Early History 

Prior to 1800, with the exception of nearby forts established by the French—which were later turned over to British and ultimately American forces—the area comprising Falls Street was largely wilderness occupied by Native Americans of the Neutral Nation.

In 1805, the State of New York offered lands along the Niagara River for sale, encouraging industrial development and unrestricted use of Niagara River water to move water wheels powering these mills.  In the summer of that same year, Augustus Porter built a saw mill and a blacksmith shop; by 1808, he built a new house to become one of the area’s first settlers near what is now the intersection of Buffalo Avenue and First Street.

By 1824, the Village of Grand Niagara—later to be named the Village of Manchester (after the industrial city in Great Britain)—had become a mill town with 550 residents.