Thank you to everyone who joined us on September 22nd for our Virtual Panel Discussion with members of our Capital Campaign Committee. If you were unable to attend the live session, it has been recorded here. Just click the button below.
In addition, we collected all the chat questions and have tried our best to answer them below. Any further comments or questions, please feel free to email us at Stickleyhousefoundation@gmail.com
Chat Questions & Answers from 9/22/2020 Zoom
Q1 – What is the overall square footage of the house?
The three upper floors are just under 5,000 sq. ft. The basements adds an additional 1,400 so in total the house is about 6,400 sq. ft.
Q2 – What kind of wood was used in the interior? Was the wood used in the house local to the area?
There are several kinds of wood in the house. The prominent dark wood paneling is American Chestnut and the floors are American White Oak. Following the fire and subsequent re-design by Gustav Stickley, it’s very likely he was using materials that were available to him and sourced through the Craftsman Workshop. While we don’t have inventories of the materials used in the house, it is very likely the wood came from the Adirondacks.
Q3 – What about original furnishings, any chance of some of them coming back?
Much of the original furniture stayed in the family (Stickley’s descendants owned the house from 1919 until the 1950s). In 1988, part of the family sold several items at auction. Those pieces are now in private and museum collections. One original piece, a bookcase that stood in the Inglenook, was given to the GSHF by Ben Wiles, Gustav Stickley’s grandson. Another original piece, the dining room sideboard, is now in the collection of the Four Roses Foundation and will be on display at the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement. A copy of the original sideboard was constructed by furniture company Stickley Audi & Co. and will be donated for use in the house, along with other period appropriate reproductions.
Q4 – If I have furniture I might want to donate, what is the process?
The foundation has accepted several donation of original antique Gustav Stickley pieces that will be used in the house. If you would like to discuss donating furniture, please contact us by email at stickleyhousefoundation@gmail.com
Q5 – Are there family members involved with the house and project?
We are fortunate to have several descendants of Gustav Stickley as part of the Foundation Board including Sarah Stickley Wiles, Cynthia McGinn, Chris Wiles and Gustav Stickley III. In addition, other family members have supported the project financially and in an advisory capacity. We are grateful for their participation and interest.
Q5 – Haven’t visited the house. Is there exterior space, a yard, that could be used for events, teas etc.?
There is a small yard at the rear and a side yard that can accommodate six tandem parked cars. This is a residential neighborhood with limited parking. We will be developing an exterior landscape plan and it is possible outdoor event space may be possible. The front porch is covered and could be used for events.
Q6 – Do we know how the neighbors felt about the house in Stickley’s day?
There is little information about or comment on the house from the early 20th century. In fact, we only have one historical image of the house from that time from an article about sale of the house in 1911 to the Fleishman family. For more information and to see the picture, click here: https://gustavstickleyhousefoundation.orgcool_timeline/gustav-house-completed/
Q7 – Are there other examples of Arts & Crafts houses in Syracuse?
Yes, there are many Arts & Crafts houses in Syracuse and a great many of them in the immediate neighborhood referred to as the Westcott Neighborhood. They have and active Neighborhood Association which has several walking tours on their website that include many A&C style homes. See the link here https://westcottsyr.com/tours/
One important and related note, there is an ongoing project to nominate the Westcott/University neighborhood (including Columbus Ave) to the National Register of Historic Places. A&C Architecture playing a significant role in this process. Such recognition will provide property owners access to the residential and commercial rehabilitation tax credit programs, which will help with the revitalization of the neighborhood.
Q8 – Is there a way to collect those stories of people connected to the house…gives community sense of ownership.
We are always looking for more information about the house, its history, the people who lived there and in particular any documentation or photographs of the house and the interior. If anyone has such information, they can email us or send a note via Facebook. This type of information is invaluable to helping us learn more about the house.
Q9 – If I come to Syracuse, can I visit the house?
During the restoration process we have held several Open Houses to allow the public to see the interior but it is not generally open for visitation. Certainly feel free to visit the exterior of the house and let us know if you are coming to town.
Q10 –Can I volunteer at the house?
We currently do not have an active volunteer program. Going forward that may change as we move forward with fundraising events so please check back.
Q11 – Besides the matching grant, what other funding streams are being considered for the interior restoration? What about a marketing plan for the campaign?
In August we were notified that the project was the recipient of a prestigious and highly competitive $500,000 Save America’s Treasure’s Grant from the National Park Service. The project was one of 42 across the US and was the highest funded recipient in the state of New York. The grant is a matching 1 to 1 grant, meaning for every $ of the grant, we must raise an equal $ from other non-Federal sources. Grant Press Release
The project is actively pursuing other grants from private and community foundations in addition to individual contributions. Unfortunately due to Covid-19, New York State has suspended their grant cycle for 2020 but we hope the funding will return in 2021.
The Capital Campaign is working on developing a plan for future events and fundraising activities. Our March 6th Kick-Off event at the Everson Museum of Art was well received but obviously the pandemic shutdown has reset the clock. The intent is to hold not only local events but to reach out nationally to connect with Arts & Crafts enthusiasts and preservation minded individuals.
Q12 – What is the timing for the restoration plan?
Phase II is estimated to take approximately three years. This includes both fundraising and construction. While the pandemic has impacted the time line, we are cautiously optimistic that the work can be done close to that timeframe.
Q13- Are local craftspeople going to work on the interior?
Due to the nature of the project and several preservation covenants in place from State and now Federal funding sources, there are certain requirements of anyone working on the project. Contractors must meet specific professional guidelines as well as requirements for women and minority business owner participation. That being said, the project has always supported participation of qualified local businesses and craftspeople.
Q12 – Has the Foundation done other virtual programs?
This was our first virtual foray. We will be developing other virtual programming and fundraising events. Please join our mailing list to stay informed and to receive our electronic newsletter. https://gustavstickleyhousefoundation.orgcontact/
