Tour-goers admire the home of Joyce Berg and Peter Covey, 44 Orton Place
built by Richard Caudell in 1886. In attendance were
Janet and Ben Morgan, descendants of Richard Caudell

KCA Hosts Historic Meeting With Area Homeowners and Family of Home Builder On December 23, 2003, the Kleinhans Community Association (KCA) hosted a gathering between owners of City of Buffalo Historic Westside homes and the great-granddaughter and great-great-grandson of Richard Caudell, who operated the firm R. Caudell and Son, architects and builders. Architect/Builder Richard Caudell and Son built dozens of homes on Buffalo’s Westside from 1864-1898, many of them located in the Allentown Historic Preservation District. Several current owners of Caudell-built homes were in attendance.

An interior tour of three homes built by Caudell is scheduled along with exterior tours of the family homestead at 154 Fargo Avenue and other homes built by Richard Caudell and Son. Descendants of the Caudell family, most of whom now reside outside of NY State, have never been inside a home built by their ancestors.

Ben Morgan, great-great-grandson of Richard Caudell, was expected to bring 19th Century carpentry tools owned by Richard Caudell, the very tools used to build the homes being toured. In addition, house histories, oral family history and expert opinions from architectural historians were presented.

Jill Wisz of Lexington Avenue, shared her excitement about the opportunity to meet descendants of her home’s builder, “I enjoyed having Caudell’s descendants visit my home. It was like having people who once lived in the house come back to reminisce.”

Caudell’s contributions to Buffalo’s Victorian-era housing stock were uncovered by Christopher Brown, President of the KCA. The documentation led to local historic landmark status for a home built by Caudell in 1887. The home, at 11 Plymouth Avenue, was approved for local landmark status in 2003 by the Buffalo Preservation Board. See website for more info. “Buffalonians appreciate the fine quality of homes built during the Victorian era. Buffalo is truly a “City of Homes,” and people want to learn more about the men and women involved in their homes’ construction,” says Brown.

Myrtle Viola Caudell, the daughter of Richard Caudell, became an important educator who worked at Buffalo State College for nearly 20 years and expanded the Home Economics curriculum at the college. In 1963, Caudell Hall was named in her honor at the Elmwood Avenue campus.

The Kleinhans Community Association is a neighborhood block club organization focused on increasing the quality of life for residents in the neighborhood adjoining Kleinhans Music Hall.

KCA Hosts Inspector Walk Through at End of October, 2003 The KCA met with Lou Petrucci and other inspectors and did a walk through of problem properties in the neighborhood:

New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt Attends KCA Meeting In December 2003, Sam Hoyt attended the KCA meeting at 42 Plymouth Avenue and spoke to neighbors about the conditions of the neighborhood and the exciting developments that are taking place on the West Side. He encouraged the neighborhood to work with the police to request additional police presence during Kleinhans' events to be sure that people have good experiences visiting the area. The community is very appreciative of Sam Hoyt to take time from his busy schedule to listen to the concerns of neighbohood residents.

24-30 Plymouth Avenue Changes Hands In December, 2003, 24-30 Plymouth Ave. has a new owner, Joe Dallos Jr. There are 20 apartments in the 2 buildings. According to Joe, he owns many multiple units in the city and lives in the West Side. He owns a restaurant and bar in riverside, Fortunato's and takes pride in his properties. Joe says that with 78 units, he has had only had 1 eviction last year. Joe takes pride in all his rentals and does 85% of the work himself. He is a landlord that cares and puts way too much money into his properties and never takes the cheap way out.

Richard Waite Article In the Winter 2004 edition of the Western New York Heritage Magazine, KCA president Chris Brown and architectural historian Martin Wachadlo have written a detailed narrative of the life of Buffalo architect Richard A. Waite. Mr. Waite lived in the KCA neighborhood a very long time. He designed and built his own home at 361 Pennsylvania Street and lived there from about 1875 until after the turn of the century when he relocated to New York City. Mr. Waite was famous for designing large, lavishly furnished hotels, music halls and government buildings. The comprehensive biography of Mr. Waite should help to publicize the KCA neighborhood. Mr. Waite still has many buildings standing in Canada including Montreal and Toronto. A tour and event is planned for August 2004 as a benefit for the Mark Twain museum, housed at 249 North Street in a Richard Waite-designed house. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, please call Chris Brown at (716) 884-1914.

