The Allentown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Portions of the content on this web page were adapted from a copy of the original nomination document. [1]
Description
Allentown Historic District lies within the city of Buffalo about one-half mile north of the downtown business district. Lake Erie lies three quarters of a mile to the southwest. The district lies on a slight hill which is highest at North Street, the northern boundary of the district.
Approximately 733 buildings are in the Allentown Historic District on 29 blocks, or parts thereof. (Dependency buildings were not included in this total.) Most buildings are residential houses although there are some 1890's commercial buildings and residential hotels as well as three churches. The commercial structures are mostly along Allen Street and upper Elmwood Avenue, but there are a few office buildings along North Street. The residential hotels lie along Allen and North Streets. Two of the churches are at the north end of the district while the third is at the southern end. In addition to these types of buildings there is one movie theatre on Allen Street, three schools, with one on Day's Park and the other two at the intersection of Elmwood and Edward, a casket company on Virginia Street, and a printing business on Allen Street.
There are three park areas in the Allentown Historic District, all of which Fredrick Law Olmsted worked on. The two residential greens were redesigned by Olmsted in the late nineteenth century, and Symphony Circle was the first circle he laid out in Buffalo as part of his comprehensive park plan for the city.
The street plan of Allentown is formed by two distinct early nineteenth century grid patterns, those of the Holland Land Company and of the New York State's village of Black Rock. The resulting irregular intersection of the two regular block patterns running north and northeast respectively forms the angular blocks found in the west section of the district.
The architectural features of most buildings are remarkably intact and most are well maintained especially in the east and north sections of the district. About three fourths of the buildings are of frame construction with the remainder being brick.
The area began as farmland and was developed residentially primarily between 1850 and 1900. There is some early twentieth century housing stock on lots that were further subdivided or on sites of earlier buildings. The styles of the buildings reflect the tastes of builders in the late nineteenth century. The interpretation of these styles in Allentown often differed from the pure definition, but the characteristics can be attributed to a particular style. The styles of the buildings include: 6 Gothic Revival styled, 125 Italianate styled, 24 Second Empire, 92 with Queen Anne styling, 106 with Eastlake styling, 15 with Stick styling, 5 with Shingle styling, 56 Colonial Revival styled, and 196 plain styled frame houses.
The majority of buildings are residential houses but forty-three are commercial, twenty are apartment buildings and eleven were carriage houses. There are fourteen buildings which have been identified as intrusions.
The physical characteristics of Allentown today are mostly the same as they were during the late nineteenth century. Most residential streets have many trees, and houses built close together with between two and three stories. The commercial sections have brick commercial buildings, most under five stories, frame commercial buildings, and residences converted to commercial use. North Street is lined with large houses with wide lawns and trees, some apartment buildings and a few residential and office buildings which are intrusions. Symphony Circle has residential houses with wide lawns, a music hall and an intrusion nursing home. Arlington Park is a small green with many trees and houses on roomier building plots. Day's Park has a center green with few trees and a school, which is an intrusion, at the northwest end.
The boundaries of the Allentown Historic District were chosen because they reflect a distinct section of Buffalo. The architecture of the surrounding areas changes drastically within a block of the borders. To the east lies Delaware Avenue which has numerous intrusions. North of the district the area developed somewhat later than Allentown with larger houses and building plots. To the west and southwest the buildings have been altered extensively thereby losing most integrity. To the south begins the downtown business district which has a different ambiance.
Significance
Allentown was named after Lewis Allen who originally owned the parcel of land that is now designated as Allentown. His land stretched from Main Street over to Day's Park. Allen Street is reported to have been the trail that his cattle followed. The name "Allentown" has only been used for the area in the past twenty years as the residents have tried to foster an awareness of the distinct history of this neighborhood. Allentown developed essentially as a streetcar suburb of the city after the Civil War. There was some development before that time but the boom in development after the Civil War is what determined the character of the present Allentown. The streets are basically an extension of those laid out in downtown Buffalo by Joseph Ellicott of the Holland Land Company. Cottage Street, the western boundary of the district, is a result of the conversion of Black Rock, at one time independent of Buffalo, and Buffalo's development. North Street was the city line in 1852, being basically rural at that time. As the city expanded, this street became developed by the well-to-do, who could commute to their downtown offices. Many of the original residences of North Street have been replaced by grander houses that were put up in the late nineteenth century. The Bemis-Ranson House, the Warren House, and the Metcalfe House are good examples of the type of houses that were built in this period. The early period is represented by Italianate and Second Empire style houses, with those remaining being on the south side of the street. As North Street became the most prestigious residential street in the city, the surrounding streets developed. The houses on the east side of the district are more substantially built, those towards the western end of the district are smaller and of frame construction.
