The rejuvenating Hydraulics neighborhood received a healthy dose of good news yesterday as plans were detailed to renovate 635 and 701 Seneca Street into a mix of commercial and residential space. The area got another boost recently when a Multiple Property Documentation Form was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, laying the groundwork for property owners to designate buildings in the neighborhood as historic. Owners of listed buildings are eligible for Historic Preservation Rehabilitation Tax Credits.
Jennifer Walkowski, an Architectural Historian with Clinton Brown Company Architecture, prepared the MPDF document for architectural firm Chantreuil Jensen Stark that is renovating a building in the neighborhood for its own use, the newly-Registered building at 755 Seneca Street.
“Although I researched, compiled and created the MPDF document, it’s important to note that Chris Hawley, local Hydraulics history buff and neighborhood enthusiast, was an invaluable resource in helping to shape and frame the story of the Hydraulics district,” says Walkowski. “He and I walked the neighborhood for several hours and he gave me a great insight into the story of Buffalo’s first industrial center.”
“Research for this type of document happens in many places and typically takes several months to complete,” explains Walkowski. “Field work is one of the first steps in the process and is an important component of this type of project. I spent several hours touring the neighborhood with Dan McEneny from the New York State Historic Preservation Office. As an Architectural Historian, I am trained to identify architectural styles, approximate dates of construction, recognize patterns in architectural development and review the overall grain of the neighborhood.”
Archival research which goes on before, during and after field work helps to shape the interpretation of the architecture and development of the area. According to Walkowski, the Grosvenor Room at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library was a primary source for contemporary writings, written narratives, current perspectives and other materials.
“The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society has a treasure trove of historic photos and maps which helped to visualize the neighborhood throughout its history,” she says. “There are also many digital sources which are available online including genealogical sources, census records, Sanborn fire insurance maps and digitized texts. I even have in my own personal collection of artifacts a letter dated 1829 from Seth Grosvenor of the Buffalo Hydraulics Association, proving resources can be found anywhere.”
“The Hydraulics neighborhood turned out to be such a fascinating place to research, and it has such a unique history,” adds Walkowski. “It grew from a fringe industrial area on the outskirts of the village of Buffalo into one of the area’s most prominent industrial centers and home to the nationally prominent Larkin Soap Company. It has been so exciting to help shine the spotlight on this neighborhood once again, and to see the new development in the area really take shape.”
Watch for upcoming posts with excerpts from the MPDF document detailing the Hydraulics neighborhood’s history.