People's African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Why it's listed
This small brick church at 711 East Fayette Street in Syracuse was built in 1910-11 for the A.M.E. Zion congregation. Designed by local architect Charles Coulton, possibly with advice from Wallace Rayfield, it combines Romanesque and Gothic Revival elements, a three-story corner bell tower, stucco over brick, and open steel roof trusses. Stained glass windows carry both Christian and Masonic symbols. It is the oldest standing African American church in the city and one of the few buildings to survive urban renewal and construction of Interstate 81 in the old Fifteenth Ward. The congregation, organized in 1835, supported abolition, the Underground Railroad, and later worked with the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality. Under Rev. Emory Proctor it became a center of 1960s civil rights activism. The congregation moved to South Salina Street and the building was left in 1974. Although deteriorated, most original fabric remains.
Significance in brief: It is described as the oldest standing African American church in Syracuse and is tied to the city's oldest African American congregation, organized in 1835. The congregation supported abolitionism, the Underground Railroad and later civil rights work with the NAACP and CORE. The building is also an example of early twentieth century church design by a prominent local architect.
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 11001024, listed January 17, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 711 E. Fayette St., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | January 17, 2012 |
| Reference number | 11001024 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911-1964 |
| Architect / builder | Charles Coulton, possible w/advice from Wallace Rayfield |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deteriorated but with most original fabric intact; the congregation left the building in 1974 and later a renting congregation used it. The form also notes a neighboring commercial building was empty in 2010. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.05085, -76.14087 (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 11001024.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22024707
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.