 |
 
|
| Photograph 61 |
|
As Buffalo and Western New York approaches the new millenium, we can look forward to an ever increasing amount of developmental progress. Downtown Buffalo can count on a changing landscape as the city struggles to find new uses for its old landmark buildings. Let us also not count out the possibility of new modern structures rising up out of the ruins of Buffalo's most noted landmarks - parking lots.
Progress in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was exciting and expected. The photograph below shows the corner of Church and Franklin Streets in the late 1890s. The site will eventually be occupied by the Iroquois Building but for now this small block has more character than you can shake a stick at. The building at the left is being used by a piano moving company. 
Now take at look at the photograph below of the same area 20 years later. This 1912 view again shows the north side of Church Street, east from Franklin Street. You'll notice some things missing but most importantly you see that the addition of a few buildings turned what could have passed for a quaint rural street into a crowded city thoroughfare. 
Immediately behind everything is the Morgn Building - used for manufacturing, warehousing, and anything else a muti-storied building could be using for in the early 20th century in Buffalo. From left to right, the buildings are as follows:
Behind everything on the right side is the old Erie Savings Bank. Photographs from the collection of Martin Biniacz |
