Porter House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built around 1919 in Syracuse's Strathmore neighborhood, this two-story stucco house at 106 Strathmore Drive was designed by architect Ward Wellington Ward for George G. Porter, a consulting mechanical engineer. Its front-gabled form, near-symmetrical facades and parapet gable ends draw on Colonial Revival models, particularly Dutch and Georgian ones, while the slate roof, ten-over-one windows and a five-sided greenhouse bay with a semi-onion-dome roof add distinctive touches. Inside, the original plan and finishes survive in the principal rooms, including a Mercer tile fireplace with a seasons motif whose bold curved outlines are unusual among Ward's houses. Porter lost the property in a 1922 foreclosure to physician John J. Buettner, whose family lived there until 1953. The house is recognized for its architecture, as an intact and representative example of Ward's residential work in Syracuse, and it has changed little since it was built apart from an enclosed rear wing and some kitchen and bathroom updates.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C as an intact and representative example of Ward Wellington Ward's residential architecture in Syracuse. It retains its distinctive period characteristics and integrity of construction, form, materials and detailing inside and out. Notable features include its Colonial Revival design, a Mercer tile fireplace with an unusual design, carved woodwork and a metal-framed greenhouse bay.
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 97000091, listed February 14, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 106 Strathmore Dr., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | February 14, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000091 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1919 |
| Architect / builder | Ward, Ward Wellington |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival/Arts and Crafts |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition inside and out, with few changes since its period of significance; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.03465, -76.12945 (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 97000091.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7231627
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.