Wurlitzer Building / Tent City
Original name: Perron Company Building
674 Main St., Buffalo, New York
Wurlitzer Building / Tent City
Original name: Perron Company Building
674 Main St.,
Buffalo, New York
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Plinth (base) of Ionic capital. Wave scroll |
Poppenberg postcard |
Advertisement |
Gustave H. Poppenberg |
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Erected: |
1895 See also: Highlights of Buffalo's History, 1895 |
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Architects |
E. A. Kent |
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Part of Buffalo's Theatre Historic Preservation District |
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1896 photo |
One of the oldest structures in the Theater District, the facade is fine example of Neo-Classical commercial design. It can also be described as Beaux Arts Classicism. It recalls the general appearance of the former Otto-Kent Building) presently Theater Place, and may have been designed by the same architect, Edward Kent.
The building was originally erected c. 1895 as the factory and sales room of A. E. Perron Company, manufacturer of carriages (automobiles), sleighs and harnesses.
The Poppenberg Company bought the building c. 1905. The company manufactured pianos, player pianos, bicycles, and carriages (automobiles) in their factory on the northeast corner of Main and Carlton. 674 Main was their showroom.
The Wurlitzer Company bought the building in the 1930s for a showroom, offices and studios. For 66 years, it was the major retail outlet in Buffalo for the musical instruments that the internationally known Wurlitzer Company manufactured in its Tonawanda factory. In the 1960s, school children would take field trips there for chamber music concerts. The business closed in 1996.
In 1997, Washington Surplus bought the building. After W.W.II, the armed services sold surplus clothing and equipment. The father of present (2002) co-owner Charles Kushner, a veteran, started the company and bought the building at Washington and Seneca Streets.
In June of 2002, Mayor Anthony Masiello and the Buffalo Preservation Board gave an award to Charles Cushner and Larry Maxick of Washington Surplus for their efforts "in the exemplary restoration of their very elegant neoclassic building."
Presently (July 2002), the first floor is used as retail space for Washington Surplus, and the upper floors are being converted into 12 apartments which will boast a glass atrium with roof top garden.
