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. 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
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 Enlarged Buffalo History Museum photograph on display in the Richardson Hotel

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