Degraff Mansion Restoration Project

Hello, my name is David Dingman. I am in the process of restoring a local 140yr old Historical treasure called the Degraff Mansion. Located at 273 Goundry Street in North Tonawanda, NY 14120.

I know this is a long read but I believe in having everything out there. Please read to the end to read the full history of the home.

I'm looking to raise $50,000 to aid in the cost of materials to fix the porch, porch roof and eaves along with the equipment rental to reach them.

We're hoping most of the labor will either be donated in exchange for being a sponsor and featured on our sponsor board OR I will be able to complete myself.

Sponsors will eventually be featured on the back of a T-shirt available for donations as well. We are working on fundraising items but -everything - takes funds nowadays.

Unfortunately most the grants seem to limit me from doing my own work and having to hire out to their list of contractors. If you've made it this far.....Please read on about

☆The Degraff Mansion ☆

and why it's so important.

In 1883, James DeGraff decided to build his home at the corner of Goundry Street and Payne Avenue in North Tonawanda.

He was the president of the local bank and friends with the local lumber tycoon. In 1883 he began construction building the finest home money could buy and the grandest home anyone in town had ever saw before. It even had a double dumb waiter that went from basement to ballroom.

James DeGraff was friends with all the right people and had all the lumber and sandstone barged up the Erie canal and right up Payne Avenue to the build site 2 blocks away. In 1885 he officially moved in.

It was the 1st home in the western New York area to have indoor flush toilets via a cistern on the 2nd floor. It was later converted into a sauna that still exists today.

James DeGraff had a son, LeGrand Degraff , who went on to be a doctor and ran a practice out of the basement. When his mother became sick, they converted their dumb waiter into an elevator and added a toilet and sink into her bedroom for her comfort. The elevator and bathroom still exist to this day.

In 1914 - LeGrand DeGraff went on to found our local -DeGraff Memorial Hospital. LeGrand lived in the home until his passing in 1960 at which time the house was sold to Mr. Robert Cleveland, who was the President of Tonawanda Iron.

Robert Cleveland lived there for roughly 8 years and there is little known history during his time in the home. If anyone has any information or pictures that would be greatly appreciated.

I believe in 1969, Jay Aurigema purchased the home. Jay was highly involved with our - Historical - ☆Melody Fair☆ performance venue - where all the stars from the 70s would travel to and perform at. Melody Fair is no longer in existence.

During Jays ownership, he used to throw very lavish parties and invite all the stars, that came to town, to stay in the home where they would enjoy cocktails in the bar room and even signed the walls. Jimmy Carter, Goldie Hawn, Elvis along with many other famous signatures are on the bar room walls mixed amongst the masses of other signatures.

In the attic, there was/is a ball room, along with 3 guest bedrooms. A chapel and a billards room with smoking lounge. The billards room has a widows watch overlooking the front yard of the home as well as the billroom. Off one of the attic bedrooms is a staircase that leads to a loft overlooking the ballroom and billards room. That loft leads to the widows rooftop walk. Stories be told of trapeze acts that took place between the top of the elevator shaft and the loft - along with various stars sunbathing on the rooftop.

Jay also had a pizzeria in the basement named "Gemmas Pizza" that was all the rave at the time. So much so the whole community still talks all about it and his sign that said "Gemma Loves You" over the basement door.

Then one fateful day in 1977, the day Elvis died to be exact, there was a devastating fire, that almost destroyed the house. Jay was spotted standing out front SCREAMING at the fireman "DONT KNOCK THE PEAK DOWN" and the fireman managed to save it. Unfortunately, due to personal matters, Jay was not able to keep the house.

This leads us to 1979 when my my mother, Ann Bracewell-Dingman and my father Ned Dingman, purchased the home. My parents then started the restoration. I believe it took then about 7 years to get it back up up to it glory.

My family poured their hearts and souls into this home. Every inch has been worked on over the past 45 years. Unfortunately when my mother passed in 2009....time stopped and so did my father's ambitious love for the house. If only people could see the countless photos of them hanging off the roof with ropes in their harnesses redoing all the slate after the fire and fixing all the ceilings and re stenciling the rooms. They truly loved this home.

Fast forward to April 11th, 2023. My father has a heart attack and passes away 10 days later on April 21st, at 84 yrs old. Unfortunately, he had no death benefits and no life insurance and what funds he left us were used to pay some of his bills.

I decided to take on this project not only because it's my childhood home but to preserve it the way my family always meant it to be kept. Historically Correct and not chopped up into apartments.

I would love to eventually hold tours and maybe somewhere in the end be able to offer shared professional space.

To those already following the journey, I thank you for the continued support and words of encouragement. To those looking to follow the journey- please look up "DeGraff Mansion Restoration Page" on face book.

I know this burden is mine and mine alone but the community has been asking for a way to support the project. I appreciate whatever you can afford to give and I assure you it will be put to good use in restorating this local treasure.

Thank you, David G. Dingman.