Saturn Club

977 Delaware Avenue

Buffalo, New  York

The Saturn Club is one of Buffalo's private social clubs.  It was designed by architect and club member, Duane Lyman in 1921 and built in 1922 by Bley & Lyman. 

Duane Lyman

(1886-1966)

Duane Lyman was an architect based in Buffalo and known for his prolific career which included 100 school buildings, many churches and numerous large homes both in the city and suburban communities.  At the time of his passing, Lyman was referred to as the "dean of Western New York architecture".  After graduating in 1908, he traveled aboard to Europe staying until 1913 and the eve of WWI. He returned to the United States, settling in Buffalo and started an architectural practice.  Lyman volunteered for military service during WWI, serving in the nation's capital and left with the rank of major. Many of Lyman's papers survive in the collection of the Buffalo History Museum.

Other works by Lyman besides the Saturn Club were Vars Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Country Club of Buffalo, Federal Courthouse at Niagara Square, Christ the King Chapel (Canisius College), Williamsville Junior and Senior High School, Diefendorf Hall (University at Buffalo) and M&T Bank Center. 

The Saturn Club was founded in 1885 by thirteen enthusiastic young men who felt the need to congregate in a less formal setting than their 'Father's Club' founded in 1867.  They first congregated on Saturdays (thus the name) to socialize and play cards.  While Saturn Club members are active in all aspects of the community, the Club remains true to  its origins.  It is a social club first, offering recreation, fine dining, fitness programs, member-friendly banquet facilities and meeting rooms with high-tech support.  They've come a long way since 1885 and they look forward to exceeding their standards as Western New York's premier private social club.  

The Saturn Club opened in 1922.  The architectural style is Tudor Revival and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places May 19, 2005.  Notable members were Robert B. Adam, founder of AM&A's department store; John J. Albright, namesake of the Albright Knox Art Gallery; George K. Birge, director of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition and president of Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company; Lawrence Bell, founder of Bell Aircraft; Edward H. Butler, Jr., publisher of the Buffalo Evening News; Stephen Merrell Clement, president of Marine Bank; William J. Conners II, publisher of the Buffalo Courier-Express; William J. Conners III, publisher of the Buffalo Courier-Express; Harold M. Esty, Jr., president of Buffalo China; E. B. Green, Jr., architect; Irvine J. Kittinger, owner of the Kittinger Furniture Company; Seymour H. Knox, businessman; Seymour H. Knox III, co-founder of the Buffalo Sabres; Northrup R. Knox, co-founder of the Buffalo Sabres; John R. Oishei, founder of Trico; John Olmsted, landscape architect, nephew and adopted son of Frederick Law Olmsted; George F. Rand, president of Marine Midland Bank; Carleton Sprague, chancellor of the University of Buffalo; Harlan J. Swift, president of Erie County Savings Bank; Henry Z. Urban, publisher of the Buffalo News and many others.

Lyman passed at his home which he designed and built on Oakland Place in Buffalo. He was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery.