Sometimes a building seems to take on a life of its own. The Goodyear Mansion at 888 Delaware Ave is one of those buildings. Its history includes one of Buffalo’s wealthiest families. It also includes Presidents, First Ladies, royalty, a health insurance company, and two schools. Its future is set to include both corporate and market-rate apartments.
Now, focusing on one home is usually not my style, although I did it with the Humphrey House, but I had a handful of people ask me to write this one. Each person had a different reason for asking me to do it. And I have my own reasons for agreeing.
You see, my mother is a graduate of Bishop McMahon high school, class of 1957. Back in December, our family moved her into a memory care unit. When I visited her (pre-COVID) Mom would always ask me to read my latest posts to her. Just before the nursing homes closed down, she asked if I would ever write about “someone’s high school”. I said, “Oh, sure. why not?” And the conversation moved off in a different direction. Communication is often difficult for dementia patients. Actually, it’s always difficult.
Several weeks later, I received an email from a woman asking me to write about her old high school, Bishop McMahon. It was then that I realized my mother was talking about her own high school that day. Mom remembered that I knew a lot about it already and that I would enjoy learning more. She was right.
Since then, I’ve had three more requests to write about this mansion.
So here I am, all my reading is done and I’m ready to tell you about my Mother’s high school building. The Goodyear Mansion.
Charles Waterhouse & Ella Portia Goodyear
Charles Goodyear was born in Cortland, NY in 1846 and came to Buffalo to study law in 1868. He practiced at a few different firms, one or two of them he himself started. He had a good reputation and served as Assistant District Attorney, and later as District Attorney. Things were going well for Charles.
In 1876 he met and married Ella Portia Conger. Ella attended Nardin Academy (Miss Nardin’s at the time) and the Female Academy (now Buffalo Seminary). Her father, Anson Griffith Conger, a banker, purchased the couple a home at 723 Delaware Avenue (lost). It was here that they raised their four children, Anson, Ester, Charles, and Bradley.
When Grover Cleveland became governor of NYS, Charles Goodyear joined the firm Cleveland founded, Cleveland, Bissel & Sicard. The firm then became Bissel, Sicard & Goodyear. He practiced law with that firm for four years.
Charles and Ella were very good friends of Grover & Frances Cleveland and were in fact, the first guests the Clevelands entertained at the White House after their wedding. Cool!
In 1887, Goodyear retired from the law for good when he went into the lumber business with his brother Frank. The brothers eventually owned extensive timberland in Pennsylvania and Louisiana. They started a railroad company, The Buffalo and Susquehanna Iron Company. They pioneered the use of railroads to move lumber.
These two businesses earned the Goodyears immense wealth.
The Home
It was during this time of great prosperity that the Goodyears decided to build a home suitable for a family of such affluence. And build it they did.
The home was completed in 1903 and is an exquisite example of the French Renaissance Style. We would expect nothing less from Green & Wicks (E.B. Green was the principal) who were the architects. Just look at that mansard roof, the dormers with semi-circular pediments and keystones above the windows. And above those are porthole dormers! Love these! Tuscan columns surround the brick enclosed portico which was originally wide open. See above.
So much to look at on one house!
Inside there were 11 bedrooms, each with a marble fireplace, and adjoining bathrooms. On the first floor was the main hall, a dining room, a breakfast room, a library, and a loggia which opened up to the terrace and garden out back.
The Goodyears enjoyed this home together from it’s completion until 1911 when Charles passed away.
During World War I, King Albert of Belgium, Queen Elisabeth of Bavaria, and their son, Prince Leopold visited the United States, including Buffalo. This was back when Buffalo was a mover and a shaker on the national scene. While here, they were guests of Ella’s and were entertained in this home. Amazing! Royalty! In Buffalo, and in this home!
Ella lived in the home until her death in September of 1940. I love this photo below of Ella on her patio in her beautiful garden.
Blue Cross Corp moves into 888 Delaware
Shortly after Ella’s death, the Hospital Service Corporation and Western New York Medical Plan, better known as the Blue Cross Corporation, purchased the home. They made small changes to the kitchens and pantries and partitioned off one or two of the bedrooms, but largely left the mansion intact. It remained this way for the next 10 years.
