The second largest city in New York once boasted more millionaires per capita than any other
city in the United States.
Hi everyone, Ken here, welcome to "ThisHouse!" Today we are exploring millionaire’s row
in Buffalo, New York.
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In the early 1800’s, the united states was searching for a strategic place to build the
Erie Canal to facilitate interstate shipping.
Samuel Wilkeson wanted to see the canal built in Buffalo, so he began planning an expansion
to Buffalo’s harbor.
His efforts paid off and by 1825, the canal was opened.
Becoming a major transportation hub, the city began to boom.
Between 1845 and 1855 Buffalo saw its population double in size.
By this time, over 60 percent of the inhabitants were European immigrants searching for a better
life and runaway slaves who had followed the underground railroad to freedom.
The city became the main exporter of grain in the US, and with so many manufacturing
jobs and factories now popping up, the city couldn’t export its products quickly enough.
That’s when railroads were planned to connect Buffalo to the rest of the United States,
opening up trade beyond what the harbor could handle.
This strategic hub became the second largest railroad terminus in the united states, attracting
steel magnates and other barons of industry.
As the city became crowded and polluted, the city’s wealthiest residents began searching
for a more natural, peaceful setting to build their dream homes.
That’s when an overhaul of Delaware Avenue was planned.
It stretched away from the hustle and bustle of the city but still allowed for a speedy
commute to downtown.
Though the street was already lined with mansions from the previous generation of wealthy industrialists,
a new wave of barons sought to transform Delaware Avenue into a street lined with palaces.
One by one, the old Victorian Era mansions were torn down to usher in Buffalo’s Gilded
Age.
The first house we will see is at the corner of Delaware and North.
Where George Williams, a successful banker, tore down the Aaron Rumsey Mansion to build
his dream home.
He hired architect Stanford White to design for him a 40 room, 16,000 square foot house.
George only enjoyed the house for 6 years before skipping town and selling the house
to the Butler Family who ran the Buffalo Evening News.
Next on the street we will see George’s Brother’s House.
Charles Williams also hired architect Stanford White to design for him an 11,000 square foot
house in the Palladian style.
George had also made his fortune in banking, but was more diversified with massive real
estate holdings.
Just 4 years after the house was completed, in 1900, a fire destroyed most of the ornate
wood work in the south wing of the house.
Just 9 years later, both Charles and his wife Emma passed away, leaving the house to their
married adult daughter, Jeannie Pratt.
Down the street, where the Prossner House once stood at 786 Delaware, Stephen Merrell
Clement, the president of the Marine National Bank, hired architect Edward Brodhead Green
to design for him a rambling 17,000 square foot Gothic Revival style mansion in 1913.
Next door was William Gratwick’s Richardsonian Romanesque mansion.
He became incredibly wealthy after the rail roads were added and he was able to ship his
lumber around the country and was known as a philanthropist serving as the president
of the YMCA.
The Gratwick House would end up being renowned architect Henry Hobson Richardson’s last
commission before his death, though the house would be finished by his firm.
The interior boasted lavish interiors playing on the human scale with oversized and delicate
architectural elements mingling with masterfully controlled sight lines.
Next is the house of Grace Knox, who’s late husband Seymour Knox had made his fortune
in co-founding F.W.
Woolworth Company, a chain of five and dime stores across north America.
Her 48,000 square foot beaux arts style mansion was designed by architect C.P.H Gilbert and
took 3 years to complete.
Further down the block, we will see the home of Charles W Goodyear who made his fortune
in lumber, railroads, and banking.
When his house was completed in 1903, it cost a staggering 500,000 dollars, or the modern
day equivalent of nearly 17 million dollars.
No expense was spared on master artisan details with the façade boasting stone festoons and
other intricate relief work.
Additionally, the interior boasted ornate wood work paired with Italian red brocade
walls.
Charles and his wife entertained frequently in the house, even hosting the Bavarian royal
family for dinner.
At the height of the neighborhood’s prominence, over 60 millionaires lived along the street,
making it the wealthiest neighborhood in the country per capita for a few short years.
So what happened to all of these houses?
Are they still standing?
Or have they been torn down?
Let’s find out.
Multiple generations of the Butler family lived in the George Williams Mansion until
1974, when it was put up for sale.
The William C. Baird Foundation purchased the house and Warren Buffet purchased the
family’s business.
The house was then sold several times until Deleware North CEO, Jeremy Jacobs donated
the mansion to the University at Buffalo which uses it as the Jacobs Executive Development
Center.
Jeannie Pratt lived a wild life, spending her money like it would never run out.
She was known for hosting massive balls and extravagant parties where she would completely
redecorate the house in various themes, including changing out all the furnishings.
When the great depression hit, her good times came to an end, and in 1938, the City of Buffalo
seized the house for back taxes.
The city used the mansion as a Veterans hall for 40 years until it was sold in 1978.
Today it is still standing as the headquarters for an engineering firm.
When Carolyn Clement’s house became too much for her to manage in her later years,
she donated it to the American Red Cross who continue to use it to this in conjunction
with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Grace Knox’s House was occupied by her decedents until it was sold in 1969.
Since then, it has been sold a couple times and today operates as a law firm.
The Goodyear mansion was sold a few times, even serving the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Buffalo for a while before becoming a charter school.
After the school closed in 2018, it was purchased and plans were announced that it would be
turned into a boutique hotel, but with the events of the last few years, it appears those
plans have been placed on hold.
Unfortunately, there were several homes that I did not feature, that were not as well photographed,
and ended up being demolished for parking lots, such as HH Richardson’s Gratwick House,
which was said to be a masterpiece.
Though some houses have been lost, most were able to be adapted for new, commercial uses
as the years passed by.
If you ever have the chance to travel down Delaware Avenue, it is like stepping back
in time, to Buffalo’s Gilded Age.
Thank you all for watching, which house was your favorite?
Let me know down below in the comments section.
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