Buffalo Firsts

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1		Buffalo Firsts: A List of Major and Minor Individuals and Events			Compiled by Library Staff Updated December 1, 2023 library@buffalohistory.org
2	First	Date	Description	Unique to Buffalo?	Source

3	African-American architect	1912	John E. Brent (1889-1962), who designed the now-demolished Michigan Avenue YMCA.	N	John Edmonston Brent. www.burchfieldpenney.org/artists/artist:john-edmonston-brent/
4	African-American artist	1857	William H. Simpson (1818-1872), a portraitist	N	"We were in error giving the name...". Buffalo Morning Express, Dec. 28, 1857, p. 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Simpson_(portrait_artist)
5	African-American author	1853	James M. Whitfield (1822-1871) was a poet and barber. He published his first book of verse in 1853.	N	Whitfield, James M. America and other poems. Buffalo, NY: J.S. Leavitt, 1853
6	African-American composer	1839	Frank Johnson (1792-1844), of Philadelphia, who wrote and published The Buffalo City Guards Parade March	N	Brassard, Alexandra. The First Published African-American Composer. William L. Clements Library, 2019. https://clements.umich.edu/the-first-published-african-american-composer/
7	African-American disc jockey	1953	James A. "Ducky" Rice	N	Graebner, William. Coming of Age in Buffalo. Philadelphia, PA: Temple U. Press, 1990, p. 29
8	African-American executive drector of The Buffalo News	7/28/2022	Sheila Rayam	N	"Sheila Rayam is named Executive Director of The Buffalo News." New York Times, July 28, 2022.
9	African-American flight attendant	1957	Ruth Taylor of New York City, whose first flight was from NYC to Buffalo on Mohawk Airlines	Y	Rorty, James. "The first colored air hostess." The Crisis, June-July 1958, p. 339.
10	African-American jury member	1843	Abner H. Francis (1813-1872) impaneled on a jury of the Recorder's Court	Y	"A colored juryman." Buffalo Daily Gazette, Sept. 12, 1843, p. 2
11	African-American librarian	1943	Frances K. Hall (1916-2007) begins her career in librarianship in Buffalo.	N	"Frances K. Hall, first black librarian in city of Buffalo to be certified, June 7, 1916-Aug. 6, 2007." Buffalo News, August 11, 2007
12	African-American man elected official	1934	Sherman Walker (1892-1969) elected to the Erie County Board of Supervisors	N	Taylor, Steven J. L. Desegregation in Boston and Buffalo: The Influence of Local Leaders. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1998, p. 36
13	African-American mayor	2006	Byron Brown (b. 1958), sworn in on January 1, 2006	N	"Byron Brown." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Brown
14	African-American member of the Buffalo School board	1963	Dr. Lydia Wright (1922-2006)	N	African American History of Western New York State, 1935 to 1970. http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/1935-1970.html
15	African-American newspaper	1895	The Afro-American, published on Oak Street. Possibly associated with the Afro-American League. No copies are known to survive.	N	Severance, Frank. The Periodical Press of Buffalo, 1811-1915. Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society, v.19. Buffalo Historical Society, 1915, p.197
16	African-American NHL player	11/1/1981	Val James (b. 1957) debuts with the Sabres, becoming the first US-born Black player in the NHL.	Y	"Val James." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_James
17	African-American on public TV	1962	Dr. Samuel L. Woodard (b. 1930) of WNED was the first African-American to appear on educational television in New York state	Y	The Crisis, August-September 1962, p. 436
18	African-American playwright	1845	D. Paul Brown's play about slavery is performed at the Eagle St. theater 7 years before the debut of Uncle Tom's Cabin, which is usually called the first anti-slavery play in America. Brown was a barber in Buffalo who had been kidnapped into slavery while visiting New Orleans, and somehow escaped.	N	African American History of Western New York State, 1830 to 1865. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/1830-1865.html
19	African-American police officer	1918	George C. Sarsnett, appointed to the Buffalo Police Department	N	Buffalo Police Department. History of Black Police Officers. www.bpdthenandnow.com/historyblackofficerpage1.html
20	African-American professional baseball player	1886	Frank Grant (1865-1937). He signed with the Buffalo Bisons in 1886 but was forced out in 1889 when Black players were banned from professional baseball.	N	"Frank Grant." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Grant
21	African-American resident	1792 or earlier	Joseph Hodge (dates unknown) had a trading post and/or whiskey shop near Buffalo Creek. It is possible that he came here to escape from slavery. He may also be the first non-Native resident of Buffalo.	N	Hill, Henry Wayland. Municipality of Buffalo, New York, vol. 1, p. 75. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1923
