Buffalo NY a city I was born in but a city also with more then two hundred years of history. Over the years running a paranormal organization I never knew why I never investigated downtown Buffalo. Perhaps because I already knew deep down inside it was already haunted. But more or less this historical explanation below and page is set up more for the members so that any ghost photos they capture downtown or about any of the places talked about here others can submit to me such as areas like Niagara Square, Franklin Square, The Theatre District and Main Street. I was very fortunate to have returned to Buffalo for a little trip and during that trip I realized it was only fair to take some photos to show you where I am originally from which in my opinion might be one of the top 10 haunted cities in this country. Although you could probably find a book because of all the history here I recommend giving yourself a tour downtown at night. You do not need to pay for all them ghost tours and such just take a walk yourself and you will see that Buffalo is full of rich architecture and many ghost.

Back in 1763 the French & Indian war caused a massive settlement into the area. Although in the 1700s the Seneca Indians thrived on this land as Buffalo's first settler built a log cabin as this land was a gift from the Indians. His name was William Johnston who came to the area in 1786 also at that time a Negro lived near by which traded with the Indians running a small shop. At the time Buffalo's first child was born here by the name of Ezekiel Lane. Eventually a 1789 the first tavern in Buffalo called Black Joes was opened in an Indian longhouse. Hodges who ran the tavern was one of Buffalos first permanent non-Indian settlers. Around the same time another tavern ran by John Palmer was established at the same time so arguably we could say this was the first tavern. 

In 1804 Buffalo NY was actually called the village of New Amsterdam and was mapped out by a man named Joseph Ellicott which was an agent of the Holland Land Company. By this time Niagara Square had 8 streets that radiated out from it thanks to his brother Andrew survey Pierre L'Enfant's who helped with the grand design. Much of downtown Buffalo that was laid out then still is the same today except the street names were changed. By 1805 brewery's, taverns, stone mansions, small stories were quite common. By 1812 Buffalo became a military resort for the war of 1812. 

Speaking of the War Of 1812 downtown Buffalo was burned in 1813 to the ground as retaliation for the Americans burning a small Canadian settlement. General McClure did this in panic when forces were closing in on him at Fort George so he fled to Fort Niagara after burning Newark leaving 400 people homeless in the middle of winter. The British thought this was a savage act and yes in truth it pissed them off so they ending up taking 500 British men and Indians only to burn Fort Niagara, Lewiston, Youngstown, Even parts of Tonawanda. Buffalo would be the last victim of course. 

A force of over 1000 men crossed into the Black Rock area and General Hall made a mistake and put some of his less experienced men to hold the forces however when the British fired the cannons most soldiers fled heading towards Buffalo. They warned everybody that the Indians were coming this caused panic in the streets. All the roads were blocked but there just was not enough time as militia ran through the streets sending out warnings. At the time it was to late Indians jumped out from the woods shooting, screaming and acting like savages. 

The Buffalonians had fled as the British were marching across the river. The ones that did not flee fought bravely using cannons to hold back the British. However only miles away militia were scalped, stabbed, arms and legs twisted it was very gory. It was a cold December and many loaded up there wagons and valuables fleeing Buffalo only to see the smoke from a few miles away.

Roughly where Niagara Square was a cannon was fired by some young British soldiers. The American men fired a small gun to hold them back. It seemed to work but due to the excitement of the young British soldiers confidence they overloaded the cannon causing a large explosion. Colonel Chapin used this to gain some more time and waved a white flag for surrender. He asked the British General Riall to Capitulate and to spare the residents as well as property. The British General agreed only to find out that Chapin was not in command so he withdrew the acceptance hence the battle began. In a matter of hours Buffalo was reduced to ashes accept for a 6 to 7 buildings One house did stand the house of Mrs. John and her daughters perhaps the only ones to not flee miraculous were spared.

Of course the story goes deeper on how Mrs. John was approached by a British soldier and she asked for mercy and even went to see the General Riall and explain that she could not escape Buffalo because of the closed roads and such. Her life was spared and so was her house. However during those 3 days all the way on New Years Day many Indians approached the house and were turned away by a British guard. When going out for food one of the daughters thought she would be tomahawked and instead a friendly Indian painted there face. However the next door neighbor Mrs. Lovejoy stayed behind to protect her possessions stabbed an Indian and in return was tomahawked. A tablet remains at the Edwards Dept. Store where the house once stood.

