Hanover Square, Syracuse


Hanover Square in downtown Syracuse is actually a triangle at the intersection of Warren, Water, and East Genesee Streets. The name may also refer to the larger Hanover Square Historic District which includes seventeen historic buildings in the area that was the first commercial district in Syracuse. In the warm weather months, entertainment is common on the plaza around the fountain. Workers in the surrounding office buildings and retail establishments often lunch there.

History

When Syracuse was still a village, the village well was located in Hanover Square. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976, the square is an intact, mainly nineteenth century historic district. The buildings on Water Street were backed by the Erie Canal, and were known as “double-enders.” This facilitated the unloading of goods from barges on the canal. Civil War recruiting booths were set up in the square, and were made into a huge bonfire at the end of the war.

Hanover Square Historic District contributing Properties

The 17 properties can by visited in order, starting at South Salina Street and Water Street, going east on Water Street, turning south on Warren Street, and returning on the diagonal along East Genesee Street to Water.
Landmark nameImageDate BuiltStyleLocationDescription
1Gridley Building1867Second Empire101 East Water Street
Also known as the Onondaga County Savings Bank Building; 3½ stories; 100 foot clock tower; built of Onondaga limestone; Horatio Nelson White, architect
2Gere Bank Building1894Louis Sullivan type121 East Water Street
5 stories; built of granite, brick and terra cotta; Charles Colton, architect
3Phoenix Buildings 1834Federal123 East Water Street
4 stories; brick
4Phillips Block1834Federal125-127 East Water Street
4 stories; brick
5Phoenix Buildings 1834Federal129 East Water Street
4 stories; brick
6Dana Building1837, 1861Federal, Italianate135 East Water Street
Italianate top floor added in 1861; 4 stories; brick
7Grange Building1925Commercial203 East Water Street
Originally an auto dealership; 4 stories; brown brick
8State Tower Building1927Art Deco109 South Warren Street
22 stories; brick and limestone; Thompson and Churchill, architects
9Granger Block1869, 1894Renaissance Revival200 East Genesee Street
Also known as the SA&K Building and Ferary Building; first 4 stories built in 1869; upper three stories added in 1894; brick
10Larned Building1869Second Empire114 South Warren Street
5 stories; brick
11Post Standard Building1880Richardsonian Romanesque136 East Genesee Street
5 stories; brick
12Franklin Buildings 1870Second Empire134 East Genesee Street
4½ stories; brick
13Franklin Buildings Federal132 East Genesee Street
4 stories; stone
14Franklin Buildings 1834Federal128 East Genesee Street
4 stories; brick
15Franklin Buildings 1839Federal122-126 East Genesee Street
5 stories; brick
16Flagship Securities Building1896Neo-Classical120 East Genesee Street
3 stories; marble and brick; Albert L. Brockway, architect; first steel-framed building in downtown Syracuse
17Onondaga County Savings Bank1896Neo-Classical113 South Salina Street
9½ stories; granite and limestone; R.W. Gibson, architect; Angelo Magnanti designed plaster ceiling; William Teff Schwartz murals of Onondaga County history

Today

In addition to modern businesses, eateries and stores, loft-style apartments have been created on the upper floors of some of Hanover Square's historic buildings.
The 23-floor State Tower Building overlooking the square hosts offices and is a major telecommunications hub for downtown Syracuse.