Ward House
Why it's listed
Built in Syracuse's Berkeley Park subdivision, this two-story shingled house at 100 Circle Road was designed in 1914 by architect Ward Wellington Ward. Its small footprint hides unusually complex massing: a hipped roof reaching down to the first story on the south side, a large cross gable on the north, several dormers, recessed porches with fluted columns, and leaded glass near the entrance and in the dining room. Inside, the original plan survives, along with Mercer tile fireplaces, classical pilasters, turned stair spindles and original hardwood floors. Ward and his wife Maude Moyer Ward built it on speculation and never lived there. They rented it to tenants until 1918, and a 1915 newspaper advertisement for the subdivision featured the house. It was listed for its architecture as an intact, representative example of Ward's residential work in Syracuse. Later changes have been modest, including a converted side entrance, a remodelled kitchen and bathrooms, and a removed carport.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C as an intact, representative example of Ward Wellington Ward's residential architecture in Syracuse. Its distinctive features include complex asymmetrical massing, many gables, Mercer tile fireplaces, leaded glass windows and original interior finishes. 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 97000069, listed February 14, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 Circle Rd., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | February 14, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000069 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914 |
| Architect / builder | Ward, Ward Wellington |
| Architectural style | 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, and still used as a single-family dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Berkeley Park Subdivision Historic District |
| Coordinates | 43.03280, -76.12837 (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 97000069.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7969024
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.