The First Ward is an area on the south side of Buffalo that was settled by the Irish in the 1820's. The area developed into an industrial center in the late 1800's after the Erie Canal had terminated here and as the Buffalo River became a major docking area for ships on the Great Lakes. The area industries of the neighborhood have faded, but many buildings are still standing and some are even being renovated for other uses. The Cobblestone District, an area near the HSBC Arena, is one such area that is slowly being redeveloped.


The Bennelin Distribution Services Complex at the corner of Mississippi & Perry Streets. This building has been proposed to become the Cobblestone Lofts.

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HSBC Arena, part of Seymour Knox Plaza at the intersection of Main & Perry Streets. HSBC Arena opened up in 1996.

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The Memorial Auditorium, a couple blocks away from HSBC Arena at Main & Hanover Streets. The Aud was opened in 1940 and was the home of the Buffalo Sabres until 1996 and was the home of the Buffalo Braves during their stay from 1970 to 1978. The arena was the last arena not to be of regulation size in the NHL.

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An old warehouse at the corner of Illinois Street and Park Avenue.

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Buildings along Illinois Street in the Cobblestone District of the First Ward.

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Looking down Illinois Street at Park Avenue. The Buffalo Metro Rail terminus is in the background.

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The HSBC Atrium, located on Washington Street, across Perry Street from HSBC Arena.

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Buffalo's Inner Harbor is undergoung a renovation after some excavations in the past couple of years.

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Excavated Erie Canal sites in the Inner Harbor.

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The Auditorium's entrance.

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The Peerless Mill Supply Company building at the corner of Illinous & Perry Streets.

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Warehouses on Park Avenue at Mississippi Street in the Cobblestone District.

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The St. Mary's Cement complex on Ganson Street. This elevator complex used to be the site of the Spencer Kellogg Company, which produced vegetable oils. A dock slip used to be on the site for ships.

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The Agway/GLF Elevator complex on Ganson Street. This complex, which was operated by the Grange League Federation and now by Agway, has an elevator and feed mill.

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The Great Northern elevator complex on Ganson Street. This building was built in 1897 by the Great Northern Railroad and is the last of Buffalo's "working house" elevators, in which work spaces, storage bins, and other processes were all located in the same building. The complex is used by Pillsbury, who bought the ocmplex in 1921.

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The Swannie House, at the intersection of Michigan & Ohio Streets. The Swannie House served as a bar since the building was built in 1892.

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Downtown Buffalo from the Michigan Avenue Bridge. The Edward M. Cotter, the world's oldest fireboat still in use, sits, on the right.

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Another view of Downtown Buffalo.

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Looking up the Buffalo River, with the General Mills complex on the left.

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The Michigan Avenue Bridge over the Buffalo River.

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The E & B Holmes Machinery Company on Chicago Street at Ohio Street. The building was built in 1856, and tight-barrel machinery is produced here.

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Buildings at the intersection of Miami & Chicago Streets.

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The Hook & Ladder Number 8 Fire Company, located on Chicago Street.

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Houses on Fulton Street.

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The temporary Seneca casino is going up at the intersection of Perry Street & Michigan Avenue (Harriet Tubman Way).

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The Buffalo X-Ray Company, located on Perry Street at Market Street.

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The Elk Terminal, built in 1919 for the New York Central Railroad. Located at the intersection of Perry & Chicago Streets, the Elk Terminal is slowly being converted into lofts.

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The Fairmont Creamery Company building on Scott Street, by the Elk Terminal.

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Snow .. Buffalo gets it pretty bad in the winter doesn't it being on the other side of the lake.

Snow .. Buffalo gets it pretty bad in the winter doesn't it being on the other side of the lake.

It does, but the mountains to the southeast get even more snow because they suck all of the moisture out of the warm lake air and it condenses as it passes over mountain tops.

Man, I really feel sorry for this city, this area looks so depressing and ran down :(

I really hope this city improves again, it's in a good and tourist location.