Northside, Syracuse
Encyclopedia
The Northside is a neighborhood in the city of Syracuse
, New York
(USA
) consisting of a residential area bordered by commercial corridors. As defined by Syracuse's "Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today" planning system, the Northside is a large section of the city of Syracuse, covering almost four square miles. There are 16 census tract
s, within which are 36 census blockgroups
. Thus, there are many sub-regions that have developed with their own unique identities, such as the Near Northeast
neighborhood, the Little Italy District
and the Hawley-Green Historic District
. When viewing the Syracuse neighborhood map, the neighborhood labeled as Northside is known locally as the Court-Woodlawn neighborhood: http://courtwoodlawnnorthgateway.blogspot.com/
the neighborhoods cultural landmarks such as Assumption Church and the annual Columbus Day Parade speak to a lingering celebration of the population’s Italian origins.
The main street in Little Italy is North Salina Street was originally a German neighborhood. The Italians all but supplanted the Germans and now have their own business district along North State and North Salina Streets.
In the 21st century, the neighborhood has become home to many nations, representing a diverse array of language, culture and ethnicities. New Americans from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan
, Somalia
, Bhurma, Nepal
, Bhutan
, Vietnam
and Eastern Europe
come together to make the neighborhood a vibrant and pluralistic area.
acquired the plot now known as Washington Square. It was used as a cemetery until it was dedicated for park purposes in 1839. In 1847, the village became a part of the City of Syracuse
. By 1860, the park was intersected by Center Street (LeMoyne Avenue) and Park Street, and surrounded by Carbon Street to the north, Wolf Street to the west, Central City rail line to the south and Bear Street to the east.
Washington Square Park is also home to the LeMoyne Drinking Fountain monument. The park is 3.2 acres and is located at Park Street and LeMoyne Avenue.
veteran and the fire chief of Syracuse
at the time of his death on June 1, 1886. He was "thrown from a horse-drawn vehicle while on his way to fight a blaze."
) for park purposes. The land was originally the home of St. Cecilia's Cemetery. This site was a forested hilltop with an open clearing around a drumlin-like landform believed to be an ancient burial ground. Bodies that had been buried in St. Cecelia's Cemetery were removed in 1901 to prepare the site for use as a park. The site was also used during the French and Indian War
for a lookout. The name was changed from Round Top Park to Schiller Park on July 3, 1905.
Additional land was added in 1907 and the tract was formally laid out as a park in 1910.
David Campbell, former head gardener for the Thornden estate and at the time Superintendent of Parks for the city, designed Schiller Park in 1911, influenced by the prevailing Arts & Crafts Movement. The loop drives in Schiller Park complemented and emphasized the park's drumlin
landform.
In early September 1915, work was begun on the new Schiller Park bathing, skating and Comfort Pavilion to be built at a cost of $13,000. The building was designed by the architectural firm of Merrick & Randall and approved by the Syracuse Park commission.
The new pavilion covered a plot of rectangular ground, northeast of the swimming pool. The structure was 71 feet (21.6 m) long by 21 feet (6.4 m) wide. The first floor was divided into separate locker rooms, shower rooms and accessory quarters for men and women. The top floor was open "so as to become practically a balcony," that could be enclosed in winter, when the building was used as a shelter for ice-patrons of the athletic-ground rink.
Unique to the park, honoring the German-American neighborhood population, is the Goethe–Schiller Monument
. It was erected in 1911 by the German-American community. The monument honors Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
(1749-1832) and Friedrich Schiller
(1759-1805), regarded as Germany’s greatest poets/playwrights. The Syracuse monument is modeled on the 1857 Goethe–Schiller Monument in Weimar
, which has become a national landmark in Germany.
Some of the park's built-in elements retain vestiges of the Arts and Crafts Movement. At the park's highest point, one can observe a panoramic view of downtown Syracuse
.
Schiller Park today is over 37 acres in size and has nearly 3 miles of roads. The loop drives were closed to vehicular traffic in 1976. A significant stand of oaks still survives along the slopes of the drumlin from the early days of the park. The park is bounded by Oak Street, Rugby Road, Farmer Street, and Whitwell Drive.
