Burhans, Harry N., House
Why it's listed
This two-story brick house at 2627 East Genesee Street in Syracuse stands at the junction of East Genesee Street, formerly the Old Genesee Road, and Salt Springs Road. It began as a Greek Revival residence with a three-bay main block and a side wing, probably built after 1837 in what was then rural Dewitt. Early-twentieth-century newspaper accounts say it was once slated for demolition to make way for a city park, but that plan was not carried out. Around 1916 it passed to Harry N. Burhans, a hardware and builders' supply executive, who hired architect Ward Wellington Ward to remodel it. Ward added a matching north wing, removed the old porches, adjusted the windows for symmetry, and reworked the interior with Colonial Revival detail, Mercer tile fireplaces and Arts and Crafts touches in the kitchen. A brick garage sits at the rear of the lot. The house is listed as an intact example of Ward's residential work.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its architecture as an intact, representative example of Ward Wellington Ward's residential work, and as one of his renovations of an earlier house. It keeps its form, materials and detailing inside and out, and it falls within the context of Ward's Syracuse architecture from 1908 to 1932.
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 07000868, listed August 30, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2627 E. Genesee St., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | August 30, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000868 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1837; 1916 |
| Architect / builder | Ward Wellington Ward |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; Colonial Revival; Craftsman |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling and described as meticulously maintained by its current owner. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.04677, -76.11069 (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 07000868.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5671237
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.