As one drives in the driveway of the large brick and wood Georgian house, so lovingly maintained by its current owner, you immediately get the impression of another era when workmanship and pride of ownership were the items of the day. The mansion was commissioned by the Emerson family of Auburn, who owned the largest shoe company in America during the 1920’s and 30’s, and, at one time, was one of Auburn, NY’s largest employers. The Emerson family knew of a famous architect because of their close connections to Syracuse University philanthropic causes because he had designed many of the University’s buildings. His name was Dwight James Baum of New York City. In 1925, he designed “Ca’ D’ Zan” in Sarasota, Florida for John and Mabel Ringling, the famous circus family. The 3 1/3 acre site was purchased from four different owners and, in 1938, the newly wed Emerson’s Bill and Lillian moved in. They had a man and two women who lived in the servants’ quarters to do the household maintenance.

Additional “Unusuals” about 6653 East Lake Road:

• Central Air with “Trane” equipment installed 2005
• Original commercial Steam Boiler in like new operating condition with a new automatic feed and a new return pump... could be used in the unlikely event the newer warm air furnace malfunctions
• Lighting Rod System on chimneys and entire structure with 15 spears on roof and (4) ½” copper leads to the ground
• Six toilets have been replaced with 1.5 gallon flush units leaving just 2 of the original units in use
• New storm windows installed on upper floors (self storing)
• The 2 warm air furnaces are around 10 years old. The largest one in the basement had a new Reallow Burner installed 3 years ago
• Roof on main structure replaced with 50 architectural shingles in 2005 (ice and water gard installed underneath and in valleys)
• Service wing had 35 yr. shingles installed in 2004
• Attic had about 12” cellulose insulation installed over entire building (more in service wing) in 1995
• The closed soffetts original to the structure were ventilated according to new heat loss and ventilating standards and a main ridge vent was installed the entire length of the main structure, several roof vents were installed over the service wing also in 2004 and 2005
• All exterior surfaces of the building have been painted with latex Sherwin Williams white super paint in 2005-2006
• All plumbing leaves the building by gravity to the new public sewer installed in 1990
• Kerner Incinerator off the pantry with it's own furnace and flue if one desires to burn their trash
• All chimney flues have a stainless steel wire protection to keep out unwanted critters like birds, bats, raccoons, etc.