Edwards, O.M., Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1906 on the former Marsh Lots at Plum and Solar Streets in Syracuse, this factory complex housed the O.M. Edwards Company, maker of easy-glide railroad car windows, extension platform trapdoors and padlocks. Oliver Murray Edwards began the business in 1892 behind his home, and architect Gordon A. Wright designed the larger plant. The main building is a four-story brick structure with load-bearing walls, wooden posts and floors, and rows of triple-sash windows between smooth brick piers. Rear wings held a foundry, boiler house with water tower, and woodworking shop. In 1927 Wright designed an addition that nearly doubled the plant, using reinforced concrete with mushroom columns while echoing the original brick rhythm and cornice. Later additions followed through 1966 and beyond. The company closed in 1988 and the buildings now stand vacant and weathered. The listing recognizes the plant's role in Syracuse industry and its notable early concrete construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the plant is significant for industry, as the home of a railroad hardware manufacturer that grew from a backyard shop on Syracuse's redeveloped former salt marshes. It is also significant for architecture, as the 1927 addition used mushroom-column reinforced concrete while matching the 1906 brick building. Few industrial buildings of this scale and quality remain in Syracuse.
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 00001689, listed January 26, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 501 Plum St., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | January 26, 2001 |
| Reference number | 00001689 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Wright, Gordon, architect, Syracuse, NY |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and not in use; the company closed and its machinery was auctioned in 1988. Broken windows have let in weather, birds and animals, causing interior deterioration. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 43.05681, -76.17079 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 00001689.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7072068
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.