22	African-American teacher	1897	Ida D. Fairbush (1869-1845) at School 6 Annex	N	Nevergold, Barbara Seals. "The History of Buffalo’s First African American Teacher." The Challenger News, March 1, 2020 https://thechallengernews.com/2020/03/the-history-of-buffalos-first-african-american-teacher/
23	African-American to perform for British royalty	5/10/1854	Soprano Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield (ca. 1820-1876), who started her career in Buffalo, performs for Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham palace.	Y	Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Greenfield
24	African-American woman bus driver	1944	Mildred Belcher Thomas, who was hired by the NFTA and earned an award for 30 years of safe driving	Y	"Mildred Belcher Thomas." https://www.uncrownedcommunitybuilders.com/person/mildred-belcher-thomas
25	African-American woman elected official	1957	Cora P. Maloney (ca. 1905-1961) elected to Buffalo Common Council representing the Masten district	N	"Cora Pleasant Maloney." http://uncrownedcommunitybuilders.com/person/cora-1
26	African-American woman meteorologist	1972	June Bacon-Bercey (1930-2020) at WGR-TV	Y	"June Bacon-Bercey, 90, Pathbreaking Meteorologist, Is Dead." www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/science/june-bacon-bercey-90-pathbreaking-meteorologist-is-dead.html
27	African-American women's organization	1837	Young Ladies Literary Society	N	"Address, delivered at Buffalo, by one of our young brethren at an exhibition of the Young Ladies Literary Society, December 27, 1837." Colored American, Feb. 3, 1838
28	African-American/Latino baseball manager at the Class Triple-A level.	1969	Hector Lopez is appointed manager of the Buffalo Bisons	Y	"First Negro Pro Baseball Pilot." New York Times, March 22, 1969
29	Air conditioning	1902	Invented by Willis Carrier (1876-1950) at Buffalo Forge Company	Y	"Willis Carrier." www.carrier.com/carrier/en/worldwide/about/willis-carrier/
30	Airmail delivery	09/25/1926	Brought to Buffalo by Lieut. George R. Pond.	N	Buffalo Courier Express, August 20, 1956, p. 4
31	Airplane flight	4/2/1910	Took place at the polo field of the Buffalo Country Club, Main & Bailey. Presently the site of the Grover Cleveland golf course.	N	Fox, Austin. The Country Club of Buffalo: The First 100 years, 1889-1989. Buffalo, NY: Country Club of Buffalo, 1989, p.43
32	Airport	1926	Buffalo Municipal Airport, now known as the Buffalo Niagara International Airport	N	"Airport history." www.buffaloairport.com/about-the-airport/airport-history
33	Allentown Art Festival	1958	Organized by Jason Natowitz, held in September.	Y	"Allentown Art Festival History." www.allentownartfestival.com/about
34	Alternating current, commercial use of	11/26/1886	Adam, Meldrum & Anderson department store	Y	Buffalo Courier-Express Pictorial, June 22, 1958, p.29
35	Apple trees	ca. 1760	Planted at Fort Schlosser on the Niagara River, near the present-day water intakes for the New York Power Authority	N	Turner, O. Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western New York... Buffalo, NY: Jewett, Thomas & Co., G.H. Derby & Co, 1849, p.222
36	Arab immigrants	1894 or earlier	Four Arab families are reported living in a rear house at 398 Seneca Street. It is possible that they were Syrian or Lebanese.	N	"Death in an Arab colony." Buffalo Evening News, April 11, 1894
37	Arab to be naturalized	1896	John Truces of Seneca Street becomes the first Arab immigrant in the US to be naturalized	Y	"Renounced his allegiance." Buffalo Enquirer, April 23, 1896, p. 5
38	Arab-American man elected to public office	2009	Abdulsalam Noman, who is Yemeni-American, elected to represent the First Ward at the Lackawanna city council. He was the first Arab-American elected official in NY State and the second in the country.	Y	"Arab American sworn into office." Buffalo News, January 4, 2010
39	Arab-American woman elected to public office	2021	Amirah Muflahi, who is Yemeni-American, is elected to represent the First Ward at the Lackawanna City Council.	N	"CAIR-New York Congratulates Muslims Elected to New York City, Lackawanna City Councils." https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-new-york-congratulates-muslims-elected-to-new-york-city-lackawanna-city-councils/
40	Architect	1842	Valentine Ream becomes the first person to identify himself as an architect in a Buffalo city directory. Before him, builders were probably functioning in this capacity.	N	Buffalo city directory, 1842, p. 181
41	Art auction	10/8/1858	William Coleman's store, 240 Main Street.	N	Buffalo Express and Daily Democracy, October 4 , 1858
42	Attorney	1806	Ebenezer Walden (1777-1857), who set up an office on Main near Exchange	N	Smith, H. Perry. History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County, vol.2. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason, 1884, p.40
43	Automobile delivery service	1898	H.A. Meldrum department store becomes the first retailer to use an automobile to deliver orders to customers.	N	Fitch, Charles Elliott. Encyclopedia of Biography of New York: A Life Record of Men and Women of the Past, v.5, p. 341. New York: American Historical Society, 1916.
