Hamilton White House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hamilton White House
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 307 S. Townsend St., Syracuse, New York |
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| Built | 1845 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001238 |
| Added to NRHP | July 20, 1973 |
The Hamilton White House is a historic home located in Syracuse, New York. It was built around 1840-1842 for a man named Hamilton White. The house is designed in the Greek Revival style, which was very popular at the time. Many people think the same person designed this house and the Moses Burnett House because they look so similar. The Hamilton White House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It's important because of its beautiful architecture and its connection to Hamilton White, who played a big part in Syracuse's business and government.
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Hamilton White: A Community Leader
Hamilton White (1807–1865) lived in the Hamilton White House until he passed away. His family owned the house until 1911 or 1912. This house is one of the last original historic homes left near downtown Syracuse. In 1976, a group bought it and turned it into offices. Today, it still serves as offices for lawyers and other small businesses.
Hamilton White's Family and Work
The White family was very well-known in central New York. Hamilton White was the third son of John White, who was a farmer and owned a gristmill in Homer. Hamilton White became a lawyer, farmer, and a smart businessman. He moved to Syracuse with his wife, Sarah Randolf Rich, and they raised five children.
Hamilton White helped start the Syracuse Bank and the Syracuse Coarse Salt Company. Syracuse was a major supplier of salt in America back then. He also invested in big projects like the Erie Canal and the New York Central Railroad. He helped start many other businesses too.
Helping the Community
Hamilton White was very active in helping his community. He cared a lot about religious and social issues. He was a generous person who gave money and support to many groups. He and his family helped create or support important places like Crouse College at Syracuse University, Cornell University, and St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral. They also supported homes for orphans and organizations that helped the poor and elderly.
The White family strongly supported ending slavery. They quietly helped black churches and the Underground Railroad. They also invited national speakers to Syracuse in the 1850s to talk about this important issue.
Today, a special fundraising group for the United Way, called the Hamilton White Society, is named after his family's kindness and community work. It was started in 1988 and is a national example for community leadership.
Hamilton Salisbury White: The Firefighter Hero
Hamilton White's most famous child was Hamilton Salisbury White (1853–1899). He was also a lawyer and businessman, but he dedicated his life to firefighting. He became a city fire commissioner.
A Passion for Firefighting
Hamilton S. White's interest in firefighting began when he was very young. Even at age four, he would ride his pony cart to watch the volunteer firefighters in the city. This experience shaped his future. Later, as a student at Cornell University, he kept a horse near his dorm. This allowed him to quickly go and watch volunteer firefighters in Ithaca, New York.
Innovations in Firefighting
After graduating from Cornell, Hamilton S. White returned to Syracuse. He created the city's first public, mechanical, and electric fire alarm systems. He built his own firehouse near his family's home. Here, he housed and trained his fire company. He provided all their equipment, paid their salaries, and taught them about building design, fire science, and basic chemistry. He believed firefighting was a "science" and always focused on improving his firefighters' skills. His company worked seven days on and seven days off.
He made many important changes to firefighting. He redesigned the firefighter's "turnout suit." He created the first second-floor dormitory with the "fireman's pole" for quick access to the fire engine. He also put the world's first electric and mechanical alarm system into the firehouse.
White also made clever changes to the firehouse itself. He used counterweights to lower horse collars and even the sheets and blankets from the dormitory. This is why early firehouses had such high ceilings! He made the horse stalls comfortable with carpeting and provided a library and a custom pool table for the men to relax.
The Idea of "Response Time"
Hamilton S. White is known for being the first to use the idea of "response time." He challenged his fire company to arrive at a fire scene faster than he could ride there from his home. This usually meant arriving in under five minutes. Before him, volunteer firefighters often took 20 minutes or more to arrive. White understood that getting to a fire quickly was super important for saving lives and property. Because he recognized this and trained his firefighters so well, he is called the "world's first professional firefighter."
A Hero's End
Sadly, Hamilton S. White died in 1899 while fighting a chemical fire downtown. He likely had a heart attack from breathing in toxic fumes. He passed away at a nearby pharmacy in Syracuse.
Later History of the House and Park
The White family lived in the house until 1911. The property was sold in 1912 and later belonged to a church and various businesses. You can find more detailed information about the house and the White family at the Onondaga Historic Association.
The park across from the house, now called Fireman's Park, was once used to keep farm animals. It later became a city park. Today, it has statues and monuments honoring firefighters who died in the line of duty. This includes the Hamilton White Monument, built in 1904. It was designed by Gail Sherman Corbett, one of the first independent female architects in the U.S.
More Prominent White Family Members
The White family had many other important members. Some of them include:
- Horace K White, who worked in banking and the salt industry.
- Horace White, II, who became a New York State Senator, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor.
- Howard Ganson White, who started and published the Syracuse Standard newspaper.
- Adelaide White, wife of Hamilton S., who was a singer and inventor.
- Andrew Dickson White, who helped found and became the first president of Cornell University. He was also a diplomat and ambassador.
- Ernest I White, an attorney who supported Syracuse University Law School.
The family owned many historic buildings. These included the Hamilton and Horace White Memorial Building and several grand mansions. Hamilton Salisbury White also owned many homes designed by the famous architect Ward Wellington Ward. He bought these homes from fire victims, rebuilt them, and let the families live there for free. They could buy the homes back later if they wanted.
Images for kids
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Corner detail
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Side view
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Another view
