About Me

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My favorite building – Richardson Towers

My name is Angela Keppel. I am a history enthusiast, Buffalo booster and urban planner. I am a lifelong Buffalonian who grew up going to concerts at Lasalle Park, exploring the ships at the Naval Park, going back-to-school shopping with Great Grandma at AM&As, and spending time in an old building owned by my uncle at the corner of Broadway and Michigan. I attended opening day at Pilot Field and I still think the orange seats at the Aud were the best place to watch a Sabres game.

I’m fascinated by Buffalo’s history and Buffalo’s future. As a professional urban planner, I’m very interested in the future and excited about where we’re going as a City; but, I think it’s also important to look back and take pride in where we’ve been. I often say that I live in the juxtaposition between where we’ve been as a city and where we are going. I have a B.A in Political Science – Environmental Studies from Niagara University and a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Buffalo.

I’ve spent the last decade working in urban planning in Buffalo/ Western New York and am a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. I currently work in Downtown Buffalo as a Project Planner with Buffalo Place, Inc. To connect with me professionally, please add me on LinkedIn.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions I get from people:

How did you get the idea for the blog?

This blog started during spring of 2011. I really wanted to know how Keppel Street got it’s name. Instead of discovering Keppel’s origins, I found stories of other streets. I realized I needed to share the stories. I started writing the blog in early July 2011. In the past ten years, I’ve written about nearly 200 streets! You can check out the street index to see a list of all the streets I’ve written about. There are 1544 street names in the City of Buffalo…I hope to get through as many as possible!

All these years later and I still don’t know how Keppel Street was named. Some streets, we may never know how they were named. The mystery is one of best and also most frustrating things about historic research!

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Snyder. My mom’s family was from the South Buffalo/Lackawanna area, where my Great Grandpas worked at the steel mills. The book Italians of Lackawanna actually has a picture of my mom’s cousin on the cover. My dad was born in the Netherlands and his family immigrated to America when he was a child, and he grew up in Little Falls, a canal city in Central New York.

Do you ever speak to groups?

I am available for lectures on a variety of Buffalo history, architecture and development topics. Here are some of the presentations I have given:

Discovering Buffalo, One Street at a Time, Part 1
Discovering Buffalo, One Street at a Time, Part 2
Discovering Buffalo, One Street at a Time, Part 3
Discovering Buffalo, One Street at a Time, Part 4
Discovering Buffalo, One Street at a Time, Part 5
Buffalo Architecture and Development
Which Side of the Skyway Do You Stand On? An In-depth History of the Buffalo Skyway
Buffalo’s Women’s Union
Urbanism and the Rebirth of Buffalo
What’s Going On With That Project? Updates on Projects of the Last Decade
Buffalo’s Early Planning and Development – the first 100 years
Lost Downtown: The Story of Urban Renewal in Buffalo

Contact me at buffalostreets@gmail.com if you’d like to have me speak to your group. I typically speak during the Erie County Department of Senior Services University Express Program as well, so follow their calendar to find me!

How Can I Get in Touch With You?

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments here or contact me at buffalostreets@gmail.com or contact me on facebook (facebook.com/buffalostreets) or twitter(twitter.com/akepps), Due to time constraints, I can’t always reply to every single message I get, but I do appreciate them all and try to respond to as many as I can.

Can you tell me how this street got its name?

A lot of streets, we might not ever know the origin of it’s name, as they are lost to history. We may never know the origin of some streets. Some streets have simple origins – for example Elm, Hickory, Spruce, etc are named after trees. Sometimes, when you see streets in developments with common first names, they were named after friends and family of the guy who developed the land. Some of those developers were well known, for example, Bickford, but some we may never know. My blog focuses on the City of Buffalo since the history is most readily accessible to me to research in the Local History Collection at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. There are more than 1500 streets in Buffalo, so it keeps me pretty busy just limiting to within the City alone. For help with streets outside of the City of Buffalo, you may have better luck reaching out to your town historical society or a local genealogy group. I’m happy to share information that I do have in my database, but this blog is a hobby for me, so I don’t always have time for individual research requests. Typically, if you don’t hear from me, it’s because I don’t have any information to give you. Sometimes down the line, I’ll find something during my research, and will remember your request and get back to you months later! Thanks for understanding if I don’t get back to you right away.

