Williams Lansing
1860-1920
A member of one of Buffalo's oldest families, he was the son of Bleeker B. and Sophia E. Williams Lansing, born 1 October, 1860 at the home of his grandfather, E. P. Williams, on Court Street on the future site of Shea's Theater.
After graduating from Buffalo State Normal School (Photo), he went to Colorado and spent several years on western ranches.
Architecture career
1886 Employed by Green & Wicks 1889 Solo practice C. 1892 Lansing & Beierl. Max G. Beierl (rhymes with spiral), another Green & Wicks draftsman. Their office was at 371 Pearl St. 1910 Lansing Bley & Lyman. (See also Duane Lyman). 1919 Lansing and Oakley, with A. J. Ort as associate Lansing designed the Hersee Block in Main Street, H. O. Mills, Canisius College, Holy Family Church, the homes of Harry T. Ramsdell, Bronson Rumsey, John W. Bush, Myron P. Bush, Edward S. Warren, and Mrs. David Gunsberg. He was supervising architect of the Pan-American buildings.
At the time of his death, he was completing the salesrooms of the Lafayette-Buffalo company, the subject of constructing motor car salesrooms and service stations.
Personal life
Lansing's own home at 29 Oakland Place was designed in 1898, [Max G. Beierl's House: 104 Robie]He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church
As an ardent supporter of aquatic and all outdoor sports, he was a founder of the Buffalo Canoe Club and its first Commodore.
One of his last public utterances was a plea for the preservation of elms on lower Delaware Avenue.
Death
His death came quite unexpectedly, Mr. Lansing having been at his office a usual the day before. He suffered from a stroke during dinner at his home at 200 Bryant Street, from which he never regained consciousness. He died one day short of his sixtieth birthday.He was survived by his wife , Mrs. Mary Vought Lansing, his daughter, Mrs. Arnold C. Saunder, Jr., and two brothers, Gerrit B. and Stuart Lansing.
At the time of his death, his firm was known as Lansing and Oakley, with A. J. Ort as associate. Both his partners were bearers. He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York - Lot #35, Section AA, an area befitting his stature in life, the family plot located next to the grave of Williams G. Fargo of Wells-Fargo fame.
Online buildings:
- Lafayette Presbyterian Church - 1894, Lansing & Beierl
- Lansing House, 29 Oakland Place 1898, Lansing & Beierl
- Truscott House, 33 Oakland Place 1898, Lansing & Beierl
- Hotchkiss House, 37 Oakland Place 1897-8, Lansing & Beierl
- Coatsworth House - 1897, Lansing & Beierl
- Connecticut Street Armory - 1898-1900, Lansing & Beierl
- Philip Smith / College Club House - 1904, Lansing & Beierl
- Holy Family RC Church - 1907, Lansing & Beierl
- Photo - Lyman M. Bass House, 129 Oakland Place - 1907, Lansing & Beierl
- Central Presbyterian Church - 1910, Lansing & Beierl
- St. Francis Xavier RC Church - 1911-1913, Lansing & Beierl (Lyman?)
- Photo - 327 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY (Built for W. Acheson Smith, the VP of Acheson Graphite Co.) - 1919, Lansing Bley & Lyman
- Photo - Mann House, 28 Oakland Place 1901, Lansing & Beierl
- 109 Chapin Pkwy - ?. Lansing & Beierl
Sources:
- Martin Wachadlo, Consultant
- Buffalo Express, October 1, 1920
- Buffalo Times, October 1, 1920
- Warren R. Baltes, The Story of the 74th Regimental Armory in Buffalo, New York
