First Baptist Church of Camillus
Why it's listed
Along Genesee Street, a few blocks east of the business district of Camillus, stands a brick church built in 1879-1880 for a Baptist congregation first organized in 1804. Archimedes Russell, a prolific Syracuse architect, designed it in the Victorian Gothic style. It has a steep gabled nave, a corner bell tower with a tall pyramidal spire, and a north porch with an ogival arch carried on polished marble columns and trimmed with alternating stone and brick voussoirs. Inside, an open wooden truss ceiling spans the nave, and the windows keep their original geometric stained glass. A frame church built in 1851 previously occupied the site. Construction cost $12,000, against an original commission of $8,000. Lightning started a fire in 1968 that badly damaged the interior, and restoration was completed the next year. The building is valued as a well-preserved example of Russell's mature work and as the finest ecclesiastical building in Camillus.
Significance in brief: The church is considered an outstanding local example of Victorian Gothic ecclesiastical architecture and a fine example of Russell's work. It is noted for its picturesque tower and spire, a Ruskinian-inspired porch and an intact open-truss nave. It is described as the finest example of ecclesiastical architecture in Camillus.
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 01000573, listed June 8, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 23 Genesee St., Camillus |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | June 8, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000573 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1879-1880 |
| Architect / builder | Russell, Archimedes, architect, Syracuse, NY |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian / High Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; described as carefully maintained and retaining a high degree of integrity. The roof was re-covered in asphalt shingles over the original slates, and the pews were replaced after a 1968 fire. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.03880, -76.30763 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 01000573.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452456
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.