The Gridley Building
A closer look at the Gridley Building which was originally the Onondaga County Savings Bank building. This structure was built as a bank and office building and later converted entirely into offices. This tall narrow mansard-roofed building is on a site formerly occupied by three successive "Coffin Blocks". The first of these, of wood, was built in 1823 and supposedly resembled a coffin. The bank built in 1867, when the canal existed, had an entrance on the west side at the main banking level, with two upper floors and an attic. It was designed by Horatio Nelson White in the Second Empire style. The exterior material is Onondaga limestone which was quarried on Onondaga Nation Territory and then finished in a stone yard where the Dey's building now stands. Iron beams resting on masonry bearing partitions constitutes the construction, which was described at the time as fireproof and was a very progressive type of construction at the time. The exterior treatment is unique among Syracuse buildings; at the first floor there are ornate carved quoins; above this there are inversely tapered pilasters, two stories high, repeated in one- story height at either side of small third-story balconies. The first floor windows are tall, with carving around the arched heads; the second-story windows have segmental arches, and there are round arches on the third-floor and attic windows. On the southwest corner is a 100-foot high tower containing a four-faced public clock which was maintained by the bank for the city. When the building was constructed the city agreed to close a public right-of-way to the canal in exchange for the clock which the bank was to maintain. For awhile the clock was out of commission but was put back into operation when the structure was renovated. In 1897, the Onondaga County Savings Bank moved to its new building across the street. Two years later businessman Francis Gridley purchased the building and hired Archimedes Russell to renovate the interior. It was then that the Salina Street entrance was closed. In 1974 the building underwent a restoration, however, care was taken that the exterior appearance be altered as little as possible, A small plaza with trees & benches enhances the front of the bulding facing Clinton Square. The building as it stands today is essentially the same as when it was built and lends its familiar facade to the heart of downtown Syracuse. Located at 101 East Water Street, Hanover Square, in Syracuse, NY. (130)
The Gridley Building
A closer look at the Gridley Building which was originally the Onondaga County Savings Bank building. This structure was built as a bank and office building and later converted entirely into offices. This tall narrow mansard-roofed building is on a site formerly occupied by three successive "Coffin Blocks". The first of these, of wood, was built in 1823 and supposedly resembled a coffin. The bank built in 1867, when the canal existed, had an entrance on the west side at the main banking level, with two upper floors and an attic. It was designed by Horatio Nelson White in the Second Empire style. The exterior material is Onondaga limestone which was quarried on Onondaga Nation Territory and then finished in a stone yard where the Dey's building now stands. Iron beams resting on masonry bearing partitions constitutes the construction, which was described at the time as fireproof and was a very progressive type of construction at the time. The exterior treatment is unique among Syracuse buildings; at the first floor there are ornate carved quoins; above this there are inversely tapered pilasters, two stories high, repeated in one- story height at either side of small third-story balconies. The first floor windows are tall, with carving around the arched heads; the second-story windows have segmental arches, and there are round arches on the third-floor and attic windows. On the southwest corner is a 100-foot high tower containing a four-faced public clock which was maintained by the bank for the city. When the building was constructed the city agreed to close a public right-of-way to the canal in exchange for the clock which the bank was to maintain. For awhile the clock was out of commission but was put back into operation when the structure was renovated. In 1897, the Onondaga County Savings Bank moved to its new building across the street. Two years later businessman Francis Gridley purchased the building and hired Archimedes Russell to renovate the interior. It was then that the Salina Street entrance was closed. In 1974 the building underwent a restoration, however, care was taken that the exterior appearance be altered as little as possible, A small plaza with trees & benches enhances the front of the bulding facing Clinton Square. The building as it stands today is essentially the same as when it was built and lends its familiar facade to the heart of downtown Syracuse. Located at 101 East Water Street, Hanover Square, in Syracuse, NY. (130)