For the third year in a row, the KCA neighborhood participated in the Forever Elmwood Annual Garden Walk. (Click link to view official Buffalo Garden Walk web site.)
Members of the KCA who did not have their gardens featured on the tour participated in greeting visitors at an information table set up at the corner of Normal and Pennsylvania streets, across from the Music Hall. Mayer Brothers donated a water dispensor to the event. At our information table we also sold official GardenWalk T-shirts as a fundraiser for the GardenWalk.
An unsolicited comment from one attendee echoed the sentiments of many: "I truly enjoyed the Garden Walk...we got a lot of neat ideas for new plants and places to shop... we're hooked... stopped and asked a couple where Bird Ave. was - they didn't know this was taking place, well when we got to Bird Ave. - there they were..."
2000 KCA-area Garden Walk Map
We hope that you enjoy your sojourn in our Allentown neighborhood and can share in the enjoyment of a few gardens which have been such a source of pleasure for our residents. For your convenience, helium-filled balloons have been placed at KCA-area homes on this year's Garden Walk tour to help you easily find our gardens.
Kleinhans Community Association is the block club that unites the neighborhood around Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, New York. Our mission is to facilitate communication among neighborhood residents and to advocate beautification, crime prevention, home ownership, historic preservation, and other quality of life issues. In addition, the members of Kleinhans Community Association (also known as KCA) work closely with various neighborhood agencies and governmental entities to achieve these goals. This year neighboring block clubs have also participated in the Garden Walk: entries are included from Days Park Block Club, Arlington Park Block Club and the Fargo Estate Neighborhood Association.
While you are here to see our gardens today, take a moment to appreciate the architecturally and historically significant buildings in the neighborhood including: Kleinhans Music Hall (national historic landmark); Birge Mansion (local landmark); First Presbyterian Church (local landmark); Karpeles Museum, 453 Porter (local landmark); and Hogan Restoration, 310 Jersey (former Firehouse #2, local landmark).
As a living Buffalo legacy, our neighborhood has been going strong for over 150 years and residents hope to build on its strength for the future. Because our neighborhood is an offspring of famed 19th Century landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted's 1868 Buffalo parkway system which includes Porter Ave. and Symphony Circle, gardening has always been an important part of our community. For many years in the 19th Century, the west side of Plymouth Ave. (even house numbers) between Pennsylvania and Jersey St. was owned by Buffalo mayor and businessman Mr. William G. Fargo. While his mansion was built one block westerly, Fargo purchased this entire block to keep it from being built up during his lifetime and brought a professional landscape gardener to Buffalo to lay out and manage the grounds. On this block Fargo constructed one of the country's finest private conservatories where tropical plants of the rarest kinds were cultivated. On today's walk, you will find several fine individual gardens on the former site of Mr. Fargo's conservatory and park-like gardens.
Our block clubs have funded flower planters on street corners within the neighborhood, while residents have used their own funds and time to procure and care for the flowers planted in them which help to beautify our area. Other residents have pledged their time to the creation and maintenance of community gardens within our neighborhood - there are 20 gardens on today's Garden Walk, 2 of which are community gardens.
Suggested walk - begin at . . .
350 Pennsylvania Street - The Coda
Dr. Susan Persico - The Coda restaurant, owned by Dr. Persico, caters to the Buffalo
community and is a favorite spot of concert goers on weekends. In the 1980s, this location was
known as Orwhat's Deli until Dr. Persico purchased and renovated the building several years ago.
The "secret garden" of The Coda started out as a car port and now serves as the smoking section
of the restaurant. The herb garden was developed for use in the restaurant. In addition to this
building and her home at 343 Pennsylvania, she also oversaw the design of the gardens at 10
Orton Place, on the corner of Hudson St. Although not listed on the tour, the gardens (visible
from the street) are lovely. One hundred years ago, 350 Pennsylvania was home to Dr. Henry
Baethig, who operated his general practice from this location. Dr. Baethig had a loyal following
and his attentive service was the stuff of legend, when doctors still made house calls and were part
of the community for which they cared.
From The Coda, walk down Pennsylvania toward Kleinhans Music Hall until you reach . . .
Symphony Circle Gardens
Peter the English Gardener, Ltd., Symphony Circle Steering Committee and
many volunteers - The nucleus of our neighborhood is Symphony Circle which
Olmsted initially designed in 1868 and then re-designed in 1874 to serve
as a vital link of green space between Front Park, Porter and Richmond Avenues.
