420 Franklin Street

From its very beginning, Franklin Street attracted professionals who wanted to combine comfortable suburban living with the proximity to the boom of Buffalo’s commerce on the waterfront.  So many doctors hung out their shingles on Franklin Street that it was called “Pill Alley.”  Franklin Streeters built big and built wonderful.

Another stunning example of Richard Waite’s architecture from the 1870s, situated on the northwest corner of Virginia Street the mansion at 420 Franklin Street dramatically addresses the intersection with a multifacted facade.  Many architects of the period failed to take full advantage of the opportunities a corner site presented, but Waite was not one of them.  Another unusual feature of this brick mansion are the mini-mansard roofs that crown each dormer.

The building, like many large mansions, has been used as corporate offices for the last several decades.  It is currently utilized as the law offices of Siegel, Kelleher and Kahn, whose commitment to Allentown is shown by the fact that they house their offices in two adjacent mansions: 420 and 426 Franklin Street (1889).

Two homes on Franklin Street north of Virginia: 420 Franklin and the “Hamlin House” may be Buffalo’s first family compound as they were built for members of the Hamlin family.  This house was built for Frank Hamlin.  The wine tasting on today’s tour held at the Hamlin House will offer you another opportunity to view an opulent home built for a member of the Hamlin Family.