Can you research this for me?

Since this is a hobby for me, I often do not have time to research specific things for people. Generally, I am happy to pass on information when I have it! If not, I can usually refer you to someone or an organization who may be able to help you find it. If not, there are researchers for hire who may be able to assist you.

I have something Buffalo History related, would you like it?

Of course! I’ve had people send me reproductions of historical prints, news clippings they’ve collected over the years, old maps, as well as a collection of info on a street named after a family member (post coming soon!). I love to hear your stories, and I’m so grateful for those who have been willing to share physical items in addition to their stories.

What is your favorite street?

Timon Street–partly because it is a pretty little brick street lined with big sycamore trees, and partly because researching Bishop Timon was one of my favorite research experiences. My Italian Catholic family and my education at Niagara University taught me all about Bishop Timon who brought us so many of our institutions. I almost choked from laughter when I first read quotes about how handsome John Timon caused women to spend all their money in his father’s store. I developed a real sense of awe and pride thinking of John Timon the young missionary on horseback in the wild west, and realizing how he managed to do so much and had so much life before he even arrived here in 1847. He then managed to accomplish so much here in Buffalo. John Timon – What a Guy!

What is your favorite place in Buffalo?

The Buffalo History Museum. I spent much of my childhood visiting the museum with my family. My mom started volunteering there during the 100th anniversary of the Pan American Exposition, and brought me along to a lot of the events during that year long celebration. My dad and I started volunteering a few years later, and we’ve been hooked ever since. You can usually find me serving popcorn at all of the Party on the Portico concerts at the museum, or you’ll find me taking one of my patented Russert Selfies in my favorite exhibit, the Tim Russert exhibit with the setup of his NBC studios office.

Who is your favorite Buffalonian?

Samuel Wilkeson the bike in Tim Russert Park

My favorite Buffalonian ever is Samuel Wilkeson. I even named my bike after Samuel, since my favorite bike rides are along the harbor for which we have Samuel to thank. I also really enjoy the stories of some of the strong female Buffalo role modals, such as Sarah Lovejoy, Maria Love, and Louise Bethune. I also hold a very special place in my heart for Tim Russert, who is the reason I studied political science in college, and one of my all time favorite people.

Thank you for checking out my blog!

Me (center) with my siblings and our neighbors at Tifft Farms as children

76 Comments »

76 Responses

on November 14, 2012 at 2:38 pm | Reply alesiablogs

Hi Angela,
Your name was given to me in regards to info. on Buffalo. I found out in July of this year that my ancestors from Caldwell County, KY actually emigrated through Buffalo, NY in 1830. Can you tell me what you may know about ports there or if they may have crossed over from Canada? They were Irish. Here is a link to a blog entry I wrote about some of my genealogy work that shows the naturalization of my ancestor Dunbar. In that letter, he proclaimed his port of entry into America as Buffalo. thank you for any help you can give me.
http://alesiablogs.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/primary-source/

Alesia
- on November 14, 2012 at 9:05 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Hi Alesia! Buffalo was actually a large port of entry for many immigrants due to our proximity to Canada. The 1830s, there would have been many Irish in Buffalo, so that could be a possibility….the Irish were an integral part of the building of the Erie Canal, which opened in 1825 and they probably helped to build many of Buffalo’s other canals after that, and stayed around to scoop the grain. I will see if I can dig anything up for you…most of the immigration records for Buffalo that I am aware of start in the early 1900s. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist, I might just not know about them yet. I’ll see what I can find!
  - on November 14, 2012 at 9:08 pm alesiablogs
    