From the Circle, his parkway design continued down Richmond Ave. to Bidwell
Parkway, then to Lincoln Parkway until finally terminating at Delaware Park.
When the Circle was created much of it was developed over the former Black Rock Cemetery (especially the northwest quadrant). The remains of Buffalonians buried there were reinterred in Forest Lawn Cemetery, but some of the pauper graves still remain. The Circle's finishing touch came in 1879 when an ornate 5 light gas standard was erected in the center of a circular flower bed island approximately 30 feet in diameter. In the 1890s the Circle became a finish line for spirited winter cutter (sleigh) races running down Richmond Avenue south from West Ferry Street. The island and light standard were removed in 1938 in deference to the automobile.
Famed Kleinhans Music Hall was constructed on the Circle between 1938 and 1940. The Circle was renamed Symphony Circle in 1958 to closely associate it with Kleinhans and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Today, the Circle is a garden oasis in a desert of the city's asphalt and is enjoyed by people of all social classes, ages and ethnicities. Residents from nearby Nazareth and Grace Manor nursing homes enjoy its summer gardens and picturesque winter scenery.
The Circle's use is consistent with Olmsted's vision as he hoped that the diverse population enjoying the Circle would show that "'they are Christians, loving one another, and not Pagans, fearing one another,' because they had taken the care to have the means of 'coming together, of being together, and especially of recreating together on common ground.'"
After years of being ignored, local residents headed by Ann Angelo formed the Symphony Circle Steering Committee to restore the Circle to its former glory. Technical experts from outside the area joined the committee and participated in the project. Peter the English Gardener, Ltd. has been planting the annual flower beds for the past few years. The Committee has worked to write grants and maintain the Circle, which has been undergoing restoration since 1992. Most of the original elements have been restored - inner circle sidewalks, light standards, gardens, and benches; plus new trees, refurbished lawns, and other park fixtures have been added. The most recent improvements are the addition of a water system for the gardens and the addition of perennial gardens consistent with Olmsted's original design, as well as the restoration of original Circle greenspace outside of the First Presbyterian Church. The committee is in the process of spearheading the return of the center island with its ornate cast iron light standard. In 2000, the Garden Walk featured Wright on Buffalo and Pre-historic Buffalo on The Circle!
51 Symphony Circle
Jim and Tanya Peck. Rose garden and shrubs.
First Presbyterian Church Gardens (1999 Only)
First Presbyterian Church - Church volunteers maintain the annual/perennial
garden on the lawn facing the Pennsylvania St. church parking lot. It is
fitting that this garden faces the site which was formerly the home of poet
James N. Johnston and his sister Margaret during the Victorian era. Miss
Johnston loved flowers; she cultivated them extensively. She maintained a
flower-filled back yard and had flowering plants in every possible nook in
the house.
The First Presbyterian Church is the oldest religious organization in Buffalo.
Designed by Green & Wicks, the current church building was substantially
complete by December 1891 and its 163-foot tower was finished by 1897.
Walk through First Presbyterian Church parking lot to St. John's Place and
turn right until you approach . . .
29 St. John's Place
Pat and Mike Heaverlo - Built in 1886 for Frederick and May Johnson, the
house is a finely detailed Stick-style house distinguished by an extended
asymmetrical gable overhanging the angular brackets of the porch. The meandering
path to the garden is the last remnant of the horse and buggy days left in
this area. Its presence is a gentle reminder of the romantic era that once
was. The back garden has been designed to create a cozy retreat. By utilizing
composting techniques the owners were able to form the raised beds from recycled
vegetation. The garden is shared with 6 bunnies that are being raised by
the family children.
Walk down St. John's Place until it ends at Orton Place...
Orton Place - On today's Garden Walk visitors are touring botanical gardens, but in the 1870s Buffalonians frequently came to the area which formed Orton and St. John's Pl. to see the zoological gardens of traveling circuses. Many well known Victorian-era circus men pitched their big top here. Just before this site was turned into building lots in the mid 1880s, P. T. Barnum brought Jumbo the elephant here from London, delighting thousands of Buffalonians.
The spirits of those long-ago Victorian circuses must still haunt Orton and St. John's Place... Garden Walk attendees enjoyed a special treat - being introduced to Albert!
334 Hudson Street
Mary Beth Bartlett - The charming Civil War-era Italianate style 1½ story cottage was built
for James W. Ruger, associated with the J. S. Ruger & Co. Iron Works, a manufacturer of
cracker, bread and biscuit machines. The home is built on a knoll and is highlighted by the
two-level front gardens consisting of all perennials and rare flowers. The side garden is
accentuated with raised beds with rock borders, and the back garden features flower gardens and
a pond.
