32 Park Street

On June 1, 1849 family of the late Charles Townsend sold an unimproved 25' x 120' building lot on the west side of Park Street 300 feet north of Virginia Street to Jacob Nuse. The lot would later be known as 32 Park Street. Nuse paid $200 for the lot and probably built a 1½ story cottage at 32 Park in autumn, 1849 or spring, 1850. Nuse was a wagon maker wheelwright (maker and repairer of wheels and vehicles) and was reported living in the house between 1850-1852, although the house was described only as being on "Park Street near Virginia." Nuse along with his wife Catharina moved to suburban Park Street from their former home at 166 Pearl Street.

On September 1, 1853 Nuse sold 32 Park Street to Frederick Wilhelm Tralles and his wife Bertha for the sum of $750. Tralles moved to 32 Park from their former home at 409 Michigan Ave. Tralles was a piano maker and employed by the firm of Kenaga and Peterson, piano forte manufacturers located at 196 Washington.

Two and a half years later on February 1, 1856 Tralles sold 32 Park to Benjamin G. Streeter and his wife Lucy Ann for $825.  Streeter, a rail road agent, moved to 32 Park Street from 14 Union.

A year and a half later on December 21, 1857, Streeter sold the home to Philo M. S. Shepard for $1,000. Shepard, a cashier with the NYC rail road, and his wife Delia J. moved to 32 Park from 159 Delaware Ave. They lived in the home for 15 years.

On October 28, 1872 Shepard sold 32 Park to Charles Sigwald and his wife Mary for $1,700. Sigwald was an architect who had his business at 59 Genessee Street. Sigwald built a rear house and expanded the cottage at this time. He received a permit from the City of Buffalo to "erect a frame building, 18' x 20' and to make an additional story to his present building on lot on the west side of Park Street, 300' north of Virginia."

Sigwald sold the property shortly thereafter on May 13, 1874 to Charlotte Krathwohl for $3,001.  The increased value of the property is attributable to the architectural enhancements made by Sigwald.

The property was redesigned in the Colonial Revival style in the 1890s.  It has a very detailed and ornate porch, built circa 1895 and was completely rebuilt in 2007.