Article submitted by Preservation Buffalo Niagara: Historical Presentation Wednesday Night...
Buffalo's first Historic District was established in 1974 as a result of citizen-obstructionists (aka preservationists) successful efforts to prevent the demolition of 3 grand mansions to make way for a non-descript office building. Another victory was the "save" of the Wilcox Mansion, spared from demolition in the 1960s, which will be the starting point of a one-day event co-sponsored by Preservation Buffalo Niagara and the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site.
On August 21, at your leisure on a self-guided tour, you can visit the interiors and grounds of 11 gloriously designed private homes built to last for centuries and now protected for the future.
100 years ago Buffalo was the 8th largest city in the US and one of the busiest ports and industrial centers in the world, with more millionaires per capita than any other American City. This concentration of wealth is evident today in the design and decoration of the fabulous mansions along Delaware Avenue, Buffalo's grandest street, and in the surrounding neighborhood.
"These mansions exemplify the luxurious lifestyles of Buffalo's most affluent citizens and remain the equal of any such homes anywhere in the country," according to Architectural Historian Martin Wachadlo.
This is a rare opportunity to take a look inside 6 of the magnificent mansions in the most prestigious blocks of the Avenue, and 5 impressive private homes on adjacent Oakland Place, a one block long street running directly behind the largest mansions.
Among those open will be the Williams-Butler Mansion (designed in 1896 by McKim, Mead & White, then the nation's most prestigious architectural firm); the Knox mansion of 1916, a grand home that was occupied by the Knox Family until the 1970s (designed by C.P.H. Gilbert, who also designed mansions for the Woolworths, cousins of the Knoxes); and the Goodyear mansion (designed in 1901 by Green & Wicks, Buffalo's most prestigious firm), that once hosted the King and Queen of Belgium.
Bonus Tonight - Pre-tour lecture for those with discounted early-bird tickets! (available at the door). Wednesday August 11 at 7:00 pm at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Avenue, Martin Wachadlo will give an in-depth presentation on the architecture, the families, and their business connections in the prosperous city during the first half of the 20th century.
Tour Information: August 21, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Early-bird tickets $25 each (members' price of $20)
Day of Tour: $30
Tickets available at the TR Site or Preservation Buffalo Niagara, or by calling 852-3300
Online purchases at www.BuffaloTours.org
Photos:
Delaware Avenue: Knox Mansion, Music Room
Oakland Place: Reed House, Reception Room
View image
Buffalo's first Historic District was established in 1974 as a result of citizen-obstructionists (aka preservationists) successful efforts to prevent the demolition of 3 grand mansions to make way for a non-descript office building. Another victory was the "save" of the Wilcox Mansion, spared from demolition in the 1960s, which will be the starting point of a one-day event co-sponsored by Preservation Buffalo Niagara and the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site.
On August 21, at your leisure on a self-guided tour, you can visit the interiors and grounds of 11 gloriously designed private homes built to last for centuries and now protected for the future.
100 years ago Buffalo was the 8th largest city in the US and one of the busiest ports and industrial centers in the world, with more millionaires per capita than any other American City. This concentration of wealth is evident today in the design and decoration of the fabulous mansions along Delaware Avenue, Buffalo's grandest street, and in the surrounding neighborhood.
"These mansions exemplify the luxurious lifestyles of Buffalo's most affluent citizens and remain the equal of any such homes anywhere in the country," according to Architectural Historian Martin Wachadlo.
This is a rare opportunity to take a look inside 6 of the magnificent mansions in the most prestigious blocks of the Avenue, and 5 impressive private homes on adjacent Oakland Place, a one block long street running directly behind the largest mansions.
Among those open will be the Williams-Butler Mansion (designed in 1896 by McKim, Mead & White, then the nation's most prestigious architectural firm); the Knox mansion of 1916, a grand home that was occupied by the Knox Family until the 1970s (designed by C.P.H. Gilbert, who also designed mansions for the Woolworths, cousins of the Knoxes); and the Goodyear mansion (designed in 1901 by Green & Wicks, Buffalo's most prestigious firm), that once hosted the King and Queen of Belgium.