44	Automobile garage and service station	12/1/1899	240 W. Utica St. in the former Brown Riding Academy	N	Buffalo Motorist, February 1921, summarized in Antique Auto Club of America Spring Meet program, June 1974
45	Automobile insurance policy	2/27/1898	Issued to Dr. Truman J. Martin of Buffalo, the first in America	Y	"First auto policy sold 110 years ago today." www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2008/02/27/87696.htm
46	Automobile owned in Buffalo	1897	By Dr. V. Mott Pierce (1865-1942), proprietor of World's Dispensary Medical Association.	N	"Buffalonians recall horseless cars of '99; Pierce first owner." Buffalo Times, Feb. 19, 1928
47	Automobile parade	1900	Buffalo Automobile Club organizes Buffalo's first horseless carriage parade.	N	"Automobile club." Buffalo Commercial, July 7, 1900, p. 11
48	Automobile race	8/12/1904	Organized by the Automobile Racing Association at Kenilworth Race Track	N	"Buffalo's record-breaking two-day meet." The Automobile, Volume 11, August 20, 1904, p. 211.
49	Automobile show	3/10/1903	At Convention Hall in Buffalo, the former 74th Regiment Hall at Elmwood and Virginia, designed by Louise Bethune.	N	"Buffalo show opens." Motor World, March 12, 1903, p. 912.
50	Automobile to cross the Peace Bridge	3/12/1927	Driven by engineer Edward P. Lupfer, with Mr. & Mrs. William Eckhert, H.W. Willson, John W. Van Allen, A.J. Dillenbeck, and Reed W. Cady, either as passengers or in a second vehicle	Y	"First autos cross Peace Bridge." Courier-Express, March 13, 1927, p. 1
51	Aviation organization	3/21/1910	Aero Club of Buffalo incorporated, the first in the US	Y	Aviation History Made by the Aero Club of Buffalo. https://archive.org/details/1970buffalonyaeroclubhistory
52	Bakery	1804?	Established by John Despar on Washington St. between Seneca and Exchange	N	Smith, H. Perry. History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County, vol.2. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason, 1884, p.38
53	Balloon launch	8/5/1845	Hot air balloon ascension announced at McArthur's Garden, Tuesday evening, August 5, 1845.	N	"Balloon ascension and fire works... Daily National, August 5, 1845, p. 2
54	Bank	1816	Incorporated as the Bank of Niagara, was in business for about 16 years	N	Smith, H. Perry. History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County, vol.2. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason 1884, p.222
55	Baptism, recorded	1812	Mary Tillinghast, baptized at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.	N	St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Baptisms, 1812-1897 [microfilm]. Buffalo, NY: St. Paul's Cathedral, n.d.
