Digging deeper into the grab bag of revivalism, builders of the late 'forties came up with an Egyptian phase of the classic Revival.* One of the probably two Syracuse examples was the Park Central Presbyterian Church, contracted in 1846 for $8,875 and dedicated February 1848. During the period of its two year construction, the first plank road in the United States was laid and on December 13, 1847, the village of Syracuse was incorporated as a city. But Syracuse remained as much as ever, a small town mud hole and the church elders wisely provided a fence as protection against wandering swine and cattle which were still little restrained from roaming the streets except between December 15 and March 15.

Without recourse to details, we almost immediately feel here an unaccustomed squat bulkiness, a lack of classic proportion which so thoroughly characterizes the Egyptian phase. Close inspection, however, would fail to reveal a single hieroglyphic of lotus flower or campagna form. Instead, we find an exceptional Greek Revival cupola with classic wreaths and circular form of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, supported by a heavy, but nevertheless Greek, stylobate, and a pediment with four columne having capitals which closely approximate those on the small Tower of the Winds at Athens.**

Of course, there are non-classic features, other than the scale, which lead to an Egyptian scent. The column capitals have been contorted to the shape of a lotus capital and an unusual bulbous dome has been added to the cupola. The colonnade is much more obviously non-integrated with the rest of the structure and freedom with other basic forms of the Revival is to be observed. Regardless, the structure is wholly satisfying both from an architectural and aesthetic standpoint, its very massiveness and security making for public acceptance as a house of worship.

Figure two, a copy of a sketch in the 1853 City Directory, is perhaps a fanciful rendition and completely out of scale, if one is to judge by the actual view of figure one. Of interest, however, are the two columns in-antis directly behind the four column facade, which do not show in figure one. These are a rare feature in Syracuse, adapted from many early Greek temples whose extended celia walls with two columns between, made for a form of vestibule. Noticeable too, are circular windows, thus far observed in the pediments, which here introduce light into the main auditorium. It is not known whether the tremendous scrolls supporting the base of the cupola were ever achieved, although they may be seen again on the 1855 engraving on page 7 where this church fronting Fayette Park almost dominates the entire panorama.

Figure one from Onondaga Historical Society

Note 1: See text page 22.

Note 2: See plate X, page 210.