Fidelity Trust Building / NYS Dept. of Labor Building - Table of Contents
Fidelity Trust Bank Building
/ NYS Dept. of Labor Building
284 Main Street, Buffalo, NY
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Founded: |
1892, by John Albright |
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Erected: |
1909 1926, addition, west wing facing Swan Street |
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Architects: |
1909: Green
& Wicks 1926 addition: Edward B. Green & Sons, Inc. |
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Style: |
Commercial Renaissance Revival |
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Status: |
Joseph Ellicott Historic Preservation District |
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The Weed Block at Main & Swan, built in 1857, was demolished in 1901 to make room for the Fidelity Trust Building |
Fidelity Trust Building near the turn of the century (note horses) |
11 stories tall. Note the 1926 addition by Edward B. Green & Sons, Inc. at far left |
Note the 1926 addition by Edward B. Green & Sons, Inc. at far left |
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Roof line:
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Note egg-and-dart molding |
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Fluted end brackets with guttae and dentils support broken pediment |
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A northern neighbor: Main Place Mall (far right) |
Neighbor: Dun Building |
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 called the M&T Building and later still the NFTA Building.
George V. Forman, a very punctual man, according to Anson Goodyear, "every morning left his house at a certain hour and met George Williams at his house just above North Street, to walk to the Fidelity Building together. Mr. Forman boasted a very prominent corporation and leaned backward to achieve his balance. Mr. Williams was emaciated and bent forward to achieve his. It was a procession on which people checked their watches." -- Forman-Cabana House