Orton Gardens - 20 Orton Pl.
Kleinhans Community Association Block Club - A long-abandoned house at 20 Orton
deteriorated quickly from lack of maintenance and in November, 1999 the house was razed.
While the loss of the house was regrettable, neighbors rallied together and promptly decided to
create a community garden on the site. We joined forces with Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo and
the city to put forth our plan. The city has given us permission to develop the lot and Grassroots
will serve as overseer. Many residents have pledged time and money to the garden and as a
result, we were awarded a grant from Mayor Masiello's 2000 Neighborhood Matching Fund.
Fitting with a Victorian-era neighborhood, we are using a garden plan designed in the 1840s for a suburban lot by horticulturist Andrew Jackson Downing as a basis for the garden. The plan calls for the section of the lot closest to the street to be ornamental in nature while the back section will produce fruits and vegetables.
28 Orton Place
John and Cyndy Allen - The uniquely styled home with its interesting angles
was designed by architect Charles R. Percival in 1885 for Charles Bloomer,
owner of the Exchange grain elevator. The home's design was so successful
that its plans were published in the 19th century national building
periodical, Scientific American Architects and Builder's Edition.
The current owners, John and Cyndy Allen, have done a remarkable job restoring
the home to its original appearance, including the ornate verandah and removal
of asbestos siding which obscured much of the home's detail. The Allen's
have continued to use gardening to enhance their restoration efforts. Flower
boxes have been installed on nearly every window, filled with mixed geraniums.
The front flower bed is in its second year, planted with over 100 bulbs
and more than 40 varieties of perennials. The back yard is highlighted
b a pond and a 7-year-old wisteria.
34 Orton Place
Joe Gerace and Chris Brown - This Queen Anne style house was built in 1885
for Allen Lee Schryver, a boot merchant who had lived in Buffalo since 1836.
Today, gardens enhance the century-old house design. The front garden is
defined by a wrought iron fence which was salvaged from a nearby back yard.
The fencing contains purple leaf winter creeper ground cover (euonymus
fortunei colorato) planted several years ago. The beds in the back yard are defined by cut
limestone - foundation stones from nearby demolished dwellings. The modern mobile in the
garden was made by a local artist.
36 Orton Place
Michael Rooney and Paul Lachacz - One of the first houses to be erected on
the street, 36 Orton Place was built in early 1885 by James W. Byers for
coal dealer Henry E. Smith. As was popular in its day, Eastlake styling details
are evident throughout the home's exterior: in the verge board; the incised
decorations found on the flat headed front windows and pilasters; and the
diamond design used in the frieze. One year after moving in, the owners exclaim
that there is still much restoration work to be done. The long shady driveway
which leads to the home's original board and batten barn is an inviting gateway
to the side and rear gardens. Most of the landscaping was started in the
fall of 1998. The gray creek stones used in the front flower beds were chosen
to create an old and worn look appropriate to the house. In coming seasons,
the annual flowers will be replaced with a variety of perennials and shrubbery,
striving for a balance of formality and casual surprise.
38 Orton Place
Carl Schade - Front walkway garden and flower beds enhance the beauty of this Queen
Anne Victorian home. Built in 1885 it was celebrated for its creative residential design on a
narrow building lot. Sadly, the home's crowning feature - the tower - was sheared off in the
1970s. The present owner restored the tower to its original design and his effort was recognized
with a 2000 Allentown Beautification Award and 2001 Buffalo Landmark and Preservation Board
Award.
42 Orton Place
Candace Church and Dinah Gamin - This beautiful home was built in 1886 by Clarissa and
Schuyler Aldrich in the Queen Anne style. Aldrich owned the Aldrich, Ray Manufacturing
Company, a brass works at 1489 Niagara St. which sold its wares worldwide. In the 1980s, John
and Sharon Carmesano returned the residence back to a single family home after it had been used
as a rooming house for many years. The home's current owners
undertook the Victorian Monet inspired paint restoration and designed the front garden beds.
Proceed down their driveway through the back yard highlighted by permanent plantings, an herb
garden, a Thai Spirit House and selectively placed annuals to the newly completed Japanese
Garden and pond designed by Candace and created by Earthworks. This garden was featured in a
7/29/01 Buffalo News article.
