33-61 Emerson Place Row
Why it's listed
Two identical seven-unit frame buildings make up the row at 33-61 Emerson Place, on the south side of the street in Buffalo's Masten neighborhood. Benjamin B. Rice built them in 1893 after his family laid out the street around 1891. Designed to resemble rowhouses, they combine Colonial Revival, Shingle style and Eastlake features, including two-story bow windows, patterned shingle sheathing, denticulated cornices and molded entrance surrounds with scroll plinths. The row is one of only four intact groups of this kind of housing left in Masten, and one of two surviving rows documented as built by the Rice family, who developed much of the neighborhood between 1880 and 1910. Together with the nearby row at 17-21 Emerson Place, it forms the most intact period streetscape in the area. At the time of the nomination the buildings were vacant, boarded up and in disrepair, but they kept most of their original plan, form and detailing. The city of Buffalo had designated the row a local landmark in 1981.
Significance in brief: It is one of a rare surviving group of speculative multi-unit frame residences designed to resemble rowhouses, and one of only four intact groups remaining in the Masten neighborhood. It is one of two surviving rows documented as built by the Rice family, the developers largely responsible for rows in the area from 1880 to 1910. It is also notable for its eclectic design and high level of craftsmanship.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86000691, listed March 19, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 33--61 Emerson Pl., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | March 19, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000691 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Benjamin B. Rice (builder) |
| Architectural style | Eclectic, incorporating Colonial Revival, Shingle style and Eastlake features |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as vacant and in a state of disrepair, with windows and entrances boarded over, though most original architectural details survive. Declared a local landmark by Buffalo in 1981. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.91306, -78.86027 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86000691.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4635123
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.