Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Patricia Covley:
Buffalo’s Legacy of Power and Might by Michael Rizzo harkens back to a time when “Buffalo was known for much more than merely chicken wings.” All the structures Rizzo has chosen to include are commercial buildings. He tells the history of each building featured and then discloses why, in his opinion, the building still matters.
Rizzo displays an interesting mixture of photographs. Some of the pictures show buildings that at first glance don’t appear to be much. The picture of Lederman’s Furniture Store across from the Broadway Market falls into this category. Upon a second look, however, the reader can appreciate the “Art Deco ornamentation and the company name emblazoned across the top” of the building.
Buffalo’s Legacy of Power and Might made me wistful for a time when buildings were constructed to last and had some personality. I enjoyed this book. With a little imagination, I could conjure up an image of what each building was like in its heyday.
If you’re interested in this book, there is a library in your neighborhood where you can find it. Your public library is a source of immediate gratification. Take a walk to your local branch and discover a vital resource that is there for the taking. Whether it’s current events, a visit to our downtown cafe called Fables, something for the kids, or even booking a librarian, we’re not just books anymore! Your free Buffalo & Erie County Public Library card is your ticket to millions of free resources – e-books, downloadable music, research databases, genealogical materials, our complete catalog, and of course, more than 3 million book titles. All of this is at your fingertips at any Library in Erie County or from your own computer – check us out at www.buffalolib.org.