Bishop McMahon High School
In 1950, the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo purchased the building to be used as the all-girl Bishop McMahon High School. This is where my mother spent her high school years. The school itself had a business focus. Mind you, not what we think of today as the study of business. Back then, the girls were taught typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping. They learned the fundamentals of business and business law. They were also taught high school Social Studies and English.
Most of the first floor rooms were converted into classrooms, and later all of the bedrooms on the second and third floors were converted into classrooms as well.
My mother loved it. She graduated in 1957 and growing up, I only heard good things from her about the school, the building, and grounds. She made lifelong friends here, Beth and Judy, and remembers fondly the garden parties in the yard of the school.
The girls (in the 1950s anyway) were taught the history and architecture of the building and I know that my mother appreciated being able to attend such a school, in a former home such as this. She told me once that she and her friends thought the Goodyears lived ‘fairytale’ lives in the house. And that she enjoyed ‘living’ there for four years herself.
The skills that my mother learned while attending Bishop McMahon, (including typing 90 words a minute on a manual typewriter!) served her well throughout her career. She worked for Monroe Abstract & Title Company and Dupont, before spending 28 years as a school secretary. She loved her work at the school.
McMahon added the gymnasium at the back of the property, and years later the classrooms in between, finally removing Ella’s gardens completely. Wish there was some way to bring them back.
888 Delaware Is Sold Again, and Again
In 1988, the building was purchased by Women and Children’s Hospital (then) and was run as the Robert B. Adam Educational Center. It housed several children’s programs including an early childhood center.
In 2005 the school was sold and again used as a school. This time, it became Oracle Charter School. Oracle did extensive renovations creating new classrooms and offices.
But I heard whisperings as early as 2017 about whether the school wanted to continue in the historic building. The way it was put to me was that the school was in the process of discerning whether they wanted to be in the historic building business or the education business.
You see, housing your business (or school) in a historic building like the Goodyear Mansion is not easy, nor is it cheap. There are rules which must be adhered to when making any changes to the home, and it can cost quite a bit of money for regular upkeep alone.
The Future of 888
With that in mind, I wasn’t surprised to hear that 888 Delaware LLC (Priam Enterprises) acquired the property in October of 2019. The original plan for the property was the development of a boutique hotel in the old mansion and to create market-rate apartments in the rest of the property, including the classrooms and the old carriage house.
Then Covid-19 happened.
And as is the case with every other facet of our lives, this project had to be adapted to our ‘new norm’. The hospitality industry has taken a particularly hard hit. Priam, recognizing these conditions, has adapted their plan and will continue with the market-rate apartments, but has put aside the boutique hotel, for now. In the mansion itself, they plan to create furnished corporate apartments. Fifty-one apartments in all. It’s a good idea. I like it.
Amy Downing, Business Development Manager for Priam Enterprises, tells me their team is working to restore original woodwork, most of which is still there, and will keep as much of the interior intact as possible. They will remove walls and partitions that have been added over the years, returning at least some of the rooms to their former glory. And I’m happy to say that the plan includes the re-opening of that front portico. That alone will go a long way to make this building look like a home again. Love it.
Here are a few photos of some of the original charm that Priam has uncovered from behind sheetrock and drop ceilings thus far.
Photos of a Bygone Era
The photos below are all from the Goodyear era, and are courtesy of Priam Development, who obtained them from the Diocese of Buffalo when they purchased the property. I like knowing that Priam cares about what used to be here, and are taking pains to restore as well as renovate. They plan to have the apartments ready by the first quarter of 2022.
Guest bedroom – third floor 
The Library – first floor 
The Hall – first floor
Ella’s Bedroom 
Ella’s Dressing Room
Daughter Ester’s Bedroom 
Daughter Ester’s Sitting Room
Charles’ Bedroom 
Here’s a look at what some of the interior looks like now. First up, is some of the stained glass. Note the block just outside the one window. That happened when the loading dock was added to the south side of the building. I’m told while it will not be able to be removed, the loading dock will be renovated into an attractive patio.
This is the woodwork in the Hall. The frieze above the mantle was sold at one point during a sale of Goodyear pieces, but the sale was cancelled when experts found that the foundation for it extended to the basement, and that it would be impossible to remove it from the house without knocking down the house itself! The frieze is called “Life” and it is by Karl Bitter.
The library and dining room need work but are largely intact. Note the modern lights visible in the mirror in the dining room. Also note the mirror and the door in the dining room have the same framing. Sweet.
