This makes me sick :(

[Crash]

The building looks to be in good shape and may be stable for the next 10 years or more. Except for that missing ceiling tile (is that from a water leak?).

If you ask, you may be able to plug any roof openings from the inside. #1 Never go inside without permission, and #2 Never go on a roof. Asking to be invited inside is a good way to introduce yourself to the owner, just don't expect a warm embrace and if your fortunate, an owner may talk to you about their house.

The owner's probably realize the home's evident historic value. On the flip side, it may cost $.5M to make it affordable to heat it every month. In other words, the building may not be a good financial idea.

Structures that are difficult to upgrade and expensive to maintain often buckle from neglect when a flourishing commerce dwindles. It'd be neat know how much it'd cost, I suspect it'd seem extrememly pricey.

[S Melissa]

Hi Nick - and good luck to you in the world of historic preservation! Passion for something is a wonderful thing.

As far as this house goes - does anyone remember this house on this board? I vaguely remember someone looking at buying this house a while back, and we had a pile of pictures showing the fireplace with the pipes going up the flu and the stained glass etc. I KNOW I remember this house! Anyway this guy was going to buy the house and possibly turn it into a B&b - the biggest problem it seemed was that is was a bit off the beaten path and the likelyhood that it was supportable in this business wasn't great. He was looking at another house at the time too and was pondering the choice. Does anyone else remember this?

Anyway - it is a darned shame that's what it is. The sad truth is these palaces take a pile of money and piles of money for old houses is a slim pile. these old beauties were built by some wealthy guy and supported by his fortune but once those fortunes get split up by the heirs and the government gets their 70% - often there's not much left for anyone - especially a big old house in the middle of nowhere.

Nick - if you really want to tear into preservation - find a job that pays a ton of money - be another whiz kid at something that will give you a deep pocketbook - then you can influence and drive historic preservation. As a lowly goverment guy or working in some sort of non-profit - you'll barely have enough money to keep your antique bicycle operating. My brother is passionate about archeology and Indian relics - but archeoligists don't make much money - if any - so he became a dentist - so he makes enough money to feed his habit. And he married a psychiatrist - they don't worry about the bills. That's the ticket believe me! Good luck!

[nickd]

Thanks melissa, actually I will be going into the school of architecture at whichever college I pick, so hopefully that can help fund my passion for these old places. and I forget who posted it, but the current owner actually lives in Florida, and the house has been unoccupied for the last 5 or so years. But it does look remarkeably stable for the time being, which makes an idea like tearing it down that much worse. And yea, I imagine keeping up a place like this would be extremely costly, and its remote location also tends to hinder any successful B & B or whatnot. Oh, and theres some more pics and stuff here: http://syracusethenandnow.org/Architect ... ansion.htm
I think that website link was from when everything inside was put up for auction.

[Nancy W]

As far as this house goes - does anyone remember this house on this board? I vaguely remember someone looking at buying this house a while back, and we had a pile of pictures showing the fireplace with the pipes going up the flu and the stained glass etc. I KNOW I remember this house! Anyway this guy was going to buy the house and possibly turn it into a B&b - the biggest problem it seemed was that is was a bit off the beaten path and the likelyhood that it was supportable in this business wasn't great. He was looking at another house at the time too and was pondering the choice. Does anyone else remember this?

Yes, Melissa, I remember just what you described. Apparently he didn't buy this house, I wonder if he bought the other one.
Nancy

[barrett]

the most depressing part of the original post was "spring break in troy"!!!

and that has to be the coolest fireplace i have ever seen!

what a shame.... and good luck in your studies/future, we need more young'uns like you.

[Koko]

Nancy, Melissa--I wondered about that...I thought I remembered those windows. Oh, that house (swoon). I wish I lived in NY state w/a herd of friends to take over it with. Nickd, welcome, and I hope you see this place get better than the last person who posted it.

[nathanaelgreene]

if i could afford a house like that, the view from the porch overlooking the town would sell me in a second.

[gxray]

wouldnt it be so cool if the members of this site could collectively buy that house ?...Use our collective resources , know-how and experience and energy to fix it up and have it as a place for summer getaways, parties, bbq's, concerts , get-togethers etc...sort of a co-op/timeshare/resort/vacation getaway type of deal....Ok , maybe i'm dreaming ...back to reality ...I have enough fixing up on my plate to do ....sigh

[CivilWarHome]

wouldnt it be so cool if the members of this site could collectively buy that house ?...Use our collective resources , know-how and experience and energy to fix it up and have it as a place for summer getaways, parties, bbq's, concerts , get-togethers etc...sort of a co-op/timeshare/resort/vacation getaway type of deal....Ok , maybe i'm dreaming ...back to reality ...I have enough fixing up on my plate to do ....sigh

This is exactly what I was thinking when I saw it, Wouldn't that be sweet! But reality set in with a quickness.

Welcome to the forum nick!

[utopia13]

Hi nickd! While it's always nice to have a new member come along...it's too bad to hear this news. When I see places like this falling apart, it really puts a sort of knot in my gut.

How can the "powers" in that area, allow the beloved home of such a giving member of their community, simply fall into oblivion? It's just wrong!

These are just too beautiful to allow them to fall to ruin!