Calumet, The
Why it's listed
At the corner of Chippewa and Franklin Streets in downtown Buffalo stands a three-story commercial block designed in 1906 by the architects August Esenwein and James Johnson for Robert K. Root. Its steel frame is clad on the street fronts in glazed terra cotta, white with burnt sienna accents. Vertical piers carry molded reeds, leaves and flowers, while Chicago-style pivoting windows undulate between them. The ornament appears to play on the word 'calumet,' which derives from a reed-stemmed ceremonial pipe. The building originally held shops on the ground floor, offices on the second and a social club on the third. Changes include removal of the projecting cornice around 1965, replacement of storefronts with aluminum systems, and a reduction from six retail bays to three. Bars and a restaurant now occupy the ground floor. The building is recognized for its inventive Sullivanesque terra cotta work and its connection to a prominent Buffalo architectural firm.
Significance in brief: The building is presented as a distinctive example of glazed architectural terra cotta design in the Sullivanesque style. Its white and burnt sienna ornament of reeds, leaves and flowers plays on the meaning of the word 'calumet' and shows the moldable, durable qualities of terra cotta. It is also tied to the work of architects Esenwein and Johnson.
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 10000958, listed November 29, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 46-58 W Chippewa St / 233 Franklin St, Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 29, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000958 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | August Carl Esenwein and James Addison Johnson (Esenwein & Johnson) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & Early 20th Century American Movements: Chicago, Sullivanesque |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered over time: the cornice was removed about 1965 and storefronts were reduced from six to three. Ground-floor space is occupied by a bar and a restaurant. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.89216, -78.87472 (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.
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 10000958.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7721044
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.