Jim Nolan's Blog

Three Mothers, Headed Over the Falls

Christa Nolan, Marcy Brett and Connie McCreery, with nine children between them, don't know it yet but their boat ride on the Niagara River is about to go horribly wrong. Listen to Niagara River Death Cruise

Waterfall Outside Buffalo

Photo: Jim Nolan. Retouching: Steve Blankenship.

I was in Buffalo recently and came across this interesting waterfall. Apparently, it runs all year 'round. It's in the city of Niagara Falls. (This is the view of the Canadian Falls from Terrapin Point on Goat Island. You won't find a better one unless you're on the Maid of the Mist and you don't need to cross over into Canada.) 

Niagara Falls Audio Essay

My mom, Christa Nolan, and her friends Marcy Brett and Connie McCreery enjoy a three-hour cruise on the Niagara River, 1969. Groovy pants, Mom.

Niagara River Death Cruise

Niagara Falls, Sept. 1939

From left, my Uncle John, unknown, my father, Barbara Sicherman, Esther Sicherman, my Uncle Ned. This looks like it's shot from the Canadian side facing the American Falls. John looks dapper as usual. He was my beautiful Aunt Mamie's favorite. Photo by, I'm guessing, Jake Sicherman. (In September 1939, Germany and the Soviet Red Army invaded Poland.) Click to enlarge.

Wallenda Prepares for Niagara Falls Tightrope Walk

Photo: Brendan Bannon for NYT

Great article in today's Times about Nik Wallenda's preparations for walking across the Falls on June 15. Brave man. Here's a link: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/nyregion/nik-wallenda-prepares-for-his-niagara-falls-stunt.html?smid=pl-share

Nik Wallenda to Cross Niagara Falls on Tightrope

Ryan Enn Hughes for The New York Times 

The Times reports Wednesday that a Wallenda will cross the Falls on a tightrope. Canadian authorities were initially opposed because they felt it would "detract from the natural majesty of the waterworks," as reporter Thomas Kaplan puts it. Why then, how about restoring the 50% of the water that's diverted from the Falls for power generation? Imagine twice as much water thundering over the precipice. To make up the deficit, take 100% of the water at night, instead of the 75% that's taken now. Or have special days or weeks where you divert it all, then return to its natural state. The Falls is still a draw without water, as you can see in the film by Harry Gent below.

  

1967 Niagara Falls Postcard

The notes besides the address are my grandfather's. He would jot down when he received a letter and when he wrote back. He saved everything, and now I have it.

Niagara Falls by Annie Leibovitz

From a terrific article in the NY Times (see link below). The Falls are so beautiful, but 50% of the water is diverted for power generation. In other words, they've taken away 50% of the water that used to tumble over one the world's greatest natural wonders. Imagine what it must have once been like.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/opinion/sunday/annie-leibovitzs-pilgrimage.html