    Angela,
    
    I am so thankful. This is so cool. I was really excited when J. G. Burdette introduced me to your blog. : ) Alesia
  - on September 11, 2014 at 7:05 pm PeggyO'Neill Sullivan
    
    Have you tried the Mutual’s Museum in the First Ward?
on December 9, 2012 at 12:04 am | Reply Anonymous

Dear Angela,
I am trying to locate some information given on my g-grandfather’s WWI Draft Registration Card and came across your web site of street names. The writting is very hard to read but it looks to be something like 3168 Beprest or perhaps Zeprest Street. He lived in Buffalo, New York and worked in Ontario, Canada as a meat inspector for the British Goverment. Can you tell me if you ever heard of these street names? Any help you may be able to give me would be greatly appreicated.

Regards,
Patti Woods Crick
- on December 9, 2012 at 7:30 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Hi Patty,
  I know how hard that old cursive is to read sometimes! I have never heard of either of those street names; however, if you could tell me his full name I could look him up in the Buffalo city directories from the years around WWI to see if I could find him next time I am at the library.
  - on October 29, 2013 at 1:17 am Patti
    
    Dear Angela,
    We wrote each other last year regarding my g-grandfather living in Buffalo, New York. After relooking at his draft registration I am thinking the address he gave was that of the WWI Draft Registration office in Buffalo. Can you tell me if you have ever come across an address such as 3169 Beprest or Zeprest St?
  - on October 30, 2013 at 9:40 pm Anonymous
    
    Dear Angela,
    First I would like to thank you for helping those of us who do not know much about Buffalo, New York. Working out of state is always a challenge but I am determined to find just where my g-grandfather lived. I know know that the WWI Draft Board Division 11 was located at 1186 Genesee St., Buffalo so I am still trying to locate just what the street name is that he gave on his registration card. Can you tell me where I might be able to locate city directories for 1917-1918 for Buffalo?
  - on November 1, 2013 at 11:34 am Angela Keppel
    
    City Directories are available for the public to review at the Buffalo Central Library. I have never heard of Zeprest or Beprest street in Buffalo.
on December 9, 2012 at 11:11 pm | Reply Anonymous

Dear Angela,
How can I ever thank you enough for your offer to help, you are the best and we thank you very much.

We have been working on finding information on great grandpa for almost 20 years but with the name being so common it makes it that much harder but when this gave us his actual birthday and place of birth we knew right away that was him. His name was John Wood, Born January 5,1882 in Dundalk, Ireland. This was taken from the U.S. WWI Draft Registration Card and dated September 9, 1918. He was a meat inspector for the British Goverment and also gave another address in Toronto Canada of 101 Pembroke.
Once again, thank you very much for any help you might be able to give us.

Regards,
Patti Woods Crick
on September 16, 2013 at 8:10 am | Reply Margaret Latona

Angela – in South Buffalo there is a street called Latona Court. It is off McKinley Parkway and I often wondered who it was named for. Since our family name is Latona, it interests me.
on October 11, 2013 at 7:33 am | Reply Anonymous

Hi Angela
This is really short notice but I just found you today would you be interested in speaking at my son school one day this month or next for about 30-45 mins. He going to Lackawanna High School for his government class we my son and I are help the teacher get the speaker.
If you can do this please leave my or my son a voice mail and we will get everything set up. My number is 259-4447 my son is 259-4747. Thank you so much. Sorry for the short notice.
on January 21, 2014 at 3:34 pm | Reply Jessica Dawson

Hello,

The Library of American Landscape History has just released a new film on the development of the Buffalo Park System and I thought you might be interested in sharing it with your readers. http://lalh.org/films/best-planned-city-film/

If you would like more information please contact me at jdawson@lalh.org.

Many thanks,
Jessica Dawson
Special Projects Coordinator

LALH
P.O. Box 1323
Amherst, MA 01004
(413) 549.4860
(413) 549.3961 fax
jdawson@lalh.org
http://www.lalh.org
on April 30, 2014 at 8:56 pm | Reply Micheal Tulipane

Hi Angela:
I have photograph of my mother and her first grade class taken in front of Mt. Carmel school. My mother was born in 1911 so this might be around 1917. The photographer was the The Loffredo Studio 92 Seneca St. Buffalo. Would you be interested in a copy?
- on May 14, 2014 at 8:46 am | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Hi Michael, Sorry for the delay in replying to your comment. I would love a copy of the photo! You can email me at buffalostreets at gmail.com
on August 15, 2014 at 12:09 am | Reply Hugh A. MacCallum

Great stuff- keep up the good work.
on September 16, 2014 at 1:49 pm | Reply Florence Cathcart

Hi Angela, I grew up on Masten Ave. (451 Masten), house is gone now, but there used to be a stadium on the corner of Ferry and the next street before Main where there used to be baseball games and concerts. Try as I might I can’t think of the name of it. Do you know? We used to love sitting on the porch and listening to it!
- on September 16, 2014 at 3:19 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Hi Florence, I believe you’re probably thinking of Offerman Stadium. There’s a woman who goes to my church who grew up walking up Masten Avenue to get to school at Masten Park High…she has shared a few of her growing up stories with me! It must have been a neat neighborhood to grow up in back then! Here’s an article you may enjoy from a few years ago that was in ArtVoice that talks about the history of the stadium: http://artvoice.com/issues/v7n33/play_ball
on October 11, 2014 at 2:02 pm | Reply wscalfaro

Hi, Angela.
Thank you for the work that you’re putting into your research and writing about the streets of Buffalo. I’m going to spend some time pouring over these pages to learn more. I found your site while looking for information on the Old First Ward. I’m writing a novel based on my grandmother’s childhood spent in the German Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum from 1915 – 1920 (the time frame of my book is 1917-1919). I’ve spent a lot of time researching the East Side, but plan to include people from other sections of the city. I truly appreciate being able to learn from your information that I found here. Thanks again.
- on October 23, 2014 at 2:05 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Hi! Please let me know when your book comes out, I’d love to read it! I love historical fiction, especially when it takes place in Buffalo. 🙂
  - on December 30, 2014 at 4:55 pm wscalfaro
    
    I will definitely do that.
on November 15, 2014 at 12:27 pm | Reply Amy

I enjoyed your article about Buffalo’s street names..l am a huge history buff, and l love the old history of Buffalo the most..Thank you for articles they are greatly appreciated..Keep up the good work..
on November 29, 2014 at 2:01 pm | Reply Elena Dritsas

Hi Angela,

Wow, your body of work is amazing. I am so impressed by what you have been able to gather, Angela. I am just beginning to look into my family history and my head is spinning by the amount of information out there to sort through so I can only imagine the number of hours this has taken you… I can feel the pride and the love you have for Buffalo and that is awesome!

I writing to you to find out if you can help me locate information on an establishment so I can narrow down the neighborhood my grandfather lived in while in Buffalo N.Y. I know very very little about my grandparents, almost nothing about the families and zero about family in Greece as my parents never shared any family information or stories.

My father is gone and my mother has Alzheimer’s so I am searching for anything at this point that can help me find the link to Greece. My grandfather would have emigrated through Buffalo, NY between 1900 and 1930 before making his way to Detroit where he opened his own bar and I am hoping that will help me find the place that he worked at while in Buffalo but my internet search turned up nothing… I found a wine list from my grandfather’s bar boxed up in my mother’s belongings and on the back of the menu it says that he spent “Ten years with John Wood of Buffalo, N.Y., six years as manager. John Wood was internationally famous for mixed drinks in the days before prohibition”.

I know it’s a long shot but I am hoping that any thoughts/info about this establishment and/or the location might be helpful in my search for information on my grandfather, maybe family that stayed in New York and possibly the link to family back in Greece.

