341 Goundry Street
The W. G. Palmer Home – 341 Goundry Street – Circa 1890
This is another mansion that hints at the former magnificence of Goundry Street . A tall cross gabled house designed in the Queen Anne style, the most unusual exterior feature remaining is the integrated polygonal tower at the northwest corner, surmounted by a conical roof. Rich carved details encrust the top of the tower, and spread onto the adjacent sleeping porch.
The original elaborately detailed front porch was replaced by the present restrained version during the 20th century. (The partially intact rear porch gives a suggestion of the original appearance of the front porch.)
Upon entering, one notices the small sunburst opalescent glass windows; these are related in design to the grand opalescent glass window at the staircase landing in the main hall. The beautiful woodwork of the principal first floor spaces remains intact, but most, if not all, of it would originally have been finished naturally.
These interior spaces are divided by pocket doors, which when closed created a series of small spaces, but could also be opened to create one large space on the first floor for entertaining. Be sure to notice the wood parquet floors, with each room laid in a different pattern.
This house was built circa 1890, and is among the earliest mansions to be built on this street of mansions. Its earliest known occupant was Hector M. Stocum, manager of the Tonawanda Gas Light Co., who bought the property around 1888. By the end of the 1890s, local lumberman Wallace G. Palmer had taken up residence here, but by 1910 he too had moved on. Palmer owned W. G. Palmer Lumber Co. on Oliver Street at the railroad crossing between Goundry and Thompson Streets. The 1909 City Directory lists his business as having “all kinds of the finest lumber.” The Palmers came here from Albany and this was their first home, with Palmer using a part of the present kitchen as his home office. They later bought the deKleist home at 293 Goundry. They were said to have always had two maids, a man who took care of the horse and carriage, and later, chauffered the automobile. W. G. Palmer was the prime mover in obtaining a new Post Office during Woodrow Wilson’s term in office. The W. G. Palmer Lumber Co. facilities later became Bennett Lumber and Bennett Homes.