Fall 2017
Hidden History Untold Stories of the Salt City
This Old House Secrets of off campus housing
Looking Back at Clinton Square
1
ISSUE 38- FALL 2017
Where Past Drives Progress
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
2
1
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
Student Life
The 360 18
This Old House 4
Where Past Drives Progress
Mapping a Changing City 16
Letter From The Editor When we were choosing a theme for this issue, I originally proposed we keep it “light.” After devoting last fall to food insecurity and spring to Trump’s America, I thought “The history of Syracuse” would be a safe, yet interesting choice for my final semester running 360. No surprise - I was wrong. Yes, learning about quirky old restaurants (page 8) and finding out that the dentist’s chair was invented in Syracuse (page 23) made me smile. But during that first planning session, I let myself forget how powerful and complicated history can be. Our city’s demographics have changed wildly (page 16), simultaneously becoming more diverse and more and more impoverished. Syracuse has hosted countless protests for social change, as far back as the time of slavery (page 18), and some of the houses students live in carry surprisingly dark pasts (page 4). The list goes on. Disclaimer The views expressed in 360 Degrees are not necessarily those of the entire staff. 360 Degrees welcomes contributions from all members of the Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF community but retains the right to publish only material 360 Degrees deems acceptable to the publication’s editorial purpose. Mission Statement Since its debut at Syracuse University in 1998, 360 Degrees has always strived to achieve a balance between tradition and change. Founded by Lanre Mayen Gaba as a new lens to view culture, 360 Degrees has a different focus, format, and feel than its predecessors. Through the years, the magazine has become a general interest publication with a cultural twist, dedicated to informing students about issues on campus, in the community, and in the whole world at large.
When settling on this “light” topic, I also somehow overlooked the fact that a historic event would come to define my senior year: the Pan Am 103 terrorist attack of 1988. I was honored to be chosen as a 2017 Remembrance Scholar, charged to “Look Back, Act Forward” in memory of the 35 students Syracuse lost that day. That motto seeped into every aspect of my life - apparently even this magazine.
A look at the industry and identity of Syracuse through the lens of historic Clinton Square
Arts and Entertainment Toxic Retail 12 Center Stage 26
Food and Drink Hidden Restaurants 8
Tech Rate This Ride 14
Editor-In-Chief Madeleine Buckley
Web Editor Alexis Jones
Executive Editor Molly Bolan
Design Directors Jena Salvatore Julia Fitzsimons
Managing Editor Shanya Saunders
So, as you flip through this issue, I encourage you not only to read these stories, but think about the impact of each change, trend, or long-standing tradition. Our time here as students may be brief, but both the legacy (and the future) of the city surrounding campus affects us all.
Features Editor Jamie Jenson Front Of Book Jasmine Gomez 360 Editor Abigail Welles
2
3
Photo Director Kelli Collins Designers Samantha Aberizk Anna Henderson Sam Luo
360 Magazine
This Old
Fall 2017
112 Avondale Place
House
Crazy parties, arts and crafts, and dead bodies: what you don’t know about your off-campus housing
Brian T. Shaw was a great example of student success, perseverance and hard work. He grew up in lowincome neighborhoods in New York City and the southside of Syracuse. Shaw had dreams of becoming an obstetrician and was the first in his family to attend college. He attended Syracuse University, rushed a fraternity, and even joined the SU Cheerleading team. He likely would have gone on to achieve great success if it were not for the events that occurred on March 23, 2005, when he strangled and killed his girlfriend Chiarra Seals.
Words: Samantha Aberizk Photos: Ronojoy Sinha
Seals’ disappearance was at first confusing for the police. Her apartment had been found with the door kicked in and nothing missing but Seals herself. The next morning her body was found with the garbage cans on the side of a house at 112 Avondale Ave, neatly packed into a large suitcase. During the course of the investigation, police contacted Shaw who at first denied any role in her disappearance and murder, but soon confessed to strangling Seals and disposing of her remains. The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was indeed strangulation by a rope or cord. She suffered from cuts and bruises as well. There was no connection between the murder and the Avondale Place home, but for whatever reason, it was the place Shaw chose to dump the body.
