Buffalo dedicates Marcia Paulsen and Boerner family plazas
Historical information provided by the Buffalo Heritage Preservation Advisory Board
The Buffalo Heritage Preservation Advisory Board honored the lifeworks of Marcia Paulsen and the family of Frederick K. Boerner by dedicating two downtown plazas on Saturday, September 28. Paulsen and the Boerners played an integral part in the history and development of the City of Buffalo, which was established in 1887.
The Buffalo Heritage Preservation Advisory Board was tasked with naming five of the existing public parking areas and chose to honor people who have made significant contributions to the development of Buffalo. Secretary Sue Mattson stated that the Board, “Chose to name them as Plazas to indicate a welcoming place for gathering and events.”
Marcia Paulsen Plaza:
Buffalo City Councilman Steve Downer opened the dedication of Marcia Paulson Plaza with a word of thanks to the Heritage Board and shared a statement from Mayor Teri Lachermeier, which honored Paulsen’s, “enormous impact on our community.”
Miss Buffalo, Carley Kill, presented the official dedication while Buffalo Princess Gwyn Swanson unveiled the Marcia Paulsen Plaza sign, which stands along Highway 25 overlooking Buffalo Lake. The plaza sits at the site of an old creamery, which Sue Mattson described as a “place for gathering” in the city’s early days.
Marica Paulsen was an avid voice in the preservation of Buffalo’s past and active in many aspects of the community. She wrote a comprehensive account of the city’s history titled, “Buffalo: from trading post to star city. A Centennial History of Buffalo 1850-1987.” Marcia was described as “The champion behind heritage preservation and establishing the Heritage Preservation Advisory Board.” Paulsen also served on the Planning Commission and City Council.
Paulsen’s sister, Bonnie Feyereign, spoke at the end of the dedication ceremony stating, “Her spirit lives on in the countless lives she touched and the history she preserved.”
Boerner Family Plaza:
The Boerner Family Plaza is located at the site of the former Lake Theater, which had previously been a popular Buffalo saloon that Frederick Boerner built. Sons Frank and Albert, both stonemasons, had a hand in building many sites in downtown Buffalo, including the Park Hotel (now the Buffalo Hotel), Beutner Drug, Schmidt Drug (now Forget Me Not Cafe), Tesch Law Office Building, Bergstrom’s Furniture (Adara Home Health), the Presbyterian Church (now Owen Haugland Plaza), and the St. Francis Catholic Church.
Frank and Albert Boerner each served with the Buffalo Fire Department, along with several terms as the City’s mayor. Albert Boerner had a son named Warren, a WWII combat veteran who owned and operated a hardware store in downtown Buffalo for 37 years. Warren Boerner was involved in many facets of civic duty, serving as President of the Rotary Club, Commander of the American Legion, and President of the Buffalo Hospital Board. Warren’s son, Kurt Boener, who spoke at the dedication ceremony stated, “His crowning achievement was the Buffalo Hospital.”
Warren Boerner was honored as the WCCO Radio Good Neighbor in 1979 and was recognized as Buffalo’s Honored Citizen in the 1980s.