Kleinhans Music Hall Takeover Approved By City The ownership of Kleinhans Music Hall has been approved by the City of Buffalo legislature and is expected to be approved by the Erie County Legislature in early 2004. Nearly everyone is happy with this arrangement as it brings additional resources to the table to assist with the ongoing care and maintenance of the Allentown National Historic Landmark Music Hall.

Former BPO Mansions on Symphony Circle Being Restored The Millonzi House (former BPO headquarters) underwent an amazing exterior restoration thanks to the building's new owner, Frank Guida. The Birge Mansion has also been recently sold to a law firm who will be using the elegant Georgian Revival Buffalo landmark as their new headquarters.

Let's Save 32 St. John's Place! Renewed efforts have been made to save 32 St. John's Place, the vacant home that burned several years ago. To learn more, please click here.

Preservation Efforts on Niagara Square Relates to Symphony Circle. 89-91 Niagara Street, the last residential house on Niagara Square, is threatened with demolition. It is on the site of the new proposed Federal Courthouse. Niagara Square was the fasionable residential square in the 1840s and 1850s before Symphony Circle. Several residents moved from Niagara Square to Symphony Circle in the late 1880s. Most notably, Mr. and Mrs. Trueman Avery moved from Niagara Square to Symphony Circle in the late 1880s and were instrumental in moving the First Presbyterian Church from Shelton Square to Symphony Circle. In addition, some present Niagara Square residents who are being displaced by the Courthouse project are relocating to Symphony Circle. For more information about the efforts to save 89-91 Niagara Street or the history of Niagara Square, click here.

2003 Accomplishments. The following are achievements of KCA neighbors in 2003:

• Web Site Continued to be Enhanced - the KCA web site continues to be be updated with new information and Email is used to communicate with neighborhood residents. The KCA web site (www.kleinhansca.org) was publicized with the use of signs posted throughout the neighborhood.
  
  
• Garden Walk 2003 Continues to be A Success! - Over 16 properties in the KCA area were highlighted on the 2003 Garden Walk. An online map can be seen by clicking here. We hope to encourage even more neighborhood residents to participate in 2004 as part of the Garden Walk's 10th anniversary. In addition to opening up their gardens, once again neighborhood residents volunteered at a KCA information table located at the Coda Restaurant, 350 Pennsylvania Street, to pass out water, sell Garden Walk T-shirts and give people information about the Kleinhans Neighborhood.

  
  Lovely new paths highlight the back garden at 34 Orton Place
  
  

• Contacted out of town owner of 3 St. John’s Place, Encouraged Them to Maintain Property - In the continuing battle to save 3 St. John's Place, the KCA contacted the out of town owner and got them to mow their waist-high lawn. The house has been abandoned since the home's previous owner, Don D'Angelo, has been imprisoned for credit card fraud. The mortgage company has acquired the property and is in the process of reselling it to a new owner.
  
  
• KCA Sends Representatives to Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo Transplanting Days - Once again Joyce Berg and Chris Brown represented the KCA area in the annual transplanting days event in March, 2003 at the Erie County Botanical Gardens. Participation in the event allows the KCA to receive flowers and vegetables to be planted in Orton Gardens, our local community garden on Orton Place.

  
  Beautiful planters like these can be found on street
  corners in the KCA neighborhood

• Corner Planters Tended With Flowers - In 2003, neighbors once again put flowers in the flower planters on KCA area street corners. The effect was very beautiful and all who helped should be congratulated for their efforts to help beautify the area.
  
  
• 289 Pennsylvania Street wins Buffalo In Bloom Ellicott District Front Garden Contest - Congratulations to Steve Osterstrom and Patrick Thomas for winning the Ellicott District Residential Category for their front garden!
  
  
• KCA Sponsors Housing Inspection - Working with the City of Buffalo, the KCA prepared a list of problem properties in the neighborhood and inspected each one of them. They will continue to be monitored until all outstanding housing violations are corrected.
  
  
• Heart of the City Neighborhoods Moves to 42 Plymouth Ave. - To complete the vision of Candace Church, Dinah Gamin renovated 42 Plymouth and has allowed the organization to occupy the first floor only for the cost of utilities. The house now looks beautiful and the change in the neighborhood has been extraordinary.
  
  
• Private Investment In Area Continues to be Strong - Many improvements were made in neighborhood properties this year:
  • 22 Orton Place - The entire front of the house (east elevation) had its asphalt brick siding removed to reveal the ornate wooden clapboard and shingle exterior. The house continues to be worked on by John Allen to get it ready for renting as a three unit apartment building.
  • 11 Plymouth - The entire porch was ripped out and replaced with a period-sensitive porch. The porch that was removed was made of industrial concrete with iron columns and was replaced with a wooden porch supported by turned columns replicated from 1880s pattern books.
  • 34 Orton Place - Has been completely repainted and had much of its exterior woodwork replaced with like materials. The house is now painted a caramel color with brown and olive trim, selected from authentic period paints and color schemes from the Sherwin-William paint company.

