Question: Pictured here is one of Baldwinsville’s most prominent citizens. Obviously he is in Egypt. Do you know what made him successful? There is a great story that goes with the photo — watch for it next week in the answer.
Last week’s answer: The house featured in last week’s sketch was built by William Lewis Fuller in 1870. The home at 65 Oswego St. is of Second Empire design whose most distinctive and definitive feature is the mansard roof. The narrow front porch and curved eyebrow windows are also typical elements of this style.
The parcel at 65 Oswego St. was a vacant lot when Fuller purchased it from the Baldwin estate. The back portion of the home went up first and the Fullers lived there while the main portion of the home was built.
Described in 1883 as a showcase of “solid and beautiful workmanship,” the house was the first and only village residence built in the Second Empire architectural style. Its mansard roof sets it apart yet today as it sits in the midst of Greek Revival and Victorian homes. The third floor was a ballroom complete with a small stage for musicians. The Fullers enjoyed music and their home was often the site of recitals and “socials” presented by the Sans Souci Club.
Fuller was held in high regard as a carpenter, mathematician and entrepreneur. His projects ranged from commercial structures to private homes and included the Union Meeting House (later “Herrick’s Hall”), Northside Elementary School, Frazee Mill and several Oswego Street residences, including numbers 68 and 62, and Squire Munro’s home at 1 E. Oneida St. Fuller also built two large mills in Fulton as well as a state of the art tobacco warehouse here in the village.
In 1860 Fuller entered the milling business with his brother-in-law, James Frazee. Six years later he partnered with Charles N. Bliss, owner of an established 30-year-old sash and blind company which had moved to Baldwinsville for better waterpower and shipping facilities. Fuller and Bliss produced high quality doors, windows, sashes, blinds and fretwork. Despite the depression of the 1880s, the company had 35 employees with daily production of 100 doors, 500 windows and 100 pairs of blinds.
Lumber was Fuller’s special area of expertise. In addition to maintaining a lumber yard for their own use, Fuller and Bliss ran a retail lumber business offering pine, hemlock and hard woods. A saw mill and kiln were also part of the operation which was located on the corner of Lock and Canal streets (now East Genesee Street). Today, Dunkin’ Donuts occupies part of this area.
Fuller served as a director of First National Bank but was not active in local politics. His primary interest was his family and his home. William Fuller passed away in 1883 at the age of 64. He is buried in Riverview Cemetery. His wife, Nancy Frazee Fuller, remained in the home for another 10-plus years. In 1886 she was among the first village homeowners to subscribe to the services of the new J.C. and J.C. Miller Electric Lighting plant.
Subsequent residents were the Robinson brothers, owners of Penn Spring Works, followed by the James Gere family. By 1950 the home was converted into apartments. The home’s exterior remains true to its original design with the addition of an enclosure at the front entrance designed by Ward Wellington Ward in the 1920s.
Matthew Disinger was the first person to contact the Messenger with the correct response.
“65 Oswego Street, 1870, residence of Mr. Fuller who owned a lumber yard and was part owner in a sash and blind company. He and his father built the D.H. Allen house, Squire Munro house and the First Presbyterian Church,” Disinger wrote.
Email your guess to [email protected] or leave a message at 315-434-8889 ext. 332 with your guess by noon Friday. If you are the first person to correctly identify an element in the photo before the deadline, your name and guess will appear in next week’s newspaper, along with another History Mystery feature. History Mystery is a joint project of the Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse and the Baldwinsville Public Library.
