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Markets  >  Cultural  >  Rev. J. Edward Nash House Museum

Rev. J. Edward Nash House Museum

The Rev. J. Edward Nash House located at 36 Nash Street is a National Register-listed former residence adjacent to downtown Buffalo. The building is a splendid example of a late 19th century vernacular, wood frame house, consisting of a lower and an upper flat. The building has survived in a part of the City which was once densely built with similar structures, most of which have been torn down. The house, though structurally sound with considerable original building fabric and room configuration intact, required extensive renovation work including restoration of original windows that had been concealed in new walls.

The Rev. J. Edward Nash, a prominent leader of the African-American community and pastor of the Michigan Street Baptist Church, owned and occupied the house, living on the second floor, from the late 1890's until his death in 1957. The house now serves as a museum in honor of Rev. Nash.

The project was a significant community effort in that the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency responded to the advocacy efforts of the Michigan Street Preservation Corporation, bringing almost $400,000 in public dollars to realize the large vision of a small not-for-profit preservation group. This commitment of the City helped leverage $150,000 from private foundations to create a true public/private partnership.