Cinderella of Symphony Circle
The Birge Mansion is situated in one of the most beautiful spots in Buffalo. But I can remember just a short time ago when I don't think I would/could have said that exactly. In recent years there has been a resurgence in and around Symphony Circle that warrants a few gold stars. Let's see, there was the addition of the mirror pool that hugs Kleinhan's Music Hall, then there was the addition of the 'original' roundabout and lamp standard which harken back to Buffalo's heyday. I imagine that all of these recent additions led up to the restoration of the Birge Mansion. It's the icing on the cake for Symphony Circle. The Georgian-Style Birge Mansion, sometimes referred to as the Circle House, was built in 1897 and is approximately 10,000 square feet in area. For many years the mansion sat empty on the circle watching the beautification process unfold around it's premise. Well, now the time has come full circle for this architectural gem. If you get a chance, head on down to this oasis within the city. Sit by the mirror pool and allow yourself to be transported back in time to an era when this circle and all of it's components represented a pivotal period in the city's history. It's exciting to see that much of Buffalo's history has not only been preserved, but is being restored to it's original grandeur. For further information on the mansion's restoration, see G. Grasser's article in the most recent issue of Buffalo Rising Magazine.
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