Our History

Cazenovia Recovery Systems, Inc. started as a dream in a caring man's heart to establish a movement in South Buffalo to help alcoholics get sober and return to work and their families. This man, Bill O'Connor, had a vision and a heart bigger than all outdoors. With the rigorous intent to obtain a shelter for adult men who suffer from alcoholism, he organized a rent agreement with the owner of a former nursing home located at 486 North Legion Drive in South Buffalo, New York. This agreement continued until the owner lost the building (now called Cazenovia Manor Community Residence) to the City of Buffalo for back taxes. The building was then purchased through a city auction by a man called Edward Cottrell. Mr. O'Connor then found a need to put together a group of community members to assist him in the enhancement of his vision. This group today is called the Board of Directors who in 1982 established a not-for-profit agency called Friends of Cazenovia Manor, Inc. At this point Bill O'Connor and the Board of Directors entered into a purchase agreement with Mr. Cottrell to purchase 486 North Legion Drive as the first halfway house for alcoholic men in the Buffalo area. This purchase contained certain conditions:

1. The building would only be used to help alcoholics recover from alcoholism.
2. Sisters of Mercy would help oversee the operation for the first five years.
3. The purchase price would be paid in full after the first year of operation.

Bill O'Connor then retired as the Executive Director and turned the helm over to the Board of Directors who hired Ronald Rycroft as the Executive Directors in 1983. Mr. Rycroft who was committed to helping the recovering alcoholics, initiated expansion and growth within the agency which included in 1989 the start of our Supportive Living Program with its first apartment being located on Macamley Street in South Buffalo. This program has grown to include homes and apartments throughout the Erie County area serving more than 62 males and females in 2002. Soon after establishing the Supportive Living Program both the Board of Directors and Mr. Rycroft broke ground in November 1989 for the state's first recovery care home (today referred to as Turning Point House Intensive Residential Rehabilitation) located at 9136 Sandrock Road, Eden, New York. Today this program serves 21 adult males who suffer from drug and alcohol problems.

Mr. O'Connor's dream did not stop here, it was coupled by Mr. Rycroft's commitment which resulted in the creation of a sixteen bed community residence located at 376 Dewitt Street Buffalo, New York called New Beginnings. Due to Mr. Rycroft's untimely death in 1992, the Board of Directors appointed a long-time employee, Dennis C. Fink, as the Executive Director who shifted the mission of the agency from expansion to quality improvement. The agency then began to enhance all its programming to serve individuals with drug, mental health and legal problems. Through organizational growth the agency has reached out to serve the working population, homeless veterans and women who suffer from issues related from addiction. In 2001, expansion was once again introduced to the agency. The Board of Directors announced the application and approval for a Office of Mental Health licensed a 24 bed intensive residential rehabilitation program to serve homeless individuals with co-occurring disorders.