[Dan from Michigan]

I THINK Upstate NY'ers originally settled Michigan.

My ancestors also came to upstate NY before settling in Detroit

[mikrofon]

That may very well be true -- I have a lot of "unknown" relations who eventually settled in western Michigan.

Here in WNY, the accent is more so Midwestern, but still ethnicized to some degree due to the European immigration of the early 1900's. Even at third generation, it can be easy to slip into old speech patterns.

And then just to the north across the lakes you find the distinctive "Canajun" accent ... Did you ever hear the story of the Canadian fisherman?? He caught a boot while out and about in his boat.