Rediscovering Howard T. Yates (d. 1956), Architect of Early Suburbs

Rediscovering Howard T. Yates (d. 1956), Architect of Early Suburbs

by Samuel D. Gruber

The Real Estate section of yesterday's Post-Standard (Sept 16, 2012) prominently featured a beautiful Tudor-style house at 202 Scottholm Blvd, built in 1928, and now for sale. Scottholm Boulevard is one of the loveliest street in the city, and since I am giving a walking tour of the area in October, my wife and I hurried over to the open house to better explore the house. I looked for information on the recently completed survey of Scottholm by Cornell students, which led to the submission of a National Register historic district designation nomination  for the neighborhood last year (as of June 2012 the final designation was still pending on the Department of the Interior calendar). 

Syracuse, NY. 202 Scottholm Blvrd. Howard T. Yates. arch. 1927-1928.  
Photos: Samuel D. Gruber

I was disappointed to find that in the Historic District designation the architect for this house, as for most of the houses in the area, was still listed as unknown.  Surely, the many distinctive features in the house should lead us to the designer.  Fortunately, the past owners of the house have preserved the original architectural drawings as well as all the detailed, and realtors Jenn Lagraffe was able to pull these out for me and we quickly determined the the architect was Howard T. Yates.  Jenn, and fellow realtor Dan Stazzone me asked - "Who was Howard T Yates?"  - and I had to admit I had no idea!

A few hours sleuthing only turned up an Oct. 1929 ad for Stearns Sons & Dineen, Inc, of 1112 E. Fayette St., Tile, Marble and Slate Contractor, that featured their work on the house - but nothing else about its construction.  I was, however, able to discover quite a bit about a Yates, enough for me want to learn more.  In addition to designing the impressive Scottholm house for the M. L. Franklin family (of Franklin Co. Furniture) Yates was a productive - even prolific - designer of houses for  new suburban housing tracts developed around the edges of Syracuse in the late 1920s, until the market dried up in the first years of the Depression.  As far as I can tell, Yates, greatest contribution was the design of most (all?) of the houses in the Dewittshire development, located on both sides of Jamesville Road just south of East Genesee Street in Dewitt.  This work was done for the Clarke Real Estate Company.

Dewittshire is much more modest development than Scottholm, and that may explain why sales continued in the area for several years after the November 1929 Stock Market Crash.  These were simple attractive cottage-like family houses, and the area remains popular today.   Development and sales in Dewittshire began in the late 1920s before the Crash, and continued at a slower rate at least until 1933, when a Yates-designed "new English colonial home" at 107 Dunham Road was purchased by C W Clifford of the New York Telephone Company (Syracuse Herald American, April 2, 1933).   

A notice for the sale of Yates-designed house at 119 Dewittshire Road (Syracuse Herald American,  September 25, 1932) mentioned that 164 Dewittshire houses had already been sold.   An indication of the change in American middle-class suburban living - that would have significant consequences for post-World War II design, is that these houses were advertised as having two-car garages attached to houses.   Here we see the beginning of the new suburban home where the car and garage are no long "tool" and "toolshed," but are fully integrated as essential elements of life and home. 

Housing construction slacked off dramatically during the 1930s, but we see a revival at the end of the decade.  I used to think that construction of new suburban housing only began after World War II, when returning GIs looked for homes for their new families and the Federal government provided incentives to builders and borrowers.   The story is not that simple.  A recovery actually was already beginning at the end of the 1930s, and we can see this in a new development like a Ormsborough, on the West Side, where the Pomeroy Company apparently developed the former farmland of Mrs. Mary Higsby and Mrs. Kittie Gray, to create new housing on what is now Ormsby Drive near West Genesee and Fay Road.  The Pomeroy Organization was "the developer and exclusive sales agent of the tract. The homes are built by Patrick A. Travers, contractor, and designed by Howard T. Yates." (Syracuse Herald American, Nov 10. 1940).  When built the development was "just over the city line."   clearly, however,r development was still slow.  A quick look at "Google streetscape" shows about a half dozen attractive simple 2-story  houses of the Yates-type erected along the north side of the street.  Number 102 Ormsby Drive, purchased in 1940 by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Cross looks today almost exactly as it was pictured in the newspaper when first built.  Across the street, however, is a series of one story ranch houses, clearly built after the war.