And one of my personal favorites…This is the window in the billiard room. See what they did there? In the interior, the billiard room was broken up for smaller rooms, but Priam will be restoring it. Love it.
Tucked away is the safe room. I’ve never seen one of these before. There’s a rumor that the upper safe was for furs?!
And two guest bedrooms on the third floor. Pretty nice. That mantle with the ship painting! And the other mantle for that matter. Wow!
My Impressions of 888 Delaware
I’m not gonna lie, this was a tough one for me to write. Well, it was bittersweet. You all know how much I love history. But you may not know about my close and loving relationship with my Mother. So writing about 888 Delaware Ave has brought to mind many past conversations with her. Conversations we can no longer have.
But I am grateful we had them. As a matter of fact, I learned my attitude of gratitude from my Mother. She spoke about her high school days as if she were the luckiest girl on the face of the earth to be able to go to a school that taught what she wanted to learn, in a beautiful ex-mansion.
It’s with this in mind that I look forward to seeing the completed restoration and renovations that will take place at 888 Delaware Ave over the next year and a half or so. And I am grateful that there are people in Buffalo willing to invest in our future through investing in our past. The bones are there, and I have every reason to believe that this property will be beautiful again.
The Goodyear Mansion, not for the first time, is one to watch.
*A huge thank you to Amy Downing, Business Development Manager for Priam Enterprises, and Mark Tufillaro, President and COO for Priam Development, for the use of the black and whites, the tour, and just all around being fantastic to me. Thank you!
**Get the book! They make great gifts for family and friends (or yourself!). Click here or on the photo below to purchase.
***All photos in this post are mine unless otherwise noted.
Loved your article- wish my high school could have been saved from what they did to her interior- talking about St. Mary’s Seminary 564 Franklin St
It’s a shame, but I have great hope for the future…
love your history and your relationship with your mom!
Thanks Whitney!
I attended Bishop McMahon HS class of ‘77. I have such fond memories of this beautiful mansion. I am so happy it is being partially restored to it’s magnificent beauty. I am living out of state, but I will watch the progress of its next phase. Thank you for the story and bringing me back to such happy times.
So happy you enjoyed the post, and that it brought back fond memories for you!
Skip Quale. Great article. My great grandfather lived at 999 Delaware which was the Buffalo Psychiatric center. .Do you know what will become of it since it was recently sold.
The Mental Health Association seems to have sold the building recently (April?) but no info yet about the new owners.
Thanks for reading!
Thank you Ellen for this wonderful article! I also graduated from Bishop McMahon in 1976, and like your mom, felt very lucky to have spent 4 years in that beautiful home. Having been born and raised on the west side, I have always loved the history of Buffalo’s architecture so I appreciated everyday there and all my memories everyday since. I drive by it frequently and ride my bike there. I can’t wait to get back in to see it and am so glad it is being restored. I also understand how much this article means to you. My mom also had dementia so I read your article with a profound understanding of your point of view. You and your mom will be in my heart. ??
Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate them more than you know!
Loved reading this article. Joanne F
Thanks so much. I’m happy you enjoyed it!
Thank you so very much for this terrific article. So special that you did this for your mom but so many of us are also benefiting from it. Class I 1973
Thanks Linda! Appreciate your kind words!
Thank you for writing this article! I was a graduate of Bishop McMahon in 1990, we had our last reunion there and brought back so many great memories! I’m sure your Mom is very proud of you !
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! Thank you for your kind words.
I’m a Bishop McMahon class of 77 Graduate. Our class celebrated our 30th reunion there .It was great reading your article. Like your Mom I have nothing but fantastic memories about this house. There was a book in the library that was filled with pictures of the house when the Goodyear’s lived there. I would frequently go there just to look at the pictures. Something you did not mention was the house had an elevator. Imagine that back in the day. I learned so many new and fascinating facts about this home. I cant wait to see this beautiful home restored.
Yes! The elevator! It really must have been something in 1903…
Thank you for reading!
I loved this article. I attended Bishop McMahon and graduated in 1963. I too have lifelong friends from those years. So many great memories . I often wondered about that mansion, its history and how the people lived in such a beautiful home. Our education was wonderful and supplied me with the knowledge to have a great career as mostly a secretary/admistrative assistant to high level officers of larger companies. Thank you for writing this article. I look forward to the completion of this great project.
Awesome, thank you for sharing your story! And for reading mine!
