Tesla Ave.?

Why not rename Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls, N. Y. after Tesla? It seems the City Council made a mistake in 1928 of naming this Avenue after Buffalo. Wouldn’t it have more meaning to honor Nikola Tesla who harnessed the waterpower of the upper Niagara River in 1896 along this through-fare from 102nd to 1st Street? Tourists or visitors entering the city from North Tonawanda via River Road (N. Y. State route 384) would have a renowned gateway leading to Goat Island where Tesla’s Statue is located near the American Falls.

On September 23, 1983, the U. S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp honoring Tesla. Other cities in the USA have buildings, parks, schools and streets named after Tesla. Why not Niagara Falls, the location of the first long distance transmission of “Alternating Current” from here by Tesla?

1984 marks 100 years since Tesla arrived in the USA from Yugoslavia with only four cents in his pocket. It would be fitting to pay tribute by changing Buffalo Avenue to Tesla Avenue or Boulevard after the “World’s Greatest Engineer”, who gave us over 700 inventions and is part of the history of “Niagara Falls.”

Herbert C. Force
Niagara Falls, NY