Irving Place, which is a one-block street that runs between North Street and Allen Street, has excellent examples of the architectural styles that were built in Buffalo in the late nineteenth century, including the Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne and Shingle styles. Joseph Churchyard was the first to build his house on the street at 54 Irving Place. He later built a house directly behind his for his daughter and another to the south on Irving Place. Park Street, which is a two-block street between Virginia and North Street, developed at the same time with similarly styled houses. The Rohlfs-Green House at 156 Park Street was built in 1912 in the Craftsman style. The House is unique in that most Craftsman style houses were built in rural settings. DeRutte Alley runs behind the west side of lower Park Street. The alley retains its original brick paving and three of the carriage houses have board and batten siding. Elmwood Avenue, a main thoroughfare which runs from downtown to the city line, at one time terminated in a dead end at Edward Street. Thus, the housing on this street is similar to that on the surrounding residential blocks. The south end of the street retains its residential character while the north end between Allen and North Streets has become commercialized. Mariner Street has many frame houses at its northern end and a mixture of frame and brick at the southern end. Many of the houses have Italianate styling with a few at the northern end of the street having Colonial Revival characteristics. Many houses in Buffalo were given Colonial Revival style additions in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. College Street derives its name from the fact that a college was to be built on the present site of Arlington Park, but in the financial panic of 1873, the idea was abandoned and the land was broken down into lots for development. The northern end of the street is mostly of frame construction with no one style dominating. Two of the Gothic Revival style houses in Allentown can be found on this street. They originally stood next to each other at 136 and 138 College, but the latter was moved to the rear of the lot when a frame duplex was built in its place. Two frame Italianate style houses are at 121 and 123 College. They were built by W. S. Tifft along with four similarly styled houses directly behind these on Mariner Street. There were originally six of these frame houses on College Street, but four were taken down when the present early twentieth century frame houses were built. The southern end of College Street is dominated by frame houses with the Eastlake styling. Arlington Park was the later of the two public parks that were established in Allentown. Originally called Wadsworth Park after a former city mayor, it was laid out in 1866. The three Italianate style houses on the south side of the park were the first to be built. An excellent example of the Second Empire style can be found on this side of the park with the city's best example of the Gothic Revival style being on the western side of the park at 60 Arlington Place. The houses and the apartment building on the north side of the park were built in the 1920's; this land was originally the back yards of the houses on North Street. The land for Day's Park was donated to the city by Thomas Day in 1854. He ran one of the first brick kilns in the city. Two houses on the south side of the park were built by him for his two sons. The one at 25 Day's Park retains it's original Italianate style while the other at 33 Day's Park was given Queen Anne additions in the late nineteenth century. The Second Empire style house on the west side of the park at 124 Cottage was built by George Dakin, who was instrumental in setting up the lumber trade between Pennsylvania and Buffalo. Cottage Street, which runs along the western end of the park and then southeast to Virginia Street, has some unique examples of architecture in Allentown. The house at 3 Cottage is an excellent example of the Italianate style as it was used for larger houses in Buffalo. Across the street at 16 Cottage is an excellent example of a Second Empire style cottage, while the style in it's most elaborate state can be seen in the Coatsworth Mansion at 49 Cottage. The Shingle style house directly next door to the north, at 55 Cottage, was built by Mr. Coatsworth for his daughter. Thomas Coatsworth made his money in the grain trade in Buffalo. At one point he owned two grain elevators on the Buffalo harbor. Along the lower section of Cottage are some good examples of the Italianate style as it was typically built of frame construction, while at the other end of the street, one can see the style as it was built in brick in Buffalo. Maryland Street has frame houses except for 342 Maryland Street. Originally built as a church, the building was converted to apartments when the congregation moved uptown. The Coit House at 414 Virginia Street is the oldest house in Buffalo, built after the War of 1812 when the city was burned by the British. It was originally located in downtown Buffalo at the corner of Swan and Pearl Streets. The house was moved to its present site in the 1890's. It is one of the few Federal style buildings left within the city of Buffalo. Directly across the street from the Coit House is the old St. Mary's School for the Deaf. Built in 1862 in the Italianate style, it has since lost some of its original features. At the corner of Elmwood and Edward is one