438 Columbus Ave Born on March 9, 1858, Gustav Stickley was one of eleven children in his family. They lived on a small farm in Wisconsin. By early 1876, Stickley’s mother and siblings moved to Brandt, Pa., where Gustav worked in his uncle’s chair factory – his first formal training in the furniture industry. In 1883, he and his brothers Charles and Albert formed the Stickley Brothers & Company, their first attempt at their own furniture company. However, the business dissolved in five years. By 1898, however, he formed the Gustav Stickley Company and began to create his first arts and crafts works in an experimental line called the New Furniture. This line offered progressive furniture designs for middle class consumers in white oak and other mostly native woods. Stickley’s first furniture, that is now categorized under the Arts and Crafts Movement, was introduced at the Grand Rapids Furniture Exposition.
516 Euclid Ave In 1989, Ben Tupper was living in the big red house at 516 Euclid Ave. The house was spacious with multiple levels including a large attic and second floor porch. According to his recollection, one weekend some of his housemates decided it would be fun to host a party at their home. A friend of theirs, who went by DJ 2000 Watts, would spin electronic music on the first floor while the attic would host a live band, creating the perfect setup for a house party unparalleled today. The party was a hit and not long afterwards, the housemates came to understand that they had tapped into something special within the University’s party scene. They began to run their parties like a business, collecting a $2 entrance fee at the door from all partygoers. The parties became so frequent and so well known that proceeds became substantial enough to pay the house rent. 516 gained a reputation as the goto party/music spot year-round. The tradition didn’t end in 1989 either; every new tenant leasing the house wanted to create the same great experience as the year before. It became an unspoken obligation to continue the tradition. Similar to the story of Livingstock, the history of 516 is told by murals in the stairwell of the house. The murals begin on the first level and continue up to the attic with more and more “historic” stories illustrated as the legacy continues.
With business beginning to boom, Stickley and his family moved into 438 Columbus Ave. On the outside, the house appears similar to many other houses on the block that cover a hillside leading up to Syracuse University. However, the interior that Stickley designed for it is regarded as the first instance of the design style that became known as American Craftsman. On December 24, 1901, when a fire damaged the house, Stickley himself renovated the interior. Stickley lived with his daughter Barbara Wiles and her family at this house from 1919 until his death in 1942. After his death, the house was sold to multiple owners until it was finally purchased by the Gustav Stickley House Foundation in 2015. The Gustav Stickley House Restoration Project was awarded a $10,800 grant through the Preserve NY Grant Program of the Preservation League of NYS. The Grant was awarded to the University Neighborhood Preservation Association which is leading Phase One Restoration of the house that commended this past August in 2017. 4
Source: The Gustav Stickley House Founda-
5
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
426 Ostrom Ave An SU professor, Wellesley Perry Coddington, built this corner residence in 1875. The original space featured three stories of red brick, a winding staircase and oak trim throughout. Delta Upsilon Fraternity purchased this house in 1887 and they resided until 1972. During World War II however, brothers of DU moved out to make room for Army Air Crew men arriving on campus. Virtually all of the original structure was demolished during construction in 1955, aside from the main entrance and fireplace. Today, the DU letters can still be seen on the exterior of the house, just above the entrance.
701-703 Livingston Ave Illustrated through murals in the back stairwell of 701-703 Livingston Ave., the story of “Livingstock” is told. To most SU students today, the celebration is unheard of, though its history is nothing short of legendary. From Livingston to Clarendon, students would open up their lawns for a day of partying and music to celebrate the end of the academic year. Based on the idea of Woodstock, Livingstock revolved around good vibes and even better music, as live bands played in the front yard of 137 Clarendon St. for all to enjoy. The celebration was tradition for approximately three decades until it was banned in 1999. According to the recollection of former student and current landlord Ben Tupper, the 1999 Livingstock was organized chaos. What started out as innocent partying soon turned to madness when groups of drunken students began throwing their furniture and trash into piles on the street. It wasn’t long before someone set fire to the mass and students began to chant and scream. When fire trucks approached, students quickly formed a human barricade so that the fire could not be put out. They even began throwing bottles and trash at oncoming firefighters in what seemed like
“What started out as innocent partying soon turned to madness when groups of drunken students began throwing their furniture and trash into piles on the street.
