WELCOME TO FORGOTTEN BUFFALO & TOURS

An Urban Explorer's Guide to the Buffalo-Niagara Region: Unique Landmarks, Historic Gin Mills, Old World Neighborhoods, History, Nickel City Oddities, Tours and More!

Welcome

Experience the Tour

Departure Board

Arrival Board

Tour Polish Buffalo

Buffalo Ethnic Tours

Tour German Buffalo

Tour Italian Buffalo

Tour Irish Buffalo

Last Fine Time Tour

Buffalo Brewery Tour

Classic Taverns-Awards

Classic Taverns-Buffalo

Dill's Tavern

Top Hill Grill

Talty's

Daren's Tavern

Scharf's Schiller Park

Pristach's

G&T Inn

Gene McCarthy's

Ulrich's Tavern

Artys Grill

Dick's Eastside Inn

East End Tavern

Sportsman Tavern

The Malamute

Taverns of Polonia 1910

Dalys

Eddie Brady's Bar

Ten-O-Won Grill

Classic Taverns-Travels

The Concertina Bar

Mels Bar

Club 505

Steve's Lounge

Classic Taverns-Last Call

Felong's Tavern

Billy O's Golden Swan

Big Joe Dudzick's Tavern

The Broadway Grill

Bramer's Grill

Concord Restaurant

Messner's Aero Bar

Ray Flynn's

Kutas Warsaw Inn

McBride's Pub

Strusienski's Restaurant

Private & Ethnic Clubs

Adam Mickiewicz Library

American Serbian Club

Corpus Christi AC

Croatian "Cro" Club

Dnipro Ukrainian Center

Dom Polski - N Tonawanda

Eldredge Bicycle Club

Polish Cadets

St. Stan's Athletic Club

Third Warders Club

Ukrainian-American Center

FBTV Video

Historic Polonia District

Central Terminal

Polish Home Museum Project

Broadway Market

St. Stanislaus Church

Corpus Christi Church

St. Adalbert's Basilica

Superman Corner

Polonia Views

Eckhardt Department Store

Polish Union of America

PPS Broadway Mkt Report

Polskie Kolo Spiewackie

Lucki Urban

Buffalo's Polonia History

A Polka Moment In Time

Vintage Polka Posters

Pulaski Parade 1962

Pulaski Parade 2006

Pulaski Parade 2008

Broadway Fillmore

Polonia Stories

1910 Maps of Polonia Buffalo

Buffalo Polonia - 1910

Preserve a Polish Home

Kaminski Meats

Polonia Scrapbook

Polonia On Parade

1965 Polka Convention

Polish Paintings

Power To Polonia

Beer Murals Nielsen

Forgotten Bflo Features

Kids & Wigilia Traditions

The Simon Pure Brewery

Lost Bflo Train Stations

New York Central at War

Pennsylvania RR at War

Talkin' Proud!

Buffalo Union Station

Bayliss-Oshei Residence

Niagara Falls Steak Sub

Buffalo Heights

The Statler Hilton

Metro Rail 1973

Bflo Before & After

Retro Chip Collection

Melody Fair - N Tonawanda

Buffalo Courier Express

History in Your Pocket

Corner Store Experience

The Fair

Most Endangered Sites

Re-Light the Rand

Pierogi @ St. Nick's

Whammy Weenie

Skateland - East Ferry

Jimmy Griffin 1929-2008

Jack Kemp 1936-2009

Sattler Theater

Masonic Lodge #846

Broadway Grill Reunion

Vintage Xmas Cards

Bocce Club- Clinton St.

Smiling Ted's

Buffalo Snow

Edsbyn, Sweden

Buffalo Drive-In

Buffalo 1969

Ray Bennett Lumber Co.

