Category: Blog

Flush with Fossils!

Flush with Fossils!

Penn Dixie

The Hamburg Natural History Society is thrilled to announce the largest gift in the society’s history: an $827,000 grant from Erie County for the construction of a permanent bathroom facility at Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve.

Awarded under the Erie County Cultural Capital Grant program, grant funds will be applied towards ongoing development of a smaller parcel within the larger 54-acre park. The 4-acre parcel is currently undergoing phased construction, with the end goal of completing a new entrance and parking area on Jeffrey Blvd. in Hamburg.

Phase 1, featuring site work to bring the former quarry up to grade while addressing drainage issues, was recently completed with donations from the International Union of Operating Engineers – Local 17, the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District, Marrano Homes, and Lardon Construction. Phase 2, which features a picnic pavilion and other amenities, is ready to commence thanks to a $250,000 grant from NY Assembly Member Jon Rivera and a $100,000 grant from the Town of Hamburg.

The bathroom facility will be part of the third phase of construction, which also includes the first-ever installation of utilities (water, sewer, electrical, gas) at Penn Dixie. The grant from Erie County covers these critical infrastructure needs and allows the society to continue to develop the park for its growing audience of fossil collectors and science enthusiasts.

Growth has been very rapid, as the organization has seen program revenue increase by 45% from 2021 to 2022, and again by 45% from 2022 to 2023. Program revenue includes admissions, K-16 field trips, special events, private tours, birthday parties, and outreach programs. Penn Dixie welcomed 17,065 visitors in 2023, its second-highest yearly figure ever. Only 2017 had higher attendance (17,957 visitors), thanks to a special viewing of the partial solar eclipse which drew 2,200 guests.

Quotes

“The Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve is a unique and irreplaceable natural attraction that has been literally millions of years in the making and now draws thousands of visitors to explore and learn about what our area looked like 380 million years ago. Erie County is proud to join partners in supporting this national treasure and this funding will help to ensure that the Penn Dixie site can accommodate more guests more comfortably,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Building critical infrastructure at the site will provide better experiences for all and is another step forward in improving the Park so that future generations can come here to travel millions of years back in time.”

Erie County Legislator John J. Gilmour says, “I am proud to play a part in supporting the development of such a wonderful natural attraction that Penn Dixie is. I look forward to supporting its continued growth in the future.”

Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera says, “Penn Dixie was founded by passionate volunteers in 1993, who had the foresight and dedication to preserve this geological site for generations. Their vigor for this natural treasure chest has been crucial in securing grant funding and getting support since day one. Despite budget cuts and funding gaps, they persevered, and I’m so proud to see that pay off for them with today’s infusion of funding from Erie County. It’s my hope that with this funding, and the $250,000 I awarded them in 2022, Penn Dixie becomes Buffalo’s worst kept secret. Everyone should visit and see this center for the scientific and cultural contributions they make on our region, and today’s funding brings that reality even closer.”

Hamburg Supervisor Randy Hoak says, “The Town of Hamburg is very excited about this next phase of Penn Dixie’s capital project. Penn Dixie is a community treasure that brings visitors to Hamburg from across the globe. Our contributions to their success will bring a return that will benefit students, families, and lifelong learners for years to come. We applaud Erie County for stepping up to help Penn Dixie address their visitor’s number one concern (and their number two concerns!).”

Hamburg Town Councilwoman Elizabeth Farrell Lorentz says “Penn Dixie is a unique, and valuable, community and regional asset. Throughout my tenure as Councilwoman in the Town of Hamburg I have been committed to fortifying the town’s ongoing support and partnership with Penn Dixie as they advance their vision and mission. Over five years ago discussions between Penn Dixie, Operating Engineer Local 17 representatives, then Traffic Safety Coordinator Jerry Giglio, and myself took place to address the long-sought improvement of relocating Penn Dixie’s entrance and parking area. In turn, those improvements have led to plans for additional patron amenities made possible by funding from our county and state representatives along with the town. It has been a terrific process of collaboration between entities.”