”
a real-life Project X. The fire department began to blast water upward in an arch over the students, who rejoiced at the onset of “rain” and their own rebellion. The fire was eventually put out with the help of the Syracuse Police Department whose officers arrived on the scene in several rows, decked out in riot gear. According to Tupper, cops chased some students down as far as Westcott Street to disperse the crowd. After “Livingstock” 6
was banned by the city of Syracuse that year, other attempts at hosting the festivalesque celebration were made, including “Euclidfest.” These efforts, however, were stopped by the city and replaced by the University’s creation of Mayfest, the endof-the-year celebration where students are under the complete control and supervision of University faculty. Rumor has it that “Fuck Mayfest” T-shirts were quite a popular amenity during its first year. 7
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
Hidden Restaurants
Dishing out the history of the most interesting Syracuse restaurants
Coleman’s
Words: Anna Henderson Photos: Kai Nguyen Sam Luo
Asti FOUNDED: 2002 ADDRESS: 411 North Salina St. FUN FACT: Since the 1930’s the lower level of Asti has been a restaurant, but the upstairs level was once a Republican men’s club. MAKE SURE TO: Look at the signatures on the mural. They include Bob Costa, the Baldwin Brothers, Buddy Valastro and other famous customers of Asti.
Riley’s FOUNDED: 1979 ADDRESS: 312 Park St. FUN FACT: Brunswick, a company that makes bowling alleys and pool tables, made the bar for the original brewery, which still stands. MAKE SURE TO: Try Brian’s desserts
The Haberle Brewery, founded in 1897, was one of 21 breweries in the area and best known for its Congress beer. By the time it closed in 1962, Haberle was the last of the remaining breweries. In 1979, Terry Riley discovered the saloon, located at 312 Park Street, and bought it. It then became Riley’s, a full restaurant and catering service. Serving a variety of American fare with a menu that changes twice daily, Riley’s still operates in the same saloon on Park Street. On the walls hang photos from World War I and World War II and the ceiling and walls are lined with tin.
8
As a teenager, Richard Tumino worked for his family’s pizzeria on North Salina Street. Tumino’s Pizzeria, was opened by Richard’s parents, Salvatore and Cristina Tumino, in 1987 and remained in business until 1995 when it was sold to new owners. When the city of Syracuse began a Little Italy revitalization in 2001, Richard and his brothers saw an opportunity to take the empty building where Tumino’s once was and start something new. The new restaurant, opened in 2002, became Asti, a project the whole family had a hand in. Asti expanded quickly; a new building was added on next door and the upstairs was converted into another dining room. In 2009, Richard’s brother, John, left Asti to start “In My Father’s Kitchen,” a faith based, “non-denominational and non-discriminatory” organization that provides “assistance to homeless people through direct street outreach,” according to the website. In April of 2010, Asti caught on fire and was closed six weeks for renovation. Since then, Asti has recovered and continues to succeed as it completes its 15th year.
Source: Colemans Irish Pub
In 1933, just after the end of Prohibition, Peter Coleman opened a saloon in Tipperary Hill, a largely Irish neighborhood on Syracuse’s Westside, called Coleman’s. The saloon was small, with a tin ceiling and apartments above that served traditional pub food. In the late 1950s, Peter Coleman passed the restaurant onto his son, another Peter Coleman. As the years went on and Coleman’s grew in popularity, it also grew in size. The main dining and bar room still contains the original tin ceiling, leaving a footprint of the original restaurant. But now, Coleman’s also includes upstairs’ former apartments and add-ons to both the back and sides, including an outdoor patio space. During renovations in the 1980s, an architect traveled to Dublin and designed a bar for Coleman’s modeled after one in Dublin. The designs were brought back to a cabinet-maker in Auburn and the bar he built has stood in Coleman’s ever since. When you go to Coleman’s, you can expect over 40 beers on tap, and a menu with everything from vegetarian flatbread to “Mile High Meatloaf.”
Mother’s Cupboard Diner and Fish Fry In 1956, in a small house that is rumored to have been the neighboring cemetery’s caretaker’s house in the 1800s, two sisters-in-law opened Mother’s Cupboard Diner and Fish Fry. They had a small menu that most notably included homemade donuts, the crowd favorite. Since its opening, Mother’s Cupboard has passed through many hands. Five different owners have called Mother’s Cupboard theirs, but the doors have never shut. Fourteen years ago, on April 11, the current owner, Amy Easton, and her partner, Pete Greene, purchased the restaurant. Since then, they have become even more popular, partly with the help of national television. In 2010, they were featured on The Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food. Adam Richman, then host of the show, completed Mother’s Cupboard’s 6-pound frittata challenge, finishing it in 55 minutes. Any customer that completes the challenge receives a free t-shirt and their photo on the wall. If you aren’t in the mood for a 6-pound frittata, Mother’s Cupboard serves a variety of other options, including foot-wide pancakes and specialty omelets, and, true to their name, Fridays are fish fry day.
