Gratwicks in Buffalo - Table of Contents
William H. Gratwick House - DEMOLISHED
776 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, New York
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Erected: |
1888 |
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Demolished: |
1919 |
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Architect: |
H.H. Richardson and, after Richardson's death, Shepley Rutan & Coolidge, with Herbert Burdett, probably the supervising architect |
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Style: |
Richardsonian Romanesque |
The William H. Gratwick House stood at 776 Delaware Avenue at the northwest corner of Delaware and Summer. It was Richardson's last commission, according to his biographer Mariana Van Rensselaer, before he died in 1886. A heavy, brownstone Richardsonian Romanesque building, it was finished by the firm that continued Richardson's practice --Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge.
Gratwick was born in Albany, NY. After he learned the lumber trade, he came to Buffalo in 1877 and founded the lumber firm of Gratwick, Smith & Fryer Lumber Co. with offices in Buffalo, Tonawanda, and Detroit. He was also the managing owner of six lake vessels and president of the YMCA.
Gratwick's wife was Martha Weare; their children were Mildred M., William H., Jr., and Frederick.See also: H.H. Richardson, complete architectural works By Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, p. 432.
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William H. Gratwick |
Martha Weare Gratwick |
William H. Gratwick, Jr.
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"View of Delaware Avenue" - Gratwick House at far right |
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Gratwick House |
Gratwick House |
Gratwick House |
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Hall |
Main staircase |
South end of hall |
Library |
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North end of drawing room |
Dining room |
Next door to the Gratwick House was the Frank Goodyear House (also demolished) |
Text Sources:
- Buffalo Architecture: A Guide, by Francis R. Kowsky, et. al. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1981
- Research by Gregory Lodinsky.
