In the Fall of 1946, Alfred Watson received a job promotion and relocated his family to Cheektowaga, New York, a few miles east of Buffalo. Commuting downtown to his job each day, he took time during his lunch breaks to photograph the city, its people, and the huge ships that docked on its lakefront.
This nighttime mage shows residents shopping at a variety store named after band leader Paul Whiteman. The photo reveals a variety of products for sale including an RCA Victrola for $12.95.
A man lights a cigarette under a lamp next to the Buffalo Savings Bank at 545 Main Street. Opened in 1901, the bank remained in business until 1991 . The building is now a designated City of Buffalo Landmark.
This late 1940s photograph of downtown Buffalo reveals the Hotel Huron in the center advertising its room rate of $1.50 a day in front of the hotel, the Sunoco Oil company and Beck’s Beer signs are also visible.
The Martin Jacobi Men’s Clothiers on Buffalo’s Main Street is pictured on the left and a notice of the closure of the city’s popular Lorenzo’s Restaurant on the top of the far right building.