With its strategic position at the head of Arlington Park coupled with its tower extending from the main structure of the building, 163 College Street affords
beautiful views of the park’s old maple and horse chestnut trees.
The home was built in 1890 for Samuel and Susan Newman. Mr. Newman was a merchant tailor and owned a business called Newman and Dodsworth. Before moving to his new house, he lived at 122 Pearl Street, which was only a few doors down from his business at 142-144 Pearl Street. Newman lived here for a long time; from the time the home was built until his passing away in April, 1926. His obituary stated: “Samuel Newman, 163 College street, retired merchant tailor and well known in Buffalo, died Wednesday night in De Land, Fla., where he had been since January. Mr. Newman, who was 75 years old, had suffered a stroke a year ago and another one recently.
One of the last homes to be built around Arlington Park is among the few whose design is attributable to a local architect who worked in Buffalo during the Victorian era. Charles Ruben Percival was an architect that worked in Buffalo during its greatest period of post-Civil War expansion (1875-1900). The Percival family has a special connection with Arlington Park. Not only is there an example of Mr. Percival’s architectural design at 163 College Street, but Charles’ brother George Edward and his descendents had a presence in Arlington Park for half a century from the 1930s through the 1980s.
