Spencer House
Why it's listed
Built in 1913 at 114 Dorset Road in Syracuse's Berkeley Park neighborhood, this two-story stucco-covered masonry house was designed by architect Ward Wellington Ward for Louis R. Spencer, president of the Spencer Clothing Co. The rectangular, front-gabled house has a massive chimney in each gable end, wide eaves with a dentil-like pattern, and a full-width shed-roofed porch with fluted columns and wood trellises in a bound sheaf design. Inside, the living room centers on a fireplace faced in unglazed green Mercer tiles, and the dining room has exposed ceiling beams and a broad window seat. A masonry garage, also designed by Ward, echoes the house. The Spencers sold the property in 1920, and Dr. Herbert O. Brust, a founder of Crouse Irving Hospital, lived there until 1960. The house was listed as an intact and representative example of Ward's residential work, with original plan and finishes preserved in its principal rooms.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C as an intact, representative example of Ward Wellington Ward's residential architecture in Syracuse. It keeps its original plan, finishes and distinctive details, including the green Mercer tile fireplace and wood trellises. The garage echoes the house and contributes to the property.
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 97000074, listed February 14, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 114 Dorset Rd., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | February 14, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000074 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913 |
| 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) | Condition is described as good inside and out. The form says historic integrity is very good, with some kitchen and bathroom alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Westcott-University Neighborhood Historic District |
| Coordinates | 43.03299, -76.12632 (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 97000074.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7576086
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.