Many people in Buffalo who did flee hid out in the woods cold, hungry, frost bitten and alot of them had money they took with them so they were able to quickly recover. Even the Holland Land Company took $60,000 to rebuild the stores, houses and provide clothing for the unfortunate. When everybody came back to there homes bodies laid in the streets and many did die or were taking as prisoner back to Canada. So this is a general history of the burning of Buffalo so yes it is obvious that at one time Buffalo was a battlefield people died, people were killed and there is energy here.

Now lets talk about the second cemetery in Buffalo which was called the Johnston burial ground. The first was a few blocks away  near Exchange and Washington streets. Some of the earlier settlers were buried here. When the burning of Buffalo had Occurred many of the bodies were laid here in piles at the burial ground with boards covering them up. There were no grave stones or markings it was more like a mass burial plot. In 1815 a famous Indian Chief, Farmers Brother were buried here with military honors. This was also a place where Chapin made his surrender to the British to spare Buffalo. Many burials that took place here were soldiers with unknown identities. All the way up to 1832 burials took place until the great Cholera Outbreak occurred in Buffalo and burials ceased. Some said the bodies were causing this disease. Then four years later some of the last burials to take place were the wife of Samuel Wilkeson and the daughter of Gamalist St. John were buried here. That same year a brick wall which costs $2000 dollars was built as a way to contain the cemetery. Eventually the remains would be removed to Forest Lawn Cemetery and there is a special monument which states this. Mark Twain wrote a short story about this called "A Curious"

In 1851 the property was purchased by the city and was used as a mayors office as a building was placed on the cemeteries property. All the stones with no monuments were smoothed over and paved almost like a parking lot.  Later in 1876 a monolithic structure called old county hall was constructed. This probably is the most European structure downtown Buffalo with a Clock Tower reaching 209' in height.  It was designed with a high Victorian type of Architecture fitting considering it was built on burial ground. We must assume that not all bodies were removed. 

Then we have another story about Niagara Square and City Hall which today still has Indian Mosaics painted on this 27 floor structure. In Niagara Square in 1825 three brothers were executed in the presence of 30,000 citizens. The brothers were convicted of murdering john Love a farmer up in Boston NY over a quarrel or rather he was robbed. Love's body had not been discovered for several months in 1824 till his body was discovered in a frozen shallow grave on a slope near Thayer's Cabin. The brothers were convicted and hung right in the gallows near the entrance of City Hall. 

Then we have a story about some mummy like bodies that were found on main street when the Subway was put in. I do not have alot of history but as a child I remember this on the news on how they were digging and pulled up two bodies which were wrapped. This was quite common in native American burials as they would wrap the bodies and bury the bones. 

In 1832 Buffalo was Incorporated and in recent times it was named the All American City. One of the largest office buildings in the country stood here in the later 1800s and right in front of the building was a place called Fountain plaza where others could enjoy a picnic or lunch downtown Buffalo.

Lets also not forget that president McKinley was also killed in Buffalo and he laid in state here at the old county hall. Even another president Fillmore is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery. So these are just a few historical facts.

Although there is more as I said you could write a book with all the stories that have happened through the years. One could take a walk downtown Buffalo and almost every building either has a statue, plaque or long before the buildings stood there were houses and other things. Buffalo at one time was a grain city with its large grain elevators and ships were the biggest form of transportation although some have sunk off Lake Erie which Buffalo is located off of. Trains did not enter the area till roughly 1834.

Today you can sense an eerie feeling downtown at night nobody is out walking, most buildings have gargoyles on them and gothic architecture. So perhaps I thought it was a nice little story to bring to the local members here. Basically the focus is more on downtown such as where the War of 1812 took place, the removed cemetery, the area where the Thayer brothers were hung etc. 

Although you will not see many ghost photos here you can look back at our Buffalo Marina, St Joseph's, St Paul's and Even Shea's Theatre investigations and you will see there are ghost right downtown. Over time I will add photos from our members if they capture anything downtown as well. Even if you visit some places we investigated just outside of downtown you will see some amazing ghost shots for example Forest Lawn Cemetery. So with that in mind Buffalo NY has such a rich history with its cathedrals, century old buildings, native American history and tragedies as well. I believe and have always sensed alot of energy downtown and perhaps after some read the history we now can see why. Buffalo remains to me one of the most haunted cities in the country.

There are so many memories as once a friend and me went to a baseball game, another time my father took me atop city hall, or like when I was a child I would run around the Marina caught my first fish here. I remember when I was in high school how we would go to the Buffalo Sabers games and I would go out to dinner pig out watched one of the nicest come backs in Sabers history against the Boston Bruins. So many memories then you get older and become the founder to a big paranormal organization and you realize there is a reason for everything and this is one of them. 

©  By

AngelOfThyNight-Rick