Ayling, John G., House
Why it's listed
Set well back on a large lot in Syracuse's Sedgwick neighborhood, this 1915 house at 223 DeWitt Street was designed by Ward Wellington Ward for John G. Ayling. The first story is faced in tapestry brick, while the second is stucco with half-timbering, under steep cross-gabled roofs. Moravian tile panels are scattered across the exterior. Inside, the house is notable for its many leaded, diamond-paned windows, some with images of trees, animals, fruit, or a book and candle. A Moravian-tiled fireplace with built-in seats, a multi-faceted wood cornice, and an unusual filigree-detailed stair balustrade are other highlights. The house is considered one of Ward's finest Tudor Revival works and remains largely unchanged apart from a modern kitchen. Ayling, born in Syracuse in 1889, was an advertising agent, Army officer, golf champion and military balloonist who died in Italy in World War II. The house is listed for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated under Criterion C as an intact, representative example of Ward Wellington Ward's residential architecture in Syracuse, and is considered one of his finest Tudor Revival houses. It retains integrity of construction, form, materials and detailing inside and out, and is part of the multiple property context on Ward's architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 11000277, listed May 6, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 223 DeWitt St., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | May 6, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000277 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Ward Wellington Ward |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival (Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; substantially intact from its period of construction, with only a modern kitchen installed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.06483, -76.13338 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 11000277.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23091392
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.