Today Schiller Park is home to several athletic fields and courts including a softball diamond and a hardball diamond, six tennis courts, two handball courts and a basketball court. The park also has a pool that is 165 feet (50.3 m) long by 75 feet (22.9 m) wide with ten lanes. The pool has a capacity of 485 bathers. Water depth ranges from 3 foot (0.9144 m) to 12 feet (3.7 m). The pool also has a children's spray fountain.
The Sniper Monument is an equestrian statue and depicts Civil War
veteran Gustavus Sniper, a German immigrant, for his contributions during the Civil War
. It is located in Schlosser Park on North Salina Street near downtown.
In February 1901, the Sons of Veterans give plans for the Sniper Monument to two contractors for bids. Schlosser Park is bounded by North Salina Street, North State Street and Laurel Street.
business district since the operation of the Oneida Railway
, the Syracuse and South Bay Railway
and Syracuse, Lake Shore and Northern Railroad
lines that ran through the blocks bounded by Noxon, North Salina, West Genesee and North Clinton streets.
The local merchants predicted that with the completion of the Syracuse, Lake Shore and Northern Railroad
to Oswego, New York
and Rochester, New York
as well as the Syracuse and Eastern Railroad from Port Byron
, their "trade will be nearly doubled by the resulting transient trade within the year."
cities, Syracuse has experienced population loss as residents move to the suburbs or pursue opportunities in other regions. This disinvestment in infrastructure and services is magnified in many urban neighborhoods. While the Northside has suffered in this vein, it remains a place recognized for its past and current assets, and its potential for sustainable, local development.
Multiple neighborhood residents, businesses, and organizations have been active in revitalization efforts for the neighborhood. These efforts have included garnering support and opportunity for local artists, initiatives to improve the building stock, and improvements in housing options, to name a few.
St. Joseph’s Hospital, the neighborhood’s largest economic institution, is furthering the positive growth and development of the Northside. In 2009, the hospital broke ground on a $220 Million expansion.
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) consisting of a residential area bordered by commercial corridors. As defined by Syracuse's "Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today" planning system, the Northside is a large section of the city of Syracuse, covering almost four square miles. There are 16 census tract
Census tract
A census tract, census area, or census district is a geographic region defined for the purpose of taking a census. Usually these coincide with the limits of cities, towns or other administrative areas and several tracts commonly exist within a county...
s, within which are 36 census blockgroups
Census block group
A census block group is a geographical unit used by the United States Census Bureau which is between the census tract and the census block. It is the smallest geographical unit for which the bureau publishes sample data, i.e data which is only collected from a fraction of all households.Census...
. Thus, there are many sub-regions that have developed with their own unique identities, such as the Near Northeast
Near Northeast, Syracuse
Near Northeast is a Syracuse, New York neighborhood, located northeast of the city's downtown. It corresponds to Onondaga County Census Tract 15, 16, 23, and 24.-Borders:Northwestern* Butternut StreetNorthern* South Carbon Street...
neighborhood, the Little Italy District
Little Italy, Syracuse
Little Italy Syracuse is an ethnic enclave in Syracuse, New York that contains several bakeries, cafés, pizzerias, restaurants, beauty salons, shops, bars and nightclubs...
and the Hawley-Green Historic District
Hawley-Green Historic District
The Hawley-Green Historical District is in the Near Northeast neighborhood of Syracuse, New York. The name comes from the district's two principal streets, Hawley Avenue and Green Street...
. When viewing the Syracuse neighborhood map, the neighborhood labeled as Northside is known locally as the Court-Woodlawn neighborhood: http://courtwoodlawnnorthgateway.blogspot.com/
History
The Northside of Syracuse is a neighborhood rich in history and culture. Settled primarily by German-Americans in the 19th century, the Northside soon became home to other new Americans. Once popularly identified as Little ItalyLittle Italy, Syracuse
Little Italy Syracuse is an ethnic enclave in Syracuse, New York that contains several bakeries, cafés, pizzerias, restaurants, beauty salons, shops, bars and nightclubs...
the neighborhoods cultural landmarks such as Assumption Church and the annual Columbus Day Parade speak to a lingering celebration of the population’s Italian origins.
The main street in Little Italy is North Salina Street was originally a German neighborhood. The Italians all but supplanted the Germans and now have their own business district along North State and North Salina Streets.
