My Favorite Buildings: Then and Now
This is a bit of a combination of two architectural series I have run on BRO for a few years now. I was recently digging through some old pictures and came across this early 1980's vintage image of a favorite building that I have not thought of for a while.
119 Tupper Street is 1/2 block west of Delaware just off the beaten path in a short row of buildings which make up a very charming street-scape. If not for a few destructive parking lots on the block this would be on of the city's most beautiful places. I could not find any history on this one with quick internet search. Perhaps it was a fire station? If anyone knows anything please chime in. It looks very much like an E. B. Green building, but I have been wrong on that guess before.
The newer image, taken maybe 3 years ago shows, some small but very effective improvements made over the years. The richly colored and highly detailed brick is cleaned up, a crummy looking light fixture has been removed and new windows installed. The most noticeable change is the new glass wall and entry in place of a beat up garage door. Even the sidewalk has been freshly repaired.
These simple changes can be easily missed or taken for granted but they bring new life to the city street. This is also a great example of how you can successfully renovate historic buildings without strict adherence to historic style. If carried out with high quality design and reasonable quality materials, a contemporary approach can yield great results. I was really surprised by the change in this building. These small improvements have made a big big difference. I had forgotten how dumpy this building once was.
Now if we could only do something with those parking lots.
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kooksapalooza
whats housed in this building now?
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xosder
@ Steel...it doesn't show up on the EB Green list....http://www.buffaloah.com/a/archs/ebg/bldgsList.html... but have heard locals give credit to Architect Richard Waite.
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mandajrn
This building is gorgeous. I'm so happy that the "Now" picture isn't a parking lot! I've seen too many of those...
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TheWhyNotGuy
I used to work in that building back in the day.
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georgethomasapfel
An 1898 Veterinary Journal announced Dr. L.E. Willyoung opening a clinic here, specializing in dogs. Hoover & Strong, Inc. Gold Refiners, established in 1912, occupied this building and published a book "How To Test Gold" in 1934. I found other references to Hoover & Strong here up to 1975- they relocated to Virginia in 1979.
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STEEL
That is the second reference to the gold company that I have heard.
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lauras
WhyNotGuy - Were you spinning flax into gold?
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sonyactivision
It has the look of an old livery. Perhaps that was its first incarnation....
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