The rise and fall of the Plaza Apartments, transcribed article (Tonawanda News, 1938-07-02).jpg
Dublin Core
Title
The rise and fall of the Plaza Apartments, transcribed article (Tonawanda News, 1938-07-02).jpg
Description
Transcribed by AI
There's an old saying that everything that goes up must come down, and the truth of this statement is being borne out in the Tonawandas these days with the razing of the Plaza apartments on the corner of Tremont and Main streets.
The work being done on the condemned building is causing a mild bit of attention, as each day sees it approaching the level of the ground that has supported it for 42 years. Its erection and final completion in 1896 caused appropriate notice.
A newspaper of that period reported:
"On the corner of Webster and Tremont streets, Mr. George P. Smith, one of the leading developers of North Tonawanda, has this year erected a towering six-story business block. From the top of the elevator tower the historian recently spent a half hour taking a birds-eye view of this city and its surroundings.”
Mr. Smith was indeed one of the leading citizens of old North Tonawanda. He was the son of the Hon. H. R. Smith and Christiana Long Smith, for whom Christiana street is named.
The younger Smith was raised entirely in North Tonawanda and became engaged in the lumber business. His great executive ability finally led him to become, not only the head of that concern, but also president of the Standard Light and Power company, the Standard Gas company of Tonawanda, the Tonawanda Street Railroad company, the Ironton Land company of North Tonawanda, the United States Water Works company, the North Tonawanda Land company, and the Niagara Real Estate and Insurance company.
There's an old saying that everything that goes up must come down, and the truth of this statement is being borne out in the Tonawandas these days with the razing of the Plaza apartments on the corner of Tremont and Main streets.
The work being done on the condemned building is causing a mild bit of attention, as each day sees it approaching the level of the ground that has supported it for 42 years. Its erection and final completion in 1896 caused appropriate notice.
A newspaper of that period reported:
"On the corner of Webster and Tremont streets, Mr. George P. Smith, one of the leading developers of North Tonawanda, has this year erected a towering six-story business block. From the top of the elevator tower the historian recently spent a half hour taking a birds-eye view of this city and its surroundings.”
Mr. Smith was indeed one of the leading citizens of old North Tonawanda. He was the son of the Hon. H. R. Smith and Christiana Long Smith, for whom Christiana street is named.
The younger Smith was raised entirely in North Tonawanda and became engaged in the lumber business. His great executive ability finally led him to become, not only the head of that concern, but also president of the Standard Light and Power company, the Standard Gas company of Tonawanda, the Tonawanda Street Railroad company, the Ironton Land company of North Tonawanda, the United States Water Works company, the North Tonawanda Land company, and the Niagara Real Estate and Insurance company.
Date
1938-07-02
Citation
“The rise and fall of the Plaza Apartments, transcribed article (Tonawanda News, 1938-07-02).jpg,” North Tonawanda History, accessed April 9, 2026, https://nthistory.com/items/show/4865.