    
    34 Orton Place received an historically
    accurate paint treatment in 2003.

  • 45 St. John’s Place - The beauty of 45 John's Place has been restored in a fabulous paint job and wood restoration project that was undertaken in 2003. The house is a detailed Queen Anne style house with shingles and a turned column porch with half-height supports. Wow - what a difference! The brightly painted house is now a highlight on St. John's Place.
  
  
• Pump-Up Plymouth Campaign - A new attitude on Plymouth Avenue! A plan to reclaim the first block of Plymouth Avenue has been mailed out to all homeowners on the block to enlist their help in making the street a better place to live. It has been met with encouragement by home owners, residents and interested parties alike.

  
  These neighborhood welcome signs were posted in
  the Kleinhans Neighborhood.
  
  

• Block Club Signs Posted In Neighborhood - In the spring of 2003, large metal block club signs were posted on every block within the KCA boundaries. The signs welcome visitors to the neighborhood and also signal the existence of the Kleinhans Community Association as a neighborhood organization. The address of the website is also publicized on the sign, allowing people to visit the website for more information. Lastly, the sign also indicates that the area is an historic district. Special thanks to Joyce Berg and the City of Buffalo for their assistance in getting the signs put up on every block in the KCA boundary.
  
  
• Orton Place Changes Direction - Through the efforts of the KCA, Orton Place had its traffic direction changed in response to a change in direction in Normal Avenue. Normal Avenue was made two-ways for the benefit of Kleinhans Music Hall and this had the unforseen impact of encouraging traffic to cut through Orton Place from Porter Avenue. In order to preserve the quietness of the street, Orton Place direction was changed so that it can only be accessed from St. John's Place and at the end of St. John's Place, one may either turn right (towards Pennsylvania Street) or left (towards Hudson Street). This change preserves the quiet of both St. John's Place and Orton Place while allowing concert-goers the ability to drive to the music hall quickly. The KCA would like to thank Niagara District Councilman Nick Bonifacio and Ellicott District Councilman Brian Davis for their support of this legislation.
  
  
• Symphony Circle Restoration Effort Wins Prestigious Buffalo Preservation Board Award - On 6/18/03, members of the Symphony Circle Steering Committee accepted an award for the efforts to restore the light standard at Symphony Circle. The restoration has won many awards, but this award is very special as only a handful of projects are selected in any one year. The award was presented to the community by Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello and Buffalo Preservation Board chairman John Laping.
  
  
• 11 Plymouth Avenue Receives Historic Landmark Approval - In an effort to underscore the historic importance of the Kleinhans neighborhood, 11 Plymouth Avenue was granted historic landmark status by the Buffalo Preservation Board. Information about the landmark application and supporting material may be found by clicking here.
  
  
• Hudson Street Cleanup - The KCA sponsored a cleanup of Hudson Street in May, 2003. A group of neighborhood residents cleaned the street from Plymouth Avenue to Wadsworth Street, particularly concentrating in the area around abandoned housing. The cleanup was such a success, it will probably become an annual event!
  
  
• Over 300 Daffodil Bulbs were planted at Orton Gardens - In November, 2003, neighborhood residents helped to plant over 300 bulbs in the front lawn of Orton Gardens, the community garden at 20 Orton Place. With the planting of the bulbs, Orton Gardens should make a SPECTACULAR floral display in April 2004.

  
  The Spring 2003 floral display (above) of Orton Gardens
  promises to be outdone in 2004!
  
  

• Remembering Candace Church - Amid the many accomplishments of 2003, the neighborhood suffered a great loss. Longtime resident and friend to all, Candace Church of Orton Place and formerly of Pennsylvania Street passed away unexpectedly. Her passion for the Kleinhans neighborhood continues to inspire efforts to improve the neighborhood for all residents.
  
  
• 22 Orton Place Featured in Allentown Newsletter - Research into 22 Orton Place revealed a unique history associated with the site: it was built and lived in by Tellico Johnson in 1886, great-nephew to Ebenezer Johnson, the first mayor of Buffalo and grandson of Elisha Johnson, one of the first mayors of Rochester, New York. The Johnson family had a colorful history that started in New York State and eventually moved to Tennessee. The Kleinhans neighborhood is being documented by the Kleinhans Community Association and includes historic information on construction dates and early residents.
  
  
• Hudson Street Focus of Beautification Projects - In addition to a cleanup of Hudson Street scheduled in May, working with the City of Buffalo, the Kleinhans Community Association spearheaded the planting of a new tree in front of the School 36 Playground at the foot of Orton Place. Also, working with Brian Davis, Ellicott District Councilmember, a trash barrel was placed on Hudson Street at the foot of Orton Place. The Kleinhans Community Association purchased trash liners and Dawn Drummer, of 330 Hudson Street, has agreed to change the trash liners. These efforts should help to keep Hudson Street cleaner and greener!
  
  
• KCA Worked to Market 15 Plymouth Avenue to New Homeowner - 15 Plymouth Avenue, a lovely Victorian house built in 1879 is being marketed by the KCA in conjunction with Heart of the City Neighborhoods and West Side NHS. While the house is not yet sold, several interested parties have come forward. The goal in 2004 is to find a new owner-occupant for the house. For more details, click here.
  
  
• Petition to Enforce Housing Codes for 44 Plymouth Avenue - 44 Plymouth Avenue, a house that was the site of a large FBI-driven drug bust in December 2002, found itself in housing court in 2003 for housing violations. The KCA organized a petition signed by dozens of neighborhood residents appealing to Housing Court Judge Nowak to fully enforce the housing code law. The house is still being monitored by both the Federal government and City of Buffalo for compliance to housing and drug laws.
  
  
• KCA Sponsors Neighborhood Housing Inspections Walk-Through - At the end of October, several members of the KCA met with Chief Housing Inspector Lou Petrucci to perform a walk-through of the neighborhood to identify problem houses and correct code violations. The benefit is that houses in the neighborhood are preserved as they will not be allowed to decay.
  
  
• Kleinhans Residents Band Together to Capture Stray Cats - Many neighbors were complaining about stray cats in the neighborhood and through the efforts of neighborhood residents, traps were laid and many cats were trapped and turned over to the Erie County SPCA. City-wide, there have been many problems with ferrol cats. Several residents even complained that cats were breaking into their homes.
  
  
• KCA Neighborhood Presentation Made to United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Conference Held on November 8, 2003 - Chris Brown, president of the KCA made a presentation at the United Neighborhoods Annual Neighborhood Conference held at the Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo, New York. The presentation was attended by dozens of people and was called "Historic Preservation as a Neighborhood Revitalization Tool." The content included the use of historic preservation and organic materials to promote and revitalize a representative inner city neighborhood located on Buffalo NY’s west side adjacent to Kleinhans Music Hall. Examples of preservation tools, community involvement and beautification efforts and their impact on neighborhood quality of life was presented. The presentation can be viewed here.
  
  
• Proposed Normal Avenue Name Change - The new owner of 341 Jersey on the corner of Normal Avenue has contacted the KCA and proposed that the Normal Avneue street name be changed. The possibility of this will be examined in 2004.
  
  
• KCA in Conjunction with West Side Community Collaborative attempts to save 32 St. John’s Place - a renewed effort has been put forth to save 32 St. John's Place, including contacting the City of Buffalo, articles in the Allentown Newsletter, a new sign, etc. For more information, click here.
  
  
• 330 Hudson Street in 2003 Secrets of Allentown - Once again, Dawn Drummer opened her beautiful restored Victorian house in the Secrets of Allentown tour of homes. It was a great way to bring thousands of visitors into the neighborhood for a positive experience.
  
  
• First Presbyterian Church Lights Tower During Ceremony - At 8:00pm on October 16, 2003, the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church and members of the community met at the Symphony Circle landmark to celebrate the exterior lighting of the church's tower that soars 163 feet into the sky. James MacDonald, a member of the First Presbyterian congregation, had begun the project after he noticed that the central tower was not lit. His dream was for the church to be a beacon in the neighborhood. MacDonald started the process rolling by giving a generous donation to the cause. Gerri Lyons, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, contacted New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt to ask for additional funding, which he provided. Hoyt was at the lighting ceremony and talked about the great things happening in the neighborhood including the restoration of Symphony and Ferry Circles. In addition to lighting the tower, a beautiful stained glass window in the chapel depicting the Last Supper has also been backlit and is visible from Pennsylvania Street every evening. Lyons stated at the lighting ceremony in the future she would like to undertake a cleaning of the sandstone exterior. The church was designed in 1888 by the architectural firm Green and Wicks in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.