Local National Landmark: William and Frances Seward House
Lynn | 21 January 2008
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A bit of local history
National Landmark: William and Frances Seward House
33 South Street
Auburn, New York
(315) 252-1283
Call for hours and tours.
www.sewardhouse.org
Significance: Home of William and Frances Seward. As Lincoln’s Secretary of State, Seward was Auburn’s most significant political figure. Both William and Frances harbored freedom seekers in this house.
The Seward home was built in 1816-17 in the Federal style, one of the first brick houses in Auburn, by Elijah Miller, Frances Seward’s father. One of the workmen was sixteenyear-old Brigham Young, later a leader of the Mormon Church. In the 1840s, the Sewards enlarged the house, adding a dining room, Italianate tower, and north wing. In 1866-68, they enlarged it again, using designs of architect Edward Tucerkman Potter, adding a south tower, drawing room, and several bedrooms.1
11 Brochure from Seward House. Many thanks to Peter Wisbey and the entire staff of the Sewardhttp://www.co.cayuga.ny.us/history/ugrr/report/PDF/5f.pdf