343 Pennsylvania Street (at corner of Orton
Pl.)
Dr. Susan Persico - The home at 343 Pennsylvania was built in 1886 by William F. O'Rourke
and like many homes built on intersecting street
corners during this period, the house was constructed with a three-story tower on its east side,
facing the corner. The home's garden is a 16-year old work
in progress. Notable features include the gazebo, designed and built by the owners and the
romantic arch over the Orton Place sidewalk to support the
explosive growth of the garden's wisteria.
357 Pennsylvania Street (at corner of Orton Pl.)
Donna Levin - A mixture of wild and tame perennials and ornamental grasses compliment the
historic Victorian architecture of this Second
Empire Cottage. This home was built in 1875 and designed by noted Victorian-era architect
Richard Waite for the Cummings family. Homer Cummings,
who grew up in this home became Attorney General of the U.S. The adjoining house at 355
Pennsylvania was a twin to this home but was expanded and
redesigned in the 1880s in the then-contemporary Queen Anne style.
325 Pennsylvania Street
Dan Greenway - This lovely Queen Anne style home was designed in 1886 by architect
George Metzger for Buffalo industrialist John Wickser
and his family. Dan, the present owner, recently restored the exterior to its original glorious
splendor and received a 2000 Allentown Association
Beautification Award for his efforts. The front garden has been designed to compliment the
restoration work and includes low growing shrubs with mix of
perennials and annuals. The result is a low maintenance naturalized looking colorful garden.
Cross Pennsylvania Street . . .
332 Pennsylvania Street
Sue Byron - This home was built in 1881 by brothers Louis and Theodore Stover and designed
by architect Byron W. S. Clark. Typical for the
period, the house was built with an exaggerated and steeply pitched roof. The current owner
purchased the home in 1988 and started both front and back
gardens at that time. The goal was to establish a low-maintenance garden with increased ground
cover, supplemented with a mixture of annual and
perennial flowers. About a year ago assorted weeds and tufts of grass that passed for a front
lawn were removed to make way for ground cover, flowering
perennials, and scavenged rocks.
289 Pennsylvania St.
Steven Osterstrom and Patrick Thomas - Steve and Patrick rescued this formerly abandoned
HUD home and with diligent gardening efforts
have shown what can be done in a short period of time. They have replaced a pile of debris and
have built new flower beds around a backyard patio,
creating an atmosphere of peace in the city.
Exactly 100 years ago, Buffalo's biggest event, the Pan-American Exposition, was at its peak
in July and August, taking place where the Buffalo
Historical Society's headquarters are today. Residents of the Kleinhans neighborhood often
rented out rooms for travelers in our pleasant residential
district. In the summer of 1901, the owners of 289 Pennsylvania advertised that it was open for
"Pan-American accommodations, rooms reserved in
advance, lodging $1, meals 25 cents..." Transportation to the Exposition grounds was available
from the many street cars operating in the neighborhood.
Plymouth Ave. - The west side of Plymouth Ave. (even
house numbers) between Pennsylvania and Jersey St. has a long tradition of
gardening in Buffalo. The grounds were owned by Mr. William G. Fargo and
while his mansion was built one block westerly, Fargo purchased this block
to keep it from being built up during his lifetime. Fargo brought a professional
landscape gardener to Buffalo to lay out and manage his estate's grounds.
On this block he constructed one of the country's finest private conservatories
where tropical plants of the rarest kinds were cultivated. In 1876 he asked
the city to name the street Plymouth Ave. (formerly known as 12th
St.)
312 Pennsylvania St. (at corner of Plymouth
Ave.)
Ann Angelo and Kathleen Betsko - 312 Pennsylvania was constructed as a single family home
in May of 1890 by contractor Harvey Howell for
his family. Howell was a native of Ontario where he built light houses before moving to Buffalo
about 1880. In 1943 the home was purchased at an
auction by Don and Molly Angelo and converted to apartments. Three generations of the Angelo
family have resided in the home - Molly and daughter Ann
still do. In the 1980s the yard of the adjacent property was purchased and a covered deck and
gardens were added. Having gone through many changes,
the large Queen Anne style home is notable for its half-brick construction and three story tower.
About five years ago, Kathleen Betsko, a family friend,
adopted the fledgling gardens and revived them with all types of annuals, perennials and ground
cover.
87 Plymouth Ave. (1999 Only)
Jeffrey Leffler and Tom Olszewski - 87 Plymouth Avenue was built in 1880
by Chester C. McClure, Jr. He was an associate with W. H. Walker Co., a wholesale
dealer in boots and shoes. In 1983, the current owners purchased the property.
They enhanced an all tiger lilly garden and developed an extensive herb garden
supplemented by annuals and other perennials. The bricks that formed the
foundation for an old garage have been reused for flower beds and walkways.
Each year the garden evolves and takes new life and shape.
88 Plymouth Ave.
John Morgan - Mr. William F. Duckwitz, a collector with Ziegele Brewing Co.,
built this large home in 1887. John, the current owner, has cultivated a
spectacular back garden and attractive front garden, too. John recently painted
his home and the color scheme he selected - mushroom accented with forest
green, is a perfect compliment to his gardens. The garden is a mix
of perennials and annuals with a variety of pond plants, showing what can
be done in a small back yard.
107 Plymouth Ave.
Dorothy Brown - 107 Plymouth was built in 1882 by Rev. Henry W. Crabbe, pastor
of the Old United Presbyterian Church. The church was originally located
on Washington St. near Eagle but in the 1880s moved to Richmond Ave. on the
corner of Summer St. Converted to a 2-family dwelling in the 1930s, the house
was restored back to a single in 1997. The gardens - vegetable and flower
- have been established (and continue to be altered!) by the present owner.
Perennials augmented by annuals create blooms from early spring through
frost.
116 Plymouth Ave. (1999 Only)
Dwight Smith - This home was built in 1888 for John G. Heinold, of the grain
shipping firm of Heinold & Rodebaugh. Mr. Heinold served in the
187th New York Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Dwight,
a resident in this community for several years, rented his current home about
two years ago. Catching "gardening fever" from his neighbors, Dwight has
created a relaxing retreat by developing container gardens on his porch and
cultivating the front garden. Dwight has shown how gardening can beautify
a very small space!
Walk to corner of Plymouth and Jersey and turn right on Jersey, walk toward
Porter . . .
325 Jersey Street
Joseph Raimondo - The ornate and unusual home at 325 Jersey Street was built in 1884 by
lumber baron Samuel D. Colie. Mr. Colie lived in
this lovely home only about 6 years, as he passed away on July 18, 1890. It is believed that his
death was hastened from the nervous shock he received on
learning of the burglary committed in his house on July 4th of that year. The present owner
describes the garden as a work in progress and has expanded
brick walks and patio intended to complement the expansion of the home. Annual and perennial
plantings highlight the new borders and walkways.
453 Porter Ave. - Karpeles Museum (1999 Only)
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum - (museum open both days of the Garden
Walk) - Although the limestone church built on the triangular lot between
Jersey, Plymouth and Porter Aves. was constructed in 1911, the Plymouth Methodist
congregation had a presence at this location beginning in 1867. The current
building was designed by Jesse Porter. The red brick parsonage, also on this
site, was designed by Jesse's father Cyrus K. Porter in 1889 along with an
earlier church which was razed to construct the present building.
The church is famous for its stunning stained-glass windows with their
3-dimensional effect. After the church fell into disuse, its viability was
threatened. Long-vacant and deteriorated, the building received city historic
landmark status through the efforts of the Preservation Coalition of Erie
County and Kleinhans Community Association. Thankfully, David Karpeles of
the Karpeles Manuscript Museum purchased and restored this building in the
mid 1990s, and is now ready to focus on the grounds. Thanks to the City of
Buffalo, Legislator Judy Fisher and flower contributions from Dan Majewski,
the community will be assisting in the planting of 3 perennial flower beds
later this summer. Watch next year for this work in progress!
Porter at Normal - Life Memorial
Park
Joseph Raimondo - Joe, having lost a number of friends to AIDS, worked with
his community and the city to establish and dedicate Life Memorial Park in
1991 for people who have died from AIDS. Life Memorial Park is the only such
memorial located in a city park in the country. A named wall lists many
Buffalonians who have passed away including Michael Bennett. Joe's father
Stan Palaszynski was instrumental in designing the gardens, which includes
a ribbon-shaped sidewalk and variety of annuals and perennials. The park
is overseen by the Life Memorial Park Foundation which has recently added
an additional park bench, a new garden, and hopes in the future to add a
waterfall.
Kleinhans Community Association,
c/o Chris Brown
34 Orton Place, Buffalo, NY 14201
Symphony Circle Steering Committee,
c/o Ann Angelo
312 Pennsylvania Ave., Buffalo NY 14201 - (716) 885-9503