Great heartwarming article for those of us who graduated from McMahon. We had our 40th reunion there in 2012 when it had been Oracle School and we were so excited to see our beloved school again. Me and my 5 sisters all went there and speaking for myself were the most wonderful years with friends and teachers. Thank God this mansion can be saved for the future and we look forward to seeing it again in its new and old form!
Thank you for sharing your story, and I’m happy you enjoyed the article!
So many wonderful memories as a 1978 graduate! Thank you for this amazing article!
So glad you enjoyed it!
I graduated from Bishop McMahon High School in 1962. I entered as a Freshman in 1958 (just missed your mom). Back then your first two years were spent in the new addition. Junior and Senior classes were held in the mansion. It was a beautiful school and took some time to figure out where you needed to go for your next class. I can still picture Office Machines class with Sister Margaret. Thank you so much for the article. I’d love to stay there if it becomes a hotel. I live in Ohio now. Carol Miller Andrzejewski
Thanks for sharing your memories of McMahon, and thank you for reading!
I graduated in 1971 and like others who went to Bishop McMahon, have great memories. How can I get/purchase a hard copy of this article. Is there a book?
As a 1986 Graduate of Bishop McMahon (and the 2nd last class to graduate) and the Administrator for the McMahon Facebook page–I cannot thank you enough for this wonderful article and research into the mansion and it’s history. So many women passed through this building and have such lovely memories, as did your mother. Thank you for writing this piece!
Thank you for your kind words Laura. Happy you enjoyed the post! Thank you for reading!
I loved reading this article and am proud to be a 1979 graduate of Bishop McMahon. I don’t reside in Buffalo anymore but come back often to see family – I was soooo looking forward to booking a stay at the hotel and am saddened that the hotel industry is suffering and that it is no longer an option. Keeping your mom, a fellow McMahon sister, in thought and prayer.
Happy that you liked the post Laurie! Priam hasn’t given up altogether on the boutique hotel, just tabling it for now. The corporate apartments are a sort of plan B, until the hospitality business picks back up. You may get your chance yet!
Thank you so much for writing this Ellen!!! I graduated from Bishop McMahon in 1966. Great memories. This was an amazing school. I worked in the Book Store in the mornings to pay for my books, the Cafeteria to pay for my lunches, and the Library to pay for my tuition. As far as I know Bishop McMahon was the only 4 year Business school in Buffalo at the time. I was set up with interviews for jobs while in my senior year. I landed my job in City Hall in the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority. I worked there after I married until I was having my first child. I feel blessed that I was able to go there. Good times and a beautiful way to grow up!
Thank you for sharing your memories! And thank you for reading!
I also graduated in 1966. Great memories of the school I loved. Still in contact with Cathy who also graduated that year. I now live in North Carolina but try to come back every year. Thanks for a beautiful article
So happy you enjoyed it. It’s so nice to know so many graduates of the school are still in touch!
Wonderful article. I graduated in1976 and have fond memories of my years there.
I’m glad you enjoyed the article – thank you for reading!
My four years of high school spent at Bishop McMahon left me with wonderful, lifetime memories, of the school, the staff, the many friendships and cherished experiences. We, the 1969 graduates, just celebrated our 50 year anniversary last year. Thank you Ellen for this article, and thanks to your Mom for sharing her memories with you that enabled you to make some of the memories come to life for us. Proudly we sing of our McMahon…??
I’m so happy you enjoyed the post! Thank you for the kind words, and for reading!
Dear Miss Zelasko, thank you so much for your gathering of the history of 888 Delaware Ave. I attended Bishop McMahon from 1958 and graduated in June of 1963. When I entered the school my oldest sister was a senior and my second sister was a sophomore. The three of us went to the school for $90 a year tuition. It didn’t matter how many girls attended from the family the tuition was the same amount. Just before graduation Mother Corine the principal asked if I would like to work in the front office as the receptionist. She was an amazing principle and person to work for. My services ended in 1965 for a new job with better pay.
Mother Corine was there and had the unfortunate task of telling me that my father had passsed away in his sleep. I had left the house before he woke up. All the sisters came to my father’s wake and were so kind. I started my working career at Bishop McMahon and finished my career at the University of Central Florida in 2007. Both jobs were the best places I worked. Kindness and appreciation were constant.
Thank you again for your article. I enjoyed the pictures and am looking forward to the next chapter in its life.