What other work was there in Syracuse for a architect of houses once the Depression hit?  By the 1940 we find Yates engaged more in commercial architecture - designing electronics and furniture stores.  He also was apparently the architect of the Dunbar Center at 950 South Townsend Street, built in 1940 and demolished in 1964 (I'll find a picture of that).  A short articles about the dedication of the building has Yates presenting the keys to the building.  the featured speaker was Ernest Atwell, of New York, field director of the Bureau of Colored Work, National Recreation Association.  According to the Herald American (Nov 10 1940):

  "approximately 1,000 persons are expected to attend the program, marking the official opening of the new recreational and cultural center for Negroes of the city. Almus Olver, president of the board of directors of the Dunbar Association, Inc., will preside at today's program, and Mayor Holland B. Marvin will speak. A tablet in memory of Mrs. Frederick Hazard, long active in Negro welfare work, will be unveiled by her daughter, Mrs. S. Foster Hunt of Providence, R. I, and Howard T. Yates, architect, will present the keys of the building to Miss Gladys Bliss, a member of the board and chairman of the building committee."

The last building I was able to identify as Yates' is an attractive 1946 commercial building that still stands - and is used as the home of the Syracuse New Times at 1411 West Genesee Street. Designed in a jazzy modern style, the building opened with some fanfare in January 1946 as Giminski's Furniture Store.  That same year, Yates design a new household electrical appliance store for John D. Wilson, owner of the Wilson Building (where Yates had his office) and Wilson's Leading Jewelers, Inc.  The new appliance store adjoined the jewelry store.  The distinguishing feature of the store was its massive "unusual architectural feature of the I6 by 12 foot window showing completely the interior of the 150-foot-deep store..." There were no window displays since "thru the window can be seen the contents of the store, arranged-attractively against pastel backgrounds both from the low blue and peach. Fluorescent lights are set in the ceiling, which is lined with acoustiboard to deaden sound." (Syracuse Post Standard, April 14, 1946.  Here was have an early version of a new kind of commercial display - the these days in the norm in shopping malls. 

The Wilson Building is now being renovated for apartments.  I don't know if anything of Yates' appliance store was still visible when work began.

Yates died in 1956.  He had a son and grandson who lived in Denver, Colorado.  He and his wife lived at 816 Livingston Ave. in the university neighborhood, and she survived him by a decade.

Let me know if you have additional information about Howard T. Yates and his buildings.  I am sure there are many more to be identified.

Onondaga Park History Tour on Sunday, September 9th

Paul Pflanz Leads Onondaga Park History Tour on Sunday, September 9^th

The Preservation Association of Central New York continues its walking tour series on Sunday, September 9th, when PACNY Board member and Onondaga Park Association Vice President Paul Pflanz will lead a tour of the history and development of Onondaga Park.

The tour begins at the corner of Clairmonte Avenue and Crossett Avenue in the Strathmore neighborhood at 2:00 p.m. and will continue through upper Onondaga Park.  Depending on time and interest, it may extend to lower Onondaga Park as well.  The tour will proceed rain or shine.  Tour participation is free but donations gratefully accepted.

 

Onondaga Park was given birth by the 1894 opening of the Woodland Reservoir on South Geddes Street, three blocks to the west. Woodland made the area's old Wilkinson Reservoir obsolete and in 1898, the 71 acres surrounding the latter was acquired by the city to form Onondaga Park. The reservoir, with rip-rapped stone sides, and adjoining oak and hickory grove were used for swimming and picnicking with little change for a few years. In 1903, a large wooded area known as the Olmstead Grove was added, expanding the Park and creating a popular picnic area at its southeast corner that is still in use today. Wilkinson Reservoir was reconfigured in 1911 and renamed Hiawatha Lake, the landscaped centerpiece of today's Onondaga Park. 

