Fidelity Trust Building / NYS Dept. of Labor Building - Table of Contents
EXTERIOR - Fidelity
Trust Bank
Building
/ Swan Tower
284
Main Street, Buffalo, NY
Swan Tower - Official Website (online Jan. 2021)
First floor: New York State
Department of Labor: Buffalo Career Center - Official Website
(online
Jan. 2021)
Bank founded: |
1892, by John Albright |
Erected: |
1909 1926, addition, west wing facing Swan Street |
Architects: |
1909: Green & Wicks 1926 addition: Edward B. Green & Sons, Inc. |
Interior: |
160,000
square feet, 10 stories |
Historical framework: |
Marine Trust Company, Fidelity Trust Company, and the Bank of Buffalo comprised the strongest financial institutions in the City at the turn of the century. Later, Fidelity
Trust Company was named the M&T Building
and later still the NFTA Building. In 2011,
the building was referred to by the owner since 1989, Ellicott Development, as
Swan Tower. |
Mural ceiling
restoration: |
1989 by owner Ellicott Development,
including the meticulous restoration of the building’s hand painted
ceiling murals |
Style: |
Commercial Renaissance Revival |
Status: |
Joseph Ellicott Historic Preservation District |
Historic Photos The Weed Block at Main & Swan, built in 1857, was demolished in 1901 to make room for the Fidelity Trust Building. ... Millard Fillmore's law office was located in the Weed Block. ... Source: 1957 Souvenir Historical Book - Buffalo's 125th Anniversary, featuring over 200 pictures from the collection of Roy W. Nagle Fidelity Trust Building near the turn of the century (note horses) ... Note the original top cornice, later simplified ... Source: 1957 Souvenir Historical Book - Buffalo's 125th Anniversary, featuring over 200 pictures from the collection of Roy W. Nagle |
Neighbors Except where noted, 2005 photos 2016 photo ... Note 1926 Edward B. Green & Sons, Inc. addition on left of Fidelity ... Building on right: Ellicott Square Building Building at left: Dun Building Note 1926 Edward B. Green & Sons, Inc. addition on left of Fidelity ... Keystone in each window To the right(north) of Fidelity/Swan: 1905 White Building ... To the right (north) of White Building: 300 Main Street ... Far right building: Main Place Tower Fidelity Trust Bank Building / Swan Tower / NYS Dept. of Labor Building 284 Main Street, Buffalo, NY ... Building details below: |
Architectural Features Protruding cornice ... Block modillions ... Egg-and-dart molding ... Dentil molding ... Keystones ... Flemish bond brickwork Leaf-and-dart molding ... "F': Fidelity ... Guttae ... Pendant bellflowers Dentil molding in entablature ... Dentil molding in entablature ... Engaged Roman Ionic columns ... Bay leaves and disc in triangular spandrels ... Keystone ... Door surround: Broken pediment with cartouche in tympanum ... MCMI: 1901 ... Rosettes ... Keystone ... Three details below: Detail #1 - Ionic capital features spiral volutes Detail #2 - Ancone-shaped keystone ... Bay leaves and disc in triangular spandrel Detail #3 - Door surround: Broken pediment with cartouche in tympanum ... Dentil molding ... MCMI: 1901 ... Flanking rosettes ... Keystone Bronze transom lattice and side lights surround double doors Foliate molding ... Egg-and-dart molding ... Leaf-and dart molding ... Bead-and-reel molding ... Roman lattice pattern |