Upcoming Tours & Events
Historical Tours at The Knox Mansion
We’re excited to announce that tours of the historic Knox Mansion on Delaware Ave. are available to the public here in Buffalo, free of charge. Our tours will be held on weekends, either Saturday or Sunday, at 10:00 AM. Each tour will last about an hour and a half, and does include utilizing several stairwells. Due to the length of the tour, it is not recommended for children 12 and under.
History of The Knox Mansion:
Construction on the Knox Mansion began in 1915 and was completed three years later at a cost of $600,000, which equates to a cost of about $13.4 million in today’s dollars. Charles Pierrepont Gilbert, prominent architect of many houses on New York City’s Fifth Avenue, designed this French Renaissance-style mansion. The original house included 25 rooms, excluding kitchens, pantries, bathrooms, maintenance quarters, and cloakrooms. Seymour H. Knox’s family first occupied the mansion. Mr. Knox was co-founder of Woolworth and Knox department stores, known as Woolworth’s, and later served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Marine Midland Bank, which was acquired by HSBC in 1980. Unfortunately, he never had the opportunity to live in his home because he died in 1915 on the eve of construction.
Grace Knox, her son Seymour H. Jr., and daughters Marjorie and Dorothy lived in the mansion after Mr. Knox’s death. Seymour H. Knox, Jr.’s sons, Northrup and Seymour H. III co-owned the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. The last Knox to occupy the home was Marjorie Knox Klopp, her husband, and two children.
In 1969, The Montefiore Club, a private men’s association, purchased the residence to use as its headquarters. The club added athletic facilities to the rear of the building, including a gymnasium, squash courts, and locker room with shower facilities.
In 1978, CTG (Computer Task Group) purchased the Knox mansion from the Montefiore Club for $1.3 million to serve as its new corporate headquarters. CTG occupied the building until 2021 when it was announced that Ross Cellino of Cellino Law purchased the building to serve as its new corporate headquarters. Cellino Law, one of the largest personal injury firms in New York, has offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Long Island, and Manhattan.
Sources: 2019 Computer Task Group, Inc. and The Buffalo News
Read More About The Knox Mansion
- Junior League Plans Sneak Peek For Decorators Show House
- The Junior League of Buffalo and the Buffalo News Announce the 2021 Decorators’ Show House
- The Grace Millard Knox House is Selected For 21st Decorators’ Show House
- 2021 Decorators’ Show House to be featured at the Grace Millard Knox House on Delaware Avenue