Homes of Geneva Thompson Porter

378 Goundry, North Tonawanda.  Photo courtesy of and owned by the Historical Society of the Tonawandas.

Geneva Thompson Porter and her husband Peter spent much of the 1920s on ocean liners, traveling throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Far East. The Rare Book Room holds 3 of Geneva's diaries, describing her 1922, 1927, and 1929 European and North African excursions, covering some 81 cities in 15 countries. But when the Porters weren’t traveling, they spent time at their residences in Western New York and Rhode Island.

378 Goundry, North Tonawanda

The Thompson-Porter home at 378 Goundry was built in 1890. A shingle-style home, it was noted for its large gardens and fine mahogany woodwork. Geneva grew up here and she married Peter at the home in 1907. The annual winter dance at Goundry was described by the Courier Express as “one of the brilliant events of Buffalo’s social season.” They continued ownership until 1945. At that time, the Porters made the home available to the government to help ease the shortage of housing for returning soldiers from World War II. The house still stands today.

Goundry home and gardens.  From Buffalo, the City Beautiful.  

Campanile Apartments, 925 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo

The Porters had another Western New York residence, apartment 7-D at the fashionable Campanile on Delaware Avenue, where they lived during the 1940s. Below is a view of the Campanile gardens.

From Thirty Owners of Campanile Homes Must Be Right! 

Stone Lea in Narragansett, Rhode Island

After their marriage, the Porters spent much of their time at Narragansett, Rhode Island in their splendid seaside home, Stone Lea. Designed by McKim, Mead, and White, and built in 1884 for Philadelphia businessman George V. Cresson, this shingle-style “cottage” held court for many social events. Located about 165 miles from New York City, the home is currently a bed and breakfast.

Stone Lea in Narragansett, Rhode Island.  From Artistic Country Seats.

88 Highland Avenue, Buffalo

Peter died in 1951, and unfortunately, much of the Porter fortune had been depleted. Geneva moved to this modest home on Buffalo’s West Side. View the home here.