The Mansion on James is the home of the George & Rebecca Barnes Foundation, which was established as a not-for-profit historical organization to meet the growing demands of preservation, restoration and maintenance of The Mansion, at 930 James Street, the original home of George and Rebecca Barnes.
The Foundation assumed the title to the estate from the Corinthian Club in 2009, and is devoted to its goal of preserving and maintaining The Mansion as a community treasure. Its focus is to educate the public about the history of The Mansion and its owners. Today, the Foundation aims to share and promote the unique and irreplaceable history of both The Mansion, the Underground Railroad and Central New York.
Members only can rent The Mansion for events. Corporate and individual memberships are reasonably priced, are tax-deductible. Membership fees go towards preserving The Mansion and its place in Central New York history.
Why it is Important to Save this Home
It is an irreplaceable piece of Central New York history!
This historic mansion was built by George and Rebecca Barnes in 1853. Their home was a center of civic-minded activity in our community. In honor of their leadership and commitment to the people of Central New York, the Foundation has been established in their names.
This house was a gathering place for such notables as Rev. Samuel Joseph May (who actually presided over the marriage of George and Rebecca); Garrett Smith; Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her husband, Henry.
George was a lawyer, an industrialist and an entrepreneur, who had a social conscience. Along with other prominent Syracusans, such as the Sedgwicks, Wilkinsons, Amoses and Hiscocks, he paved the way for change that can still be felt today. He and his wife, Rebecca, were active with the Syracuse Orphan Society and had many fine gatherings for the children in the gardens that once surrounded this beautiful home.
George and Rebecca Barnes were dedicated abolitionists and often placed themselves in danger to help a slave flee to safety. The mansion played a key role in the abolitionist movement in Syracuse, and has been recognized as one of the stops along the Underground Railroad, Freedom Trail. George and Rebecca held many meetings in the house and oral history supports that they hid slaves during their long journey north, often having them hide in the basement and carriage house until safe passage could be found.
BARNES FOUNDATION MISSION STATEMENT
The George and Rebecca Barnes Foundation is organized for the following purposes, which are (a) to advance and disseminate knowledge about the historic 1853 Barnes Mansion and its place in the history of Central New York through educational seminars, tours, and other programs highlighting the importance of this historic residence to the Underground Railroad, the Freedom Trail, and the Abolitionist Movement, and (b) to own, maintain and preserve this historic residence located at 930 James Street in the City of Syracuse, New York, and the associated lands and grounds owned.
