Gillett, William J., House
Also known as: Trinity Exchange Shop Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1877 at 515 West Onondaga Street in Syracuse, this two-story house was the home of William J. Gillett, who co-owned a contracting and building firm with his brother-in-law William Dickison. The firm had its own planing and molding mill, and the house shows it: pressed brick veneer over a wood frame, a mansard roof with patterned polychromed slate and iron cresting, hooded dormers, carved double doors, and bracketed cornices. The nomination describes it as a local builder's version of the Second Empire style and ranks it among the finest of its kind in Onondaga County. Gillett died in 1903, and the house passed to his nephew Guy B. Dickison before leaving the family in 1918. It served as a private residence until Trinity Episcopal Church bought it in 1957. Today it houses a clothing exchange shop and several apartments. The interior has been altered, though the main staircase survives, and the exterior remains largely original.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding local builder's adaptation of the Second Empire style, ranking among the finest of its kind in Onondaga County. Its abundant wooden ornament reflects the mechanical capacity of Gillett's contracting and planing-mill business and the wealth it produced. The exterior has changed little and recalls the prosperity of a once-affluent neighborhood.
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 82003393, listed May 6, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 515 W. Onondaga St., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | May 6, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003393 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1877) |
| Architect / builder | William J. Gillett |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In use as a clothing exchange shop with several apartments; condition listed as fair, with the interior considerably altered and the exterior largely original. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.03950, -76.15815 (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 82003393.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707790
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.