The remains of Exile McBride are quietly secluded in a remote section of Brockport’s Mt. Olivet Cemetery. However, the name of my great uncle was very much alive in Buffalo on April 5. My PowerPoint Presentation entitled “Exile McBride, International Human Rights Crusader,” was a great success at the Hyatt Regency in Buffalo. It was part of the Comhaltas North American Irish Convention.
There was a full house of enthusiastic attendees who were very intrigued by Exile’s amazing life story.
It was surprising to discover that Exile had once lived, and actually died in 1911, at 226 Pearl Street in Buffalo. Amazingly, this location was almost directly across the street from the Hyatt! Exile’s house has since been demolished and this is now the site of the Buffalo Convention Center. If his house was still standing, it might have been eligible to receive a New York State historic maker designation.
I also met with Susan Buttaccio, the local history manager of Buffalo’s Central Library, downtown. She had just heard about Exile for the first time and was very excited. I mentioned to her that I had discovered over 1,800 old newspaper articles on Exile, and over 1,000 of them were from Buffalo!
Furthermore, I told Susan that Exile’s first name alone had once been a household name in Buffalo.
Exile had been somewhat like the Josh Allen of Buffalo in 1900. Local articles frequently had headlines such as “Exile meets Roosevelt,” Exile goes to Europe,” and “Exile addresses Congress.”
Susan was so excited about what I had discovered, that she will be planning a special event for Exile in September. I will also be presenting the library a framed portrait of Exile for their local history room. Exile and his incredible story were a great success during my Buffalo visit. He will no longer be lost in Buffalo history!
Mike McBride
Rochester
Note: For more information about Exile McBride and his ties to the Brockport area, visit westsidenewsny.com and click on the magnifying glass to search for his name.
