Building date: 1850
Original use:
Corner structures: See photograph file "image002.jpg" below for one example of two structures in North America of the unique quoin construction. The other is the John B Walkup House in the Town of Nunda, McHenry County, IL.
Mortar application and content:
Types and uses of stones:
Types and choice of windows:
Structures with similar masonry details:
Masons who worked on building: Mr. Carpenter
Unique features: Greek Revival - 2-story house with wing. A stucco 2nd floor has been added to the wing. "Cobblestone Buildings in Onondaga County", 1992, Structure No. 18, compiled by Glenn Hinchey.
Map views courtesy Google Maps. Address is Google Earth confirmed; 43°03'36.34"N 76°16'17.53"W. Current owner of record, Lauer as of the 2019 Tax Roll.
Town of Camillus and Onondaga County Maps
This structure was not included in the original Roudabush Survey; however, a later handwritten notation about this structure is in "not included structures that do exist" documentented in a Landmark Society copy of that survey.
William T. McCracken built this house at 167 Bennett Road, Camillus, in 1850. His father, William McCracken Sr., was a Revolutionary War veteran. He and his wife, the former Hannah Younglove, settled here about 1800. The same family occupied this house and farm until 1946 when it was purchased along with neighboring properties by Carrier Corporation with the intent of building a manufacturing plant. This was never done and the McCracken farm was sold to the late Frank and Helen Quick. It is the only cobblestone house in the town of Camillus. Courtesy Richard Palmer.
Stricklands Participate in Rural Life With Zest, Syracuse Herald, May 26, 1929
If every family had the same love of rural life as that of Mr. and Mrs. Claire Strickland, whose farm on the Camillus-Amboy Road has been in the same family for more than100 years, the ever pressing problem of how to keep young people on the farm would be solved.
The pretty old cobblestone house in which they live was built by J.D. McCracken, Mrs. Strickland's maternal grandfather, more than 80 years ago. It stands on a grassy slope, surrounded by fine old shade trees, breathing out an air of solicity and comfort.
Mrs. Strickland and their two daughters, Helen and Alice, not only do their part of the farm work enthusiastically but are leaders in junior project work in that art of the the county.
Alice Strickland, at 15, is one of the outstanding project workers among the girls of Onondaga County. She has captured more than 35 ribbons and many money prizes with show animals and by her judging ability. When she was 10 her father gave her a pure bred Guernsey heifer calf. From that calf she has a pure bred herd of four. With part of her prize money she bought a pure bred Cheviot ewe lamb. She now has 11 sheep and lambs.
Mrs. Strickland and Miss Helen Strickland, the older daughter, teach boys and girls of the entire Amboy section, having several project classes each, in which homemaking, canning, preserving, sewing, animal care and other potent agricultural phases are studied. And they find time to do all this in addition to the work that falls to them on their own farm.
Twenty minutes from Syracuse theaters by automobile, they can get to a show quicker than many Syracusans who depend upon trolley cars. With the radio, the telephone, motor transportation, rural free delivery, the life of the farmer has been completely revolutionized and the Stricklands are unanimous in preference for rural over urban life. Richard Palmer blog.
Camillus Advocate August 30, 1995 The McCracken Family Home is a Camillus Landmark, By Ralph Sims
When driving on Bennett Road in the town of Camillus, one has to take notice of the cobblestone home located on the north side of the road. This is, indeed, a beautiful home and one of a kind in the town. It is difficult to believe that this fine, well kept home is 145 years old.
To give you a background on this house, we have to take you back in time to the beginning of the 19th century. It was shortly after 1800 that former Revolutionary War soldiers David and William McCracken first settled in the town of Camillus. David settled in the village of Amboy with William settling on Bennett Road.
William, born in 1764, had first settled in Washington County and married Hannah Younglove. His first son, William T., was born in 1794. A few years later, William and Hannah moved to Camillus where a second son, John W. was born in 1802.