Thank you for any response or guidance you can give me.

Elena
- on December 6, 2014 at 6:05 am | Reply Rosanne
  
  Read a couple comments above this one on December 9, 2012. Patti Woods Crick is looking for information on her relative named John Woods. Could this be the same John Woods that you mention?
- on February 26, 2015 at 5:29 pm | Reply Kevin
  
  Elena There’s a death notice for that John wood from 1943.His establishment was described as a small bar at 10 North Division st. that closed the very night prohibition went into effect.He later became a treasurer for Shea’s Amusements.
  
  Click to access Buffalo%20NY%20Courier%20Express%201943%20-%207252.pdf
- on January 27, 2019 at 1:04 am | Reply Shelley Ashfield
  
  The church attended by Greek community would be your first place to look for information.
on December 31, 2014 at 11:17 am | Reply Phillip A. Bobrowski

RE: Patti Woods Crick’s question on the street.
No street in Buffalo would have had a number that high (3168/9) around WW1. It would have to be, what was then, a rural address, UNLESS he was living in Fort Erie/Niagara regions of Ontario.
on January 25, 2015 at 11:52 pm | Reply Andrew Cannon

I have lived on Hazel Place since ’84 would like to know about my street as well as the streets that feed off of it I know you have covered May,You also have covered Bailey but what of Hazel, Burgard, Geomble,and Rap in? What’s the story behind them?
on January 27, 2015 at 10:46 am | Reply Ellen

I am interested in knowing more about Ashland Avenue. Do you plan to cover that street at some point? I am impressed by all that you have already done. What is your best resource?
on February 12, 2015 at 11:48 am | Reply Grace

Hi, great job, huge undertaking but most important to our community. I have been doing research on my family and found my father to live on Affinity, don’t know if it was street, place, or lane (or other) in Buffalo in 1935. If you google it today, it gives you the street placed off Kensington Ave. The family aways lived in the immediate downtown area, so I know that can’t possible be correct, as I don’t think that area was very populated at that time. I found a Buffalo street map of 1935 but don’t see any Affinity. I have traced a position on a map right where the city courts and jail are today.
on August 12, 2015 at 11:21 am | Reply David Snyder

Love this site, and the street histories. My most beloved ancestor was born and raised on Reed Street, and upon reading the fascinating entry, I think I found a glitch – Mr. Wilson died in 1877, not 1977, right? I also love the postcard of Lafayette Square, as it shows Broadway from downtown out. It was a favorite streetscape of mine when I was a kid and is now either gone or in ruins. Also, photos of Broadway from that angle seem hard to find. Anyway, good work!
on November 8, 2015 at 9:19 pm | Reply Anonymous

Hi, you are doing a great job. Curious to know if you are connected to Friends of the Buffalo Story group that has an NEA grant to pursue a visual arts story?
on January 27, 2016 at 10:20 pm | Reply Anonymous

Let me know if you ever need me to do some research. I already have a lot of research about Buffalo. Great job!
on January 29, 2016 at 1:42 pm | Reply Anonymous

Does anyone know the history of the house at 435 Woodbridge. People keep telling me it had famous owners? Would you have any info on this?
on September 1, 2016 at 11:33 am | Reply gilbert neal

Hiya! Are you planning on featuring Harlem Road or any streets in the Winchester district? Love your site!
- on September 7, 2016 at 6:24 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Thanks! I may cover some streets in that area if I’m able to find information about them – got any inside info?
on September 7, 2016 at 7:15 pm | Reply gilbert neal

I know Emporium Ave. was owned by Emporium Land company. Possibly my own street, Aurora, but I dont know. I know Winchester was another land company…
on October 29, 2016 at 4:21 pm | Reply Anonymous

To Anonymous regarding 435 Woodbridge-have you tried the Historical Society Library? They have a wealth of info on our homes. The city directories go very far back and will have the names of people who lived there. I found a lot about my home using the search and survey. Good luck.
on January 20, 2017 at 1:18 am | Reply Cynthia MacDonald