56	Baseball game	9/11/1857	Played against a Brooklyn team in a vacant lot at Pennsylvania & Seventh St.	N	"Baseball came to Buffalo in 1857." Buffalo Evening News magazine, Sept. 30, 1961, p.1
57	Baseball team	1850	Buffalo Niagaras	N	Langendorfer, Paul. Baseball in Buffalo. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2017, p.30
58	Basketball team	1895	Buffalo Germans	N	Biesel, David B. Can You Name That Team? A Guide to Professional Baseball, Football, Soccer, Hockey, and Basketball Teams and Leagues. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow, 2002, p.13
59	Basketball team at UB	1916	The University at Buffalo forms its first basketball team.	N	UB Firsts. https://library.buffalo.edu/archives/ubhistory/timelines/ub-firsts.html
60	Beef-on-weck sandwich	Late 19th c.?	Developed by German immigrants in Buffalo. Its history is not well documented.	Y	Cichon, Steve. Buffalo’s Definitive Foods: The Beef on Weck. http://blog.buffalostories.com/buffalos-definitive-foods-the-beef-on-weck/
61	Bicycle	2/25/1869	Tinkham & Huntoon open a velocpede school in St. James Hall	N	"Velocipede school." Buffalo Commercial, Feb. 25, 1869, p.3
62	Black church	1831	Vine Street African Methodist Episcopal, now known as Bethel AME, Michigan & E. Ferry	N	"Bethel History." https://bethelame-bflo.org/about-us/our-history
63	Black swimmer to cross the English Channel	08/25/1981	Charles "Charlie the Tuna" Chapman of Buffalo becomes the first Black swimmer to swim solo across the English Channel	Y	Howley, Elaine K. "The loneliness of the black long distance swimmer." Outdoor Swimmer, October 7, 2020. https://outdoorswimmer.com/blogs/the-loneliness-of-the-black-long-distance-swimmer
64	Black Veterans Memorial	09/24/2022	The first National Black Veterans Memorial was dedicated on Sept. 24, 2022 at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval Park.	Y	"New monument honors service of Black Americans in 12 U.S. wars." Washington Post, October 6, 2022
65	Blacksmith	1798	William Robbins, who had a shop on Main St., probably near the Buffalo River	N	Smith, H. Perry. History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County, vol.2. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason, 1884, p.20
66	Boat built in Buffalo	1803	A schooner called "The Contractor," built at Black Rock, by either Norton & Phelps or Porter, Barton & Co.	N	Hill, Henry Wayland. Municipality of Buffalo, New York: A History, 1720-1923, Vol. 1." New York: Lewis Historical pub. Co., 1923, p.97
67	Boat on the upper Great Lakes	1678	Le Griffon, built by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle at the mouth of Cayuga Creek on the Niagara River	Y	"Le Griffon." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Griffon
68	Boat to travel the entire Erie Canal	10/25/1825	The Seneca Chief leaves Buffalo for New York with Governor Clinton aboard to celebrate the completion and opening of the Erie Canal	Y	Colden, Cadwallader David. Memoir: Prepared at the Request of a Committee of the Common Council of the City of New York ... New York: W.A. Davis, 1825, p. 333
69	Book published in Buffalo	1812	The French Convert, an anti-Catholic novel published widely in 18th century Europe	N	D'Auborn, A. The French Convert. Buffalo, NY: H.A. Salisbury, 1812
70	Bookstore	1811 or earlier	The first issue of the Buffalo Gazette has a list of books for sale at the Buffalo Bookstore.	N	Buffalo Gazette, October 3, 1811, p. 1
71	Bowling alley	1843	Established by J.C. Cornish at the American Star tavern on Water Street.	N	"Bowling saloon, Water St." Buffalo Courier, April 25, 1843, p.2.
72	Bowling pin setting machine	1947	Invented at American Machine & Foundry in Cheektowaga and first tested in a Depew bowling alley before going on the market	Y	Cichon, Steve. "Buffalo in the '40s: Advances in WNY helped usher in modern era of bowling." Buffalo News, April 16, 2019. https://buffalonews.com/2019/04/16/buffalo-in-the-40s-advances-in-wny-helped-usher-in-modern-era-of-bowling/
73	Brainstorming	1933	Creativity and idea generation technique developed by Buffalo advertising executive Alex Osborn (1888-1966)	Y	"Brainstorming." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorming
74	Brewery	1811	Owned by Joseph Webb in the village of Black Rock	N	"Brewing in Buffalo." https://grogenealogylocalhistory.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/brewing-in-buffalo/
75	Brick building	1806	William Hodge's home & hotel at 1358 Main St. Presently the site of a Burger King restaurant at Main & Utica.	N	Atkins, Barton. Modern antiquities. Buffalo, NY: Courier Co., 1898, p. 14
76	Buddhist temple	1999	Chau Tu Hien Buddhist Cultural Center, 647 Fillmore Avenue, founded by Vietnamese immigrants	N	"First Buddhist Temple in Western New York." https://hwpi.harvard.edu/pluralismarchive/news/first-buddhist-temple-western-new-york?page=7
77	Buffalo Sabres regular season game	10/10/1970	Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins	N	Tranter, Greg D. Makers, Moments & Memorabilia: A Chronicle of Buffalo Professional Sports. Cheektowaga, NY: Western New York Heritage, Inc. & The Buffalo History Museum, 2019, p.74
78	Burmese grocery store	2010	Lin Asian Market opened by Khin Maung Soe and his wife Thain Hla at 113 Grant Street	N	"Lin Restaurant." www.linrestaurant.com/about
79	Burmese restaurant	2010	Sun Food Market at 1989 Niagara Street, later Sun Restaurant	N	"Sun Cuisines: Burmese, Thai." www.suncuisines.com/about/meet-the-owners/
80	Burmese Water Festival	2005	Took place in the back yard of the International Intitute on Delaware Avenue	N	"Buffalo Burmese Water Festival." https://www.buffalowaterfestival.com/
81	Butcher shop	1808	Opened by Gilman Folsom on Main near Chippewa	N	Atkins, Barton. Modern antiquities. Buffalo, NY: Courier Co., 1898, p. 16
82	Cancer research facility	1898	Now known as Roswell Park	Y	Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. History. www.roswellpark.org/about-us/history
83	Catholic church	1/5/1829	St. Louis Roman Catholic at Main & Edward, also the first German church	N	Riester, Michael A. A Brief History of St. Louis Church. https://stlouisrcchurch.org/about/history/
84	Catholic mass	1821	Conducted by Rev. Kelly of Rochester at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, attended by 5 families	N	Evans, Charles W. History of St. Paul's Church, Buffalo, N.Y. Buffalo, NY: Matthews-Northrup Co., 1903, p. 361
85	Cell phone network	1984	Supposedly demonstrated by Mayor Griffin	N	Thomas Farley and Ken Schmidt. Daily Notes Archive. December 10, 2003. PrivateLine.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20151226213031/http://www.privateline.com/dailynotes/index19.html
86	Cellophane	1924	Not invented here, but first manufactured in the US here. Made at the DuPont plant on River Road, Tonawanda.	Y	E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Yerkes Plant. https://snaccooperative.org/ark:/99166/w6c3375j "Cellophane." Rocky Mountain Druggist, November 1923, p. 43.
