20 Orton Place

erect a “frame dwelling 20 X 57 and two stories, west side Orton Place about 163 feet northerly from Hudson St.” In October of that year, the Anderson’s purchased the completed home from Johnson for the sum of $7,500.

Manton E. Anderson was a medical doctor and in 1888 had W. Elmendorf as a
student in his home. Elmendorf later became a medical doctor. Anderson’s

obituary stated: “The funeral of Manton O. Anderson, M. D. who died at his home, No. 55 Granger place on Friday was held from Saint John’s Episcopal church, Colonial circle, yesterday, the Rev. Walter Russell Lord, officiating, assisted by the Rev. Henry Mesier, both old friends. The bearers, business associates, were Dr. Pliny H. Hayes, Dr. George S. Hobbie, Dr. Albert J. Hobbies, Ernest B. Walker, John G. Monk and William C. Achilles. The burial was in Forest Lawn cemetery.”

“Dr. Anderson was born in the little town of Wilkinsonville, Mass., on December 31st, 78 years ago. When the Civil war broke out he was but a youngster and four times during the first year he tried to enlist, but was
rejected because of his age. During the last year, at the age of seventeen, he was accepted in the First Massachusetts light artillery. He was the only one of his company destined to return. In the attack on Fort Monroe he was captured by the enemy and for nine months languished in prison, first at Andersonville and later at Florence. He returned home almost a physical wreck, weighing 61 pounds in his army coat. His father carried him from the
station to his home in his arms. A few years later he moved to Binghamton and in 1872 married Mary Antoinette Ogden. He studied medicine at the New York Medical college, class of ‘80. Dr. Anderson went to Sayre, Pa.,
to take charge of the Lehigh Valley railroad medical forces, that city being the company terminal at that time. He remained there for six years when the
terminal was transferred to Buffalo.”

“In 1885 Dr. Anderson became associated with Dr. P. Harold Hayes in the practice of medicine. He was active in his chosen profession up to April of last year, with offices at No. 600 Delaware avenue. He had undergone two previous severe operations. The one in April was more than his constitution, weakened by age, and handicapped as the result of his terrible war experience, could stand and he lingered until death relieved him of his sufferings on Friday.”

“Dr. Anderson was very popular and his jovial disposition endeared him to all who knew him. He was a gentleman of the old school, kind and considerate among his patients and employees. His interest in the Y.M.C.A. began at an early age and continued throughout his life, being a member in good standing at all times. He was a former vestryman of Saint John’s church and a member of several clubs.”

“Surviving him are his widow, Mary Antoinette Anderson and two daughters,
Katherine MacNaughton of this city and Mrs. Helen A. Cobb of Seattle, Wash., wife of Lorenso M. Cobb, formerly of Buffalo.”

According to a 1900 census, Manton Anderson was born in December, 1849 and Mary, his wife, was born in July, 1848. Helen O., his daughter was born in June, 1878. The Anderson family must have enjoyed their Orton Place home a great deal; Manton and his wife Mary lived there over 30 years.

The house was a 2 ½ story Queen Anne style frame house with a gable roof. The front gable was pedimented with a reel molding, and had paired windows with a round arched window. The gable was further enhanced with a fan and scroll carving, then finished with shingles to give a fancy and varied appearance. The second floor had a stained glass window, and lattice work cut-out pattern in a corner scroll bracket. In addition, the second floor had an enclosed sleeping porch, which was so popular during the 1880s. The front porch on the first floor had carved posts and a paneled balustrade. The front entrance was enclosed in wainscoted vestibule. One the north side of the house, a bay was finished with a full pedimented gable roof. An oval window on the south side was installed in the entrance, and was probably originally filled with stained glass.

The house remained true to its original appearance until the 1980s. Most of the original interior details were removed during a remodeling project from the 1950s. In the 1980s the exterior was greatly modified for the worse, as the house’s original clapboard siding was sided with composition siding and the front porch was enclosed and shingled. The second story sleeping porch was enclosed as well, obscuring much of the home’s original detail. In the mid-1990s, the house was abandoned and deteriorated rapidly. Due to improper winterization and the severe winter climate in Western New York, one or two seasons took its toll on the structure.

There is a house with similar architectural styling details to this one at 794 Prospect Ave. Because of the significant deterioration of this home, it was scheduled for demolition during the summer of 1999. A community garden is planned to replace the structure.