Executive Director Dr. Phil Stokes says “Penn Dixie is thrilled to receive this major gift, the largest in the society’s history, from the people of Erie County. We are grateful to County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Legislator John Gilmour, and the entire Erie County Legislature for supporting the establishment of critical infrastructure at Penn Dixie. The 54-acre park has gotten by for 28 years with little more than portable toilets, and our number one complaint is that there is no place to wash hands or change a diaper. Penn Dixie’s fossils, which received national attention over the summer following a major discovery, are collected and known by everyone from school children to world-renowned scientists. We are flush with fossils, and soon tens of thousands of seasonal visitors will be able to flush after a day of hunting for Erie County’s famous geological treasures.”

Erie County Capital Grant Info: https://www3.erie.gov/environment/cultural-capital-grant-program

Field Trips / Group Tours

Field Trips / Group Tours

Penn Dixie

Now booking for spring – summer! The first available date for our spring season is April 22nd.

Penn Dixie’s guided tours are led by our trained staff and volunteers who provide age-appropriate presentations on the history of planet Earth. Participants will learn about deep time, extinct life, Western New York’s environment during the Devonian Period and – of course- fossil collecting! Your group will experience earth science in a unique, hands-on, outdoor setting, so be sure to dress for the weather! All geological specimens found during field trips may be kept by participants. Our group tours typically last 2 hours, but can be adapted to shorter lengths to meet your group’s needs.

From mid April to late October, we welcome:

  • School groups (Pre K-12 through college)
  • Homeschool co-ops
  • Day care groups
  • Scout and youth organizations
  • Special needs groups
  • And more!

Our group tour rate is $10 / person. 1 free teacher/chaperone is included with every 10 participants, and additional adults are $10 each. For groups of 10 or less participants, a flat rate of $100 applies. Payment for group tours must be made in one transaction. We accept cash, card, and business checks.

Trips that are not booked by formal educational institutions (schools, colleges, etc.) are subject to a deposit of $100. The remainder of your trip’s balance is due before or on the day of your visit.

A covered picnic pavilion is available for use on most days. You must notify Penn Dixie before your visit if you would like to eat lunch on site. If you do not notify us in advance that you would like to use the pavilion, we cannot guarantee that the pavilion will be available for your group.

Any changes to your reservation, including final group numbers, must be made 48 hours prior to your scheduled visit. If your group cancels without giving 48 hours notice, we still will pursue payment for your scheduled trip. Notice of any changes or cancellation must be emailed to our Director of Education at sydney@penndixie.org. Any trips canceled by Penn Dixie will receive a full refund.

To book a group tour, please use the form below or call (716) 627-4560. Bookings must be requested 2+ weeks in advance.

Please note: Due to high demand, we have very limited morning (10 am – 12 pm) availabilities left for field trips / group tours in late April through mid-June. There is currently more open availability for afternoon field trips. Afternoon field trips have a start time between 12 pm and 2 pm. (Updated 3/18/24)

Witnessing Wonder @ The Gateway Building

Witnessing Wonder @ The Gateway Building

Penn Dixie

Do you want to learn more about the upcoming total solar eclipse? Join us on Tuesday, January 30th and Monday, February 19th for Witnessing Wonder: Exploring the Total Solar Eclipse! Explore the conditions that happen to create different types of eclipses, what it means to be in the path of totality, and how to safely view this memorable occasion. Every participant gets a pair of solar viewing glasses! Both programs will be held in the Gateway Building auditorium (3556 Lake Shore Rd, Blasdell, NY 14219) and run from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm. Registration is not required.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, M&T Bank and NYSEG, these programs are FREE for all attendees!

Remembering Judy Wilder

Remembering Judy Wilder

Penn Dixie

By Dr. Phil Stokes, Executive Director

With deep sorrow I report the passing of longtime volunteer and friend Judy Wilder (1951-2023).

Judy and Fair Bear at the 2019 Erie County Fair.

I first met Judy in January of 2016, shortly after beginning my tenure as executive director at HNHS/Penn Dixie. I was in search of a bookkeeper to handle payroll duties for our two(!) employees – myself and former Director of Education Sarah Tarnowski (Einhouse). Judy was a member of the local chamber of commerce, and at a chamber-sponsored breakfast meeting Judy introduced herself to me as a provider of bookkeeping services. Judy was polite, friendly, and had received good references from other members of the business community. After the meeting, I contacted Judy to see if she was interested in doing some work for Penn Dixie. She agreed!

