VILLAGE HISTORIAN: Marjorie Murray This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Village of Kenmore is "Buffalo's First Suburb". Following the Civil War, the City of Buffalo's population grew tremendously. With the invention of electric streetcars, people were able to live outside of walking distance from their jobs. By 1888, L.P.A. Eberhardt purchased land just north of the Buffalo border and began to build a home. Churches were erected beginning in 1891 and the first Village store was opened in 1897.
The first school was erected in 1892. The Kenmore Union School was built where the Municipal Building now stands. The school was utilized until 1911 when the Washington School was opened.
In 1889, the Village boasted a horse-drawn omnibus, which ran up and down Delaware Avenue at no charge to passengers. Lots sold for $250.00 and by 1890 nearly 300 people called Kenmore home. There were no sidewalks, streetlights or sewers. Drinking water was scarce and there were only dirt roads.
By 1899, the Village had enough residents to qualify for legal incorporation. 313 persons signed the proposition calling for incorporation. An election was held and the Village was incorporated on September 5, 1899.
The Fire Department was established in 1903 and the Kenmore Police Department was created in 1919.
HOW DID THE VILLAGE OF KENMORE GET ITS NAME?
Former Village Historian, Frederick Parkhurst, explained how the Village was named “Kenmore” in his 1925 book, History of Kenmore. The book explains that Louis Eberhardt, known as the Father of Kenmore, opposed naming the Village “Eberhardt”. He was responsible for buying up farmland and subdividing the property into a suburban development. The building which is portrayed on the Village logo is of the Eberhardt Mansion, located at the corner of Delaware Avenue and Kenmore Avenue.
The following is an excerpt from Mr. Parkhurst’s book:
It was proposed calling the village "Eberhardt" ; but firmly
and modestly Mr. Eberhardt said, "No, they might nickname it
'Dutchtown'." But the real reason was Mr. Eberhardt's aversion
to personal publicity and display. The Erie Railroad was
building a station at this time in the north-east section of
Buffalo near Main Street and had chosen the name "Kenmore",
but Mr. Eberhardt with an ear for euphony, appropriated
the name for the fast growing community and the name
"Kensington" was attached to the Erie Station. A sign bearing
the name "KENMORE" was placed at the intersection of Delaware
and Kenmore Avenues, where all who ran might read.
There are several places called Kenmore in the United States,
notably Kenmore in Fairfax County, Va., the home of Washington’s
sister, and a village in Ohio. Probably both these
places, our own village, and other places so named, took their
name from a small island on the south-west coast of Ireland;
or from a village in Scotland.
MANY VILLAGE STREETS HAVE CHANGED NAMES OVER THE YEARS:
Kenwood Rd was called Cattaraugus Avenue
Delwood Rd was called Chautauqua Avenue
Westgate Rd was called Commonwealth Avenue
Argonne Dr was called Linden Avenue
Wardman Rd was called Cornell Avenue
Nash Rd was called Michigan Avenue
Chapel Rd was called Jefferson Avenue
Landers was called Madison Avenue
North End Avenue was called Prospect Avenue
Kenmore Avenue was called East and West Kenmore
Mang Avenue was called Cooke
Victoria was called Ullman
Lincoln Blvd was called Walker.
Crosby Avenue was called East Wabash
Keller was called Prescott Avenue
Kenton was called Miller - Sterling
Delaware Avenue was called West Delaware
Delaware Road was called East Delaware
Parkwood was called East Tremaine
Washington was called Prairie
East Girard was called Perrin
Columbia was called Kelso
Palmer was called Paige
Did you know that there are no Streets in Kenmore? All of our streets are Roads, Avenues, or Boulevards.
{jslideshow}History/:::slideshow:historygal{/jslideshow}