Microcosm of Urban America

Those of us who reside in the East Clinton Street Neighborhood are of various and equally assured opinions on the origin of the name "Kaisertown."

Some refer to the original German immigrant settlers who took particular pride in the fact that they lived in "Kaisers Town" in the New World. Others strongly believe that the name reflects the parish of St. Casimir Church, which for a considerable time was the prominent Catholic parish in the community.

There are also a few minor variations on the above themes, but a discussion of this topic in the community will usually become quite heated. A personal preference is not required here, but I well remember my Dad telling me that before the above arguments, the area was known as "Ducktown" because of the wide-spread need for "duck boards" in the area below the slope toward Buffalo Creek after the annual Spring floods.

After all is said and done, however, we proud residents of the neighborhood like to believe that "Kaisertown" sprouted from the bosom of the Almighty-- hence, "Gods Country!"
As legend would have it, there were some very early settlers along both banks of Buffalo Creek in this area. It is said that the South Bank was inhabited by Irish immigrants and the North Bank was home to the Polish/German community. The story goes that the only thing these disparate populations shared and could agree upon was the occasional barrel of grog, or whatever was available for mutual conviviality.

The Kaisertown neighborhood, like other communities in Buffalo, is a microcosm of the economic and social conditions that have affected many cities in the Northeast. Kaisertown felt the impact of the decline of various railroads and the shut-down of operations at Worthington Pump. These were perhaps the primary employers of many Kaisertown breadwinners over the years. Add the loss of the steel industry; the grain milling and the baking and brewing companies, and the cumulative effect was quite profound for a relatively small area such as Kaisertown.

However, there is a newly invigorated and committed business community, with new businesses opening regularly. Also, the progressive initiatives generated by the Kaisertown Coalition bring the residential and business communities together. With the constructive and pragmatic leadership of our elected officials, we can surely state that Kaisertown’s better days are on their way.

Originally published in the 2004-2005 edition of the Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce Business Directory & Community Guide