 

From 1915 to the mid-1950's, Onondaga Park was known for its major flower beds and the entire Lake was used for swimming in the summer and ice-skating in winter. It lost some of its luster in the 1960's and early 70's as the landscaping aged and maintenance costs escalated for the city. A renewed effort to improve and enhance the historic landscape of the Park began in the late 1970's and early 80's. It became a joint public-private effort, with the Onondaga Park Association working together with the city to raise funds and focus volunteer efforts toward the Park. A high point occurred in 1987 when the Syracuse City Council dedicated the entire Park as an official Syracuse Historic Preservation District. It has since been added to the National Register of Historic Places.  Since then, the Park Association has raised over $1M for improvements in the park.

Please support PACNY by becoming a member to create a larger voice for preservation in Central New York. Membership forms will be available.

 

The member-based Preservation Association of Central New York has been the area’s citizen voice for historic preservation for over 35 years. Founded as a reaction to the widespread neglect and demolition of historic buildings and neighborhoods in the 1960’s, PACNY has led the successful effort to transform our community’s perception and care of its historic resources so that now the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County now have more than a dozen historic districts which contribute to the region’s cultural and economic vitality. For further information about PACNY, see the PACNY website at http://pacny.net/.

For further information on the tour contact Paul Pflanz at 315-424-1297 or phpflanz@addressisp.com

Join Me on Washington Square Neighborhood Architecture and History Tour on Sunday, August 26th

Join Me on  Washington Square Neighborhood Architecture and History Tour
Sunday, August 26th at 2:00 p.m.

I invite you to join me for a tour of the art, architecture and history of the Washington Square neighborhood on Syracuse's Northside.  The tour begins at the recently restored Kirkpatrick Monument at Washington Square Park at 2:00 p.m. and will continue on neighboring Park, Court, Turtle and Bear Streets.

The tour is sponsored by the Preservation Association of Central New York (PACNY), concluding its summer Northside walking tour series.  Tour participation is $5.00 for PACNY members, $10.00 for non-members.

The history of Washington Square, formerly the heart of the town of Salina and then Syracuse’s First Ward, encompasses the region’s history from the Onondaga Nation, to the first white settlement and development of a salt-based economy, to today’s diverse community. The area includes fine art monuments such as the William Kirkpatrick Monument, designed by noted American Renaissance sculptor Gail Sherman Corbett, and a large selection of noteworthy mid-19th-century houses and churches and early 20th-century commercial and industrial buildings. Many of the houses and churches served the leaders of Syracuse’s Salt industry.

The two-hour tour will discuss the area’s history and some of its notable residents, and will especially focus on the urban and architectural trends that shaped neighborhood as seen through individual buildings including the John Lynch House, the William G. Clarke House, the Henry E. Pierce (Octagon) House, the Parke S. Avery House, Westminster Presbyterian Church, St. John the Baptist Church and the Penfield Manufacturing Company.

Old Salts: Oakwood Cemetery Tour of Salt Barons Thursday Evening

Old Salts: Oakwood Cemetery Tour of Salt Barons Thursday Evening
by Samuel Gruber

 Syracuse, NY. Burr Burton tomb, designed by Horatio Nelson White (1866).  Photo: Samuel Gruber

Many of us enjoyed PACNY president Jeff Romano's tour of Oakwood Cemetery last summer, when he pointed out the stories behind the graves of those for whom Syracuse Streets are named.  This week Jeff leads of tour for the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association (HOCPA) of the tombs of the city's Salt Barons on Thursday (July 26th) at 6:30 pm.

The tour begins at the Chapel. enter at Comstock gate and follow the tour signs.  The tour takes place train or shine, but will be canceled if there is thunder and lightning.  Wear comfortable shoes.

I'm looking forward to this tour, in part because on August 26th I'll be leading a walking tour of the Washington Square area, where many of the "Barons" presided when they were among the living.

 

 Syracuse, NY. Burr Burton tomb, designed by Horatio Nelson White (1866).  Photo: Samuel Gruber

At Oakwood, I assume we'll visit the tomb of Burr Burton (1804-1865) in section 12.  Burton was a leading salt manufacturer, and former state assemblyman who was shot and killed in his home in 1865 by an unknown assailant.  I guess gun control was a probable after the Civil War, too.  The tomb was designed by Horatio Nelson White, Syracuse leading architect at the time. Built of Onondaga limestone it reportedly cost $8,000. Read more about Burton on the Shades of Oakwood website.

