Poehlman House
Why it's listed
Built in 1919 at 2654 East Genesee Street in Syracuse, this two-story brick house blends Colonial Revival and Arts and Crafts influences. It sits in the Scottholm tract, an exclusive neighborhood developed in 1914, where about a dozen other houses by the same architect, Ward Wellington Ward, stand within a few blocks. The house was designed for Frederick J. Poehlman, a partner in a retail shoe company and later president of a hardware specialties manufacturer. Notable exterior features include a projecting front bay, flush cross gables with Ward's circle designs, round-arched gable windows and leaded glass from the Keck studio. Inside, the original plan survives, along with a brick fireplace, exposed beams, built-in cabinets and a narrow, arched stairwell. A frame garage, also designed by Ward, contributes to the property. Around 1970 a side porch was enclosed and a rear porch added. It was listed for its architecture as an intact example of Ward's work.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact, representative example of Ward Wellington Ward's residential architecture in Syracuse under Criterion C. It retains distinctive Ward features such as leaded glass windows, a decorative front bay, flush front gables, built-ins, exposed ceiling beams and a tunnel-like stairwell. It retains integrity of construction, form, materials and detailing inside and out.
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 97000078, listed February 14, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2654 E. Genesee St., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | February 14, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000078 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1919 |
| Architect / builder | Ward, Ward Wellington |
| Architectural style | Arts and Crafts/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition inside and out, in use as a single dwelling; porches were enclosed and the kitchen and baths remodelled around 1970. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Scottholm Tract Historic District |
| Coordinates | 43.04393, -76.11047 (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 97000078.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7207334
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.