Unknown Stories of WNY: Cornell Mansion | News

BUFFALO, N.Y. - It may be one of the smallest mansions on Buffalo's legendary Millionaire's Row, Delaware Avenue, but it helped launch the careers of one of the Queen city's biggest stars.

The Cornell Mansion was built in 1894 by S. Douglas Cornell, the owner of the Cornell White Lead Works.

He was a huge theatre fan, so much so, that he had a working professional theatre on the third and fourth floors.

That is where his granddaughter caught the performing bug and love of the theatre. Catherine Cornell went on to become one of the biggest stars on Broadway. The Cornell Mansion went on to become a photography studio and now law offices.

The fascinating story of the people behind the mansions make it one of the Unknown Stories of Western New York.