Early in his career, in 1975, Massey painted one of his largest works, "The First Balloon Ascension Over Buffalo - 1847". It took over six months to complete the painting, but equally as long to research the buildings and city layout from which the artist could then create an aerial perspective of John Wise, the celebrated aeronaut, in his hot air balloon the "Rough and Ready" rising above the Buffalo waterfront. Using old Sanborn maps, Massey first constructed a 3 dimensional model of Buffalo in 1847. The Sanborn maps provided the street layouts and old fire insurance policies provided the building dimensions, building and roofing materials, number of doors and windows, and of course the street address for each building. The geometry of the ropes containing the hot air balloon created yet another challenge. From this accurate city model, the artist could then elevate his perspective to get the "bird's eye view" of Buffalo that only Mr. Wise could have had in 1847. The Buffalo River, filled with steamboats and Great Lakes schooners, divides bustling downtown from the sandy farmland dotted with peaceful cows, a barrier that protected the city's harbor from Lake Erie storms. Today, over 150 years later, breakwalls protect this western side of the river and the U.S. Coast Guard Station as well as many marinas fill this land. In the distance, parallel to the Niagara River, the Erie Barge Canal leads into the foot of Main Street. However this scene captures Mr. Wise's second and successful aerial ascent over Buffalo on Saturday, July 31, 1847. Mr. Wise and his balloon were safely hauled aboard the schooner Eureka and safely brought back to port that evening, but it would be ten years before another aeronaut visited our city. Perhaps Wise had warned them that more Buffalonians had watched his ascent from their rooftops rather than pay the admission fee by watching the ascent from Morris Garden at the corner of Main and Tupper.

An enlarged print of this painting is displayed at the new Museum of Aviation in Niagara Falls, NY

Price on request. (From a private collection)