87	Cemetery, private	1807	First known burials took place on the private property of William Johnson, north of Exchange St. & east of Washington St.	N	Devoy, John. A History of the City of Buffalo and Niagara Falls: Including a Concise Account of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of This Region... Buffalo: The Times, 1896, p.102
88	Cemetery, public	9/20/1821	The Holland Land Company deeds to the Village of Buffalo a plot to be used as a public burial ground, called Franklin Square. Today it is the site of Old County Hall.	N	Buffalo city directory, 1836-7, p. 11.
89	Charity Organization Society	1877	First attempt to systematize charity; considered the beginning of the social work profession in America.	Y	Charity Organization Societies: 1877-1893. https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/eras/civil-war-reconstruction/charity-organization-societies-1877-1893/
90	Chicken wings served Buffalo style	1964	Invented by Teressa Bellissimo at the Anchor Bar	Y	"Buffalo wing." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_wing
91	Child born to settlers	2/1798	Sophia Ransom, born to Asa and Kezia Ransom, near Washington & Quay St. in Buffalo	N	Severance, Frank. Recalling pioneer days. Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society, vol. 26. Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Historical Society, 1922, p. 323
92	Chinese citizen	1888	Mr. Tong Chuck, naturalized January 10, 1888	N	"The first chinese citizen..." Buffalo Commercial, January 11, 1888, p. 4
93	Chinese restaurant	1897	The earliest recorded Chinese restaurant we could find is H.T. Licht's restaurant, 476 Michigan Street.	N	"Chinese Restaurant." Buffalo Times, October 8, 1897, p. 6
94	Chinese Sunday School	6/1909	First Sunday School for Chinese immigrants established, 515 Michigan Street, by the Lafayette Baptist Church.	N	"For the Chinamen." Buffalo Enquirer, June 14, 1909, p 10
95	Chinese-American baby	4/1904	Named Chin Gim Doc	N	"Chin Wong Foo and the First Chinese Baby Born in Buffalo." Buffalo Times, April 17, 1904. www.archives.nysed.gov/education/chinese-buffalo-buffalo-times-excerpt-1904
96	Chinese-American pilot	1922	Harry Chin, a restaurant owner, qualifies for a pilot's license after testing at Curtiss Field	Y	"Chinaman qualifies as aviation pilot." Buffalo Times, December 7, 1922, p. 31
97	Chocolate served or sold	1813	J.N. Bailey's shop near Main & Exchange	N	"New goods. J.N. Bailey." Buffalo Gazette, June 29, 1813, p.3
98	Church building in Buffalo	1819	A short-lived wood-frame building erected by Methodists at Pearl and Niagara	N	Clarke, Walter. The First Church in Buffalo, Half Century Discourse, Delivered on the Evening of Feb. 3d, 1862. Buffalo, NY: Butler, 1862, p.44
99	Church building in Erie County	1806	A log cabin built by the Society of Friends (Quakers) at Potter's Corners in what is now Orchard Park.	N	Smith, Henry Perry, ed. History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County, vol. 1, p. 94. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason, 1884.
100	Circus performance	7/21/1823	A caravan arrived at the Eagle Tavern, featuring a lion, elephant, and camel	N	Smith, H. Perry. History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County... Vol. 2. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason, 1884, p.542.