For more information about the tour contact Connie Palumb at 315-415-2954.

My CNY Bike Racks

My CNY Bike Racks
Text and photos by Samuel D. Gruber

I ride my bike a lot - I ride to work and ride downtown and I ride to explore different neighborhoods.  I learned urban riding when I was kid in Center City Philadelphia, then in my high school years in Rome, Italy, and later biking for sixteen years in Manhattan.  Except for some of the hills, I've always thought biking in Syracuse is a breeze.  I like having bike lanes - when they are good ones - but really I've always felt traffic is so light here, and that there are so many one way streets, that getting around (except on Euclid Ave!) has never been a big problem (for me).  What I am always looking for, however, are good bike racks.  Having had three unlocked bikes stolen in Syracuse since 1993, I am maniacal about locking my bike even for the shortest time, even if I'm sitting nearby.

Finding good bike racks in Syracuse, however, has always been tough.  But it is getting better.   We recently welcomed the newest and brightest new bike rack on Harvard Place at Westcott Street, a project organized by 40 Below's Public Arts Task Force and designed by city artist/architect Brendan Rose (of Armory Sq/Creek Walk dragon fame), the simple colorful design combines strong pipe poles and cut metal sheets.  The placement was clearly tested by a biker - since there is plenty of room for every type of bike, and most kinds of locks.  Look carefully, the cut-outs spell "Westcott".  I guess "Harvard"  was thought to be too elitist (not so a hundred years ago when residents successfully petitioned to change the name of Phelps Street to Harvard Place). Brendan has previously designed the sign at the Lipe Art Park.

More creative bike racks can enliven our city streets and parks.  Here is inspiration from Detroit - a downtown bike rack I saw when there last April.  These models can be purchased from Belsen.  Click here to see some more Detroit racks.

This is my favorite bike rack - the one at Bird Library I use everyday.  In my experience this design is the most functional.   Bikes can be parked form either side, and squiggly pipe take every wheel size and handlebar width, and bikes can be locked with U-locks or chains.  No wonder this rack is always filled  (and the overhand of the library roof keeps off most rain).

This is probably the worst  rack in the city and its right across from City Hall.  I use it whenever I bike to public meeting, and I'm always wondering whether my bike will still be there when I get out.   Besides being small and ugly, it is so badly bolted to the sidewalk a heavy man could lean on it an break it loose. 
so what sort of message does this City Hall rack send. 

 

Here are two more good SU racks.  The tops one is from the Warehouse - though I think it has been moved due to the present construction work.  The other is on campus - taken on a weekend - since during the week the rack is filled with bikes.

The rack above is the one that has been on the corner of Marshall Street and University place for years. space for three bikes for all those shops and restaurants!  It works but it is set amidst a lot of street clutter.  It gets a lot of use since the rack in front of Marshalltown Mall is not good - its pressed too close to wall so wheels cannot be inserted for locking.  I haven't tried the new racks on the Connective Corridor (I and I have not seen anyone else use them either.  I report on them when I have.

Lastly, for this blog post, here is an unusual rack at SUNY-ESF.  Bikes hang like sculpture from rack/brackets fastened to the concrete wall. 

What bike racks do you use?  Where do look for bike racks but cannot find them?  Let me know.

Everson Museum and Audis Announce the Stickley House May Become Museum

Everson Museum and Audis Announce the Gustav Stickley House May Become Museum
by Samuel D. Gruber

I was ecstatic to get a call yesterday informing me that some of the ideas I'd been promoting, and rumors I'd been hearing about the future of the Gustav Stickley House on Columbus Avenue, were converging on the same course, and that Everson Museum director Steve Kern and L. & J.G. Stickley Company CEO Aminy Audi would be making a big announcement soon about the historic house, with its iconic Craftsman style interior.  I've known for months about Steve Kern's enthusiasm for the house, and that talks were in the works.  The Preservation Association of Central New York identified the Stickley House as community priority at its annual meeting.  But I was never certain that a bold step would be taken, and a threshold crossed.

Here is the story from the syracuse.com and this morning's Post-Standard.