FOUNDED: 1956 ADDRESS: 3709 E James St FUN FACT: A former owner of Mother’s Cupboard used to cook in a three-piece suit. MAKE SURE TO: Be prepared to wait for a seat at the breakfast bar, where you can sit and watch orders be made on the grill.
9
FOUNDED: 1933 ADDRESS: 100 South Lowell Ave. FUN FACT: Every year on the last Sunday in February they host a small parade known as Green Beer Sunday. The event has been going since the 1960’s as a kickoff to the St. Patrick’s season and each year a commemorative button is issued. MAKE SURE TO: Check out the leprechaun door
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
Did you know?
The Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center was originally built in 1903 as the chapter house for the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. It also used to face the other way, towards Walnut Ave.
10
Erie Boulevard isn’t just a major Syracuse road. It actually follows the original path of the Erie Canal.
11
360 Magazine
Toxic Retail
How a mega-mall redefined the destiny of a dying city
Words: Kathryn Krawczyk Photos: Chi Chen
1987
Fall 2017
Pyramid founder Robert Congel envisioned a waterfront business district, with the mall sparking retail, recreational and residential development that would stretch into downtown, according to a Syracuse.com article. Pyramid would start by cleaning up the 75-acre mall site, including 1.5 acres of contamination. The $2 million project ended up costing Pyramid $15 million before it could even start building. The whole project was a risk for both Pyramid and the city of Syracuse. If it failed, Syracuse would lose out on $165 million in payments it was supposed to get from Pyramid in lieu of taxes. The city’s future would become even bleaker, showing that not even a multimillion dollar investment could clean up its toxic past. But it succeeded, and Destiny largely erased the memory of the hazardous waste beneath its floor.
Robert Congel pitches the idea of Carousel Center mall
1990 Carousel Center mall first opens
Source: syracuse.com
A sea-green spire towers on the shores of long-polluted Lake Onondaga, surrounded by sprawling parking lots and a massive hotel. This is the crown of Destiny USA: Syracuse’s six-story, 2.45 million square-foot shopping center on the city’s Northside. It’s also an ever-present reminder of how a city on the decline tried to turn itself around with a massive investment into the retail industry, built quite literally on the remains of its once-great manufacturing district.
2003 Congel starts pushing for tax breaks to turn Carousel into Destiny USA
2012
From the time it was built, Destiny USA was meant to be just what its name suggests — a shopping destination. There’s no other explanation for why the U.S.’s 183rdlargest city would need the country’s sixth largest mall, or why in September 2017, the same developers behind Destiny opened an Embassy Suites hotel with a beautiful view of the mall’s parking garage.
Carousel Center Mall becomes Destiny USA
2013
Since its controversial conception, Destiny has brought some undeniable good to Syracuse. According to the mall’s website, Destiny employs about 5,000 people, not including construction and hotel employees. It brings in 29 million shoppers from the U.S. and Canada each year, according to the Pyramid website. And it seems to have stuck to its environmental roots, harvesting millions of gallons of rainwater and achieving LEED Gold Status. But some say the city of Syracuse has overstated those positives, including former Mayor Stephanie Miner. She was quick to condemn tax breaks for Destiny’s hotel project. “This type of trickle-down development, which OCIDA [the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency]
No, there was never any expectation for Central New York to support this retail wonderland on its own. That’s why Carousel Center — what Destiny was known as before 2012 — was built at the crossroads of I-81 and I-690, right on top of a toxic waste dump.
The final building of Oil City is torn down
Developers built Destiny USA on Oil City, a wasteland overrun with abandoned buildings, oil tanks and industrial debris that poisoned nearby Lake Onondaga. A 1990 New York Times article described the area as “a kind of monument to 20th-century environmental arrogance, its future written off by government and business alike” — until the Pyramid Companies real estate agency came along.
