Located across from the Seneca Casino on I-86, Salamanca is a rare find. Located on Fancher Avenue is a small dairy farm where the cattle are still milked in tie stalls. Dairy farms like this are a rare find. It is considered a family dairy with approximately 100 cows that are still milked in tie stalls. The cattle are still turned outside to graze. It is owned by the Valent family since the 1940s and doing business as Valent's Stock and Dairy Farm, LLC, Salamanca, NY. The farm was chosen as a charter member of the Cattaraugus County Dairy of Distinction program managed by the Cooperative Extension in 1984 and has maintained that status through the years.
A rich history is attached to this property. The farm was built by Albert T. Fancher, founder of Fancher Furniture in Salamanca, NY. This farm was built by Fancher as a "Model Barn".
Here is the background of Fancher:
Albert Thomas Fancher (January 18, 1859 Leon, Cattaraugus County, New York – March 20, 1930 South Carolina) was an American politician from New York
He was the son of Capt. William Fancher who died in 1862. Albert attended Chamberlain Institute. Then he engaged in the oil business, and was President of the National Oil and Gas Company, with operations in Ohio and Indiana.
Fancher was Supervisor of the Town of Leon from 1882 to 1885; Clerk of Cattaraugus County from 1886 to 1888; and a member of the New York State Assembly (Cattaraugus Co., 2nd D.) in 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902.
He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1903 to 1908, sitting in the 126th, 127th, 128th, 129th (all four 50th D.), 130th and 131st New York State Legislatures (both 51st D.).
Fancher became known as the "Father of Allegany State Park" which was created in 1921, and was Chairman of the Allegany Park Commission until his death.
He died on March 20, 1930, on a train near Charleston, South Carolina, while returning from a winter vacation in Florida; and was buried at the Salamanca Cemetery in Salamanca.
Sources: rootsweb, wikipedia