Atwater House

E. M. Atwater House
1089 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY

"Elmwood Avenue has largely resisted the deadly surface lot disease, which is why it is so appealing and successful. Sacrificing the most elegant building on the block when businesses are lining up to rent on Elmwood is insane." - Author unknown

TEXT Beneath Illustrations

Click on illustrations for larger size -- and additional information


The design in "Turn of the Century Houses, Cottages, and Villas"	The Atwater House is owned by next door Pano's Restaurant. One compromise option is for the restaurant to expand its patio across the lawn of the Atwater House, but leaving the front half of the building intact as a backdrop. The back half of the building could be turned into additional parking spaces.	Shingle style	Missing windows on the tower are a clear indication that this is an endangered building

Note shape of painted wooden shingles Casement windows Medina sandstone broken rangework masonry	Bell roof on tower Pitched gable roof over porch Pitched gable roof over dormer Gambrel roof on north and south gables	Three different roof styles	Medina sandstone porch
		More about the Atwater House
Medina sandstone broken rangework masonry

History

The lot occupied by this house was part of a large parcel that extended from Elmwood Avenue to Lincoln Parkway, between Forest and Bird Avenues. The parcel was the property of James N. Granger in 1891; he had acquired this land by 1872. By 1894 this parcel was being divided into building lots for the rapidly growing Elmwood District, which was heavily built up during the 1890s. It was at this time the parcel was divided in half by Granger Place.

The house at 1089 Elmwood Avenue had been built by 1894, when it appeared on the city atlas of that year. It was the first house built on the east side of Elmwood Avenue in this block, and only the second house to be built on the former Granger parcel. The original owner and/or builder of this house is currently unknown. It is possible that the house was built by the developer of these lots as a model dwelling, to encourage further development, or simply as a speculative investment property.

The design of the house at 1089 Elmwood is nearly identical to Residence Design No. 1992 published in the periodical Shoppell's Modem Houses (October 1900); this design is reprinted on page 87 in Turn-of-the-Century Houses, Cottages and Villas (New York: Dover Publications, 1983). The only significant change is the elimination of the porte cochere in the house at 1089 Elmwood, in deference to the narrow lot.

The Shoppell periodical series was actually a standard publication of house designs that could be used by builders and property owners in lieu of retaining the services of an architect. However, most of the designs illustrated were done by architects, either R. W. Shoppell, his associates, or others.

The time lag between the construction of the house at 1089 Elmwood (by 1894) and the illustration of the design in 1900 suggests the possibility that this house was designed by an architect who later sold the rights to the plans to Shoppell. One contender would be Lyman A. Dietrick, a Lockport architect and member of the Buffalo real estate firm of Dietrick, Kine & Carrier; some of Dietrick's designs later appeared in house catalogs.

Atwater

The earliest known occupant was the family of Edward Atwater, who lived here with his wife and two unmarried daughters (Julia and Kate) by early 1894. Atwater had worked in a variety of businesses, and was apparently retired by the time he moved here. The family rented rather than owned the house, as there is no evidence that the Atwaters ever purchased this property.

Edward Atwater was a longtime Buffalo businessman who began his career before the Civil War. In 1858, he worked at Thompson & Co., manufacturers of white lead (powdered lead used in paints, etc.). In 1862 he co-founded the oil refinery company of Atwater & Hawes with offices at 68 Lloyd Street in the Canal District (recently uncovered as part of Canal District archeology). In 1867 he co-founded another company, the insurance firm Atwater & Morgan, also headquartered in the Canal District.

Finally, in 1870 he became the secretary of the Buffalo City Cemetery Association, which owned Forest Lawn Cemetery, suggesting considerable investment in that enterprise. He served as secretary until 1878.

After over 35 years of living on the Lower West Side and ascending Buffalo's economic and social ladder, Atwater moved into a brand new houseóthe first on that section of Elmwood Avenueóin 1893. He lived there with wife Maria and daughters Julia and Kate.

2004

The building is currently owned by Pano Georgiadis, owner of Pano's Restaurant The community and the owner are clashing over the fate of the building. The owner claims he can do what wants with his building, i.e., demolish it and build a patio and 10-car parking lot, yet zoning and demolition ordinances clearly limit an owner's rights.

A vertical addition to Pano's or adaptive reuse of the Atwater House are preferable alternatives to demolition. Cf., Cunningham spending cash on Squier House

Potential Landmark Status

"My firm has identified that building (1089 Elmwood) as an historic building during our Historic Resources Survey of the Forest neighborhood we are now conducting for the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency under the guidance of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Further, in our opinion, this building is eligible for listing on the State and Federal Registers of Historic Places ...." - Clinton Brown

"I have just received (October 8, 2004) a response to my request to the State Office of Historic Preservation asking for a declaration that the Atwater House is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. They say that it is eligible for listing as a finely built example of Shingle Style architecture." - Scott Field, Director of the Preservation Coalition

Historical significance: This was the first house built on the east side of Elmwood Avenue in this block, and only the second house to be built on the former Granger parcel, located from Elmwood Avenue to Lincoln Parkway, between Forest and Bird Avenues. For at least fifty years, it has been an attractive neighborhood landmark.

Architectural significance: This house has inventive design and high quality of construction

It is an excellent example of a towered Shingle style house on a typical urban lot. For the Buffalo area, it is unique.

It is nearly identical to Residence Design No. 1992 published in the periodical Shoppell's Modern Houses (October 1900); this design is reprinted on page 87 in Turn-of-the-Century Houses, Cottages and Villas (New York: Dover Publications, 1983). The only significant change is the elimination of the porte cochere in the house at 1089 Elmwood, in deference to the narrow lot.

The building is a significant contributor to the scheme of the whole area, an eclectic mix of residential and commercial buildings. Inasmuch as this is a neighborhood landmark, the loss of the building would significantly detract from the mix.

Research by Cynthia Van Ness, Tim Tielman, Martin Wachadlo
Photos taken September and October, 2004.
Photos and their arrangement © 2004 Chuck LaChiusa
The Coalition seeks to disseminate architectural and historical information to the general public from many sources. While we use only reputable sources, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of every item presented as fact.