• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Historic old WEBR home at 23 North Street is no more.

Mike Sheridan

Mike Sheridan

The former home of WEBR Radio at 23 North Street in Buffalo fell to the wrecking ball in the historic Allentown district. The official cause is a lightning strike that damaged the west wall and roof of the 19th Century 3 story mansion. Upon inspection it was decided the building once known as "Broadcast House" could not be saved. The building has probably been empty since the radio stations WEBR and WNED-FM moved out around 1993.

What’s interesting is WEBR moved in around 1935 and didn’t move out till almost 60 years later. That has to be some kind of record for broadcasting continueously from one place.

Some residents are crying foul saying the timing is suspicious since there are other buildings coming down in the area to make way for redevelopment. In any case it’s sad to see this monument to early radio and architectural history swept away.
 
Gee, I wonder who owns the property? And failed to maintain it? It was certainly architecturally significant independent of its broadcast history.
 
Mike Sheridan said:
The former home of WEBR Radio at 23 North Street in Buffalo fell to the wrecking ball in the historic Allentown district. The official cause is a lightning strike that damaged the west wall and roof of the 19th Century 3 story mansion. Upon inspection it was decided the building once known as "Broadcast House" could not be saved. The building has probably been empty since the radio stations WEBR and WNED-FM moved out around 1993.

What’s interesting is WEBR moved in around 1935 and didn’t move out till almost 60 years later. That has to be some kind of record for broadcasting continueously from one place.

Some residents are crying foul saying the timing is suspicious since there are other buildings coming down in the area to make way for redevelopment. In any case it’s sad to see this monument to early radio and architectural history swept away.
Click to expand...

http://www.pbase.com/kjosker/image/38798193
 
A florist occupied this building after WEBR moved out. Amherst Development owns the property, in 2007 there were plans to renovate, but from what I have read they never followed up on them.
 
Depreciation write off, and who knows what hoops they might have had to jump through that made it untenable to rehabilitate the historic structure?
 
Thanks DTV Chief for the excellent link. The comments there are great reading. I wish someone had pictures of the inside during the glory years. From little things I have read I get the idea the studios were in a 1 story addition at the back of the building but I'm not sure. I have seen one picture that shows a little bit of master control with the announce studio through the glass. It looked like a nice neat setup.

After the Courier sold it I believe Larry Levette (sp) tried an oldies format before he sold WEBR and bought WBEN AM/FM. I guess the Oldies format didn't work out?
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom