I was looking for something else and spotted this. And now we know the architect of this impressive library was Cyrus L. W. Eidlitz.

Why would they replace the original library with that ?

It shows how American cities did have beautiful buildings once, but were easily torn down. Luckily, this has generally not been the case in Europe.

Amazing roof work. It looks so ... Minecraft.

Yeah, the mansion was replaced by the mid-Twentieth Century eyesore. and the new one does have things that the old one didn't, like a leaky roof, and drafts in the winter. One set of things that it doesn't have any more are the fantastic collection of books that they once had. About thirty years ago, they started discarding them in favor of the newer "politically correct" pieces. I used to love to go to the old Grosvenor Mansion and spend a day there when I was a kid. By the time that I was old enough to go into the adult sections, they were gone. Thanks for the photo.

The '60s were a cruel decade for Romanesque on the Niagara Frontier.

This sturdy, Romanesque structure was replaced in 1964 with an international style structure. The new library has features the old one probably lacked, like handicap access. But you're still on your own finding a parking spot. The Hotel Lafayette, at right in 1908, is still there.

Swing to your left if you want to admire a building with Flower Power.