Coit House - Buffalo, NY
Posted by: 
Rayman
N 42° 53.814 W 078° 52.578
17T E 673391 N 4751554
The Coit House is believed to be the oldest standing structure in Buffalo, and was moved to its current location in 1867.
Waymark Code: WM2DBT
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 10/15/2007
Views: 63
George Coit was one of the founders and fathers of the City of Buffalo. Coit was also instrumental in having the Erie Canal end in Buffalo. He came to Buffalo from Massachusetts in 1811 with great wealth and opened a drug store downtown in 1812. However, nearly everything he had was lost a year later as his store and home above was burned to the ground when the British burned the city during the War of 1812.
The exact date of construction of the house is unknown, but is widely speculated to be somewhere around 1814 or 1815 during the reconstruction of Buffalo. Additions to the house were added around 1833, and another prior to 1850. Coit died in 1865, and one of his son's remained living in the house until 1867.
The house was moved to its current location in the fall of 1867. Surely if it were to have remained at its original location, it would have been demolished due to the expanding downtown business core. Over time, the house was altered slightly and converted to apartments. Throughout the mid-1900s the house gradualy fell into disrepair, and was almost demolished. The Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier was established to prevent this, and they succeeded in doing so. Currently the house is closed to the public and is undergoing extensive renovations. There are hopes that it can be turned into some type of museum so the public can learn about what is believed to be the oldest structure still standing in Buffalo.
Original Location: N 42° 52.914 W 078° 52.602
Type of move: Inside City
Building Status: Private
How it was moved: Not listed
Related Website: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Tell of your visit. Post an original photograph if possible.