My grandfather may have been in an orphanage/poorhouse at the age of 1 year according to the New York 1865 Census. Before I can start looking for admissions information, I should find the name of the facility, but have had no luck finding it. His name was John Scully. He was on line 31, Page 45 of the 1865 Census for District 2, Ward 12, Buffalo, Erie, New York. Thank you in advance for any information you may have.
- on January 20, 2017 at 11:34 am | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  I don’t have a ton of experience looking through orphanage records. Not sure how to find out what facility he was in…I know the county had a facility, but I believe there were also facilities associated with various church groups, etc. I do know there is this guide from the library that might help you a bit: http://bit.ly/2jxbkmL
  
  Additionally, local author Roseanne Higgins does a lot of research about the orphanage/poorhouse – she may be able to help point you in the right direction. Her site is here: http://rosannehiggins.blogspot.com/
  
  Hope that helps!
on January 20, 2017 at 12:53 pm | Reply gilbert neal

Keep going! I like what you’ve done.
on June 14, 2017 at 3:07 pm | Reply Theresa Cushman

I would love to knoe this history of Sanders Rd. In north buffalo. My mothers maiden name is Sanders and rumor has it the street was named after our family. Somehow I do not believe it is true.
on August 1, 2017 at 9:02 pm | Reply Mike Shriver

I absolutely love this website, great work and keep it up! If you ever want to collaborate on anything please let me know. I do cityscape/urban/aerial photography dedicated to Buffalo – my site is buffalophotoblog.com. Either way, I always enjoy reading your posts and thank you for the local history lessons!
on August 5, 2017 at 8:50 am | Reply Bill Blake

very interesting site. I love reading about the street names etc. Any idea what the origins of Blake Street off of Fillmore Ave?
on August 13, 2017 at 5:36 pm | Reply Joe Argenio

Very interesting blog. Any information about North Division Street between Cedar and Pine? I lived at 313 until it was decided to tear that street down to build low income housing. I then moved to 52 Dash Avenue in South Buffalo. Know anything about that street. Thanks much!
on August 16, 2017 at 6:36 pm | Reply Daniel c.block Sr.

Do you think everything grew from buffalo then expanded from there?
- on August 16, 2017 at 7:34 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  I’m not sure what exactly you’re asking. A lot of communities around Buffalo developed around a similar time as Buffalo. Buffalo was a small village before the Erie Canal came here, and Buffalo really began to grow following the canal opening, but Clarence, Williamsville and many other towns and villages were already established by that time as well.
  - on January 27, 2019 at 12:57 am Shelley Ashfield
    
    Hi Daniel, it’s more accurate to think of expansion from the harbor-towns of the East Coast (Philadelphia, Baltimore, NYC) to points further west rather than vice versa. In Pennsylvania, both gravity railroads and canals were part of the logistics chain to transport coal to Philadelphia, from the 1790s on. So it really wasn’t a surprise how short a time the Erie Canal was prime, once the steam engines were attached to rail cars. Follow the rail lines and you’ll see the order in which cities developed. Syracuse grew large and rich, as they supplied the Union Army with salt to brine meat for the troops; towns along rail lines from sources of lumber, roof slates, and foodstuffs were well-developed social centers, with warehouses, stock auctions, churches, Masonic halls, tailor, barber, and dry-goods stores while Buffalo was still surrounded by palisade. Also look to see where the county seats in New York were located: this was where legal business and trade were co-located. Buffalo grew once it became a logistics hub for grain and livestock from further west: it grew in tandem with Chicago and Indianapolis.
on September 6, 2017 at 12:21 pm | Reply Philip Hathaway Koether, AIA

