Welcome to our

ONLINE WALKING TOURS OF FAYETTEVILLE, NY

(tour pamphlets are also available at the library)

Lower Village

Upper Village

Ledyard Dyke

TOUR 4:

Fayetteville Cemetery

TOUR 5:

Grover Cleveland's Fayetteville

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A Walking Tour of Fayetteville, NY

(Tour 1)

Historical Background

Fayetteville began about 1800 as a commercial center for the surrounding farms and for travelers on the north branch of the Seneca Turnpike, now Genesee Street.  The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 brought much greater prosperity to the village as well as a new business center at the bottom of the hill near the canal feeder.

Between the two business districts the village merchants lined the street with splendid houses reflecting the architectural styles of the prosperous early mid-19th century.  Simpler houses were built on Elm Street.

Fayetteville was named for the Marquis de Lafayette, who never visited the village.  The top of the hill was called Manlius Four Corners until 1818, when a Fayetteville Post Office was established.

2.  109 Academy Street (1841)  Parsonage of early Presbyterian Church on site of present United Church.  Home of President Grover Cleveland while his father was minister, 1841 - 50.  Simple Greek Revival with raised basement used as meeting room.

3.  421 Elm Street (before 1850)  For many years the home of Mary Hoyt, sister of President Grover Cleveland.  Although expanded many times, it retains the "Dutch" front door that can be opened on the top while closed at the bottom and cigar shaped pillars on the porch that extends over the second floor bedroom windows.  The Hoyt orchard to the west is now the location of two homes - 415 Elm, a Ward Wellington Ward design, and 411 Elm, built by Peter Hansen, designer for Stickley.

4.  309 Elm Street  Simple farmhouse greatly remodeled in 1930's by architect Charles Umbrecht, who added reeded corner pilasters and pedimented entrance.

5.  305 Elm Street (1843)  Modest Greek Revival remodeled by Umbrecht.

6.  201 Elm Street (1834)  Early one room school house now a residence.  Wood second floor added in the 1930's.

7.  113 Elm Street (1830's)  Greek Revival with corner pilasters on main block and wing, good window detail.

8.  109 and 111 Elm Street (1840's)  Originally identical houses now much remodeled.

9.  111 Brooklea Drive (1860's)  Good example of commercial architecture of its period.

10. 110 Brooklea Drive -  Village inn expanded many times.

11. 106 Brooklea Drive (1854)  First village bank.  Greek Revival pediment with Gothic Revival arched brackets.  Original facade had center entry flanked by pointed arch windows.

12. 100 Limestone Plaza (1834)  Originally three connected commercial buildings.  Stone building in the rear (c.1825), originally on canal feeder, may have been first commercial structure in village.  President Cleveland once worked in one of the buildings and lived in the attic above.

13. 7 Limestone Plaza (late 1830's)  Built by Burt and Teall, local merchants.  Excellent brick Greek Revival dentil frieze at roofline.  Recessed center door gave access to upper floors.

14. 105 East Genesee Street (c.1850 with 1884 embellishments)  Heavy porch details, commanding site.

15. 109 East Genesee Street (c.1845)  Gothic Revival.  Hood molding above first floor windows, pointed arch window above.  Original finely detailed porch destroyed by 1999 winter snow.

16. 111 East Genesee Street (c.1825 east wing)  Received its present Greek Revival colonnade c.1845.  Owned by John McViccar, local merchant.  Became Fayetteville Free Library in 1922.

17. 115 East Genesee Street (1830's)  Two story Greek portico with fluted Doric columns between square piers.

18. 111 Center Street - Two story portion was part of house on northwest corner of Genesee and Center, moved here in 1930's and remodeled by Charles Umbrecht.  Note original flat facade on first floor with early colored glass over door.

19. 112 Center Street (c.1855)  Unusual roof line arched in the center with window underneath repeating the curve.  Off center front door with paired windows is shielded by finely detailed porch.  Probably built for Nathan Seward, village president in 1857.

20. 203 East Genesee Street (1840's)

21. 207 East Genesee Street (1881 around 1840's core)

22. 301 East Genesee Street (1830's)

23. 305 East Genesee Street (1840's)

24. 311 East Genesee Street (c.1870)

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A WALKING TOUR OF FAYETTEVILLE, NY (TOUR 2)

THE UPPER VILLAGE - historical background

In 1898, the streetcars that ran from Syracuse via Genesee and Manlius streets stopped at the village green (Triangle Park).  Passengers saw a more diverse group of buildings than surround the park today.

