Summer 2004

most turbulent period since The State Fair begins, Hanover and Franklin Squares have all become its inception: both freeing and ends up, in Syracuse beautiful areas of Syracuse, once again, due to these African-Americans from revitalization efforts. And all over Syracuse The very first took place in , and preserving the revitalization efforts are taking place in many shapes Syracuse in 1841. The New York State Legislature Union. Lincoln’s funeral train and forms, through grassroots efforts and through appropriated $8,000 for the “promotion of traveled through Syracuse city-wide programs and money. The Syracuse agriculture and household manufacturers in the on its way to his burial in Neighborhood Initiative continues to work very hard Illinois. State” in an annual fair. It is estimated that to restore that sense of pride, that sense that we live Even after the Passage of between 10,000 and 15,000 people were in in an amazing city with a very remarkable history, and the Fugitive Slave Act in attendance at this first New York State Fair, future. 1850, “Syracuse” continued primarily farmers. While the fair moved from city to city for the next several years, it came back to Helen Amelia Loguen to be synonymous with the Douglass, c. 1863. word “freedom” to fleeing Syracuse in 1849, the year after the incorporation Helen’s father was Jermain slaves. The only fugitive of the City. Loguen, pastor of the AME It was at the 1849 State Fair in Syracuse that the Zion Church. She married ever captured in Syracuse ’s son was freed, by a group of first “Ferris Wheel” was introduced, nearly four Lewis in 1869. anti-slavery activists. This decades before the Ferris Wheel made its debut at action became known as the “Jerry Rescue” after the the 1893 Columbian Exposition. According to The freed slave, who was later known as “Jerry,” although Empire Showcase, A History of the New York State Fair, his name was actually William McHenry. Each year “The structure was a great iron and oaken wheel thereafter, abolitionist speakers including Samuel with wooden bucket cars large enough to carry May, , Frederick Douglass and either four adults or six children aloft from the end Thomas Wentworth Higgison commemorated the of each of the four arms.” the Jerry Rescue in Syracuse. A memorial stands in In 1890, after years of lobbying by James to remind us of the amazing history Geddes and other prominent Syracusans, the New of Syracuse, and its integral role in the Underground York State Fair was moved to its present location Railroad. permanently. The Fair now attracts over 1 million visitors each year, and grosses in excess of $13 Market Hall as it appeared in 1889, before being And then there million during its annual twelve day run. demolished to build the present Syracuse City Hall. was one… The Later Years On December 14, 1847, When the salt industry began declining after the the nearly 20,000 residents , Syracuse ingenuity picked up the Our Founders living in the Village of slack. Many talented engineers and builders Ephraim Webster Syracuse and the town of invented and made traffic lights, specialty electric Ephraim Webster was fifteen years old when he Salina made a joint decision items, foot measuring devices, typewriters, bicycles, became a soldier in General Washington’s to incorporate as the City of steel, the Franklin cars, mincemeat, and began Continental Army. As a revolutionary war veteran, Syracuse. The first City production of soda ash at the Solvay Process Webster became a friend and ally of the Onondaga Charter was adopted on Company. Tobacco also became a major employer Indians, and was often asked by the January 1, 1848, and the in turn-of-the-century Syracuse; in 1910 the Syracuse government to perform confidential and diplomatic first Mayor of Syracuse was Chamber of Commerce listed tobacco as the City’s missions among the local Indian tribes. Harvey Baldwin. Harvey Baldwin 10th largest industry. At this time, Syracuse was Ephraim Webster later settled in Onondaga The first City Hall was originally built as “Market known to manufacture a more diverse array of County. What would later become the City of Hall” in 1845, complete with market stalls, and a products than even ! Syracuse was named “Webster’s Landing” and bell tower added in 1857 to be used as a fire alarm. In this fashion, Syracuse rightfully earned a “Webster’s Camp.” Webster opened the first trading Market Hall was renamed the Syracuse City Hall in reputation as one of the most diverse economies post, and married an Onondaga Indian maiden. His 1848, until it was deemed inadequate for the within the United States and continued to grow at an grandson, Chief Tahtoho, growing needs of the exploding population of the amazingly frenetic pace. Before World War II, Syracuse ruled the Onondaga Indian newly incorporated City. had a population of nearly 210,000 people, and a Tribe until he was 71. A new City Hall was built between the years of 1889 widely diverse downtown and entertainment district. Several Indian descendants and 1892. It was designed by native Syracusan and In the 1920’s and 1930’s, while the rest of the United are still living on the architect Charles E. Colton to look like a medieval States suffered under the heavy cloud of an Onondaga Reservation castle. With the use of heavy stone, large and small economic Depression of staggering proportions, today. In the Valley, there is towers, and of stone bars dividing the windows, all of Syracuse actually continued growing, attracting even “Webster’s Pond” named which make the building look like a fortress. more businesses! Dairylea Cooperative relocated in after him. In 1976, City Hall was added to the National 1930, General Super Plating in 1932, and the Carrier Register of Historic Places. If you travel to the Corporation in 1937. Believed to be Tahtoho, basement of City Hall, you can still see the old jail During WWII, business production in Syracuse grandson of Ephraim Webster - 1850 cells where criminals were kept. In the marble shifted to war-goods. After the war, many businesses Judge Joshua façade leading up the stairway to the second floor, began to locate themselves outside the periphery of the names of the farmers from the old market on the city. To counter this movement, in later years Forman the first floor can still be seen etched into the many measures were taken to provide incentives for Judge Joshua Forman was stone. Assessment books from the first years of the businesses locating to Syracuse. A revitalization and a man of many trades: City are still kept in the basement. Property tax preservation effort began in the late 1970’s and early Judge, writer, and visionary. records going as far back as 1848 can still be read, 1980’s that continues today. Much of Syracuse has As the founder of the very carefully. an amazing and intricate past. Armory, Clinton, Village of Syracuse, which was incorporated in the town of Salina in April 1825, he was also instrumental in choosing the name “Syracuse” for the new Village. Forman also wrote much of the original language of the Resolution, strongly backing the bill at the State Level. The language of the bill was carefully worded so that President Jefferson and the federal government could participate in building the canal if it chose to, which it later did. Without Judge Forman’s unwavering support, it is likely that the Erie Canal bill may have died in the New York State legislature. In 1822 Judge Forman sponsored a bill in the New York State legislature to lower two feet, thus draining the water from what is today and eliminating most of the swamplands. It was this action, more than any other, that truly put Syracuse on the path to future The Original Syracuse House, c.1820. development and expansion. Call 448-8005 or send e-mail to [email protected] 7