Posted 10 years ago
Ted_Straub
(952 items)
These two postcards depict long gone views of Buffalo, NY. They are postmarked 1912 and 1913. The first is of The Erie County Savings Bank building, which was located on Shelton Square, Buffalo. Constructed in 1893, it was demolished in the 60s as part of an "Urban Renewal" scheme. If you would like more information on this grand edifice, I have attached the following for your referral.
http://wnyheritagepress.org/photos_week_2008/erie_savings_bank/erie_savings_bank.htm
The second card depicts the Stafford Hotel, of which I could find no information at all on, except that it was located in Buffalo. If anyone could add any information on The Stafford, your input would be very much appreciated...thank you.
Love the bulidings and the history of them!!!
Thank you, Sean...I feel the same. Buffalo always had a grand architectural tradition, but for some crazed reason from the late 50s until fairly recently, the trend has been to destroy such treasures. And replacing them with a useless Skyway, neighborhood destroying X-pressways, Soviet style, family busting housing projects, and other absurd contemporarily designed monstrosities is tragic.
Fortunately,, there is is a movement on in Buffalo to save the still vast treasury of classic buildings there. If you're interested, there is a website called "Buffalo Rising" which addresses among other things, the saving of Buffalo's architecture.
Have a fine day, my friend!
Thank you, gc!!!!!
Thankyou very much Ted!!!! for the link and sharing :) You have a fine day as well:)!
You are welcome, Shawn!!!!
Good morning, aghcollect...thank you for the love of these two neat postcards!!!!!!
Thank you, Moonie...I appreciate the love!!!!!
Hi, vetraio...thanks for the love!
Many cities made the foolhardy attempt to modernize & destroyed their grand architecture in the process, such a shame.
I think The Stafford building is now the Rath Building, 158 Pearl Street, Buffalo NY
Thank you Dave...both for your comment and for the love. Niagara St. once crossed Pearl at that point, so you may have pinpointed the location of the Stafford Hotel.
And sadly, you are right re: the thinking of some cities on Urban renewal...how short sighted the destruction was!!
Incidentally around this time in1963, the demolition of New York's Penn Station began...50 years ago, and what have we learned from that?
Thank you, Tom...I appreciate the love!!!!!
Are you sure it was a hotel, as I found this info when looking for the building
The University of Buffalo. School of Law (1887-1961) was located there.
1893-1896 Stafford Building, upper floor, 158 Pearl Street
Hi, Dave...I'm pretty sure that this started out as a hotel. This was a good location for the UB Law School, as it was right downtown, near City Hall, and The Federal Courthouse. In the 60s, the planners cut short Niagara St., (It seems that that Niagara cut across Pearl at his point) by making "Main Place", and in the process, eliminating Shelton Square. I am confident that the geography, plus the need for modernity, rendered The Stafford Hotel building useless, hence its demise. And most likely, the soulless Rath Building was erected on that spot.
All of this rekindles my interest in the architecture of Buffalo, and it isn't so far away, and I'm known there, so it would be pleasant exploratory trip back to Buffalo!
I love such urban mysteries...
Thank you, EJW-54 for you love of these postcards.....
I guess it's off to the archives you go then! :-)
Yeah, Dave...I'll consult the old maps and any other references which may help in this regard...It will be a challenge that I will gladly accept....I am gung ho this!!!!!