Bonus Tonight - Pre-tour lecture for those with discounted early-bird tickets! (available at the door). Wednesday August 11 at 7:00 pm at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Avenue, Martin Wachadlo will give an in-depth presentation on the architecture, the families, and their business connections in the prosperous city during the first half of the 20th century.
Tour Information: August 21, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Early-bird tickets $25 each (members' price of $20)
Day of Tour: $30
Tickets available at the TR Site or Preservation Buffalo Niagara, or by calling 852-3300
Online purchases at www.BuffaloTours.org
Photos:
Delaware Avenue: Knox Mansion, Music Room
Oakland Place: Reed House, Reception Room
![Selling [ Off ] Buffalo](http://www.buffalorising.com/assets_c/2011/02/Central-Art-deco-Buffalo-NY-thumb-145x145-18060.jpg "Selling [ Off ] Buffalo")
This should be a required field trip for every student in the Buffalo Schools. It's just sad that so many people live their entire lives here without knowing the history that surrounds them. If more people were aware of the greatness in this city's past, they'd be more optimistic about the possibilities for its future.
I can /almost/ forgive people from out of town who say they drove past Buffalo, but didn't bother to stop because they thought there was nothing to see. But it's inexcuseable for people to live here and not realize that the city has more to offer than snow and football.
I also always though it would be a good lesson on American History to try and learn through the local lens. You get to talk about assassinations, inaugurations, industrial growth, world wars, art, architecture, civil rights, the ideals of democracy and how they influenced American city \ architectural designs.
I think the lesson about the American Political system would be much more memorable if it happened walking through City Hall and the common council chambers. As well as lessons on political corruption... ;)
I could not egree with you more about all schools (public, private, parochial and charter) going on field trips to understand Buffalo History.
But I also see the value not just in preservation but in reconstruction. There are some buildings that gave us a real sense of place. We have lost shelton square. Without Erie Savings Bank Shelton Square will never come back but we do have the potential in the future to restore the sense of place around Lafayette Square and McKinley Circle.
On a side note...The Roosevelt/McKinley Museum should consider championing an expansion plan for museums devoted to Cleveland, Fillmore and McKinley. Many have suggested Presidential Libraries for each at the Richardson.
Don't forget about Fillmore! As far as I know, we are still the only city in the country to put TWO of our boys in the oval office. (Bush Jr & Bush Sr are technically from different states).
McKinley has a museum in Ohio, Roosevelt has a Birthplace Historic Site in NYC (plus the inaugural site at the Wilcox Mansion)... but neither Cleveland nor Fillmore have much more than random plaques in various places.
There is a small contingent pushing for a Grover Cleveland library, which I think would be an excellent candidate for tying in Fillmore, McKinley and Roosevelt. What a swath of history could be covered by those four men! (and maybe even leave me an empty corner in case I ever decide to run, lol)
I had thought that CanalSide would be a good place for it, but like the idea of using the Richardson Buildings even better!
Exactly! We need to use our real assets as leverage to expand.
Using the Teddy Roosevelt Inaugural Site to create other museums and/or libraries for other presidents should be a common sense mission.
Yet it seems status quo for Buffalonians, Buffalo leadership and Buffalo Institutions to be isolated, myopic and unable to see a bigger picture beyond their own immediate and narrow focus of responsibilities.
Presidential museums/libraries for McKinley, Cleveland and Fillmore would only complement and secure the future viability of the Teddy Roosevelt Inaugural Site. Such a trio or quartet could see a sharing of tickets/promotions, a coordination of events, a share expansion/procurement of historical exhibits, etc. Its in their own interest.
The Richardson...is just one example of a building of the period which could be used as a foundation.
Deaner
Quick point - Roosevelt also has national park units @ home on Long Island, Mt. Rushmore, and his ranch in the Dakotas.