Collector snags Crystal Beach mementos

SOUTH BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Hard to believe that Crystal Beach has been closed for more than 20 years, but pieces of the amusement park live on, and Tuesday night western New Yorkers turned out for a chance to take home a memory.

Walking into this room, the memories came flooding back for folks in this crowd. All have the same childhood memories of their beloved Crystal Beach.

Tom Young said, "It just brings back memories of saving nickels and dimes to get enough money to go there with your friends."

64 Crystal Beach signs, including the familiar midway sign, went up for auction. A western New York collector who began gathering the memorabilia when Crystal Beach closed in 1989, is selling his entire collection. The auction brought out folks with sentimental ties to the park. Others brought their own mementos to share. Dean Becker from Lakeview sells posters of Crystal Beach landmarks.

"I was there the last day the guys were cutting wires and taking signs down. I said, "Stop!" And I took the last picture," recalled Becker.

Young stated, "Seeing these signs again, and knowing I can have it in my own possession, is huge."

But many left here empty handed and disappointed. Jim Galbo of Tonawanda, working with a private collector on the phone, bought up nearly every Crystal Beach item.

Galbo explained, "I feel bad because they're all here for the same reason. They want a piece of their memory of Crystal Beach. In answer to your question, yes, I'm getting some leers."

Galbo says the collector doesn't plan to re-sell the Crystal Beach signs. He plans to keep them and preserve the mementos and the memories.