Follow the Stickley Trail: an Upstate New York travel guide
Darcy Smith
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[originally posted August 2022]
As the summer winds down, allow us to share a brief travel itinerary that belongs on every Stickley-lover’s bucket list. Central New York is of course where Gustav and Leopold Stickley established their most successful furniture enterprises, and a visit of just a few days allows you to trace a path from historical sites to current businesses that feature their iconic styles. Consider a late-summer stay, or come in the autumn to simultaneously enjoy the region’s gorgeous fall color. These sites, hotels, and businesses will give you an exciting taste of the history and aesthetic of Stickley!
Fayetteville and Manlius, NY
- The Stickley Museum is located in the original L. & J.G. Stickley factory building. It contains furniture and accessories from the earliest days of Stickley up to the present, as well as images and archival documents illustrating the company’s journey. 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville; open Tuesdays and Saturdays, plus Fridays until Oct. 1
- Shop the flagship retail showroom of Stickley Furniture|Mattress in Towne Center, 300 Towne Dr., Fayetteville.
- Craftsman Inn and Suites – You’ll find Stickley furniture in the guest rooms of this comfortable hotel, as well as in its popular restaurant, the Craftsman Wood Grille & Tap House.
- Freedom of Espresso – Up the road from the Craftsman, this coffee shop is decorated with some Arts and Crafts detail, including Stickley furniture pieces. Limestone Plaza off E. Genesee St., Fayetteville.
- Leopold and Louise Stickley’s graves – Leopold and Louise are buried at the north end of section 9 of the Fayetteville Cemetery on South Manlius St. (Route 257).
- Manlius Historical Society is housed in a charming Craftsman bungalow at 109 Pleasant St, Manlius; Thursday 10 – 3, Friday 10 – 3, Saturday 11 – 3
Syracuse, NY
- Gustav Stickley House You can visit only the outside of Gustav’s home as the interior is currently being restored for use as museum and guesthouse (though it often holds an open house during the Westcott Street Cultural Fair, held this year on Sept. 25). 438 Columbus Ave.
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Gustav Stickley’s grave – The Stickley family plot is found at the southwest edge of section B (walk in the direction of the nearby tall obelisk!) in Oakwood Cemetery, Comstock Ave.
- Dalton’s American Decorative Arts – This antique store specializes in American Arts and Crafts and deals in original Stickley antiques. 1931 James St.
- Marriott Syracuse Downtown – Formerly the Hotel Syracuse, the historic hotel was restored in 2016 with Stickley furnishings throughout (book a suite to see lots of classic Stickley!). 100 East Onondaga St.
Oneida, NY
- Inn at the Mansion House – The Mansion House is a National Historic Landmark that was once home to the Oneida Community, a Utopian social experiment of the 19th century. Today it offers guest rooms, some of which are furnished with contemporary Stickley pieces. 170 Kenwood Ave.
Geneva, NY
- Geneva On The Lake – A landmark building turned lakeside resort, Geneva On The Lake was furnished by Stickley during its 1970s renovation. It offers beautifully appointed rooms for a relaxing Finger Lakes getaway! 1001 Lochland Rd.
East Aurora, NY
- The Roycroft Campus – Slightly further afield, the picturesque town of East Aurora, near Buffalo, was home to the historic Roycroft colony, a community of craft guilds and artisans founded in the late 19th century by writer and philosopher Elbert Hubbard. Today, Stickley produces a handful of classic furniture pieces designed by this sister Arts and Crafts entity. The campus offers tours of the Roycroft museum and historic buildings and has a gift shop filled with works from talented artists (including some Stickley). While there, be sure to cross the street and visit the beautiful Roycroft Inn, where reissued Stickley Mission pieces (shown above) create an authentic period environment. 31 S. Grove St.
Images courtesy of Craftsman Inn and Suites, Craftsman Wood Grille & Tap House, Marriott Syracuse Downtown, Geneva On The Lake, and Oneida Community Mansion House.