2017 Destiny USA’s Embassy Suites hotel opens 12
13
continues to support time and time again, does not benefit our citizens and instead takes money away from the poorest people in our community to further enrich wealthy developers,” Miner said in a 2016 statement. With how Syracuse and Onondaga County’s tax system is set up, Destiny could easily bypass a deal from the city and turn to the OCIDA. So the mall still got a deal. And as Destiny has expanded from an everyday mall into a commercial paradise, it’s received more than $740 million in government subsidies. That’s more than Amazon and Google parent company Alphabet. Destiny’s history is complicated, and its future even more so. Pyramid cleaned up toxic waste when it built Destiny, but didn’t do enough to stop it from bubbling back up when it built the Embassy Suites. It’s replaced the Oil City eyesore with economy-boosting commercialism, but only incorporated a few local businesses. It’s also created thousands of jobs, but utilized millions in subsidies funded by tax dollars. So no, Destiny USA didn’t bring back Syracuse’s economy or manufacturing jobs. But it was the start of revitalization on Lake Onondaga’s shores, leading to construction of the nearby Onondaga Creekwalk and future development plans for the Inner Harbor. By cleaning up Oil City, Destiny become Syracuse’s saving grace.
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
he’s unsure if he’d use Uber over a traditional taxi. “I just feel that taxi drivers are more trustworthy, whereas Uber drivers are just random people,” he says. “When you drive taxis for a living, that’s your profession. I feel like driving for Uber is a hobby. Anyone can do it.” TAXI
Rob Rivera a Syracuse University graduate student who has worked as an Uber driver in the past, has seen firsthand the benefits of having ridesharing options in a city. “Yes, it’s less expensive and more convenient than a typical taxi service, but I believe it saves lives,” Rivera says. “I’ve personally seen friends and clients using it as an alternative to driving after a night of partying. How do you even measure that? As someone who used to work emergency services, I’ve seen more than enough evidence of what can happen when someone drives under the influence. Uber and Lyft are undoubtedly making a difference in those numbers. Also, I believe more students could be drivers; however, you may only register in the state in which your license is issued.”
The companies have been praised for the ease in which their users can order and pay for their services, and college students across the country use them as alternatives to regular taxis.
Rate
Many students at Syracuse University have already taken advantage of the ridesharing experience, which is often a cheaper form of transportation. Since Uber and Lyft operate using apps, customers can order and pay for their ride without having to use cash, and they can also track the location of their driver. This is beneficial to students beacause they can avoid standing outside late at night or in the cold, which is often the case while waiting for a taxi.
This Ride Uber’s Arrival, An In-Depth Look
Words: Danielle Clough
Uber and Lyft, the two ridesharing companies that can turn anyone with a car into a taxi driver, made their long-awaited debut in Syracuse at the end of June. There are nearly 20 taxi services operating in and around Syracuse, and many question if these companies will be able to survive now that Uber and Lyft have arrived.
In September, a Syracuse University student reported that her Uber driver attempted to sexually assault her after driving her to a deserted parking lot instead of her dorm. The victim was able to escape unharmed, and Uber revoked the driver’s credentials with the company. It is too soon to see whether or not this incident will negatively impact the company’s success in the Syracuse area, but it certainly raises some questions about the process Uber uses when conducting background checks on their drivers.
Avid Uber-user Erin Eagle says even if there were only taxis in Syracuse, she wouldn’t use them as much because they are hard to plan around and limit her ability to have spontaneous adventures with her friends. Uber rides are her preferred choice of paid transportation because they are easier to order and have more flexibility than taxis. Freshman Tasha Getten also agrees that taxis aren’t as convenient as Uber. Getten says she uses the service three or four times a week and saves money by choosing Uber over a standard taxi.
Uber and Lyft are taking over the transportation scene everywhere in the world, and it was only a matter of time before they hit the streets of Syracuse. Time will tell whether or not their arrival will eventually lead to the disappearance of local cab companies.
