by Suzanne S. Kulp (Author), Joseph F. Bieron (Author)
Attracted by the fertile soil, ample forests, and abundant water, the first pioneer arrived in the Orchard Park area in 1803, making this one of the earliest settlements in western New York. Prominent among the settlers were the Quakers, who built a picturesque meetinghouse that is still in use today. Orchard Park portrays the history of the community through its citizens and their homes and businesses, many of which were at Four Corners. Plank roads and then a railroad and finally a trolley provided opportunities for the community to share in the prosperity of nearby Buffalo in the late 1800s. Old family heritage persists in the names of streets on which century-old houses still stand, connecting yesterday with today.