Old Houses Under $50K History Tuesday – The Mrs. I.L. Crego House

 

 

 

Charlotte Crego

Ira Lyons Crego was born in Onondaga Co. in 1824. His father, Stephen, was one of the first settlers of Onondaga County, New York, and was a successful farmer.  In 1849 Ira L. married Charlotte Bowman (1829-1909), daughter of John Bowman, who was one of the first settlers of Van Buren, New York. The couple had two sons: Allan B. and Burton I, and a daughter Matilda who died in 1863 at the age of four. Her gravestone, pictured below, has the words, “We miss our Tilda,” on the back of the stone.

 

 

 

Ira Lyons Crego followed in his father’s footsteps as a farmer,  but he never saw this house, the fruits of his labor. Sadly, however, Ira died in 1865, aged 40 years, leaving his wife, Charlotte, and children to carry his many plans to completion, which, with uncanny business ability, they were able to do.  Ira’s obituary states that his death was not only a loss to his family, but to all who knew him. Apparently, Charlotte was the brains of the family, as within five years after Ira’s death, she had this house designed and built by Archimedes Russell, an architect surprisingly adept at a variety of styles.

 

 

 

Archimedes Russell

Archimedes Russell (1840-1915) was an American architect most active in the Syracuse, New York area.

Born in Andover, Massachusetts, Russell trained under local architect Horatio Nelson White. From 1873-1881, Russell served as a professor of architecture at the prestigious Syracuse University. f

In the course of his career he designed over 850 commercial and civic buildings in the central New York region, and at least 16 are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Details

This historic home has been fully renovated to reflect the opulence and grandeur of the Victorian Era. Among the interior rooms are a kitchen + mudroom with custom Oak cabinetry. Granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, and a built-in bar add a modern touch to the vintage inspired kitchen. The large formal dining room features a built-in buffet, Chestnut Judges Paneling, and an ornately designed Birch floor. Wide plank pine floors are in the remainder of the home. The front parlor features a marble fireplace and pocket doors. The foyer is adorned with the original Egyptian inspired Art-Deco wallpaper and a robust balustrade. Three of the historic barns are on the property alongside a large in-ground pool that is surrounded by an iron fence

• 6bed
• 2.5bath
• 3,823sqft
• 2.48acre lot
• Circa 1870
• Google Maps