64 Amherst

Engine #15 Fire Station
64 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY
1912
Black Rock Neighborhood

COMPANION PAGE: Interior Photos

TEXT Beneath Illustrations

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Key Bank on the left; Station No. 15 on the right

Neighbor: Half a block down the street on Amherst is St. John's United Church of Christ

East facade on East Street with neighbors at 140 and 142 East

Neighbors: Across the street on East Street are the St. Francis Xavier Church, rectory and school

Front (south elevation) on Amherst St.

Architect's plan showing the front elevation

Architect's plan of front doors, now replaced by a garage door

Front (south elevation). 2 1/2 stories.

Dressed sandstone entrance surround. Note keystone above recessed entry.

Cornerstone on right of front entry

City seal on left of front entry

Dressed sandstone entrance surround: Entablature includes dentils and frieze

Paired Italianate brackets under wide eaves. Pebbledash between brackets.

Slate shingles on dormer and roof; dormer (as well as building) has hipped roof

Fire alarm boxes (here post only, box missing)

Architect's plan showing east elevation (on East Street)

East elevation on East Street

Italianate tower. Hoses were hung here to dry.

One of two entrances on East Street side.

One of the building occupants

Side of roof top garden

Architect's plan showing west elevation (left side of building).

Stretcher bond

History
This was one of three fire stations that used essentially the same design. The other other two are No.34 on Main Street across the street from Bennett High School (photo) and the station on Elmwood and Amherst near the former Pierce-Arrow plant, both of which are still being used as fire halls.

The cornerstone was laid in 1912.

Built to help protect Black Rock, which boasts over 90 pre-1850 standing houses in the area, for example 71-73 Amherst, diagonally across the street. The dominant style of the neighboring houses is Greek Revival.

The building ceased to be used as a fire station by the city in late 1970s. It was then sold and converted to several large apartments.

Architect
Thomas W. Harris (?)
Harris designed Engine #34 Firehouse on Main and Mercer (PHOTO)

Architectural style
In contrast to the mostly Greek Revival houses in the immediate neighborhood, the station is an example of Arts and Crafts style with Italianate ornamentation (especially the paired brackets and, of course, the tower)

Sources:

July 2000 Preservation Coalition Black Rock tour -- Tim Tielman and Mark Goldman, tour guides
December 23, 1990, Buffalo News "Area Landmark" feature

See also:

71 Amherst Street

"Historic Old Black Rock," by Austin M. Fox (Fall 1994 Buffalo Spree)

Chemical No. 5 Firehouse (also converted to residential use)

Highlights of Buffalo's History, 1912

web site consulting by ingenious, inc.


Key Bank on the left; Station No. 15 on the right	Neighbor: Half a block down the street on Amherst is St. John's United Church of Christ	East facade on East Street with neighbors at 140 and 142 East	Neighbors: Across the street on East Street are the St. Francis Xavier Church, rectory and school

Front (south elevation) on Amherst St.	Architect's plan showing the front elevation	Architect's plan of front doors, now replaced by a garage door	Front (south elevation). 2 1/2 stories.

Dressed sandstone entrance surround. Note keystone above recessed entry.	Cornerstone on right of front entry	City seal on left of front entry	Dressed sandstone entrance surround: Entablature includes dentils and frieze

Paired Italianate brackets under wide eaves. Pebbledash between brackets.	Slate shingles on dormer and roof; dormer (as well as building) has hipped roof		Fire alarm boxes (here post only, box missing)

Architect's plan showing east elevation (on East Street)	East elevation on East Street	Italianate tower. Hoses were hung here to dry.	One of two entrances on East Street side.

One of the building occupants	Side of roof top garden	Architect's plan showing west elevation (left side of building).	Stretcher bond

History	This was one of three fire stations that used essentially the same design. The other other two are No.34 on Main Street across the street from Bennett High School (photo) and the station on Elmwood and Amherst near the former Pierce-Arrow plant, both of which are still being used as fire halls. The cornerstone was laid in 1912. Built to help protect Black Rock, which boasts over 90 pre-1850 standing houses in the area, for example 71-73 Amherst, diagonally across the street. The dominant style of the neighboring houses is Greek Revival. The building ceased to be used as a fire station by the city in late 1970s. It was then sold and converted to several large apartments.
Architect	Thomas W. Harris (?) Harris designed Engine #34 Firehouse on Main and Mercer (PHOTO)
Architectural style	In contrast to the mostly Greek Revival houses in the immediate neighborhood, the station is an example of Arts and Crafts style with Italianate ornamentation (especially the paired brackets and, of course, the tower)