home has no cellar, but when an addition was built at some time in the past, the foundation was built with rocks and dirt.  It is great for storing homemade "goodies," because is remains cool all year long. Under the crawl space, you are still able to see the tree trunks that were used as beams to support the house.  A guest house in the rear yard, now a guest house, was once used to house stars who performed at Melody Fair.

William Forbes, Mary Virginia Forbes, rear, and Mary and George Forbes, front, with son, Arthur, in the center. Arthur Forbes worked much of his life at Weston Lumber.  His granddaughter Sandi, is married to Douglas Taylor, President of Taylor Devices. Per Sandi Taylor in 2005, Mary Forbes died on November 9,1929 and George in 1936.  At the time of his death, George W.  and Arthur S. were farmers, still living at 1166 Niagara Falls Boulevard.  The Boulevard was Route 2 at the time. Photo courtesy of Douglas and Sandi Forbes Taylor.

Mary Forbes, left, the wife of George Forbes, and her granddaughter, Mary Virginia Forbes, whose father was William Forbes. Mary Forbes was born in Germany and came to the United States at the age of two.  She died in the family homestead shown.  Mary Virginia married Paschal Burngasser.  The ladies are on the front stoop of the homestead at 1166 Niagara Falls Boulevard at Forbes Avenue. Mary was the first of William's four wives.  She died of breast cancer when only 58 years old.  Photo courtesy of Patricia Burngasser Nachreiner, daughter of Mary Virginia, granddaughter of Mary.

William Forbes, son of George and Mary Forbes, grew up in the home at 1166 Niagara Falls Boulevard, and was considered quite a lady's man, having had a total of four wives.  Photo courtesy of Patricia Burngasser Nachreiner.