Ray H. Bennett Home

Ultra Cool: 70s Buffalo

Buffalo Bowling Shirts

Great Northern Elevator

Pullman / Wagner Complex

Pierogi Capital of US

North Park Theater

Zywiec Brewery

Buffalo Beer Trays

1964 Campaign For Pres

Heritage Discover Ctr

Tale of Two Roundhouses

Brand Names Catalog

Trolley Lobby BCT

Mentholatum, Hyde, Smythe

Chez Ami 311 Delaware Ave

Schreiber Brewery

Forgotten Buffalo Sounds

Sounds of Buffalo Beer

Sounds of Buffalo

Sounds of the Hound

Utica Club Beer Song

Forgotten Buffalo-Lost

Gramza's Cigar Store

Burczynski Bakery

St. Gerard's Parish

The Polish Village

Rudas Record Store

Tondrowski's Shoe Store

The DL&W Terminal

Buffalo Gas Works

S.S. Aquarama/Marine Star

Aquarama - Final Chapter

Sattlers 998

Rivoli Theater - Broadway

H-O Elevator

Riverside Men's Shop

Mastman's Kosher Deli

Crystal Beach

Department Stores

CLASSIC PHOTOS

Bevador/Beerador Coolers

Parkside Candies

Buffalo's Last Roundhouse

Wildroot Factory

Buffalo Stockyards

Chicago Iron Works

Spolka Clothing

Forgotten Ontario

Tim Hortons #1

TH&B Train Station

Ivor Wynne Stadium

Canadian National Station

Minojijikum Island 1076

Forgotten Rochester

Retro Wegmans

Polonia Rochester

Spittoon Water Troughs

Forgotten Buffalo & Genny

Genesee Brewery Tour

Forgotten Bflo Roadtrips

Perreca's Bakery

F.X. Matts - Utica Club

Forgotten Buffalo-Media

Ch. 2: WGR & WGRZ-TV

Rocketship7

Commander Tom Show

Dialing for Dollars

Ed Tucholka

Polonia Media

Greg Chwojdak, WXRL

Tour of Bflo Broadcasting

WKBW Radio

WKBW Top 40 Celebration

KB Goes Kaboom! WKBW

1430 Main St - WKBW RADIO

A Thing of the Past 2006

WKBW's Tommy Shannon

George Hound Dog Lorenz

1420 Main St - WKBW TV

Forgotten Bflo Orchestra

R & L Lounge, 23 Mills St

Union Stock Yards Bank

The Think Bank

The Natural Tour

Preservation Corridors

Broadway

Fillmore Avenue

Lombard Gibson Mktplace

Project Paderewski

Forgotten Buffalo News

Despensata Corporation

Marketplace Kitchen

Buffalo Broadcasting

PROJECT PADEREWSKI
Saving One of Buffalo's Great Urban Streetscapes



One of North America’s greatest urban vistas. Wooden workers cottages, taverns and retail buildings of Buffalo’s Polish colony provide the gateway for the towering art deco Buffalo Central Terminal. This five block area located on the Eastside of Buffalo, New York is one of the most endangered neighborhoods in America. (Paderewski Drive looking east toward Buffalo Central Terminal, December 2010)




UPDATES:

2/28/11 - 367 Paderewski Drive Demo'd



Paderewski Drive looking towards Buffalo Central Terminal
Paderewski Drive looking towards Buffalo Central Terminal
Paderewski Drive at Lombard looking towards Fillmore Avenue
Paderewski Drive at Lombard looking towards Fillmore Avenue




WHAT'S IN A NAME?


Ignacy Jan Paderewskil 6 November 1860 – 29 June 1941)

Originally named after one of Buffalo’s pioneer land surveyors, the continuity of Lovejoy Street was disrupted by the building of the New York Central Railroad Terminal in the late 1920s. Its current name, Paderewski Drive, pays homage to one of the most popular pianists and an important activist for Polish national freedom during the early 20th century.
 

Ignacy Jan Paderewski was born in Poland in 1860. He became one of Poland's world renowned pianists and composers, traveling throughout the United States in his private Pullman railcar. He was a proud customer of the New York Central Railroad who gave him their highest level of service. Although his own compositions are well known, Paderewski was widely praised for his renditions of Chopin. In addition to delighting Poland and the world with his music for over 50 years, Paderewski also became one of Poland's great statesmen.


