Key findings from 91000526.pdf

This appears to be the real readable Timothy Skinner House nomination packet.

Recovered from the text:
- Resource name: Skinner, Timothy, House
- Address: 5355 Scenic Avenue, Mexico, New York 13114
- County: Oswego
- Property category: Building
- Related multiple property listing: Historic & Architectural Resources of the Town of Mexico, Oswego County
- Historic function: Domestic - single dwelling
- Current function at nomination time: Social - meeting hall
- Architectural classification: Italianate
- Foundation: Stone
- Walls: Brick
- Roof: Metal

Physical description:
- large Italianate style brick residence
- small lot on Scenic Avenue, one-half block north of the intersection of Scenic Avenue and Main Street in the village of Mexico
- built circa 1869
- composed of a three-bay main block and a two-story, two-bay recessed wing on the south side extending four bays to the west
- metal-clad hip roofs with wide overhangs, bracketed cornices, and deep friezes
- windows: French doors on first story; two-over-two sash on second story; decorative carved wood lintels and sills
- large single-paned windows on east and north elevations piercing the frieze
- one-story porches across front of main block and wing and rear of south elevation
- porch railings removed from front porch; bases of piers replaced with brick
- two-story bay window on south side of wing
- main entrance double door with etched glass panels
- secondary entrances on east and south elevations of wing
- shed addition on rear added in 1950 for kitchen expansion; listed as non-contributing
- interior remained remarkably intact despite some floor plan changes by the American Legion
- spiral staircase with turned balusters and newel post
- fireplace mantels in front and back parlors with Doric pilasters
- original built-up moldings and hardware survive
- no surviving outbuildings

Significance:
- significant under National Register Criterion C for architecture
- sophisticated and virtually unaltered example of an Italianate residence in Mexico
- unlike most local late-19th-century houses, built of brick, reflecting owner prosperity
- one of a small number of large Italianate residences in the village and town
- recalls mid-19th-century prosperity from agricultural and industrial production supporting professional occupations

Owner / family history recovered:
- built circa 1865 for a local lawyer
- built for Timothy Skinner, a prominent lawyer in Mexico and descendant of one of Mexico's first settlers
- Timothy Warner Skinner was son of Avery and Elizabeth Huntington Skinner
- Timothy settled in Mexico Village in 1853 after being raised in Maple View (Union Square)
- admitted to the bar in 1857
- in the same year joined Judge Cyrus Whitney in the law and banking firm of Whitney & Skinner
- elected surrogate for three consecutive terms from 1863 through 1882
- also served as village president, trustee of Mexico Academy, and active Mason
- house on Scenic Avenue was built during this prosperous and active period
- Timothy's son Avery W. Skinner became a teacher and principal of Mexico Academy
- Avery W. Skinner is commemorated by the high school auditorium

Architect:
- not known whether an architect was involved
- nomination explicitly says architect involvement is unknown

Critical relevance to 5707 research:
- this is the strongest documentary source yet
- location description (half block north of Scenic/Main) may be compared against 5707 directly
- confirms the American Legion made floor plan changes before nomination
- confirms the house was used as a meeting hall at nomination time