of the three churches in Allentown. On this section of Edward Street are some good examples of the Italianate style. An excellent example of the Queen Anne style can be seen at 180 Edward Street. Trinity Place, which is directly south of Edward Street, has frame houses built close together. Trinity Place, like Cottage Street, bends in the middle in order to meet up with Virginia Street. Trinity Place is one of the older streets in Allentown. A few of the houses were originally built as brick workman cottages in the 1850's; frame second and attic stories were added in the late nineteenth century. A unique example of the Spanish style within the city of Buffalo can be seen at 95 Trinity Place. Hudson Street has some good examples of frame Eastlake style and brick Italianate style houses. Orton Place has numerous Queen Anne style frame houses. Pennsylvania Street has some good examples of the Italianate, Second Empire and Stick styles. St. John's Place was the last street to be cut through in Allentown. Good examples of the Stick style can be found on this street. The houses on St. John's Place are noticeably larger than those on the other residential streets in Allentown. Symphony Circle also developed in the late nineteenth century with similarly styled houses on it's northwest section. Allen Street was originally all residential single-family houses, but by the late 1800's the area had developed enough that commercial buildings with apartments on the upper floors replaced many of these houses. The section west of Elmwood Avenue saw most of this development. The row of brick Italianate style houses on the north side of the street between Park and Irving were built by W. S. Tifft, the same builder who built the frame Italianate style houses on Mariner and College Streets. The brick Italianate style building at 173 Allen Street was built in 1868 by the Quakers who had settled in Orchard Park. It was their urban meeting hall until it was closed in 1898. The Buckingham, at 87 Mariner Street, was built in 1896 for the Pan-American Exposition. Built as a residential hotel, it originally had a roof-top dining room. The Lenox Hotel, at 140 North Street, was built around the turn of the century and became the city's most prestigious residential hotel. Mayfair Lane, across the street from the Lenox, at 165 North Street, was built in the 1920's by Green and Wicks. The complex is unique in the city in that parking space was provided on the ground floor, freeing the second level for pedestrian use. The apartments were sold as condominiums.
Many noteworthy people of local and national importance have had an association with Allentown. Lewis Allen was a prominent citizen in early Buffalo and a good friend of Grover Cleveland, whose wife was brought up at 168 Edward Street. George Coit, one of Buffalo's earliest settlers, was instrumental in bringing the Erie Canal to Buffalo. Symphony Circle was the first circle laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted when he came to Buffalo in 1869. Originally called "The Circle" by Olmsted, it still retains its original appearance. First Presbyterian Church, at One Symphony Circle, is an excellent example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Designed by the prominent local architectural firm of Green and Wicks, the interior has Tiffany light fixtures and stained glass. Green and Wicks, who designed the original section of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, also built two houses on North Street; numbers 208 and 256. The apartment building at 230 North Street was also designed by Green and Wicks. The Birge Mansion, on the northeast quadrant of the circle, was built by Little and Browne of Boston for George K. Birge. George Birge was president of the Birge Wallpaper Company and a major stock holder in the Pierce-Arrow Motor Company. He was also on the Board of Directors for the Pan-American Exposition. The house is unique in Buffalo. One enters in the rear of the building and goes into the two-story court from which all the main rooms of the house can be entered. Kleinhans Music Hall, which is at the southwest quadrant of the circle, was designed by Eliel Saarinen in 1939 and is the home of the Buffalo Philharmonic. The music Hall is an excellent example of the International Style. After Frederick Law Olmsted finished the park system for Buffalo, he was called back to redesign and landscape other existing parks. At this time he landscaped both Arlington Park and Day's Park. In front of the school on Day's Park (The original school has since been replaced.) he placed a circular walkway so that the students would not trample the grass. The circular sandstone planting area that was in the center of this walkway is still in existence, while the trees in the park have all replaced.
The house at 173 North Street, known as the Warren House, was designed by George Cary, a prominent local architect. He was commissioned by New York State to design the New York State buildings for the Pan-American Exposition. The only permanent building built for the exhibit, the Warren House now houses the Buffalo Historical Society. The Metcalfe house at 125 North Street was designed by McKim, Mead and White. Built in 1884, the house was their first commission in Buffalo. The firm eventually built three other residences in Buffalo but this is the only one displaying their early Shingle styling. The other houses are from their late period and all are derived from classical styles.
