Here was housed the Syracuse Academy, a private school of fame chartered in 1855 and supported by such luminaries as Aaron Burt and Harvey Baldwin.* Erected on 'Lodi Hill" in the year of the first paved street, the structure was above the swamplands of lower Genesee Street and was a main landmark of the vicinity. Here came to school among others, Donald and William Kirkpatrick whose joint home is discussed on page 251. Possibly because of its distance from the center of town, the school did not prosper and soon became the Orphan Asylum being purchased from the Syracuse Company in 1846 for $3,000.

The entablature and heavy cornice mouldings have here assumed new importance, necessarily so to 'cap' such a comparatively large composition, and are thoroughly typical of the earlier Greek Revivai commercial structures.**

More dominant, however, is the unique cupola in miniature temple form. Almost baroque and distinctly European in feeling are the heavy pediments, overscaled dentals and the corner-board pilasters. The cupola in itself is not an unusual feature for many will be noted crowning examaples that follow.

The piazzas which next come to our attention are unimportant additions constructed on the west side of the building in 1852 for the convienence of the orphans. The then unobstructed view of the growing village of Syracuse was undoubtedly impressive.

Figure 1 from the E. Q. Williams collection

Note 1: Their homes are analyzed on pages 180 and 80

Note 2: See also page 171