Christine Oser, a graduate student at Newhouse, says she uses Uber whenever she finds herself in need of a ride. “I use Uber because it’s a fast way to get wherever you need to go when you can’t drive, and I never have to worry about being stuck somewhere. The app makes it extra convenient to use, too.” Kevin Van Pelt, another graduate student at the university, says
“There are nearly 20 taxi
“Taxis are going to go out of business because no one will choose taxis,” says taxi driver Gary Singh, who drives for CNY Green Taxi, which has operated in and around Syracuse since 2010. Singh says he feels this way because many people think Uber is the cheaper option between the two. Singh isn’t wrong; the cost of a cab ride to Syracuse Hancock International Airport from University Hill — $35 without a tip — is more than twice what a student would pay to travel with Uber, which costs only $14.
services operating in and around Syracuse, and many question if these companies will be able to survive now that Uber and Lyft have arrived.
”
14
15
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
Mapping a Changing City The story behind the numbers If one were to take a time machine back to 1940, some things would be the same. The autumn Syracuse leaves would be just as colorful, the winter snow would be just as cold, and the school spirit running through the veins of Syracuse University students would be just as strong. However, unsurprisingly, quite a few things would be different.
Syracuse
White 64.6% Black 15.6% Asian 8.0% Other 11.8%
There are quite a few factors that account for this decline, but the construction of I-81 in Syracuse is one of the most notable. The city planners in Syracuse sought to make the city more mobile, so they built I-81 through the middle of the city. This contributed to the displacement of people of all races in Syracuse, and it is part of what city planners called “slum-clearing.” Many of those who could afford to move away from Syracuse did so in great numbers in the mid-20th century, choosing to move to the suburbs. Most higher-income residents were whites, meaning most of Syracuse’s African-American population was left behind to live in the impoverished neighborhoods.
White 55.2% Black 29.3% Asian 6.6% Other 8.9%
New York
United States
2000
2013
2000
2013
2000
2013
8.9%
21.5%
43.4%
65.2%
49.3%
62.2%
Dr. Mario Rios Perez of the School of Education at Syracuse University says that this is especially detrimental to the public school system in Syracuse. Poverty is concentrated in specific areas, so certain areas have better funded schools than others, and the most economically challenged schools have higher populations of African American and Hispanic students. “Schools are supposed to be a place where people can succeed, but segregation is a threat to that. The schools don’t afford social mobility,” Dr. Perez says.
White 73.6% Black 12.6% Asian 5.1% Other 8.7%
“Schools are supposed to be a place where people can suceed, but segregation is a threat to that.
”
Additionally, the rate of poverty in Syracuse has increased overall. A 2011 study by the Brookings Institution identified that in 2000, Syracuse had a total of nine “high poverty neighborhoods,” but in 2011, it had nineteen. Even in 2017, people in Syracuse move to the suburbs in high numbers, continuing to concentrate poverty in the city within certain neighborhoods. From the data, it is not looking like the population of Syracuse will rise over time and demographic changes that have contributed to segregation have only made this worse. “Syracuse needs to give incentives for companies to come into the cities, and reconsider school boundaries,” Dr. Perez says. “Segregation was an expensive process and so desegregating it will be too,” he adds. The next census will be released in 2020, which will provide more details on just how much Syracuse is continuing to change demographically.
Number of Neighborhoods under the poverty line
“Syracuse has the
Concentration of Poverty 2000-2013
Black
Words: Dan Denning Comparing the Racial Makup
For starters, there would be many more people in Syracuse. According to census data, the population of Syracuse decreased from 205,000 in 1940, to 147,000 in 2000. Since 2000, the population of Syracuse has slightly fluctuated, but overall, it’s on the decline. Today, the population is 144,564.
White
Today, Syracuse has the highest poverty rate concentrated among African Americans and Hispanics in the country. Despite the fact that Syracuse’s population has decreased overall, between 2000 and 2010, the white population of the city decreased by 14 percent, while the African-American population of Syracuse increased by 15 percent. There is a clear disparity between races in Syracuse and it only appears to be increasing over time.
2011
2000
highest poverty rate concentrated among Amfrican Americans and Hispanics in the country
Poverty Line
”
Hispanic
16
17
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
THE 360
Where Past Drives Progress
Why is Syracuse called the “Salt City?”
The canal itself was central to the city’s development, and became integrated into Clinton Square even after it was gone. It was built in the early 1800s and brought business and economic growth to the heart of Central New York. Syracuse played a predominant role in the salt industry and capitalized off the production and transportation of salt. The Erie Canal not only facilitated this industry but also opened the doors for other economic opportunities.
