The counties of Western New York were created gradually. This area was originally a part of the County of Tryon, which was further sub-divided to become a part of Montgomery (1772), Ontario (1789) and Genesee (1802) Counties respectively. Niagara County was organized in 1808 with Buffalo serving as the county seat until 1820, at which time Erie County was established with its presently existing boundaries. Niagara County Common Pleas Court had jurisdiction over Niagara, Cattauraugus and Chautauqua counties. The first session was held in Buffalo at Landon's Tavern in June, 1808, with Augustus Porter appointed the first judge. Shortly thereafter, the Holland Land Company promised a parcel of land on Washington Street to accommodate the construction of a courthouse. Located near Lafayette Square, the structure was completed in 1809 and served, not only as a courthouse, but housed the grammar school and functioned as a meeting place for the Presbyterian Church as well. The building was destroyed in December, 1813 when the Village of Buffalo was burned by the British and Indians during the War of 1812. The stone jail was the only building not burned during this rampage.
In March, 1816, the State Assembly passed an Act which authorized Niagara County to raise $4000 to rebuild the courthouse through an increase in taxes. However, this increase was not necessary as the State made a $5000 loan to finance the project and appointed Judge Samuel Tupper, Joseph Landon of Buffalo and Jonas Williams of Williamsville to supervise construction. Located near the original structure, the brick courthouse was completed in 1817 and was considered to be among the finest public buildings in Western New York. Two stories high, with a front porch, and large pillars, a portion of the first floor was occupied by the County Clerk's office.
Although the facility was expanded and improved, the deteriorating condition of the building was recognized and in 1849 the State Assembly authorized that yet another facility be erected at a cost of $17,000. This brick, three floor courthouse was bounded by Washington, Batavia, Ellicott and Clinton Streets, the site of the present Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, and was used for 25 years in conjunction with its predecessor to conduct court business.
Once again the courts outgrew their building and, acknowledging the need for a more modern structure, the Legislature passed an act in April, 1871 authorizing a new facility. Rochester architect, Andrew Jackson Warner was selected on April 25, 1872. Following a procession of military dignitaries, building commissioners, judges, Common Council members, Board Supervisors as well as City and County officials, the cornerstone was laid on June 24, 1872. Masonic ceremonies and a speech by the Honorable George W. Clinton, son of former Governor DeWitt Clinton and former Mayor of Buffalo and longstanding New York State Superior Court Judge followed. The cornerstone bears two dates - 1872AD and 5872AL in recognition of the Masons' role in the building's construction. It houses coins of gold, silver, nickel and copper, daily newspapers, manuscripts and directories as well as bound volumes and reports detailing State and City laws. In 1876, the fourth courthouse, of Norman Romanesque style, was completed through a joint effort by the City and County, at an approximate cost of $1,200,000. On March 13, the building opened and was occupied by judges and members of the bar, as well as various City and County offices.
Located on Franklin Square between Delaware Avenue and Franklin Street, the original granite building consisted of three stories with County offices and courtrooms on the north side of the building, while municipal offices were situated along the south side. The first floor housed the County Clerk, Sheriff and Treasurer while the opposite end of the floor was home to the City Treasurer, Comptroller and Clerk, as well as the Street and Water Commission and Surrogates. Witnesses and grand jury members also reported here. Five court rooms were primarily located on the second floor together with judges chambers, clerk of the Superior Court, City and District Attorneys, the Mayor, City Assessors, City Engineers and the Law Library. The third floor housed the Buffalo Common Council Chambers, the Board of Supervisors and its Clerk, the Superintendent of Education and the Parks Commission as well as two courtrooms.
It was in this building that Grover Cleveland had his office when he served as Mayor of Buffalo in 1881 and on September 17, 1901, William McKinley lay in state as a line of mourners formed at the Franklin Street entrance.
City and County Hall became progressively congested and it was soon apparent that the building was no longer sufficient to headquarter the governments of both municipalities. An agreement was reached with the County for the sale of the City's half interest to expand the courts. In April, 1929, three new courtrooms were constructed on the south side of the second floor of County Hall and two more opened shortly thereafter. These courtrooms were showcased by a wrought iron doorway which remains in place today. Justice Thomas H. Noonan presided at the opening of the term of court in the newest courtroom.
At the time of the remodeling, municipal offices relocated to the newly constructed Buffalo City Hall. During that same year, the new eight floor City Court facility opened at the corner of Delaware and West Eagle at an approximate cost of $1,000,000. This replaced the first City Court building which opened in 1910, consolidating many divisions previously scattered throughout the city. The building that currently houses Buffalo City Court is located on Delaware and Niagara Square and was completed in 1974.
In 1936, Erie County spent approximately $10,000 to convert the courthouse's unused attic into office space for the County Attorney and the Tax Equalization Commission. The new fourth floor areas, constructed by Work Projects Administration (WPA) labor, also provided more spacious chambers for the present Supreme Court justices as well as a new library. The former library was converted into a lounge where judges could gather while not on the bench.
The building, which continues to house court operations, showcases a 268 foot bell tower complete with a clock whose four dials measure nine feet in diameter. The faces are fabricated of white translucent plastic for night time illumination. The design of this clock was first used in "Big Ben", the clock of the British House of Parliament. The pendulum is 15 feet long and is enclosed to protect it from wind and blowing dust. The bell itself weighs 4400 lbs and the entire clock system from bell to the top of the dials is approximately 58 feet and extends through four floors of the tower. Four granite statues of women, sculpted by Giovanni F. Sala, are placed on each corner of the tower, representing Justice (northeast), Mechanic Arts (northwest), Agriculture (southeast) and Commerce (southwest). At the cost of $22,000 each, the statues stand 16 feet tall and weigh 14 tons.
On August 19, 1963, construction began on the $7 million, eight story annex located on the west side of County Hall. Although an independent structure, this building connected at various levels to the existing building and provided quarters for the Auto License Bureau, County Clerk's office, Family Court, Probation Department, Commissioner of Jurors, District Attorney, Board of Supervisors and County Attorney. Family Court Senior Judge Raymond R. Neimer and Supreme Court Justice Hamilton Ward, Judicial Administrator of the Eighth District, were instrumental in the planning of this building.
Under the guidance of State Supreme Court Justice Vincent E. Doyle, Administrative Judge of the eight-county Eighth Judicial District, ground was broken for Erie County's newest courthouse on September 24, 1999. Standing seven stories, with a projected cost of $35.3 million, will be located at the intersection of the corners of Niagara and Eagle (between Franklin and Pearl. Streets). Per a suggestion by Francis W. Bannigan, 78, of the Town of Tonawanda, individual rooms in the new building will be identified by names of noteworthy people rather than naming the entire structure for one individual.Included in this project will be the renovation of three existing buildings located at 92 Franklin, 25 Delaware and the former University of Buffalo Law School at 77 West Eagle, bringing the total project cost to an estimated $52 million. |