SMITH STREET – The Hydraulics/Larkin Neighborhood: any insight into its naming origins? My 2nd gr-grandfather, George R. Smith (1813-1878), was a “slow-beer brewer” there in 1837 as per the Buffalo Directory, and a hotel (Seneca and Hamburg) and millwright operated by “Smiths” of the same era. Same family perhaps? Thanks!!
on December 12, 2017 at 2:46 pm | Reply Tim Schneeberger

Hello Angela,
a note for your files: My great grandfather John Ruhland immigrated to Buffalo from Germany in the early 1880s. He was a carpenter. By 1898 he had built the family home at 127 Ruhland Avenue in Buffalo and the family lived there many years. He also built my grandparents home at 63 Stevens Ave.
I have a picture of the home at 127 Ruhland from a 2008 Buffalo News article on the sad state of some homes in the area. I also have a picture of the home at 63 Stevens which has fared much better. I can send the pixs if you’re interested.
Family lore has it that Ruhland Ave. was named for my great grandfather. I don’t know if this is true but thought you might be interested.

Tim
on January 16, 2018 at 5:31 pm | Reply Jim

Hi Angela,
I grew up on Abbottsford Place off of Forest Avenue. It was originally called Bessie Place. Any chance that you might be able to share some history on the street and its naming(s)?
Jim
on March 27, 2018 at 2:33 pm | Reply Brian Jones

Angela,
Can you help me locate the source of the image “Depiction of the Canal Street Area”? I’m trying to find it in a high-resolution version for a local project. Thanks.
on August 2, 2019 at 1:16 pm | Reply Anonymous

Street History: Four streets; North Parade, West Parade, East Parade, and The Parade are all named by location since they surrounded and ran through The Parade which was renamed Humboldt Park.
on December 9, 2019 at 11:07 pm | Reply John

Angela (or anyone),
Any idea where Brown’s Building was in Buffalo in the late 1800s in relationship to today? A number of businesses seemed to be there.
- on December 9, 2019 at 11:13 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Hi John, it was at the corner of Main and Seneca, replace by Marine Bank after falling in 1896. Here’s a link with a picture: http://projects.buffalonews.com/then-now/index.html
on May 27, 2020 at 8:40 pm | Reply John A Gnann

Hi Angela – I recently learned that my grandfather lived on Vary St. around 1917. I had never heard of Vary St. and when I did a Google search nothing came up. Have you ever heard of it ? Could it possibly have been renamed and now is something else ? Thanks in advance for your help.
- on May 27, 2020 at 8:49 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Hi John! It was a street on the near East Side near Jefferson. The area was cleared by Urban Renewal during the 1960s/70s. Town Gardens apartments were built over it, I believe. If you shoot me an email to buffalostreets@gmail.com I can try to send you a map that shows it the street.
on May 29, 2020 at 3:18 am | Reply Dawn Murray

Hi Angela,
Your article is great! Thank you for all the research you do and share with all of us! In the 1930’s/40s, my Great Aunt, Victoria Glegota, had a bakery in Black Rock called, Black Rock Bakery. Do you know anything about this Bakery? I would love to find anything out that anyone can share. Thank you!
- on May 29, 2020 at 2:20 pm | Reply John Gnann
  
  Hi Angela – Thank you for the quick reply. I will send you a separate email to buffalostreets@gmail.com and if you could send me a map that would be awesome !
  
  Regards,
  
  John Gnann
on July 23, 2020 at 4:21 pm | Reply Maureen Lydon

Hi Angela,
I’m interested in the history of See Ave or See St. Years ago I found something on the internet saying it was changed to Riverside but I can’t find it now. Have you ever heard of See St? or know of its origins and who it was named after?
on September 26, 2020 at 10:40 am | Reply Sarah E. Trimm

