Image source: 1850 Buffalo Map (digitized and for sale at Heritage Press)
Image source: 1850 Buffalo Map (digitized and for sale at Heritage Press)
In 1843, Irish immigrant William A. Carland came to Buffalo from Boston to establish a factory
for the manufacture of ready-made men's clothing. He constructed "Gothic Hall," as it was known then and throughout its 124-year life at 189 Main Street, a part of Main Street not known for its sophistication. Despite being scoffed at for constructing such an ornate building, his effort had the effect of improving that side of Main Street, which came to be called "the bustling side." On the upper floors was his factory, which at its height employed 300 mostly German immigrant tailors. He remodeled the building in 1846. By 1860, his firm was known as Carland and Beirne and he had a house worth $15,000. Unfortunately, the successful entreprenur was staying at the Clarendon Hotel (Main & South Division Streets) on November 10, 1860, the night it was destroyed by fire. He and three others lost their lives in the blaze. |
Used as an outdoor store, c. 1910. Image source: Picture Book of Earlier Buffalo
By 1898, the building was owned by Salem LeValley, owner of the Hazard Powder Company.
Detail of the 1910 photo
The storefront describes its hunting and sporting goods specialty.
Photo of Gothic Hall during the Kirshner's Novelty Store era, c. 1920.
Beginning around 1920, postcards indicate that Gothic Hall was now owned by M.M. Kirshner, whose specialty was novelties.. An avid promoter of his goods on
envelopes and postcards, he claimed to have over 500,000 postcards in stock and souvenirs of Buffalo, Niagara Falls
and Canada, in addition to pennants of all the leading cities and countries. His location in unique Gothic Hall on Main Street
was prominently featured in his marketing. |
Interior of M.M. Kirshner's Novelty Store. Image source: private collection
The Gothic style was extended into the store on the main floor of Gothic Hall.
1967 photo of Gothic Hall just prior to demolition.
Image source: Paul Redding.
| By 1967, Gothic Hall had devolved into The Nimrod, a bar. It was demolished as part of the project to build the Marine Midland now HSBC) Tower. Additional photos here. |