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This interview with Jorge Reyes, Elba Dilecki and Johnny Sanabria took place on August 13, 2013 at their summer home in Lackawanna, NY and was conducted by Stephanie Bucalo. Jorge and Elba (Abby) are siblings and arrived in Buffalo when their father…

This interview with Ernie Perez took place in Buffalo, NY and was conducted by Stephanie Bucalo. Ernie was born in Puerto Rico but moved with his family to Buffalo in 1956. He is the youngest of 20 children. Ernie’s family learned about job…

This interview with Maria Torres took place on September 27, 2012 in Buffalo, NY and was conducted by Stephanie Bucalo. Maria was born in Puerto Rico and later moved to Florida before finally establishing a home in Buffalo. She and her husband would…

Pedro Maurás was born in Puerto Rico and worked on a sugar plantation until he received notice from his brother that there were well paying jobs in Buffalo. Pedro migrated to Buffalo without a formal education but eventually found employment on a…

Raul Russi was the first Puerto Rican police officer in the City of Buffalo. He became a political activist and helped elect the first Hispanic judge in the City's history. He served as the Assistant Superintendent of the Erie County Correctional…

This barbershop was one of the first Hispanic owned businesses in the community. Felix Magui Rodriguez to this day still has the chair from his barber shop.

During World War II, women occupied the jobs that men who were fighting in the war once took. Mercedes "Bessie" Mendez was one of the women in the community who worked at Bethlehem Steel during the war. Once the war ended, the men returned to the…

La Mayagüesana Delicatessen, Jose Rullan – Proprietor – Circa 1965 – one of the first Latin American grocery stores to bring Spanish products to the early Puerto Rican/Migrant community. This business was located at 173 Ridge Road Lackawanna,…

Little Spain Restaurant – Owned by Jose and Carmen Perez of the Spanish American Welfare Association – This restaurant was located on Wilkesbarre Street, Lackawanna, NY 14218 Circa 1950s – and was one of the first Spanish Restaurants/Bars in…

This interview with Marcelina Rodriguez Rondon took place on September 16, 2013 in Amherst, New York and was conducted by Stephanie Bucalo. Marcelina was born in Puerto Rico but came to Lackawanna with her parents in search of better employment…