Tag: Nicholson & Hall
saturday march 29th 2008
Nicholson & Hall Corporation: Changing Directions in a Changing City
The appearance of downtown Buffalo has changed considerably since the 1920's.
86 years ago, if you were to stroll through what is now known as the Cobblestone District of Buffalo, you would have seen numerous signs of the roaring twenties. The harbor would be swarmed with traffic coming from the Great Lakes, while the surrounding businesses would be heavily patronized by sailors and other people associated with the thriving shipping industry. Because of this, there were about 22 boiler and pressure vessel companies in the lower Main Street area, which was known as "Boilermaker's Row." In 2008, only one of those remains: Nicholson & Hall Corporation.
Founders Lance Nicholson and Thomas Hall were originally from Sheffield, England, and came to the Buffalo area via the Erie Canal Barge. Nicholson passed ownership down to his son, Howard, who eventually sold the company to Louis D. Madia in 1968.
Under Madia, the company changed direction because of the completion of the St. Lawrence …