Hi Angela! I’m not sure of where to find information about streets that are either no longer in existence or their names may have been changed. I’ve found numerous information about past family members living/passing away on a Demond St and a Demond Pl. I cannot find this street anywhere in Buffalo, even looking at old maps. I thought it might be in the Black Rock Area or by Main and Fillmore, but I don’t see it on old maps. I also thought maybe it was a typo ad supposed to be Desmond, but I’ve found multiple locations where it is spelled Demond… even people outside of my family in their obituary! Are you familiar with this street, or do you know where I could find information about old streets that their names have either been changed or are no longer in existence? Thanks so much!!! sarahtrimm@gmail.com
- on September 26, 2020 at 12:17 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Hi! Demond Place was in the Fruit Belt, running north from Tupper, parallel to Oak and Elm streets.
on October 9, 2020 at 2:03 pm | Reply Annette Baumgarden

Hi Angela –
I love your blog! So interesting! THANK YOU for your meticulous research. I’m looking to do a “Streets” tour for a cemetery in Niagara Falls. You inspire me to get our there and dig. I wonder if the Grosvenor Room at the Main Library has NF info? Must go explore.
Thanks again!
Annette Baumgarden
President
Oakwood Cemetery Heritage Foundation
- on October 9, 2020 at 6:25 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  The Grosvenor Room might have some info but I would imagine the Local History Department on the 3rd floor of the Niagara Falls Library would be a better source for you!
on November 22, 2020 at 5:08 pm | Reply Anonymous

What a great website! Thank you!
on November 22, 2020 at 5:10 pm | Reply Stephen Powell

Thank you for all of your work. I am an hobby historian and am digging around to investigate the buried Scjaquada Creek. Fun stuff!
on February 10, 2021 at 5:32 pm | Reply Robert Constantine

Angela
Your excellent article on Urban family reached the 98 year old granddaughter of George Urban Jr. She would like send you a note of thanks. Is there a mail box or address she could use?
- on February 10, 2021 at 5:39 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Oh my goodness, how sweet! She can send it to Angela Keppel, 671 Main Street, Buffalo NY 14203. Thanks!
on June 25, 2021 at 3:03 pm | Reply Kathleen Blizzard

Hi Angela – Curious if you happen to know how Kilhoffer Street got it’s name? That’s my maiden name and I was surprised to find a street with the name in Buffalo. Thank you!
on July 15, 2021 at 3:36 pm | Reply julia a yager

Do you know who lived in the doll farnhouse after the doll’s moved out? I lived on may street from 1947 – 1969 and picked apples for the elderly lady that lived in that house but cannot remember her name. Thank you for any help.
on November 29, 2021 at 9:43 am | Reply Ronald Smith

Please include my email address in future postings.
on January 8, 2022 at 8:57 am | Reply Mike haen

Very interesting, nicely done!
on July 1, 2022 at 7:15 pm | Reply Bob Allard

Would you be able to help me, I know you do Buffalo Streets but I am looking for information on a street in the City of Tonawanda, do you know anything about the the name connected to the street named “Miller Place”, or do you know someone who can help. Thanks for any help. Bob Allard
on January 26, 2023 at 11:31 am | Reply Victoria Winifred

Hi there! I just started following you on Twitter as I am soon to release my late mom’s poems, some of which reflect her childhood in Buffalo, NY in the 1940s. I believe she lived on Abbott Road. Follow back if you can, and thank you!

Tweets by writer4kids
- on February 4, 2023 at 8:33 pm | Reply Angela Keppel
  
  Very cool! Just followed you back!
on March 20, 2023 at 10:10 am | Reply Roger Krieger

I was born on St. Joseph Avenue in 1944. My father grew up at 87 St. Joe. My grandfather worked as a Machinist for the New York Central railroad at the roundhouse. He never had a drivers license or car. He walked to work. The Rowes lived up the street across from the Doll mansion. We moved in 1950 to Winslow Ave. but often visited the Rowes and marveled at the Doll mansion. They had a carriage barn close to the roadway. I believe at the time two sisters, one crippled lived there. I was told that when the property was bought and torn down for a gas station the barn was still full of carriage equipment. St. Joe use to be lined with horse chestnut trees and was a very great place to live.