In the 21st century, the neighborhood has become home to many nations, representing a diverse array of language, culture and ethnicities. New Americans from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, Bhurma, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
come together to make the neighborhood a vibrant and pluralistic area.
Washington square
In 1797, the Village of SalinaSalina, New York
Salina is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 33,290 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from the Latin word for "salt."...
acquired the plot now known as Washington Square. It was used as a cemetery until it was dedicated for park purposes in 1839. In 1847, the village became a part of the City of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. By 1860, the park was intersected by Center Street (LeMoyne Avenue) and Park Street, and surrounded by Carbon Street to the north, Wolf Street to the west, Central City rail line to the south and Bear Street to the east.
Washington Square Park is also home to the LeMoyne Drinking Fountain monument. The park is 3.2 acres and is located at Park Street and LeMoyne Avenue.
Eckel monument
The Philip Eckel Monument was dedicated on August 22, 1900 at the intersection of North Salina, Butternut and State Streets in the middle of the German community. Eckel was a German immigrant, Civil WarCivil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
veteran and the fire chief of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
at the time of his death on June 1, 1886. He was "thrown from a horse-drawn vehicle while on his way to fight a blaze."
Schiller park
On May 27, 1901, the Syracuse Common Council approved spending $25,000 to buy 23.5 acres of Round Top Park (drumlinDrumlin
A drumlin, from the Irish word droimnín , first recorded in 1833, is an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial ice acting on underlying unconsolidated till or ground moraine.-Drumlin formation:...
) for park purposes. The land was originally the home of St. Cecilia's Cemetery. This site was a forested hilltop with an open clearing around a drumlin-like landform believed to be an ancient burial ground. Bodies that had been buried in St. Cecelia's Cemetery were removed in 1901 to prepare the site for use as a park. The site was also used during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
for a lookout. The name was changed from Round Top Park to Schiller Park on July 3, 1905.
Additional land was added in 1907 and the tract was formally laid out as a park in 1910.
David Campbell, former head gardener for the Thornden estate and at the time Superintendent of Parks for the city, designed Schiller Park in 1911, influenced by the prevailing Arts & Crafts Movement. The loop drives in Schiller Park complemented and emphasized the park's drumlin
Drumlin
A drumlin, from the Irish word droimnín , first recorded in 1833, is an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial ice acting on underlying unconsolidated till or ground moraine.-Drumlin formation:...
landform.
In early September 1915, work was begun on the new Schiller Park bathing, skating and Comfort Pavilion to be built at a cost of $13,000. The building was designed by the architectural firm of Merrick & Randall and approved by the Syracuse Park commission.
The new pavilion covered a plot of rectangular ground, northeast of the swimming pool. The structure was 71 feet (21.6 m) long by 21 feet (6.4 m) wide. The first floor was divided into separate locker rooms, shower rooms and accessory quarters for men and women. The top floor was open "so as to become practically a balcony," that could be enclosed in winter, when the building was used as a shelter for ice-patrons of the athletic-ground rink.
Unique to the park, honoring the German-American neighborhood population, is the Goethe–Schiller Monument
Goethe–Schiller Monument (Syracuse)
The Goethe–Schiller Monument in Syracuse, New York incorporates a copper double-statue of the German poets Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller . It was erected by the German-American organizations of Syracuse and Onondaga County, and was unveiled on October 15, 1911...
. It was erected in 1911 by the German-American community. The monument honors Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
(1749-1832) and Friedrich Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
(1759-1805), regarded as Germany’s greatest poets/playwrights. The Syracuse monument is modeled on the 1857 Goethe–Schiller Monument in Weimar
Goethe–Schiller Monument
The original Goethe–Schiller Monument is in Weimar, Germany. It incorporates Ernst Rietschel's 1857 bronze double statue of Johann Wolfgang Goethe and Friedrich Schiller , who are probably the two most revered figures in German literature...
, which has become a national landmark in Germany.
Some of the park's built-in elements retain vestiges of the Arts and Crafts Movement. At the park's highest point, one can observe a panoramic view of downtown Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Schiller Park today is over 37 acres in size and has nearly 3 miles of roads. The loop drives were closed to vehicular traffic in 1976. A significant stand of oaks still survives along the slopes of the drumlin from the early days of the park. The park is bounded by Oak Street, Rugby Road, Farmer Street, and Whitwell Drive.