Susan (Wachowiak) Creighton
Thank you for sharing your story and your memories! Kindness and appreciation should never be underestimated!
Thank you for reading!
So happy to be a grad from the class of. 1973
Cool! Thanks for chiming in and for reading!
Thank you for doing this article! Have to chime in with Valerie – I couldn’t have chosen a better high school to attend. As a 1969 graduate of Bishop McMahon I have many life long friendships and great business skills – lol! Our class had an opportunity to visit the school again June 17, 2019 the day before our 50th reunion! It was a wonderful walk through history and great memories! If walls could talk – we would all be in detention! Would love a copy of this article and pictures to share with my family and friends!
Kudos to you and best wishes to your mom! McMahon Love ??
Gail Iacuzzo Balsdon
Thank you so much for your kind words! Loved “if these walls could talk – we would all be in detention”!! Working on getting printed copies available for purchase. Thanks again!
Thank you. Charles is my great-great grandfather. I hope some day to see 888 Delaware. I never saw it when I lived in Buffalo in my childhood.
Let’s hope the hospitality industry comes back and Priam is able to open the boutique hotel. Then you can come to Buffalo, and stay there! Thank you for reading!
I loved this story so much. I’m a 1963 graduate of Bishop McMahon. I have so many happy memories of my time there and have life long friendship. I treasure my years there, we learned so much more than typing, English and history. It shaped our lives and our values, Thank you to all the nuns and teachers we had. Mc Mahon will always have a special place in my heart
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post!
Beautiful article i went to school there graduated 86
Thank you!
My mom also graduated from McMahon in ’57 and still speaks about her wonderful times there.
Nice! Thank you for reading!
Thank you, Ellen, for all your work on this article. I am a 1959 graduate of Bishop Mahon. I started there with my friend Mary Ann DeWald who I met in 3rd grade and we just had lunch together last week. I loved going to McMahon but I hated wearing nylon stocking every day. I remember some of the teachers Miss Montana, Miss Sweeney, Miss Farley, Sr Henreita (my favorite), Sr Phylis an Sr Margaret to name a few. It was a wonderful school with great people and I feel very fortunate to have been a part of it. I was able to use my business education for the 40 years I worked. God Bless you an your mother for taking me back to good memories.
I’m so happy you enjoyed the post. Loved “hated wearing nylong stockings every day!” Thank you for sharing your memories with us!
This article was so informative and brought back beautiful memories for me. I graduated in 1959 and also worked for Monroe Abstract & Title from 1958 (Junior year) until 1961 where I went to work at the law firm of Falk, Twelvetrees. I will bet I knew your mom either from school or at Monroe Abstract. My name is Mary Lou (Tout) Driscoll. Thanks you for sharing your mom’s memories.
Thank you for your kind words!
I loved reading this article. I graduated from Bishop McMahon in 1984. To this day I talk about the great times had at that school. The round staircase and the library were such beautiful areas in the building. Soooo happy it has never been torn down.
Seems like it was a great place to go to school! Thanks for sharing!
I’m Andrew Kenefick’s sister (post above) and great great granddaughter of Charles and Ella. My Aunt Sheila talks fondly of that beautiful house which she used to visit. Thank you for giving us a history of the house. (And, yes, it would be very fun to stay there.)
It’s so nice to hear from descendents of Charles and Ella! From looking at photos of Ella, I feel like I would have liked her. She has a kind face! I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
Thank you for taking the time to share the pictures and your research about the Goodyear Mansion. I am an 1984 graduate also and was the first African American Senior class President. The detail structure of the building, it’s interior & exterior still sticks in my mind often. I enjoyed the staircases and the views from the second floor windows. After reading the article of who lived there and walked those halls, truly you have touched my inner soul. Forever grateful, blessings to you for what you have done in honor of your mother.
Dorothy Jones – Bishop McMahon
“ Girls just want to have fun”
I’m happy that you enjoyed the post Dorothy. Thank you for the kind words, and for sharing your story! Appreciate it more than you know. Happiest of holidays to you and your family!
I graduated in 1958 and also have only good memories about the beautiful building and wonderful friends. No mean girls there at all!,,
I had one uniform skirt and wore it until it shredded. Many blouses, which had to be ironed , ugh.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. You were one year behind my Mother then! The amount of time we’ve spent ironing! Thank you for reading!