What:  Niagara County Almshouse Cemetery Restoration Ceremony, hosted by the Museum of disABILITY History, People Inc. and Niagara County officials

When: Thursday, June 5, 2014, at 10 a.m.

Where: 5526 Niagara Street Extension, Lockport. The cemetery is located across the street from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, between Townline Road and Sunset Drive. Parking available in the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office parking lot.

Who: Staff members from the Museum of disABILITY History and People Inc.; Catherine Emerson, Niagara County Historian; William Ross, Chairman, Niagara County Legislature and cemetery restoration volunteers.

Why: Event will mark the restoration of the neglected cemetery and honor the lives of the more than 1,400 Niagara County Almshouse residents who died and were buried there, most with unmarked graves, between 1830-1916. People Inc. and Museum staff and volunteers have been working for two years to clear brush and beautify the space. The ceremony will include the unveiling of a special memorial plaque and monument.

The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is dedicated to the collection, preservation and display of artifacts relating to the history of people with disabilities. The mission is to tell the story of the lives, triumphs and struggles of people with disabilities as well as society’s reactions. The Museum of disABILITY History, located at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo, NY, offers educational exhibits, programs and activities that expand community awareness.

People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 12,000 people with special needs, their families, and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.

Contact: Nicole Forgione, People Inc. Public Affairs Manager
Direct Line: 716-817-7490, nforgione@people-inc.org