Today Schiller Park is home to several athletic fields and courts including a softball diamond and a hardball diamond, six tennis courts, two handball courts and a basketball court. The park also has a pool that is 165 feet (50.3 m) long by 75 feet (22.9 m) wide with ten lanes. The pool has a capacity of 485 bathers. Water depth ranges from 3 foot (0.9144 m) to 12 feet (3.7 m). The pool also has a children's spray fountain.
Schlosser park
Schlosser Park was named after Charles Schlosser, a wagonmaker, who came to Syracuse from St. Julian, Germany in the Mosel River area with his brothers Jacob, Henry, Peter, Nicholas and Ludwig (Louis) in the mid 1800s. The German immigrants helped build up the Northside of Syracuse. Charles Schlosser donated a small park in front of his wagonmaking business which is still named in his honor.The Sniper Monument is an equestrian statue and depicts Civil War
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
veteran Gustavus Sniper, a German immigrant, for his contributions during the Civil War
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
. It is located in Schlosser Park on North Salina Street near downtown.
In February 1901, the Sons of Veterans give plans for the Sniper Monument to two contractors for bids. Schlosser Park is bounded by North Salina Street, North State Street and Laurel Street.
Notable Sites
- Open Hand Theater
- North Salina Street Historic District
- Little Italy Business DistrictLittle Italy, SyracuseLittle Italy Syracuse is an ethnic enclave in Syracuse, New York that contains several bakeries, cafés, pizzerias, restaurants, beauty salons, shops, bars and nightclubs...
Electric rail
In 1909, the "North Side Common Center" had become one of the busiest sections of the SyracuseSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
business district since the operation of the Oneida Railway
Oneida Railway
The Oneida Railway, an interurban rail, was established in 1907 when the New York Central Railroad electrified of the West Shore Railroad between Syracuse, New York and Utica, New York....
, the Syracuse and South Bay Railway
Syracuse and South Bay Railway
The Syracuse and South Bay Railway, also known as the Syracuse and South Bay Electric Railroad, incorporated on May 10, 1900, was an interurban rail that ran from Syracuse, New York, through Cicero to Lower South Bay on the south shore of Oneida Lake, a distance of .The railway and the steamer,...
and Syracuse, Lake Shore and Northern Railroad
Syracuse, Lake Shore and Northern Railroad
The Syracuse, Lake Shore and Northern Railroad, an interurban rail, was incorporated on September 9, 1905, after it was purchased by the Beebe Syndicate...
lines that ran through the blocks bounded by Noxon, North Salina, West Genesee and North Clinton streets.
The local merchants predicted that with the completion of the Syracuse, Lake Shore and Northern Railroad
Syracuse, Lake Shore and Northern Railroad
The Syracuse, Lake Shore and Northern Railroad, an interurban rail, was incorporated on September 9, 1905, after it was purchased by the Beebe Syndicate...
to Oswego, New York
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
and Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
as well as the Syracuse and Eastern Railroad from Port Byron
Port Byron, New York
Port Byron is a village in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,297 at the 2000 census. The village is believed to be named after Lord Byron.The Village of Port Byron is in the Town of Mentz and is north of Auburn, New York....
, their "trade will be nearly doubled by the resulting transient trade within the year."
Revitalization Efforts
Like many rust beltRust Belt
The Rust Belt is a term that gained currency in the 1980s as the informal description of an area straddling the Midwestern and Northeastern United States, in which local economies traditionally garnered an increased manufacturing sector to add jobs and corporate profits...
cities, Syracuse has experienced population loss as residents move to the suburbs or pursue opportunities in other regions. This disinvestment in infrastructure and services is magnified in many urban neighborhoods. While the Northside has suffered in this vein, it remains a place recognized for its past and current assets, and its potential for sustainable, local development.
Multiple neighborhood residents, businesses, and organizations have been active in revitalization efforts for the neighborhood. These efforts have included garnering support and opportunity for local artists, initiatives to improve the building stock, and improvements in housing options, to name a few.
St. Joseph’s Hospital, the neighborhood’s largest economic institution, is furthering the positive growth and development of the Northside. In 2009, the hospital broke ground on a $220 Million expansion.