Monday, October 4th, 2010
Historic Preservation Commission Designates the Gage Home as Building of the Month
Historic Preservation Commission Designates the Gage Home as Building of the Month Pictured is (right to left) Bruce Coleman, Vice Chairman of HPC; Craig Polhamus, AIA, Chairman of HPC, Sally Wagner, MJG Foundation
The Village of Fayetteville Historic Preservation Commission nominates a building or residence in the village that has undergone significant restoration or improvements within the last year. In consideration of the fact that the Matilda Joslyn Gage Home at 210 East Genesee Street in Fayetteville has completed a long awaited restoration of this historic building, and to recognize the efforts of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation to protect and preserve the historic fabric of our Village, the commission recognizes the Gage Home as the Building of the Month.
This house is of interest for such Greek Revival details as its flush clapboard porticoed facade with crossetted windows and its heavy Greek Revival entrance. The original 1 1/2 story house (built before 1820) was moved to the rear in 1854. The two-story Greek Revival clapboard house with pediment is supported by columns in antis. The Walnut Street windows and door placement were changed circa 1900 and have been reversed as part of the restoration. The Greek Revival front section of the house was built in 1854 by suffrage leader Matilda Joslyn Gage and her husband Henry Hill Gage, a merchant. L. Frank Baum, who wrote the Wizard of Oz, married the Gage’s youngest daughter in the front parlor in 1882. The Gage Home restoration used photos Baum took while living in the house during the summer of 1887. Officially designated - state and nationally - as an Underground Railroad and Women’s Rights site, the Gage Home is the only historic home open to the public where Baum lived.
Craig Polhamus, Chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission said that the Commission has been working with the Owner since 2004. Crawford and Stearns guided the restoration efforts with special attention to preserving the historic elements. The building was restored to reflect its appearance between 1856 and 1898 which reflects the time of Gage’s occupancy. Craig said that “the building’s restoration process is a great example of how Historic Preservation should ideally be done. The Commission was happy to be able to help the foundation achieve these remarkable results. The award coincides with the opening of this structure as a house museum which everyone with an interest in historic preservation or women’s rights should visit.”
The Grand Opening weekend features a “Wine and Women’s Rights” bus tour and Meet and Greet reception on Friday: open house at the Gage Home with major exhibits from 10:00-4:00 on Saturday, with an evening of original music composed for Matilda Joslyn Gage in the evening. Sunday morning Tom Thomas hosts his annual fundraising auction, which will be followed by the official Grand Opening at 2:00 at the Gage Home. Full details and ticket information are available at www.MatildaJoslynGage.org or by calling 315-637-9511.
If anyone knows of a recent construction or renovation within the Village of Fayetteville that is worthy of recognition, they should contact Kim Wilcox (637-9864) at the Village Hall to nominate the building to the Historic Preservation Commission. The building may be old or new, commercial or residential. The design can be traditional or modern. Only the exterior as seen from the street will be considered. The design must be compatible in scale and detail with the generally recognizable character of the Village of Fayetteville.
