Birge-Horton House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Birge-Horton House
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Birge-Horton House, April 2009
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 477 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, New York |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | Green and Wicks |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000703 |
| Added to NRHP | July 16, 2004 |
The Birge-Horton House is a special old home in Buffalo, New York. It was built in 1895. Famous architects named Green and Wicks designed it. This house is a "row house" in a style called Georgian Revival. It's made of brick and stone and has four stories. The house is part of the historic Allentown area in Buffalo. In 2004, the Birge-Horton House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important building worth protecting.
History of the Birge-Horton House
In the early 1800s, Delaware Avenue was Buffalo's main street for homes. It had many large houses and clubs. The area where the Birge-Horton House stands was called "the Midway." This was because it was halfway between Niagara Square (the city center) and Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Design and Features
The Birge-Horton House is a great example of a Georgian Revival style row house. It was designed by well-known Buffalo architects E. B. Green and W. S. Wicks. They built it for Henry and Fanny Birge. Mr. Birge was a partner in a wallpaper company.
The house is four stories tall and three sections wide. It is built from brick with stone details. Each floor on the outside has different cool architectural features. You can see amazing craftsmanship all over the building. The inside of the house is also very beautiful. It has a grand staircase that goes up all four stories. There are also six marble fireplaces. Beautiful leaded glass windows and ceiling lights add to its charm. Today, this is the only house in its row that still looks like it did when it was first built.
The Birge-Horton House was the last of thirteen fancy row houses built between 1893 and 1895. These four-story homes were very unique in Buffalo. Different architects designed each house in the row. They all had different styles. But they look like they belong together. This is because they are similar in height, width, and building materials.
Later Owners
In 1906, Katharine Pratt Horton moved into the house. She rented it until 1920. Then she bought it from Fanny Birge. Mrs. Horton lived there until she passed away in 1931. After her death, the Buffalo Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution inherited the home. This group has kept the house looking much like it did when Mrs. Horton lived there.
Who Lived Here?
- 1895-1906 - Henry and Fanny Birge
- 1906-1931 - Katharine Pratt Horton
- 1931–Present - Buffalo chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
