Birge-Horton House is a historic home located at Buffalo in

Erie County, New York Erie County is a county along the shore of Lake Erie in western New York State. As of the 2020 census, the population was 954,236. The county seat is Buffalo, which makes up about 28% of the county's population. Both the county and Lake Erie w ...

. It was designed in 1895 by the Buffalo architectural firm of Green and Wicks and is a

Georgian Revival Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1714 and 1830. It is named after the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover— George I, George II, Ge ...

style row house in "The Midway" section of Delaware Avenue. It is a four-story brick house with stone trim. The house is situated within the boundaries of the Allentown Historic District. ''Note:'' This includes an
''Accompanying four photographs''
/ref> The Birge-Horton House was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 2004.

History & Design

Delaware Avenue, in the early 19th century, was the principal residential street in Buffalo and consisted of many freestanding mansions and clubs in addition to these row houses. The site chosen for these homes was referred to as "the Midway " since it was located halfway between Niagara Square (city center) and Forest Lawn Cemetery.Katharine Pratt Horton Buffalo Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
/ref> The Birge-Horton House, an outstanding example of a Georgian Revival row house, was designed by preeminent Buffalo architects E. B. Green and W. S. Wicks for Henry and Fanny Birge. Mr. Birge was a partner in the Birge Wallpaper Co. The Birge-Horton House is four stories high, three bays wide, and constructed of brick with stone trim. On the exterior, each floor of the home is distinguished by various architectural features. Superior craftsmanship is evident throughout the building. The interior design is exquisite. A grand staircase rising four stories, six marble fireplaces, leaded lay lights, and leaded windows are just a few of its beautiful features. Today, it is the only home in the row that remains as it was built so long ago. The Birge-Horton House was the last of the thirteen luxury row houses built from 1893 to 1895. These four-story houses were unique in Buffalo. Although each house in the row is the work of various architects and of different designs, they give an overall appearance of unified composition because of similarities in height, width, and construction materials. In 1906, Katharine Pratt Horton took up residence, renting the property until 1920 when she purchased the house from Fanny Birge. It remained her residence until her death in 1931. At that time, the Buffalo Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution inherited the home. Since then the Katharine Pratt Horton, Buffalo chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has maintained the house much the way it was when Mrs. Horton lived in it.

Owners

*1895-1906 - Henry and Fanny Birge *1906-1931 - Katharine Pratt Horton *1931–Present - Buffalo chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution

References

{{National Register of Historic Places in New York Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state) Houses completed in 1895 Georgian Revival architecture in New York (state) Buildings and structures in Buffalo, New York Houses in Buffalo, New York Architecture of Buffalo, New York National Register of Historic Places in Buffalo, New York Green & Wicks buildings

History & Design

Owners

See also

References