also completely different. Current flag In 1922, mayor Frank X. Schwab remarked to the Common Council that the flag did not sufficiently represent the city and proposed a contest for a new flag. After the contest failed to produce a winning design, a new contest was proposed with a more substantial reward. Seventy-three designs were submitted and the City Planning Committee with input from the Fine Arts Academy selected the new flag based on its simplicity and distinctiveness. The $250 reward was given to local architect Louis Greenstein. The flag was adopted on May 7, 1924, and dedicated to the city on the following Flag Day, June 14, 1924. Louis Greenstein's home still stands today at 64 Tudor Place and Cleveland across from Nardin Academy. Symbolism The city flag is meant to illustrate the energy and zeal behind the spirit of Buffalo. According to then Mayor Frank X. Schwab, it signifies the love and admiration which Buffalonians have for their city. The thirteen stars signify New York's status as one of the original Thirteen Colonies. The matching number of electric flashes celebrate Buffalo as one of the first cities to deploy electric service widely. The seal in the center contains a lighthouse and a boat, representing Buffalo's important spot as a trade center on Lake Erie and the Erie Canal. References Government of Buffalo, New York Buffalo, New York 1924 establishments in New York (state) Buffalo, New York Flags adopted through competition pl:Flaga Buffalo