Vocational School for Domestic Sciences
114 East Genesee Street

Architecture
The home at 114 East Genesee Street is a two-story brick Italianate style building built circa 1840 by A.T.  Gilmore. While history typically lists the style of this house as Italianate, there is evidence found which indicates  that the early structure was Federal Style with the bays and front porch added at a latter date. There is also evidence  that the roof was modified from a simple gable roof to the hip roof that can be seen today. The rear portion was added in 1866 by Robert Crouse who was married to Ellen Beard. With  Ellen’s permission, in 1906 the downstairs of the house became the first local library within the village.  Then, in 1910, the upstairs of the house, still without residents, became a school of domestic science for  young, female, high school students. This school was the first in the state to award high school credit for home economics class work. The interior contains several strong architectural elements including hardwood floors throughout, a large front staircase to the second story, and a marble fireplace in the parlor.  

When purchased in 2009 by Craig and Katherine Polhamus, the home was in an advanced state of  deterioration. After five years of intensive restoration work, the home is back to a habitable building that  retains the historic character it was once known for. Restoration work included masonry repair, roof and  structural replacement, interior restoration and replacement of entire electrical, plumbing and HVAC  systems. The Carriage House to the rear of the building was reproduced using historic photos and  insurance maps to replicate what was once there. 

History
Andrew T. Gilmore was born in 1807 and married Sophronia Loomis in 1832. In 1837, Gilmore become the Town Clerk (until 1856) and moved to Fayetteville in 1838. He was a Tinsmith by Trade, although there are no tin ceilings in the house. He ran the tinsmith, A.T. Gilmore & Son, and a Grocery Store. He had two sons, born in 1807 and 1845. The Village of Fayetteville was formed May of 1844. Gilmore became Fayetteville Postmaster from 1855 to 1861. Gilmore also was listed as Justice of the Peace from 1859 to 1869. This home built Circa 1840 was an important building and home to the Gilmore family until it was sold in 1866.  

Robert Crouse married Ellen Beard at Trinity Church in 1858. Their daughter, Florence Beard Crouse  was born in 1865. In 1866, Robert Crouse purchased this house for $2,500 from Gilmore with plans to  enlarge. In 1867, 116 E. Genesee was built next door for Huntington Beard and Sarah Hale Beard, the  parents of Ellen Beard Crouse. In 1870, the expanded home was sold by Ellen B. Crouse to Napolean B.  Gardner.

Cephas Cicero Barker married Mary Elizabeth Crocker of West Stockbridge Mass. on February 1, 1843. “He was a  prominent contractor and builder in his lifetime, and constructed many government work of vast  magnitude; among those on which he was engaged for many years being the great Sault de Ste. Marie  Canal, between Lakes Superior and Huron.” Also as a contractor and industrialist he was awarded several contracts to repair parts of the Erie Canal. In 1874, a $1.5 million-dollar Heavy Railroad Contract was awarded to C. C. Barker. This home was then listed in the Daily Courier ad: MUST BE  SOLD "for sale at a great bargain… before 4/1/1874. In February of 1875, Beard purchases the house from C.C. Barker for $3,000 (for his Sister Ellen Beard Crouse) and the Crouse family returns home.

With Ellen’s permission, in 1906 the downstairs of the house became the first local library within the village. Then, in 1910, the upstairs of the house, still without residents, became a school of domestic science for young, female, high school students. The school was the first in the state to award high school credit for home economics class work. There is a story that claimed Fayetteville was in line to receive a new Library from Andrew Carnegie. When it was found out that the Domestic Science School would not be accommodated in the new structure, the Carnegie people were told that Mr. Carnegie can keep his millions because we want to keep the school. Mrs. Ellen Beard Crouse died on 1/7/1917 and the library stayed in the home until 1922 when it moved across the street to a larger space. At this point, the home returned to a private residence.