F. Scott Fitzgerald lived at 29 Irving Place when he was a child. Some of his earliest plays were acted out in the attic of this house. Katherine Cornell was brought up at 174 Mariner Street. The theatre group that her grandfather started in his attic eventually organized as the Buffalo Players, an amateur theatrical group that staged shows at the Allendale, at 203 Allen Street. The Allendale was built in the 1920's with Italian Renaissance styling. Built as a local vaudeville playhouse, it is now being used as a movie theatre. Lars Potter, who was instrumental in the organization of the Buffalo Players, still lives at 60 Irving.
Allentown is recognized throughout Buffalo and western New York as a distinct section of the city. While the individual buildings are important, the fact that Allentown retains its nineteenth century identity as a neighborhood within the city of Buffalo makes it unique. All facets of the nineteenth-century development of Buffalo can be viewed in Allentown. The mansions on North Street display the wealth that was brought to the city by the Erie Canal and the Industrial Revolution, in which Buffalo played major roles. The workingmen's cottages on Hudson Street are good examples of the type of housing that many Buffalonians lived in during this time period. The city has recognized Allentown by making it a Preservation District within the city of Buffalo.
References
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A Preliminary Report Respecting a Public Park in Buffalo. Buffalo: Printing House of Matthews and Warren, 1869.
Atlas, City of Buffalo. New York: American Atlas Company, 1894.
Atlas of Greater Buffalo. Philadelphia: Century Atlas Company, 1915.
Bingham, Robert Warwick. The Cradle of the Clean City. Buffalo: Buffalo Historical Society, Volume 31, 1931.
Buffalo. Bureau of Engineering. Index to Records of Streets, Public Grounds, Waterways, Railroads, Gas Companies, Waterworks, etc. of the City of Buffalo from 1814 to 1896. Buffalo: Wenborne Sumner Company, 1896.
Buffalo City Directory. Buffalo: The Courier Company, 1910-1963.
Cornell, Katharine. I Wanted to be an Actress. New York: Random House, 1939.
Dunn, Walter S., Jr. History of Erie County, 1870-1970. Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 1971 and 1972.
Buffalo. Buffalo Park Commissioners. Fifteenth Annual Report. Courier Company, 1885.
Goodyear, A. Conger. "Delaware Avenue, 1877-1929," Niagara Frontier 15 (Spring, 1965): 41-48.
Hill, Henry Wayland. Municipality of Buffalo, New York: A History, 1720-1923. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1923.
Hopkins, G. M. Atlas of the City of Buffalo. Philadelphia: G. M. Hopkins, 1872, 1884, 1891.
Horton, John Theodore, et al. Northwestern New York, Erie, Niagara, Wyoming, and Orleans Counties. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1947.
Johnson, Chris Field. Centennial History of Erie County, New York. Buffalo: Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 1876.
Jordon, Wayne. "Wilcox Mansion is Memorial to 'the Old Army' which had Hall of Fame in Buffalo Barracks." Niagara Frontier 12 (Autumn, 1965): 80-85.
Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier. "Three Walks Around Allentown." Buffalo, c. 1975.
Larned, Josephus Nelson. A History of Buffalo. New York: Progress of the Empire State Company, Two Volumes, 1911.
Luhan, Mable (Ganson) Dodge. Infinite Memories. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1933.
Mitchell, Edwina. "The Wilcox Mansion and Mrs. Wilcox's Class." Niagara Frontier 14 (Spring, 1967): 5-7.
Poole, Martha Fitch. "Social Life in Buffalo in the 1830's and 1840's." Buffalo Historical Society, Publications 8 (1905): 439-493.
Sanborn Map Company. Insurance Map of Buffalo, New York. Various Editions, 1881-1940.
Smith, Oliver P. The Domestic Architect. New York: Iveson and Thinney, 1854.
The Buffalo Address Book and Family Directory. Buffalo: Stoddard and Seward, 1901.
White, Truman Clark. Our County and Its People. Boston: Boston History Company, 1898.
Wilner, Morton Merriman. Niagara Frontier. Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1931.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Street Names
Allen Street • Arlington Place • College Street • Cottage Street • Delaware Avenue • Edward Street • Elmwood Avenue • Franklin Street • Hudson Street • Irving Place • Main Street • Mariner Street • Mayfair Lane • North Street • Park Street • Pearl Street North • Route 384 • Route 5 • St Johns Place • St Louis Place • Symphony Circle • Trinity Place • Virginia Place • Virginia Street • Wadsworth Street