I misspoke about the building first being the site of an orphanage. Actually, the orphanage was on the adjacent (grass) lot; the address being 403 Virginia Street. The children from the orphanage attended this school. This is actually the second school on this site. The first school was a small, wood frame structure and was first primarily for the orphans. A neighborhood school was needed, and then this school was built. The orphanage was there from 1852 until 1912; and then removed to the present site of McKinley High School. When McKinley was first built, part of the buildings from the orphanage were incorporated.
Guest
12-Oct-2007 03:15
It is interesting this Building helped children. Then became a school for children with reading and writing problems. I attended this school for a reading handicap from fouth grade to eight grade. As an adult I was went to this school for college prep courses. Do you know that Mark Twain's house is right up the street from this school.
Guest
07-May-2006 08:17
Prior to this building being utilized as a school, it was one of the first owned properties for the Buffalo Orphan Asylum. When this site became to overcrowded, the Asylum was relocated and started anew at 1500 Elmwood Avenue (now McKinley Vocational HS)
I am doing research on all of the orphanages that were once in the Buffalo Area. If anybody has any information, please contact me at: buffalo.orphanage.studies@adelphia.net. Thank you.
