Behind the doors of Buffalo History Museum Archive: Articles tell the story of 1925 Eclipse

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)--As Western New York prepares to look up to the sky (wearing solar eclipse glasses) and see a total solar eclipse, the Buffalo History Museum is digging deep into their archives to discover what our area's last total solar eclipse was like in 1925.

"I think seeing these old newspaper clippings help you appreciate how historic an event like this is, and how this coming week will be history in the making as well," said Brian Hayden, Director of Communications at The Buffalo History Museum. "We were able to really trace what the city was talking about, what we were thinking, what we were anticipating 99 years ago, the last time this eclipse took place. These newspaper clipping really provide a window into that."

You can read the papers yourself at their Extra Extra Eclipse Extravaganza event running Friday and Saturday 10am until 2pm. If you do, you may find that many of the articles talked about similar topics of discussion we're noticing leading up to the event and the changes we see today.

"The eclipse was such a moment in time in the city, and you get a sense of what life was like back in the 1920s, too. Everyone's life was centered around the radio, instead of the television or the smart phone." said Hayden.

"I think it helps us understand the similarities between people of the past and people today." said Lauren Kausner, Education Coordinator at The Buffalo History Museum, "We have the same inclinations to be in awe of something that's so amazing and so rare."

As we look at how to safely use cameras and technology during this solar eclipse, something they worried about back in 1925, was if the total solar eclipse would impact the radios systems during the duration of totality.

"There were all of these articles predicting what would happen to people's home radios when the eclipse passed over Buffalo, some expected there would be a wooshing sound or a lot of static, and as it turned out, static sort of cleared at that moment." said Hayden.

Another topic that was printed throughout the papers was the focus on eye safety while viewing the event.

"There were articles back then, too, warning the public that it's dangerous to look directly at the eclipse but the recommendation back then was to view the eclipse through a piece of smoked glass, which essentially--you can obscure a piece of glass with a candle which creates a layer that would allow you to view the eclipse." said Hayden, "I really think it's interesting and we have all of this eyewear today that we're preparing to wear. Safety was a concern back then, too, but the method by which you would view the eclipse was very different then what we're talking about today."

One of Hayden's favorite stories of the past found in these articles, is that the Mayor of Buffalo at the time, Frank Schwab, decided the day before the eclipse to order all light to be shut off during the duration of totality. Hayden's favorite ad was from a famous department store at the time, William Hengerer Company, that put an ad out they were closed until 10 a.m. that morning with the caption, "Not Again in a Hundred Years".

Similar to this year's eclipse, leading up to the day of the eclipse back in 1925, all eyes were on the forecast.

"Day after day, there were big headlines saying fair weather anticipated and sunny skies predicted. As it turned out, it was overcast in Buffalo that day." said Hayden, "It may have been cloudy that day but I think it was such a collectively thrilling event to even experience that darkness in the middle of the day and now we're the ones that get to experience this."

During their Extra Extra Eclipse Extravaganza Friday and Saturday, visitors can read these articles, as well as participate in family friendly activities and crafts. More information will also be available on how to safely view the eclipse. The event is included with museum admission, and will be Friday and Saturday 10am until 2pm. For more information, click here.