Hullar's Restaurant, formerly Wands Hotel, is the last survivor of the hotels and inns which stood on the road junction from the earliest days of the village.

Three churches remain from the group which gave Fayetteville five spires.  The Catholic and Baptist churches are now replaced with commercial buildings and the Episcopal spire was not rebuilt after it fell in 1923.

2.  120 East Genesee Street (1855?)  Updated with new roofline, fine Queen Anne porch and beveled glass windows.

3.  126 East Genesee Street (before 1830 with later Italianate porch)  Note triangular gable decoration

4.  130 East Genesee Street (1850's)  Double brackets with pineapple pendants and unusual beaded molding.  Left wing is a 1950 addition.

5.  132-134 East Genesee Street (c.1870)  Originally owned by Daniel Burhans, who was a local sash and blind maker and village president.  Italianate with corner pilasters, fine window treatment, mercury glass doorknob.

6.  210 East Genesee Street  One and a half story house faced Genesee before 1820 but was moved to the rear when the present house was built in 1854 by Henry H. Gage,  a dry goods merchant.  His wife, Matilda Joslyn Gage, was a leader in the woman's suffrage and anti-slavery movements.  L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz, married their daughter Maud in the living room.  Greek between square piers.

7.  300 East Genesee Street (before 1860)  Distinctive carpenter Gothic porch contrasts with Italianate door in Greek Revival molding.  

8.  302 East Genesee Street (c.1830)  Simple saltbox with roof sloping down in rear; originally clapboard.  Charles Umbrecht renovations in the 1930's.  

9.  304 East Genesee Street (1836)  Originally Methodist Church.  Remodeled in Mission style in early 20th century.  Attractive stained glass windows. 

10.  306 East Genesee Street (c.1831)  On the west side second floor are two twelve over twelve windows.  Stone chimney added in the 1920's. 

11.  United Church (1858)  Originally the Presbyterian Church.  Romanesque Revival designed by John E. Sweet with good brick detailing.  Roof curves up at eaves.  Official village clock in the 108 foot tower.

12.  312 East Genesee Street (before 1860)  Originally the Presbyterian parsonage.  Good door detail. 

13.  Trinity Church (1870)  Designed by Rev. H. Gaylord Wood.  English village Gothic Revival with drip moldings over doors and windows.  Spire, one of five in village, was blown down in 1923.

14.  203 South Manlius Street (1842)  Built by Samuel Snow for Seymour June, a carriage maker.  Fine Greek Revival portico with Ionic columns and doorway detail. 

15.  210 South Manlius Street (1840's)  Greek Revival with fine doorway and side porch.  Front porch added in 1870's. 

16.  11 and 509 Clinton Street (1850's)  Originally identical with carpenter Gothic bargeboards.  Now quite different in appearence.

17.  Cleveland Park (formerly Clinton Park)  Originally a holding resevoir for hydraulic canal (Ledyard Dyke).

18.  413 Clinton Street (c.1850)  Carpenter Gothic bargeboards, corner pilasters.

19.  405 Clinton Street (1872-73)  Italianate, as are 411 and 401 Clinton Street.  Corner pilasters and ornate paired brackets. 

20.  117 Walnut Street (c.1850)  The home of Hiram Eaton, merchant and village president (mayor) in 1858, 1860 and 1863-65; intricate and unusual brackets ornament the roof line; the smaller story and a half wing may be the earlier home.  Walnut Street was originally Eaton's Lane, leading to the house from Genesee Street. 

21.  308 Clinton Street (early 20th century)  Built by Leopold Stickley of L. and J.G. Stickley Co., furniture manufacturing business.  Queen Anne with corner tower, porch swag detailing and vase finials. 

22.  303 Clinton Street (1877) Dignified Italianate with center pediment, beaded roofline molding, window modillions and paired porch supports. 

23.  300 Clinton Street  Sturdy construction of typical larger village home; porch rebuilt after being destroyed in 1998 Labor Day storm. 

24.  209 Warren Street (before 1870)  Corner of Clinton Street with curved eaves to enhance the two story portion.

25.  200, 110-106 Warren Street  Originally built for workers at flour-feed mill and Burhan's factory at foot of hill.  Location now affords good view through the back yards of Genesee Street houses.