Paderewski on the rear of his private Pullman railcar.

It was through Paderewski's efforts, with support from the American government and American people, that Poland regained her freedom after World War I. He was also one of the signers of the Paris Peace Treaty which was responsible for reestablishing the proper boundaries between Poland and her neighbors. Paderewski became the chief framer of the Polish Constitution of 1919 and served as Poland's delegate to the League of Nations in Geneva. Upon Poland's Independence, in 1918, Paderewski became its Prime Minister and Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

Paderewski’s connection to Buffalo is well documented. His first concerts took place in the city in 1892. In 1905, while on tour in London, Ontario, Paderewski was stricken with neuritis. He cancelled his tour and travelled to Niagara Falls, NY to be attended to by Buffalo’s Dr. Francis E. Fronczak. Fronczak was Commission of Health and a great fighter for the health and welfare of Buffalo’s Polish colony. During WWI, Fronczak and Paderewski both served on various committees to provide relief aid to Poland. During the early years of WWI, Paderewski visited Buffalo and Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario to visit the training camp for Polish Army volunteers. Many Poles living in Buffalo joined the volunteer militia with the goal of liberating their homeland from German control. Paderewski died in New York City in 1941.




Paderewski Drive as seen from Buffalo Central Terminal looking west towards Downtown Buffalo (2008).
Paderewski Drive as seen from Buffalo Central Terminal looking west towards Downtown Buffalo (2008).


FILLMORE AVENUE @ PADEREWSKI DRIVE GATEWAY


Paderewski Gateway buildings. 595 Fillmore Avenue on right is in danger.
Paderewski Gateway buildings. 595 Fillmore Avenue on right is in danger.
605 Fillmore Avenue: Former offices of Dr. E.A. Biniszkiewicz. Best surviving example of Tudor Revival in Historic Polonia District (picture Dec 2010)
605 Fillmore Avenue: Former offices of Dr. E.A. Biniszkiewicz. Best surviving example of Tudor Revival in Historic Polonia District (picture Dec 2010)
595 Fillmore Avenue: 1893-1906, owned by Joseph Jankowski. Surviving example of Eastlake architecture.
595 Fillmore Avenue: 1893-1906, owned by Joseph Jankowski. Surviving example of Eastlake architecture.
605 Fillmore Avenue, Corner of Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
605 Fillmore Avenue, Corner of Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
595 Fillmore Avenue: 1893-1906, owned by Joseph Jankowski. Surviving example of Eastlake architecture. Unoccupied; Currently at EXTREME risk.
595 Fillmore Avenue: 1893-1906, owned by Joseph Jankowski. Surviving example of Eastlake architecture. Unoccupied; Currently at EXTREME risk. (picture Dec. 2010)
Barn and boarding house behind 505 Fillmore along Paderewski Drive. This unique building is at critical risk to being lost (Dec. 2010)
Barn and boarding house behind 505 Fillmore along Paderewski Drive. This unique building is at critical risk to being lost (Dec. 2010)
595 Fillmore Avenue - as seen in the 1890s
595 Fillmore Avenue - as seen in the 1890s


Paderewski Drive (Northside)


