Nash, Rev. J. Edward, Sr., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 at 36 Nash Street in Buffalo, this wood frame house was designed as a two-flat dwelling with a self-contained apartment on each floor. Its Queen Anne character shows in a fish-scale shingled gable with a Palladian window, a projecting second-floor bay and a full-width front porch with turned trim. The interior keeps much historic fabric, including mantels, pocket doors and molded door and window surrounds. Rev. J. Edward Nash, Sr. moved here in 1925 after marrying Frances Jackson and lived on the upper floor, renting out the lower flat, until his death in 1957. He served as pastor of the Michigan Street Baptist Church from 1892 to 1953, helped establish Buffalo branches of the Urban League and the NAACP, and acted as a mediator and spokesperson for the city's growing African American community. The street was renamed for him after his retirement. The Michigan Street Preservation Corporation acquired the house and its contents in 2000 and plans a museum and research center.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion B for its association with Rev. J. Edward Nash, Sr., regarded as Buffalo's most prominent African American leader in the first half of the twentieth century. He lived in the house from 1925 until his death in 1957. Its location near the Michigan Street Baptist Church reflects his leadership in the city's traditional African American neighborhood.
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 06001210, listed January 4, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 36 Nash St., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | January 4, 2007 |
| Reference number | 06001210 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1957 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant, with restoration underway and a proposed museum and research center; the exterior was restored in 2002-2003. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.88590, -78.86660 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 06001210.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7317677
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.