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A WALKING TOUR OF FAYETTEVILLE, NY  (TOUR 3)  

LEDYARD DYKE

Historical Background

By the mid-1830's Fayetteville found itself in the enviable position of having a good supply of raw material and cheap transportation.  The Erie Canal had been completed for 10 years or so, and a feeder canal linked Fayetteville to the main canal running west to Buffalo and east to Albany.  The only element of industrial prosperity Fayetteville lacked at this time was power.

In 1836 a group of Fayetteville businessmen and landowners formed an alliance called the Fayetteville Hydraulic Company.  Some of the members included David Collin (credited with being the leader), Albert Neely, John Watson, Harvey Edwards, John McViccar, Jacob Depuy, and John Yelverton.  Although not listed with the group, William Redfield is credited with originating the idea of taking water from Limestone Creek at a point higher than the village, running it through a trench into the center of the village, and letting it down in hydraulically usable steps, returning it to the creek.

Although the project began with enthusiasm, it wasn't until the mid-1840's that any real action took place.  It was then that a man from Cazenovia, General Johnathan D. Ledyard, became involved.  He was a wealthy and influential landowner and with his financial backing and prestige the land acquisitions were completed for the right-of-way and the construction began.

The ground breaking ceremony took place on July 4, 1845.  It is reported that the Rev. Richard Cleveland (father of out 22dn president) gave the oration at the event.

Work was done by means of horse-drawn clam scoops and plenty of hard manual labor.  Most of the workers came from the immediate area according to census and accounting records of the time.

By the end of 1849 the project was complete and water power was available to Fayetteville.  Lots were drawn for the factory locations and sawmills, flour mills, papermills and other industries were begun.

In addition to the hydraulic canal, the Fayetteville Hydraulic Company also constructed Bishop Brook waterway which also ran through the village and delivered water power to the various industries.  Bishop Brook was dammed up near the present Dawley Farm site and channeled to a holding area near the southwest corner of what is now Huntleigh Park.   The water ran underground in a wooden flume from there to John Street where it was directed between Clinton and Genesee Streets and ultimately to Limestone Creek.

As rail transportation, steam power and finally electrical power became available, the dyke fell into disuse.  Now there is only one industry that uses the water, McIntyre Bros. Paper Company.  They use the water not for power, but as an intrinsic element in the paper making process itself.  

Today the canal is overgrown and neglected.  In the past an architect and others saw the potential for the dyke to be a real village asset in the form of a walkway park.  This potential still exists and to preserve it as  a permanent park for the village would be a fitting end to this monument to man's ingenuity.

John T. Houlihan, 1977

2.  Wellwood Pond (holding area for hydraulic canal)

3.  106 South Park

4.  Stickley Furniture

5.  Site of E. Collin Lumber Mill  (Marillac Apt.)

6.  201 Warren

7.  Site of Hatch Flour and Pearling Mill

8.  Site of Mammouth Papermill (McIntyre's)

9.  Burhan and Blanchard Sash and Blind Company

10.  Beard and Harris Foundaries (Dr. Stack)

11.  Erie Canal Feeder

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A WALKING TOUR OF FAYETTEVILLE, NY  (TOUR 4)  

FAYETTEVILLE CEMETERY

Fayetteville Cemetery Association and Fayetteville Free Library

Historical Background

The Fayetteville Cemetery Association is a not-for-profit association, chartered in 1864 by the State of New York.  The trustees are all non-paid local community leaders who endeavor to make sure the cemetery continues as a tranquil and permanent memorial to those buried in it.

Maintenance of the grounds is supported by  tax deductible donations, income from endowments, and income from grave sales and fees.  The cemetery receives no public tax money. 

Day-to-day operations are handled by Charles Moore, the cemetery superintendent, who can be reached at 637-9680, a phone with a twenty-four hour answering machine.  The cemetery trustees are Oliver G. Gridley, president,  Marjorie W. DeVoy, Wendy E. Jeffries, Barbara S. Rivette, Edward A. Tracy, Selden E. Tubbs, and George B. Twichell.

This walking tour was originally prepared as part of the observance of the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Fayetteville Cemetery Association.

The handsome main entrance to the Fayetteville Cemetery (E on the map) is graced by stone pillars topped by urns which in the summer are filled with flowers.  This is the main part of the cemetery that was created in 1864 when the Fayetteville Cemetery Association was organized to enlarge the earlier village graveyard that had been in use for more than sixty years.

Seven acres were purchased and the cemetery was designed in the style of the time, with landscaped knolls and more than two hundred family plots.  The first burial was a child of Lewis H. Eaton on August 23, 1864 and formal dedication was October 14, 1864.  Within the first year, more than three hundred trees were planted,  many of which still shade the graves and driveways.  Samuel J. Wells whose farm "Wellwood," was across South Manlius Street was the cemetery trustee responsible for planting many of the trees and shrubs in this older part of the cemetery. 

The stone wall along South Manlius Street, was built between 1904 and 1910 by Ed Chapman, a local mason, using glacial  residue known locally was "hard heads."  He dated each set of entrance pillars as the work progressed.

The 1864 cemetery has been expanded by gift and purchase to its present 28 acres.

- Barbara S. Rivette, March 1998

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2.  Smith Mausoleum - Built about 1920 by the Howard Smith family.

3.  Noble Family Plot - Limestone steps lead to the Noble Family plot where each corner has a limestone marker.

4.  Blanchard Plot - Shrouded urn at the top of a monument is typical of the 1880's.  

5.  Burhans Plot - A fallen dove marks a child's grave.

6.  Evans Family Plot - A granite figure and a stone curb define this family plot.

7.  Beard Family Plot - A chopped-off trunk marks the grave of Charles Hale, Mrs. Beard's son who died when he was seventeen years old.  The tree trunk encircled with vines, a tree stump, and anchors were symbols used frequently in the 1880's.

8.  Newest Section - Five more acres have been divided into burial lots for current use.  Gravel driveways are in place and trees and shrubs similar to those in original grounds have been planted.

9.  Founding Trustees - Reuben H. Bangs, Ambrose Clark, David Collin Jr., Nathan Seward, Porter Tremain, and Hiram Wood are buried here.  Nearby are Cortland Cunningham, a trustee and first cemetery superintendent, and David O'Neil, the first caretaker.

10. Cemetery Tool Shed - This was moved to the cemetery from its original location in back of a house on Salt Springs Road.

11.  Burial Vault - Built in 1896 of local limestone.

12. Brown Tombstone - This has the family homestead on the reverse.

13. Stickley Family Plot - The marker contains a tribute to Leopold Stickley's nationally recognized craftmanship.

14. Dawley Tombstone - On the reverse side is a farm scene showing the Dawley barn, the first steel frame barn built in America.  In the foreground are the Karakul Sheep that the Dawley family introduced to America.

15.  Veteran's Area  - Marked by a flag pole, this section has many veterans, although fighters of the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, Mexican War, World War I and World War II, Korea and Vietnam are buried throughout the cemetery.

16.  Beard and Rotnor Family Plot - Decorative iron rail fence and limestone corners mark an old family plot.

17.  Graves of Fayetteville Pioneers - Lambs mark children's graves while traditional symbols of the open book, finger pointed heavenward, and weeping willows mark others.  Unusual lettering details, verses, and touching tributes are on older stones.

18.  Jesse Worden Monument - A shaft of fossil-filled limestone taken from a local quarry.

19.  Tombstone of Captain Walter Worden - This honors a veteran of the American Revolution who died while a volunteer in the War of 1812.  On the reverse is the record of his son, M. Lafayette Worden.

20.  Tombstone of Jasper Huntley - The gratitude of his fellow citizens is recorded -- "Erected by the citizens of Fayetteville to the memory of the Jasper Huntley who gave to the public this burying ground.  He died December 24, 1812, aged 42 years."

21.  Newer Gravestones - One contains twenty-four lines of the text "I did it my way" on the reverse.

22.  Monument of  Matilda Joslyn Gage - This woman suffrage leader selected for her tombstone a quotation she made nationally famous:  "There is  a word sweeter than Mother, Home or Heaven; that word is Liberty."

23. Monument to Veterans Since the Civil War - A flag pole and a limestone boulder from a local quarry were placed here in 1989 by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.

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A WALKING TOUR OF FAYETTEVILLE, NY  (TOUR 5)  

GROVER CLEVELAND'S FAYETTEVILLE

After he left Fayetteville in 1854, Grover returned briefly to his family in Holland Patent.  He then went to New York City  where he spent a year as an assistant teacher at the institution for the Blind.  He moved to Buffalo where he read for the law and was admitted to the Buffalo bar in 1859.  Active in Buffalo politics, Cleveland was elected mayor of the city in 1881, ousting the corrupt political "ring" that had gained control.

