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This page is devoted to some of the many historical articles about railroading in the Western New York area, written or edited by Society Historian, Greg Jandura. As more articles are added, old ones will be archived. So sit back, or feel free to print out, and enjoy the rich railway heritage of Western New York. |
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"Buffalo Central Terminal is celebrating its 80th birthday on June 22, 2009.As part of this celebration, I will relate the story of the “Buffalo” which stood guard on a mounted pedestal for many years in the passenger concourse. |
| The original buffalo was a real stuffed American bison nicknamed “Stuffy”. It joined the Buffalo Museum of Science Collection in 1895, and was a key display at the Grosvenor Library in downtown Buffalo. The rest of the museum’s collection was housed there for a number of years until the Museum of Science building was completed in 1929. “Stuffy” served as a pro-Buffalo advertising feature at the Buffalo Central Terminal, greeting travelers during World War II. During the war, service men and women off to serve their country, would rub the animal’s hide for good luck, wearing it out. By the end of the war, this creature was looking very shabby and had to be replaced. The Western New York Railway Historical Society archives, which contain numerous records left behind when the terminal was abandoned in 1979, has the story of the second buffalo from its inception to its placement in 1945. File #101-A relates the story through correspondence between New York Central Railroad officials. |
| Our story begins on April 10, 1945 in a letter from Engineer Maintenance of Way J. H. Kelly to F. B. Wilcox, Division Engineer. Mr. M.R. Dwyer, Superintendent of Central Terminal, was negotiating for the installation of a statue of a “Buffalo” (bison) in Central Terminal to take the place of “Stuffy”, the one that used to be there. Mr. J. A. Lewis, working under J. H. Kelly, would correspond with F. B. Wilcox. This proposed statue would be 5 to 5 ½ feet in height and 8 to 9 feet long, and would be delivered to the Terminal on a base which would be 6 to 8 inches high. A bottom base of 5 feet in height would be needed. It should be “real ornamental” and in harmony with the surroundings. The base would be of wood encased in marble, similar to the siding of the depot. The statue would be built by Mesmore & Damon, Inc., 400 West 22dn Street, New York City, and would weigh 250 pounds. It would be made of plaster and painted bronze. The price was $1,500.00. On April 18th, 1945, it was suggested by the sculptor that it would be more advantageous to construct a 6 inch hollow wall to which the marble could be attached. It would be more substantial and stronger than the wood, which would be difficult to attach to the marble. On April 27th, Superintendent Dwyer was informed that the complete installation of the base would cost $995.00. On May 10th, a detailed letter from the Purchasing Department in New York City was received in Buffalo, approved by A. H. Wright, Vice-President. The ”Buffalo” would be delivered upon completion of the Baggage Room, Grand Central Station, after a two-day advance notice to allow for the necessary arrangements. The Desprit Mosaic Marble Company, 1085 East Delavan Avenue, Buffalo, would furnish the base. The approximate size of the marble base would be 87 inches long, 30 inches high and 56 inches high. It was expected that the “Buffalo” would be completed in four to seven weeks. The New York Central Railroad issued purchase order # 5-E-4-36-150 for the construction of the marble base on May 21st, 1945. Work would not start until the “Buffalo” was well on its way towards completion. On June 2nd, Mesmore & Damon, Inc. notified F. B. Wilcox by letter that the “Buffalo” would be ready for shipment by the end of June. The Desprit Mosaic Marble Company notified Mr. Wilcox that once the exact location of the “Buffalo” was known, they could commence building the base beginning about June 25th. The “Buffalo” arrived safely on July 6th, 1945, aboard train # 63, and was immediately fastened down by 10:00 A.M. by Mr. Hamilton and his crew to prevent someone from stealing it. |
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You might wonder what happened to both “Stuffy” and the plaster “Buffalo”. “Stuffy” was long forgotten for many years, hidden away at the Buffalo Museum of Science until its rediscovery. Today, he and his "hairless hide" are on display in the Museum | ) |
| Unfortunately, the “Buffalo” was knocked to the ground and broken by a truck backing in to it during the tenure of one of the owners of the building. The original moulds were located and a replica now sits in front of the Arts Building on the University of Buffalo Amherst Campus. |
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