The speedy development of the salt industry in Syracuse is why the city is sometime referred to as the “salt city.” Salt springs near Onondaga lake allowed Syracuse to capitalize on the production and transportation of salt. The salt would be produced in two ways: solar evaporation and boiling.
Dennis Connors, Curator of History at the Onondaga Historical Association said in an email, “Syracuse was a city founded on the Erie Canal and the salt industry. Both are gone. The biggest transformation was their replacement with a more diversified industrial base and other transportation modes, predominantly the interstate Rt. 81.”
A look at the industry and identity of Syracuse through the lens of historic Clinton Square Words: Aishwarya Kannikanda Sukesh Photos: Ronojoy Sinha, Romy Weidner
Clinton Square circa 1905
Salt sheds in Syracuse, circa 1900
Source: Low Bridge Productions
For a good chunk of the 19th century, Syracuse was a top salt producer in the country. The Onondaga Salt Reservation produced more than 11.5 million tons of finished salt between 1797 and 1917, according to a report by the United States Geological Survey.
Source: Shorpy Historic Archive and Fine Art Prints
Clinton Square is the heart of Syracuse that keeps beating.
“Clinton Square
is the heart of Syracuse that keeps beating” 18
Surrounding an iconic reflecting pool stands the buildings that represent industry and time in Syracuse. The Clinton Exchange, built in 1928 as a U.S. Post Office and Federal building, still stands. It’s one historic example of how Clinton Square acts as a testament to the past but still drives the future. Built in the early 19th century, Clinton Square was at the intersection of commerce and trade. It served as a hub of activity and that hasn’t changed. The square was named after former Governor DeWitt Clinton who greatly contributed to the construction of the Erie Canal. It is where highway and waterway met.
After the canal was filled in 1925, Clinton Square was used as a big parking lot. The close of the canal was a turning point in Clinton Square’s formation. The square transformed from a cluttered docking and marketplace to the center of the modern city.
Social Activism in Clinton Square 1851
May 1965
October 1965
April 1970
“The Jerry Rescue” Public freed a fugitive slave from prison
CORE Rally Protesting Niagara Mohawk and housing
Vigil to protest the Vietnam War
Earth Day “Sludge Trudge” protest march
19
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
Despite the fact that the city has grown immensely from its manufacturing roots, Clinton Square remains one of the focal points of the city. Thousands of people gather to enjoy food, festivities and fun. Clinton Square was the main point of commerce, not only in terms of transportation and sale of goods but also many businesses took claim to the square. Other influencers that shaped Clinton Square’s transformation included the types of businesses. As the salt industry dwindled, technological innovation took over.
“The square went from a working space to a civic space and has remained one ever since, said Connors
The nature of manufacturing in Syracuse has changed and you can kind of see that through Clinton square, because it became less of a point of commerce and more of a public area where people would come for celebration or even gather for protests. It sort of serves to be a place of social commentary, said Sarah Kozma a Research Specialist at The Onondaga Historical Association.
”
But, since then, the area where the canal used to run turned into a reflecting pool. Residents can go ice skating, just like people would when the Erie Canal froze over in the early 1900s. The historical representation of the canal in Clinton Square is very methodical and represents a unique aspect of Syracuse’s history. Clinton Square’s past inspired its future and was formative in creating the modern city we know now as Syracuse. The square went from a working space to a civic space and has remained one ever since, said Connors. But it has always been a place for important civic ceremonies.
June 1988
April 1997
October 2001
Chinese Syracuse students march for those killed in Beijing
Native Americans protest Syracuse newspapers
Protest against bombing Afghanistan
20
March 2003 Syracuse Peace Council Protests the Iraq War
August 2005
April 2006
March against nuclear weapons
Anti-abortion protests
August 2007 “Youth Against War” march to protest war in Iraq
21
October 2008 Anti-Sarah Palin rally and Pro-Palin protest
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
Syracuse Inventions The Dentist Chair, 1848 Milton Waldo Hanchett invented the reclining chair that eventually became what is known today as the dentist’s chair
owntown is going “Dthrough a transition
where residential and cultural activities are in the ascendancy
The Traffic Signal, 1897
”
Now, depending on which direction you look, residents can see what Syracusans once saw, but also recognize the immersive changes that have developed. Certain structures like the city bank have stayed the same and, for the things that are gone, museums stand in place of their history. Clinton Square is that unique combination of past and present.
