FEATURED TOPIC:  The Kenmore Municipal Building

Ed Adamczyk, the Village of Kenmore Historian, spent a few days with a video camera exploring one of the most notable landmarks in the village—The Kenmore Municipal Building. 

“I asked that it be included in the show largely because it’s a remarkable piece of architecture,” Ed remarked.  “Other towns just don’t have anything like this!”

It was designed by architect Edward Brodhead Green who produced over 320 buildings from Maine to Indiana.   His designs shaped and defined the city of Buffalo. More than 200 still exist in Western New York today.

Built on a triangular piece of land where Delaware Road meets Delaware Avenue.  It is what architectural fans call the Classical Monumental Style.

“It is very old-fashioned looking, very futuristic looking in a Buck Rogers kind of way and monumental.  It looks bulkier than it actually is.  And I think the idea is to make it look like there are matters of gravity going on in there—important stuff is happening in that building,” noted Ed.

It’s the business center of Kenmore’s government.  “A lot of this goes on in the evening, especially in the courts.  It’s nice free entertainment.  But this is the place to pay your water bill, it’s the place to get a marriage license, a fishing license—try not to confuse the two. The inside is incredible---iron work all over the place, marble floors and marble walls.”

It was built during the depression by the Works Progress Administration.  “It was built in Kenmore, a very Republican Village at the time.  Now Franklin Roosevelt ran for President four times.  He won every election, and in every election Kenmore voted 4-1 for his opponent.  On the other hand they got a new Municipal Building.”