In May I wrote of different options for the house but favored this one

...And then there is the best case scenario...this would take option three, but ratchet it up a notch so that the Stickley House would not just survive as working house, but would be turned into a full-service research and exhibition center for Central New York's famous (and continuing) Arts & Crafts Movement.  Under the auspices of OHA and/or the Everson, the house would be restored supported by nationally-gathered tax-deductible donations and tax-credits where appropriate.  The house would have galleries for permanent and temporary exhibitions, office space and still (perhaps) house a top floor caretaker's apartment.  The house would function as a satellite museum with regular hours.  There would be difficulties beyond the money (minimally many millions of dollars for restoration, installation, security, curatorship, etc.).  A zoning change would be needed.  Parking would be required - perhaps including the demolition of at least of the later structures on Columbus.  But still... I can cite the success of many similar projects in this country and abroad. Tthe idea is a idealistic, but also realistic, and should be seriously considered - and championed.

Late yesterday afternoon Syracuse.com broke the story the the Everson and the Audi family would move ahead - or at least try to - with plans to make the house an Arts & Crafts center and a satellite museum of the Everson.  Given Stickley's pivotal role in the movement, the Everson's existing strengths in this area, and the importance and achievement of so many regional Arts & Crafts artists, this makes good sense.  I had always imagined a study center, with scholars in staying in Stickley's own house.  But Steve Kern and Crawford & Stearns architects are thinking bigger, and envision an actual exhibition center.

Much needs to be done, but  close examination of the building - both its condition and its spaces - has confirmed that such a new life is indeed possible.  This is what a large local  community of neighbors and a national community of Arts & Crafts enthusiasts have hoped for a long long time.

It will not be easy.  While internationally the $2 million price tag is a pittance for a major cultural attraction, and in NYC or LA, or even in Skaneateles  there are kitchen rehabs that cost a good fraction of this, for cash-strapped Syracuse this is a big step.  Still, as I have written before, I believe this is a project that will generate funds outside of the region to make it happen.  Much is also riding on initial funding from the Regional Economic Development Council.  For this, Central New York residents need to voice their vocally their support to their political representatives and cultural leaders.  I have great faith in Steve Kern's ability to make this happen.

In early September I will be reprising my walking tour of last March of the Columbus Avenue neighborhood.  As before, we'll stop at Stickley House for another long discussion.  This time we will be cautiously optimistic.

Temple Concord Installs National Register Plaques

Temple Concord Installs National Register Plaques
photos courtesy of Mark Kotzin

Syracuse, NY. Temple Concord. Rabbi Daniel Fellman examines new historic plaque noting Temple Concord's National Register designation.  Photo: Mark Kotzin

The congregation of Temple Concord, Central New York's oldest Jewish organization, continued its celebration of congregational history and the distinction of its fine 1910-11 building, the centennial of which was celebrated last year. 

In June, two plaques were installed noting the placement of Temple Concord on the National Register of Historic Places.  The nomination of the building, which was researched and submitted to the State historic Preservation Office with help from the International Survey of Jewish Monuments (ISJM), led to the designation in 2008.  Temple Concord provides office space to ISJM in the 1920s former education wing,  behind the main sanctuary.  The unveiling of the plaque on the sanctuary facade, facing University Avenue, took place after the congregation's annual meeting.  A second plaque is in the Temple complex lobby, which is entered fom the parking lot on Madison street.  With the newly opewned Connective Corridor on University Ave. with 2-way traffic, the new bike path, and new landscaping, the original west-facing Facade of Temple Concord will be getting much more attention than it has in recent years.  Too bad it looks out on a parking lot!

The fabrication of the plaques was made possible by a gift from the Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation.  I would love to see more such plaques and other types of notifications marking the historic sites of Syracuse and Central New York.

Here are some photos from the unveiling, courtesy of Mark Kotzin.

Rabbi Daniel Fellman presided. Octogenerian and still-energetic congregants Mike Moss and Alex Holstein helped with the unveiling. Both Mike and Alex were active in getting started the National Register process, getting these plaques up, and the entire building centennial celebration. Mike's parents were married in the sanctuary soon after it opened and Alex's grandfather was on the Building Committee.  Whatever remarks I'm making (above), I'm not sure the rabbi and Mike agree, or maybe I'm was jsut going on too long!

For more on the history and architecture of the building click here.