A Buffalo Landmark
The Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo building at 595 Delaware Avenue was specifically designed for the members in 1894. The Preservation Foundation leads the effort to maintain the elegant clubhouse and to ensure that The Twentieth Century Club remains true to the original Green and Wicks purpose and design.
Working Together
The Preservation Foundation works with the Club Manager to identify and prioritize items in need of historic restoration. Craftsmen are engaged by The Foundation to complete the work. As a separate entity from the Club, the Foundation relies upon donations to be able to ensure the building’s preservation.
Established in 2012
The Clubhouse has been cared for through generous donations of time and materials for almost 130 years. The support of members and the community is critical for the maintenance of this historic structure. The Preservation Foundation mission is to continue the ongoing effort to keep this architectural gem shining.
A Current Project
The Preservation Foundation is currently directing the effort to restore the loggia windows in the dining room area of The Club, which exhibit a lavender hue. In the middle of the nineteenth century manganese dioxide began to be used by American glass manufacturers as a decolorizer. By including a small amount of this “glass makers soap” in the melt, they could produce glass that appeared virtually colorless. The unexpected side effect of the process was the production of a purple hue when the glass is exposed to ultraviolet light. An effort is underway to replace original panes that have cracked, which has required much research and time.
The Garden
The garden has seen some changes over the years. The early garden began as an open grassy space with borders of old-world plantings of trees, shrubs, and flowers. The current garden was designed in the early 1930’s by the architect Harold LeRoy Olmsted to take advantage of a smaller clubhouse footprint after a fire in 1923 that destroyed the ballroom. It is Italianate in style to match the style of the building. The garden slopes gently from street level to a shaded flagstone terrace added in the 1950s. A high stucco-covered wall defines the southern boundary. A lower wall with wrought iron gates ran along the eastern edge. The Foundation took on the project to restore the wall, a beautiful view you will see upon entering the grounds from Franklin Street. Two second story loggias overlook the garden and lead to French doors that open onto a wide curving staircase that descends to the walled garden.
