288 Linwood Ave. - Table of Contents .............  Linwood Avenue - Table of Contents

History -  George E. Newman House
288 Linwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York

Research by Lisa and Michael Parks

Built:
1875
Original owner:
George E. Newman  1875-1896
Subsequent owner: T. C. Tanke  1896-?
Architect and contractor:
Oscar S. Lang
Style:
Second Empire
Porch and entrance may not be original

Buffalo City Directories

For links to directories, see BuffaloResearch.com (online Jan. 2015)

1872, p. 499 - George E. Newman. Crockery. 444 Main, h. same
1873, p. 467 - George E. Newman. Crockery. 444 Main, h. same
1874, p. 529 - George E. Newman. Crockery and glassware, 444 Main, h. same
1875, p. 563 - George E. Newman. Crockery and glassware, 444 Main, h.  288 Linwood Avenue
1876, p. 593 - George E. Newman. Crockery.  444 Main Street. h.  288 Linwood Avenue
1878, p. 520 - George E. Newman. Crockery and glass, 444 Main Street, h. 288 Linwood Avenue
1880, p. 536 - George E. Newman. Crockery and glassware, 444 Main Street, 288 Linwood Avenue
1884, p. 91   - Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Newman, George Newman, Miss Newman, Mrs. Maria Larson.
288 Linwood Avenue
1886, p. 721 - George E. Newman. Crockery and glassware, 444 Main Street, 288 Linwood Avenue
1887, p. 275 - George Newman.  288 Linwood Avenue
1888, p. 756 - George E. Newman. Crockery and glassware, 444 Main Street, 288 Linwood Avenue
1889, p. 817 - George E. Newman. Crockery and glassware, 444 Main Street, 288 Linwood Avenue
1890, p. 766 - George E. Newman. Crockery and glassware, 444 Main Street, 288 Linwood Avenue
1890, p. 959 - Theodore C. Tanke. Watchmaker and jeweler, 411 Main, h. 80 Bryant
1891, p. 800 -
George E. Newman. Crockery and glassware, 444 Main Street, 288 Linwood Avenue
1891, p. 1002 - Theodore C. Tanke. Watchmaker and jeweler, 411 Main, h. 80 Bryant
1892-93, p. 134 - Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Newman. 288 Linwood Avenue
1892-93, p. 29 - Mr. and Mrs.T. C. Tanke, Mr. Eugene Tanke, 80 Bryant Street
1894-95, p. 185 - Mr. and Mrs. George E. Newman, Miss Emma A. Newman, 288 Linwood Avenue
1894-95, p. 51 -
Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Tanke, Mr. Eugene T. Tanke, Mrs. Mary J. Noble, 80 Bryant Street
1896-97, p. 519 - George E. Newman, 80 Bryant
1896-97, p. 553 - T. C. Tanke. 288 Linwood Ave.

. Mary J. Noble, GEORGE E. NEWMAN
China, Glass, Crockery, Etc., No. 444 Main Street.

The development of the trade in china, glass, and crockery ware, and of the most elegant fancy household goods, etc., is indicative of the increase of material wealth, refinement, and culture among the American people. A house in Buffalo whose policy and methods have always retained for it the confidence of the commercial world, and whose ability, enterprise, and energy place it in the front rank of the wholesale and retail trade in this line of goods, that of Mr. George E. Newman, centrally located at No. 444 Main Street, is well worthy of more than passing observation.

Mr. Newman was born in Poland, Herkimer County, this state, and has been a resident ot this city since 1845. Having a full knowledge of this trade, he inaugurated this establishment at this address on his own account in 1860 and at once developed a very large and substantial trade, both wholesale and retail, and extending throughout the city and surrounding country.

The premises utilized comprise a handsome, substantial, four-story brick building, having a frontage of 20 feet, with a depth of 125 feet, and fully equipped with every convenience for the accommodation and advantageous display of his large and valuable assortment of goods. The stock carried embraces a bewildering variety of beautiful and brilliant wares in china and glass, Sevres, Limoges, German, and French china; lava, bisque; and Parian marble; Bohemian stained glass, cut and embossed; also plain and pressed glass ware, statuary, fancy and ornamental wares for use and ornament; also lamps in every variety, from the piano telescope to the smallest size, and of all patterns, together with their fittings; yellow and stone ware. Rockingham, Wedgewood and Trenton pottery, etc. He also carries a full line of household cutlery, fancy wares of all kinds, plated goods, etc.

His long experience in the business, together with bis superior connections, enable him to place before his patrons the very best lines of goods and at the very lowest prices. Mr. Newman is a popular, polite, and courteous gentleman, ot high executive ability, energetic and rehable, and is most highly respected as a merchant and public spirited citizen.

- Source: George Milroy Bailey, Illustrated Buffalo: The Queen City of the Lakes, p. 112 (1890) (online Feb. 2015)
George E. Newman







March 2, 1911

George E. Newman, who for 35 years had a crockery store at No. 441(?) Main Street, Buffalo, N.Y., died last seek at his home, No. 128(?) Normal Avenue.  He was born in Russia, Herkimer County, on March 10, 1829, and went to Buffalo in 1845 and worked in the store of W. H. Glenny until he opened a store of his own in 1860.

He married Eliza S. Shaw, who died in 1903. The children were Mrs. John W. Danforth, Mrs. Thomas B. McKee, of Mansfield, O., Emma A. M. Newman, who died in 1901, the Reverend George Nathan Newman and Charles J. Newman of this city.

Mr. Newman was descended from William Newman, one of the original settlers of Stamford, Conn., in 1612(?) His grandfather fought in the Revolution. He had been a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church for 38 years.

- Source: The Pottery, Glass & Brass Salesman



George E. Newman


Jeweler Tanke Suffers in the Conflagration in Buffalo

Dec. 14, 1893
The block at the corner of Clinton and Main Sts., and extending back to Washington, known as the Arcade [PHOTOS], was destroyed by fire this morning.

Among the losers is T. C. Tanke, jeweler and optician. He values his stock at $60,000... All the diamonds in stock were in the safes, besides much other valuable property.

The safes will be removed a once to 12 and 14 Court St., in the rear of the Old Erie County Savings Bank [PHOTOS] building , where Mr. Tanke has taken temporary quarters.

- The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review, Volume 27 Google Books (online Jan. 2015)
"Inspiring "Get Together" Marks Opening of New Store of T. C. Tanke, Buffalo, N. Y."  Jan. 3, 1923  (online Jan. 2015)
557 Main St.

Photos below from the Lisa and Parks collection



The Tanke Co. jewelry store ad












Corinthian capital




Joseph Block 1917-2008

After the War, Mr. Block returned to Buffalo and started a long and productive career with his family's one hundred and thirty-one year old jewelry store, T.C. Tanke. The store was known for carrying fine quality jewelry, hosting elaborate estate presentations, and introducing the Rolex and Cartier watches to the Western New York area. They were the first jeweler to carry Pulsar, the innovative, original battery operated watches.

Mr. Block decided to retire and close the store in 1990. At the time of closing, with its pre-Civil War history, Tanke's had been the longest running tenant with Buffalo Savings Bank

- Obits For Life (online Jan. 2015)



Special thanks to 2015 owners Lisa and Michael Parks for their cooperation and assistance.

Page by Chuck LaChiusa in 2015
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