Garrett House
Why it's listed
Garrett Residence at 110 Highland Street in Syracuse is a two-story masonry house designed in 1913 by architect Ward Wellington Ward for Frank Garrett, president and treasurer of the Syracuse Lithography Company. Built in the English Cottage style, it combines stucco, half-timbering and brown brick, and its most unusual feature is an imitation thatched roof made of asphalt shingles. Leaded glass windows, casement sash and decorative woodwork add to its character. Inside, the living room inglenook holds a large Mercer tile mosaic of St. George and the Dragon, the only known original tile mosaic in a Ward house. The original plan and many finishes survive, even though the house now holds three apartments. A tile-and-stucco garage at the rear, probably added in the 1920s or 1930s, keeps its original doors and the remains of a turntable. The house was listed for its architecture as one of Ward's most ambitious and distinctive Syracuse designs.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion C as an intact, representative example of Ward Wellington Ward's residential architecture in Syracuse. Its imitation thatched roof and Mercer tile mosaic fireplace are unique among known Ward designs. The house keeps its original plan, finishes and details, and the garage adds to its significance through its original doors and vehicle turntable remains.
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 97000080, listed February 14, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 110 Highland St., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | February 14, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000080 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913-ca. 1930 |
| Architect / builder | Ward, Ward Wellington |
| Architectural style | Arts and Crafts (described in the text as English Cottage style) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition inside and out; divided into three apartments, with alterations considered sensitive and largely reversible. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.05806, -76.13909 (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 97000080.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5523902
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.