304, 306 & 308 Paderewski Drive (picture Nov. 2010)
304, 306 & 308 Paderewski Drive (picture Nov. 2010)
304 Paderewski Drive (Dec. 2010)
304 Paderewski Drive (Dec. 2010)
306 Paderewski Drive (Nov 2010)
306 Paderewski Drive (Nov 2010)
310 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
310 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
316 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
316 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
310 & 316 Paderewski at Lombard. Both of this retail buildings are at extreme risk (image Nov. 2010)
310 & 316 Paderewski at Lombard. Both of this retail buildings are at extreme risk (image Nov. 2010)
Paderewski Drive @ Lombard
320 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
320 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
322 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
322 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
328 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
328 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
344 Paderewski Drive (image Dec. 2010)
344 & 346 Paderewski Drive (image Nov. 2010)
346 Paderewski Drive (image Dec. 2010)
346 Paderewski Drive (image Dec. 2010)
350 Paderewski Drive (image Nov. 2010)
350 & 354 Paderewski Drive (image Nov. 2010
350 & 354 Paderewski Drive (image Nov. 2010)
354 Paderewski Drive (Dec. 2010)
356 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
356 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010): Built as an automobile filling station in 1928 for S. Pogorzelski.
356 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010): Built as an automobile filling station in 1928 for S. Pogorzelski.
Paderewski Drive @ Sears Street. Corpus Christi Church, a National Historic Landmark, in background.
Paderewski Drive @ Sears Street. Corpus Christi Church, a National Historic Landmark, in background.
380 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
388 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)
388 Paderewski Drive (Nov. 2010)


Paderewski Drive (Southside)



385 Paderewski Drive (image 2009). Built in 1949 as the Adam Plewacki VFW Post #799. An example of streamlined-modern architecture. Designed by Joseph Fronczak. Current called, Polonia Hall, is managed by the Urban Center.
385 Paderewski Drive (image 2009). Built in 1949 as the Adam Plewacki VFW Post #799. An example of streamlined-modern architecture. Designed by Joseph Fronczak. Current called, Polonia Hall, is managed by the Urban Center.
375, 367, 365 & 363 Paderewski Drive (image Dec. 2010)
377 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
377 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
375 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
375 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
367 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
365 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec 2010)
February 23, 2011 - demo of 367 Paderewski Drive.
363 Paderewski Drive (picture Nov. 2010)
363 Paderewski Drive (picture Nov. 2010)
357 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
357 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
357, 355 & 341 Paderewski Drive (image Dec 2010).
355 Paderewski Drive (Picture Dec. 2010)
355 Paderewski Drive (Picture Dec. 2010)
341 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
341 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
333, 329, 327 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009)
333 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
329 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
329 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
327 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
327 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
317 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
315 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
315 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
299 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
295 Paderewski Drive (picture Dec. 2010)
293 Paderewski Drive (image Dec. 2010)
293 Paderewski Drive (image Dec. 2010)
275 Paderewski Drive (image Dec. 2010)
275 Paderewski Drive (image Dec. 2010)
 


Paderewski Drive looking West from Legion Circle


VANISHING PADEREWSKI
Recent losses are a call for urgency to develop this unique vista




Half the structures on the southside of Paderewski Drive betweeen Lombard and Gibson were tore down between 2009 & 2010. The urgency to preserve and develop Paderewski Drive is high. LOST: 309, 307 & 303 Paderewski Drive (March 14, 2009)
Half the structures on the southside of Paderewski Drive betweeen Lombard and Gibson were tore down between 2009 & 2010. The urgency to preserve and develop Paderewski Drive is high. LOST: 309, 307 & 303 Paderewski Drive (March 14, 2009)
Same view. December 2010
Same view. December 2010
Lost between March 2009 and December 2010
Lost between March 2009 and December 2010
LOST: 303 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009)
LOST: 303 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009)
LOST: 307 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009).
LOST: 309 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009)
LOST: 309 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009)
LOST: 309 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009)
LOST: 343 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009).
LOST: 343 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009).
LOST 343 & 341 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009)
Same view; Dec 2010
LOST: 323 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009).
LOST: 323 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009).
LOST: 319 Paderewski Drive (image March 2009).
LOST 323, LOST 319, 317 Paderewski Drive (image March 2010)
LOST 323, LOST 319, 317 Paderewski Drive (image March 2010)
Same view; December 2010
Same view; December 2010


The eastend of Paderewski Drive.... Buffalo Central Terminal
The eastend of Paderewski Drive.... Buffalo Central Terminal


Other Paderewski Items


vintage postcard view
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