It appears that some time after the birth of the second son, Hannah died. In 1812 William married a widow, Mary Thompson, who had two daughters from her previous marriage. From this marriage a son, Joseph, was born in 1813.
In 1830 William McCracken died at the age of 66. Land records indicate that starting in 1812 and for the next 40 years William and his children made several purchases of farm land mainly along Bennett Road. William T., son of William and Hannah, married Polly Hubbard around 1820. From this marriage there were two sons and three daughters.
In 1850 William T. built the present cobblestone house on Bennett Road. This was to be the residence of the McCracken family and their descendants for approximately the next 100 years. Of the two sons of William T. and Polly, Hollan J., born in 1829, was to stay on the family farm. He married L. Jane Ellis, daughter of a prominent family residing in Camillus. Hollan J. and Jane were the parents of three daughters - Fannie, Minnie and Ida. Ida was the youngest of the daughters and married Merrill Slingerland, son of Storm Slingerland.
In 1883 Polly died at the age of 86. William T. passed away in 1888 at the age of 94. They are buried in Belle Isle Cemetery. Ida and Merrill Slingerland had three children: Charles, Mable, and Merrill Jr. Shortly before the birth of Merrill Jr. in 1884, his father, Merrill Sr., passed away leaving the three children without parents.
The three children came to live with their grandparents, Hollan and Jane, on the family farm. Unfortunately, Jane passed away in 1898, leaving Hollan in charge of the children. Mable Slingerland, born in 1882, continued to live with her grandfather ager reaching adulthood. In 1902 Mabel married Clair Strickland, whose family lived and managed a grocery store in Warners. For many years, before and after her marriage, Clair was very active in this grocery business.
Because of Hollan'a advanced age, Mabel and Clair lived on the farm, looking after Hollan's interests until his death. Hollan passed away in 1925 at age 96. He and his wife Jane are buried in Belle Isle. Clair and Mable had four children, Gladys, born in 1903; Gerald, born in 1905; Alice, born in 1909; and Helen, born in 1913.
Mable Strickland was probably one of the most active women in the town of Camillus. She was a strong Republican, active, not only locally, but in county and state as well. She also represented the Farm Bureau, Home Bureau, and 4-H clubs at state meetings.
In 1846 Carrier Corporation purchased the McCracken farm as part of a future manufacturing plant. This plan did not develop since the former General Electric plant on Thompson Road in East Syracuse became available to Carrier.
With the passing of the farm out of the family, son Gerald built a home for his parents, Clair and Mable, at Onondaga Hill. In 1962, Clair passed away with Mable passing away in 1972 at age 90. They are buried in Memorial Park Cemetery.
In 1971 Frank and Sheila Quick purchased the farm house, barn, and approximately one acre of land. The larger portion of the farm has since been developed into housing. Although Frank Quick passed away several years ago, Sheila has to be complimented in continuing the work that has been done in keeping this fine landmark in the excellent condition that it is in. The town of Camillus can point proudly to this home and what it represents as part of past history.
Note: Ralph Sims is a member of the Town of Camillus Historical Society. He credits Alice Keller and Alice Strickland Nutting for information used in this article. Richard Palmer blog.
Notes in Permanent File of Cobblestone Structures: Roof of wing raised and stuccoed in 1909. Valued in 1855 census at $1500.
 Strickland house, Clair Strickland in doorway.jpg ¹ Strickland house in the early 1900. Clair Strickland stands in the doorway. |  23b.jpg ¹ Cows graze on the lawn of the Strickland house. | .jpg) Strickland house (3).jpg 4 Strickland house in the 1950s. | .jpg) Strickland house (2).jpg 4 Strickland house in the 1950s. |
 Cam-1 William T McCracken House 1.jpg ² September 1998 |  Cam_1_1 IMG_0852.jpg ³ |  image002.jpg ³ |
¹ Image courtesy Camillus Historical Society. Richard Palmer email 11/22/2019.
² Image courtesy Cobblestone Museum.
³ Photograph courtesy Richard Palmer.
4 Photograph courtesy Camillus Historical Society collection