One particularly famous activist event that took place in Clinton Square, Connors says, was the “The Jerry Rescue.” Now memorialized by a freestanding wall and statue in the square, famous incident occurred in 1851 when the public rescued a fugitive slave, William Henry – known as “Jerry”
Joseph E. Burns is credited with creating the knife with a serrated edge.
The Brannock Device, 1926 Thanks to Charles Brannock, we can measure our shoe size with the handy device that lives in every shoe store
Loafers, 1938
Today, with Syracuse’s growing refugee population, Clinton Square continues to represent far more than business and salt.
A.E. Nettleton Co., a Syracuse shoe company trademarked the term “loafer” Source: Nature Woman, Wordpress
July 2010
April 2010
March 2013
Protest against violence in the Gaza Strip
“Tea Party Express” protest
International Women’s Day rally for workplace equality
22
The Serrated Knife, 1919
Hosting events throughout the year from the Polish Festival to Juneteenth, the square invites people of all cultures to not only immerse themselves in Syracuse history but also continue creating it.
Syracuse was active in the abolitionist movement, and because New York was a free state, more than 100 rescuers rallied in Clinton Square to break Jerry out of jail.
“Downtown is going through a transition where residential and cultural activities are in the ascendancy,” Connors says. “Clinton Square is a recognizable space for many cultural and recreational events.”
Crouse-Hinds Electric Company first manufactured the traffic signals.
August 2014 “Hands Up” protest Death of Michael Brown
April 2015 Black Lives Matter Protest Death of Freddie Gray
November 2016
April 2017
Dakota Access Pipeline Protest
March for Science Protest - “Assault on Science”
23
August 2017 Vigil following Charlottesville white Nationalist rally
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
Did you know?
Syracuse’s namesake is a town in Sicily called “Siracusa,” which also has famous salt deposits, sits next to a lake, and has a neighboring town called Salina.
24
Syracuse University was originally founded by the United Methodist Church. The cornerstone for the Hall of Languages was laid the same day as the cornerstone for nearby University United Methodist Church, which is still open today.
25
360 Magazine
Center
Fall 2017
Stage Raising the curtain on 45 years at Syracuse Stage
Words: Jamie Jenson Photos: Olga Shydlonok
1914
1980
Patrons reach 10,500 during this season.
Groundbreaking for the gutting and renovation of the Regent begins on March 3. The theatre would become the John D. Archbold Theatre, named for the man who gave the largest donation, $450,000, for the project.
The Regent movie house opens
1967
Syracuse Stage marks its 45th anniversary
In October, Storch announces his retirement from Syracuse Stage and SU Drama. The audience outgrows the building’s capacity, and many people are turned away due to lack of seats.
Syracuse Repertory Theatre, the first full-time professional theatre company, had its first official season and presented a total of seven seasons and 37 productions.
2017 1991
1958 Syracuse University acquires the Regent Theatre building at 320 E. Genesee St.
19891990
1977
Emmy winner Jean Stapleton returns to portray Eleanor Roosevelt in a one-woman show called Eleanor: Her Secret Journey.
2007
2000
Source: Cinema Treasures
26
Timothy Bond becomes the new artistic director.
27
360 Magazine
Fall 2017
Just Missed the Cut
Fun Fact
Did you know?
In 1926, Syracuse University purchased 109, 111 and 113 Waverly Ave,, which at the time housed the Student Health Services office, for only $45,000.
In 1873, what is currently known as Huntington Hall, was once a three-story hospital was built on Marshall Street between University Ave to provide temporary nursing and rehabilitation to those in need.
Bet you didn’t know that the 73room Haven Hall Dormitory for Women opened in 1904 and was named after Erastus O. Haven, the second Chancellor at Syracuse University. It was later demolished
Looking to add some spice to your life?
to make room for Newhouse 1.
As a continuation of Syracuse’s reputation as an industrious and innovative city, entrepreneurs are utilizing the programs and resources offered downtown at The Tech Garden. The collaborative space provides a platform for entrepreneurs to create and leverage their technology start-ups.
Creole Soul Cafe in Downtown Syracuse offers a taste of “N’awlins” with a range of authentic soul food — from fried catfish to alligator sausage.
28
su360mag.com 29
360 Magazine
YOUR STUDENT FEE
30