The Nash House Museum
The house at 36 Nash Street (Buffalo , NY) has a very special place in the 20th century history of Buffalo's African-American community.
From 1925 until 1987, the residence was the homestead of the Rev. J. Edward Nash, Sr. family. Rev. Nash was the pastor of the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church from 1892 until his retirement in 1953. His widow continued to occupy the home after his death in 1957. She died in 1987.
Rev. Nash's leadership and presence in Buffalo's African-American community during the first 50 years of the 20th century earned him legendary status in that community. During most of that period he was the most widely known and respected African-American in the city. Rev. Nash was involved in the efforts to bring branches of the Urban League and the NAACP to Buffalo. He was a long-time leader and treasurer of the Western New York Baptist Association.
For 32 years he was secretary of the Ministers Alliance of Buffalo. That inter-racial body was one of the most influential religious groups in Buffalo. Rev. Nash called and led several community political meetings of black Buffalonians to intercede on behalf of local black citizens who were in danger of being wronged because of their race.
Because he was widely respected by the city's white leadership, Rev. Nash had direct access to the mayor and other local elected officials. He often used his access to elected officials and business leaders to gain benefits for the African-American community and/or its individual citizens.
When the Michigan Street Preservation group walked into Rev. Nash's personal quarters and study, it was as though they had entered a time capsule, a time capsule that had been left by Rev. Nash himself. The furniture, typewriter, desk, victrola, and other furnishings were in good condition. His letters, papers, and books seemed undisturbed since their last use by Rev. Nash.
The upstairs was a virtual museum of African-American home furnishings from the pre-WWII era.
Info found at:
www.nashhousemuseum.org/
The Nash House Museum
36 Nash Street
Buffalo NY
716-856-4490
Thursdays: 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturdays: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Open tours by appointment.
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