Throughout the years many of the streets of Buffalo have changed names.

In the beginning the streets were named for our Native American brothers and sisters who dominated this area before it even became a village. Tonawanda, Chippewa, Huron, and Ontario were but a few named after them. Others were named for animals (also associated with our Native American people).

Eagle, Beaver, Elk etc. Here are some of the name changes:

Winspear avenue (Wilmer street, and Wells street),

Bailey avenue (Goodell rd and Williamsville rd),

South Park Ave (White Corners Road),

Masten street (Prospect st. and Cemetery street),

Zenner st. ( Logan st),

Cazenovia st (Whitmore st),

William st. (Vine st),

Eastwood place (Humboldt place),

Goodyear st (Danube st),

Gates Circle (Chapin place),

Timon st (Durrenburger st),

Hamlin rd ( Boston rd and Demond rd),

Baynes st (Lawlin st),

Bissell st (Rhine st),

Richmond avenue (The Avenue and Rogers rd),

Sherman st (German st),

Dartmouth avenue (East Hertel avenue),

Butler place (Fitch alley),

Stockbridge (Bowdoin st), and

Verplanck st (Clifton st).

Have you ever thought about how the streets got their names?  We are lucky in Buffalo because much of our city’s history is embedded in our street names.  Here are a few of the stories: