Just Another Street in Buffalo
This slide show tour along Linwood Avenue gives a taste of the rich architectural texture that is so prevalent in Buffalo. Linwood, Stretching from North Street to Delevan Avenue is at once commonplace in Buffalo and yet still so extraordinary. This street is one of Buffalo's many many avenues of mansions. It was probably Buffalo's second most prestigious street for years. Running adjacent to and parallel with the much wealthier Delaware Avenue, it none the less carved out its own intregueing architectural direction. Its houses are likely to use a more experimental edgier style. Where Delaware was staid and reserved in its use of classical forms, Linwood's families were more likely to use more progressive architectural expressions such as the Shingle Stye or even jarring juxtapositions and compositions defying deffinition. The mansions are smaller on Linwood but still very large by anyone's standard. Their haunting beauty is dark and brooding with many surprises for the eye.
After WWII and the depression large houses like those found on Linwood fell out of favor. The old wealthy families either died out, moved on, or lost their fortunes in the depression. After the war, society had new priorities that did not include the showiness of grand estates run by large staffs of servants. The old houses of Linwood followed the same path as so many Buffalo streets. Some fell into disrepair, a few were demolished, some were converted to apartments and rooming houses. Still others were converted to offices. While Linwood had hit a rough patch over the last 60 years it has weathered the storm mostly intact. Today Linwood appears to be in a major resurgence. Many of the houses on the street have received top quality renovations with many being converted back to single family use. This slide show alone can not do justice to so many of these buildings. Consider this piece a down payment for additional exploration of some of the best Linwood residences.
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piedaterre
There are so many gorgeous homes in Buffalo, and many (as on Linwood) are MASSIVE. Zooming/cropping in on the gable details was a great touch that shows the balance of scale and detail. Lovely.
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martin kemp
I live taking walks on Linwood, on a summer day you can almost step back 100 years...
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steph
Linwood is my favorite avenue in Buffalo. When someone asks why I live here I smile and think of places like this. I'm going to go drive down Linwood when I get off work today. There is one house in the slide show that I did not recognize and must find.
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Perry Fisher
One of the great streets of America. The houses in these few blocks alone are worth a trip to Buffalo. Anyone I have ever told to be sure to detour to Linwood can't get over the architecture. Thank the architectural (preservationist obstructionist?) gods that Linwood has historic-district protection, and Steel for this post.
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Eric
Stunning. Thanks! To think this is just one street in Buffalo.
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marcia
Simply Gorgeous.... It would cost at least a cool million $$ to live in these homes anywhere else in the country . Whom ever has the good fortune to live in these homes should consider themselves to be very blessed.
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amanda
my street! I have to be careful driving every day because the architecture always turns my eyes away from the roadway. I am looking forward to the spring when I can start walking in the am and get a better look at the rich detailing in these grand old houses.
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