Buffalo, NY: 1847 Howard Iron Works (Fire Hydrants)

(Satellite, southeast quadrant of the tracks and Chicago Street.)

Buffalo Fire Department-Helmets & Hose Wagons posted five images with the comment: "Here's another bit of "Hidden History" 🔍 These Howard Iron Works hydrants have been in operation since the days of the Steamers 🐎🔥 some have been operational and in the ground for over 130 years 😲 Talk about something the City of Buffalo 🦬🚒🔥got their money's worth💰😃👍Here's their factory located on Chicago Street near Main and Hamburg canals near Granger Street🦬🔥Credit to FireHydrant.org🧯"

John Boresta: Why do they have the large bulbous bottom ?

Tom Klass: John Boresta to hide the mounting bolts. They used to be only what you see from ground up now they go down to the main supply as one piece I believe.

["The strange looking things around the flanges seen in the photos below were designed to catch sewer gas: the hydrant was connected to the sanitary sewer, and the escaping gas was intended to provide some warmth and protection from frost for the hydrant's mainvalve." [FireHydrant]]

Jim Myers shared

Judy Tucker: Didn't Buffalo have one of the first fire hydrant systems in the country?

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This source says it was established in 1849 instead of 1847. It was established by Rufus Lombard Howard.

They made a lot of other things as well. In addition to seeing a lot of vices in the Google search results, I saw:

preessxchange
1953 Howard Iron Works Vintage Industrial Paper Cutter
[A photo of a "Book Binders and Printers Machinery" name plate]

One of the early products that the works built was the Ketchum Mowing Machine.

BuffaloStreets
Howard Street is named for Rufus Lombard Howerd, the founder of the works.
"Howard Iron Works was bought by J.D. Cousins and Sons in 1904, which became J.D. Cousins in 1967."

And this source claims the works was founded in 1830.

PreservationReady
This source sites the dates "1830 or 1847/1949."

The restoration of a "1885 Howard Iron Works Gem-30 Guillotine." [HowardIronWorks]

before

after

Back when the canals on the above map still existed.

1894 Buffalo Quad @ 62,500

I started with this aerial because it had high resolution.

May 7, 1963 @ 24,000; AR1VAOJ00030140

But when I saw the Interstate highway, I knew I needed an older photo. This is the oldest available aerial. And they have already started construction on the interstate.

Ju 3, 1958 @ 60,000; ARA550340100888

Chicago was the truss bridges in the middle of the photo. So they have already torn down the works to make room for the Interstate.

Deborah Brown posted
Good Afternoon 🚶🏽‍♀️ The Niagara Thruway is being laid into place next to the Memorial Auditorium and Buffalo Evening New Press Building, Buffalo NY. 1958 🚧
Jim Myers shared