Preservation Buffalo Niagara introduces 1850 Project

In 1996, titans of Buffalo’s preservation community, including John Conlin, Edward J. Patton, and Paul Redding, were commissioned by then Common Council President George K. Arthur to identify structures in the City of Buffalo built prior to 1860. The resulting list included approximately 215 buildings, with the oldest from 1818.

Preservation Buffalo Niagara recently acquired this 25-year-old survey and has found that nearly 30% of the structures then identified have been lost in the intervening years. Of the remaining structures, over 80% have no formal historic designation or protection.

A press release said, “In an effort to ensure that we do not lose any more of these important pieces of Buffalo's early history, PBN is pleased to announce the 1850 Project where we will be training volunteers to research these buildings and put proper preservation protections in place.

“We are so excited to pick up this project and finally give these structures the preservation protections.”

Volunteers will receive all the virtual training needed to conduct and document research from the comfort of their homes. PBN staff will then review and provide instructions about how to help transform the research into a landmark nomination or an eligibility review for the National Register of Historic Places.

More information about the 1850 Project may be found at www.preservationbuffaloniagara.org. Questions may be directed to PBN at 716-852-3300, or [email protected].