The building was designed by the Architects, Edward
Brodhead Green and William Sydney.
Wicks in the early 1880's. These two men formed a
partnership in 1881 and subsequently became Buffalo's
most prominent architectural firm. The Victorian House
exemplifies Green and Wicks' experimentation with
the Queen Anne style. Early photographs of the building
expose elegant ivy covered walls and Victorian Era
gardens.
The home was originally occupied by the Gorton W.
Allen family. The Allen's were one among several prominent
families having the significant impact on Auburn's
economic and cultural growth at the time. Allen was
treasurer and general manager of D.M. Osborne &
Company, a large local manufacturer of agricultural
implements. In addition, Mr. Allen was the New York
Commissioner to the 1893 World's Fair Exposition in
Chicago. The fair was known as the most significant
cultural event to happen in America's history (to
date), surpassing even the 1889 Paris Exposition.
In August of 1893, Allen's daughter, Anna, married
William H. Seward III, grandson of Abraham Lincoln's
Secretary of State and primary architect of the Alaskan
purchase, William H. Seward. For several years the
couple resided in the home.
Gorton Allen died in 1920, the building then became
home to Charles A. McCarthy, President of Dunn &
McCarthy, a large shoe manufacturing concern in central
New York. The company's signature products were the
popular "Enna Jettick" shoe line. The McCarthys
resided in the home for many years. After successive
owners, the building was converted into apartments
in 1969, and during the 1990's this proud building
fell into neglect. Neighbors expressed their concerns
about a large, vacant and unsupervised building in
their midst.
The owners of the Presbyterian home - Westminster
Manor - were aware of a growing need for senior housing
and turned a negative situation into a wonderful opportunity
for local senior citizens. In addition, because of
their vision and their efforts, the city of Auburn,
New York is now fortunate to list the Victorian House,
among its generous number of historic treasures.