Cleveland came to the attention of the New York State Democratic party which urged him to run for governor in 1883.  In 1885 he was elected the 22nd President of the United States.  In 1893 he became the 24th President of the United States.

Grover Cleveland was noted for his integrity.  He believed that holding public office was a public trust.  These years, in the late 19th century, were noted for their political corruption.  It was the heyday of Tammany Hall, Boss Tweed, rapacious industrialists and many others of their ilk.  As President, Cleveland reduced the size of the Federal government, firing many who were political appointees doing little, if any, work.  He endorsed the concept of Civil Service and reduced government spending.  In 1887 there was a national budget surplus which was returned to the states.

On June 2, 1886, Cleveland married Frances Folsom in the White House.  Frances, a very popular First Lady, was the cousin of Fayetteville resident Charles R. Folsom.  The Clevelands had five children.  Ruth, their first-born, had the Baby Ruth candy bar named after her.  To introduce the bar in 1920, the Curtiss Candy Company chartered an airplane and parachuted candy bars over Pittsburgh which caused a major traffic jam when people rushed for the free candy.

Cleveland died June 24, 1908 and is buried in Princeton, New Jersey.

2.  402 Elm Street.  Site of the Fayetteville Academy.  Built in 1829 as the Methodist church, it became a school in 1839 when the congregation moved to Genesee Street.  Grover attended school here.  His oldest sister, Anna, later taught here.  As the son of a clergyman, Grover was expected to enter one of the professions.  He completed his secondary education in Clinton, NY after his family moved there in 1850.  The death of  his father in 1852 changed his plans to attend Hamilton College.

3.  421 Elm Street.  Home of Grover's older sister, Mary.  Built c.1820-1825, this house has been modified many times and is a mixture of architectural styles.  Mary was married to W. E. Hoyt, a bank teller.  She served as her brother's hostess while he was governor of New York and after he became President.  Grover stopped here in 1887 when he returned to Fayetteville for an official visit.  

4.  100 Limestone Plaza.   This building, of a moderately federal style, was built in 1831 by John McViccar.  It was one of the first commercial structures in the lower village and backed up to the feeder canal.  Grover returned to Fayetteville in 1852 to work in McViccar's store.  His father had died and the family was in danger of becoming desitute.  Grover lived on the top floor of the building with another boy.  The room had no heat, light, or water.  The boys took their meals either with the McViccar family or at a boarding house located nearby on Mill Street.  Grover's chores included having the store ready for customers before McViccar arrived at 7 a.m.  He was responsible for shoveling snow, building up the fires or sweeping out the building.  For this he was paid $50 the first year and $100 the second year.

5.  111 East Genesee Street.  This building was built by McViccar c.1825.  The Greek Revival detailing was added c.1830.  Presently it is the home of the Fayetteville Free Library which purchased the building from the McViccar family in 1922.  McViccar's business interests included the development of the feeder canal and Ledyard Dyke, the Fayetteville Bank, manufacturing, and real estate development.  The Library owns a sled that is reputed to have been used by Grover when he was working in McViccar's general store.

6. 310 East Genesee Street.  Site of the Presbyterian church where Richard Cleveland was pastor and John McViccar was deacon.  The building, built in 1830, was the first church building in the village.  After it opened, all the denominations in the village met here.  The building was dismantled in 1858 and the present building was erected.

7.  Cleveland Park.  Located on Chapel Street between Clinton and Orchard Streets.  This little area was originally a reservoir for the Ledyard Dyke.  After it was filled in it became Clinton Park.  It was here that President Grover Cleveland addressed a crowd estimated to be 4000 people on the very hot afternoon of July 14, 1887.  When it became known that Grover Cleveland would be passing through the area, the village fathers managed to persuade him to return to his childhood home.  Notices were sent out and a pavilion was built in the park.  Cleveland told the crowd how glad he was to be there and he recounted some exploits of his youth.  Then he and his wife shook hands with those in attendance.  It is estimated that they shook 44 hands per minute.  The Cleveland party arrived in Fayetteville around noon after a two-hour carriage ride from Cazenovia.  They went to the Hoyt home on Elm Street to refresh themselves.  The festivities in the park began at one o'clock.  The Clevelands went back to the Hoyt home for dinner and then were on their way to Manlius by 3 p.m.

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