North side of Main near West Huron, c. 1870. image source: Picture Book of Earlier Buffalo
The Church of the Messiah is near left, with the two steeples. The church in the center is North Presbyterian.
The Universalist Church of the Messiah was one of Buffalo's oldest churches, founded in 1832 and first located on the east side of Washington Street. In 1866, the congregation constructed a large church at 554 Main Street.
The membership included renowned Buffalo civic figures such as Harriet Townsend, who in 1880 founded the church's Women's Literary Club, one of the oldest purely literary clubs in America. The Club promoted the "advancement of women" and later provided meeting space for suffrage organizations. Among their topics were "The Health of the American Woman," "The Ideal Home," "Self-Education for Women," "Collegiate and Industrial Education for Women," "The Use and Abuse of Money." Harriet Townsend and her Literary Club were the foundation of the Women's Educational & Industrial Union. |
Interior of Universalist Church of the Messiah. Image source: Picture Book of Earlier Buffalo
After the fire of October 29, 1870. The Church was promptly rebuilt. Image source: Picture Book of Earlier Buffalo
The Church was rebuilt without the taller steeple. Image source: Buffalo Express
| In 1891, the Universalists built a new church at North and Mariner Streets. They leased their old building at 554 Main. |
| The former church in its last few years was utilized as a bicycle shop and riding school. Its excellent location on Main Street coincided with the nationwiide bicycle craze. The building was torn down in 1897. |
In 1897, Flint & Kent, a dry goods store founded in 1832, moved to its 4th (and final) location at 554 Main Street. The handsome store was designed by architect Edward Kent. Kent would also design the Unitarian church at Elmwood and West Ferry which, in 1953, would merge with the Universalist congregation from North and Mariner to form one of the first Unitarian-Universalist congregations in the United States. |
Sanborn map c. 1950 showing Flint & Kent location on Main Street.
| Flint & Kent would enjoy a long residency at 544 Main, eventually expanding to occupy the entire site between Main and Pearl Street. It featured four floors of merchandise and 46 departments.( Next door, W.T. Grant built a store and, in 1939, expanded with a streamline moderne design by Raymond Lowey.) Flint & Kent closed in 1956. The building was demolished in 1980. Today, the location of the Church of the Messiah/Flint & Kent is Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza. |
Slide show of the site over time (1870, 1960, 2010)
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