Community-centered Gowanda is between two counties
Gowanda is set 41 miles from Buffalo and between the counties of Erie and Cattaraugus. The Cattaraugus Creek that divides the counties is the area's lifeblood, drawing residents for its scenic views and fishing opportunities. “One of the main reasons people move here is because of the creek, where two counties come together,” says Mathias Arbeiter, who lives in the area and is a real estate agent with Danahy Real Estate. “There’s fishing in the creek; it’s a beautiful creek. And the Hollywood theater down here -- they put on a lot of stuff for the town. There's a lot of community events here.” Arbeiter says his agency is often involved in the area's events
Gowanda’s Main Street is lined with brick buildings housing locally owned businesses that are heavily involved in the community, contributing to the village's numerous events throughout the year. “People paint murals all around town, and they're really beautiful,” says Arbeiter.
Celebrating holidays at community events
Gowanda’s Historic Hollywood Theater was built in 1884 and was damaged by a fire in 1926. The theater is being restored and has a new projection system and speakers. It hosts live performances throughout the year, such as musicals, bands and silent films.
“We do Christmas in Gowanda, which is a big thing we do down here,” says Arbeiter. “There’s a big parade, and we do the tree lighting in Chang-Hu Park.” The town has a holiday celebration lasting most of December, with a Christmas decorating competition for homes and businesses, a parade with homemade floats and a tree lighting. The New York & Lake Erie Railroad offers holiday events such as a Santa Express Train Ride and a Valentine's Day wine train with tastings from Merritt Winery. Murder Mystery train rides run throughout the year. Gowanda’s farmers market sells locally grown fruits and vegetables every Thursday from July through October in the parking lot at 53 W. Main Street.
Homes with yards on sidewalk-lined streets
Homes are set along gridded streets lined with sidewalks. Most houses have room for front and backyards. “Everything is different from lots to styles of homes,” says Arbeiter. “You can have 5 acres of land or point five, it really depends. You can get whatever you want.” National, Colonial Revival and Minimal Traditional are common housing styles. Single and multifamily homes range from $40,000 to $215,000.
Walking at Gateway Park, picnics at Chang-Hu Park
Gateway Park is an open field with views of the Cattaraugus Creek from paved walking paths and a baseball field for Little League games. There's also a small playground. Chang-Hu Park is a manicured green space with trees and flowers, centered around a covered picnic area with Doric columns. During the winter, St. John Park has a lighted ice-skating rink and a year-round playground and basketball court. The Cattaraugus Creek is a big fishing and boating area. It flows through Zoar Valley and into the Deer Lick Conservation Area, two major recreation sites in Western New York that offer picturesque landscapes, white-water rafting and hiking.
Gowanda Central School District earns a B
The Gowanda Central School District serves the area and gets a B from Niche. Gowanda Elementary and Gowanda Middle both get a B-minus. Gowanda High gets a B. High school students may participate in career and technical education programs such as agriculture, manufacturing and health services.
Shopping and dining on Jamestown Street
Olympia Restaurant serves Greek fare and bar food on Jamestown Street. Capozzi’s Pizzeria has pies, subs and wings. There’s a Shop ‘n Save for groceries off Main Street. Peace of the Pie, 3 miles away, is known for its baked goods. The café also serves coffee, ice cream and some prepared foods and soups. “It’s technically in Collins, but we consider it Gowanda,” says Arbeiter.
Commuting on Routes 39, 62 and I-90
“We do have the prison down there, and a lot of people work there. We have the school; many people work there too,” says Arbeiter. “Some people commute to Springville, Fredonia and Hamburg.” Buffalo Street leads 2 miles to the Gowanda Correction Facility. State Route 39 leads 16 miles to Springville and 21 miles to Fredonia. U.S. Route 62 leads 20 miles to Hamburg, and Interstate 90 leads 41 miles to Buffalo. The Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is 17 miles away in Springville, and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is 41 miles away. Houses of worship such as Gowanda Free Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church and St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church are near Main Street.
Heavy rain can affect Cattaraugus Creek
The Cattaraugus Creek can rise significantly during heavy rain, and in 2009, a flash flood devastated the community. “We haven’t had anything drastic since then,” says Arbeiter. “It gets pretty high but doesn’t cause problems anymore.”
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
