Buffalo City Hall

I love this building. For some great photos and some history, see Buffalo as an Architectural Musem.

Groundbreaking was started in 1929, with the building finished in 1931. There are themes of the Iroquois nation, the development of the Erie Canal, the United States's relation to Canada, (can't find any evidence that speaks to me of that, except maybe that you can see Ontario from the top floor?) and the pioneering and industrial spirit of Buffalo's citizens.

Not a lot of people were working around 1929 - 1931, so that accounts for the idealistic nature of some of the friezes.

The architect, John Wade, was the sone of a tapestry weaver and was born in Hoboken NJ. In 1926, the City Architect's plan was deemed unsatisfactory, so the job went to Wade, who was only 33 years old at the time. In terms of style, he called it "Americanesque".

Today's City Hall occupies the site of Samuel Wilkeson's residence, who was mayor of Buffalo in 1836. Oddly enough, his house wasn't demolished for City Hall, but for a gas station in 1915. How times have changed.