Judy turned out to be a knowledgeable and diligent bookkeeper, handling our payroll duties with a high level of accuracy and responsiveness for over seven years. Judy was along for the ride as our organization grew from a small attraction to a respected cultural destination with the national following that we enjoy today. As our reputation grew, so did our bookkeeping needs. Judy kept up with the demand as our team grew to include four full time employees plus 20 part time and seasonal staff.

If you’ve ever run a business, then you’ll know that there is a tremendous amount of work that takes place behind the scenes. Judy helped immensely, providing expert guidance as we navigated the rules and regulations that businesses need to follow. I could not tell you how many hours Judy and I spent on the phone discussing things like payroll taxes, tax codes, and unemployment insurance.

Though she billed us quarterly, Judy ended up donating a significant amount of time and expertise to Penn Dixie – probably hundreds of hours when all was said and done. Judy helped us through some very lean years, back when the organization struggled with financial problems and making payroll was not easy. I’m forever grateful for her generosity at that time.

In addition to her problem solving skills, Judy possessed a strong sense of community and regularly volunteered for Penn Dixie among other local organizations. She was on the planning committee for our Guinness World Record attempt in August of 2018, helping us to secure corporate sponsorships while also attending and taking photographs at the event that could be used for official verification purposes. She was proud to participate in the world’s largest fossil dig and become a world record holder!

Judy (second from right) volunteering at the Penn Dixie booth at the 2017 Hamburg BurgerFest.

Aside from digging from fossils, Judy was most proud of winning the Erie County Fair Ultimate Fairgoer award in 2018. This award is given by the Erie County Agricultural Society – another local group with whom Judy volunteered – to the person who is most “passionate and enthusiastic” about the fair. Earlier in the year, Judy had asked me to nominate her for the award. And, of course, I obliged.

Judy personified the spirit of the fair – she loved to photograph the rides, attractions, and animals at the fair. She talked about it all year, and her summer plans revolved around the fair. She attended every day – all 12 – of the fair each year! And, she frequently entered her photographs into the fair’s annual photography contests. While she had some great shots of the ferris wheel, my favorite photos were the ones that Judy took in nature, away from the lights and sounds of the fair. During the springtime, she visited area parks with her camera, waiting for just the perfect moment to catch butterflies pollinating flowers. These were the quiet, delicate moments that she appreciated – and something we enjoyed talking about after we had discussed payroll taxes. I’m fairly certain – pun intended – that a few of her photos won awards!

Judy also enjoyed attending concerts, with musical tastes ranging from 1960s acts like The Turtles and Three Dog Night to heavier stuff. You might not believe it, but Judy was a big fan of heavy metal! She told me that she had seen AC/DC and Def Leppard in concert, but perhaps I was a little skeptical of her concert stories until I ran into her one day at a Bret Michaels concert! Judy was singing along to some of the band Poison’s greatest hits at – where else – the Erie County Fair!!

The final time I saw Judy was, ironically, at the fair this past summer. On a whim, I had invited my family to see Chubby Checker perform at the grandstand. My sister and I grew up listening to Chubby’s records, and I thought it would be a fun way to reconnect with the past. The show was excellent! Chubby played all of his hits from the 1960s, and the audience – made up mostly of dancing senior citizens including my parents – ate it up. We twisted the night away! Okay, it was more like late afternoon given the demographics, but you get my drift.

As the show ended, I spotted Judy in the crowd. She was twisting just like the rest of us – smiling and laughing and happy and nostalgic. I introduced her to my family, and we talked about the show and her plans to see more fairs and concerts that fall. Judy said that she was looking forward to volunteering for Penn Dixie at our next big event, and that she considered me and former Associate Director Dr. Holly Schreiber to be her extended family given our long history together. I assured Judy that I would keep her in our thoughts when it came time to plan the next big event. Alas, that did not come to be as Judy passed unexpectedly in October.

On behalf of the Hamburg Natural History Society, I sincerely thank Judy Wilder for her longtime service to our organization and the community.

Tribute page: https://www.lombardofuneralhome.com/tributes/Judith-Wilder

Cover Photo by Erin Minuskin on Unsplash