Photo Source:  Syracuse Souvenir, Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, Syracuse, 1899, pg. 17.

Text Source: Syracuse and Its Environs, by Franklin H. Chase, Lewis Historical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL, 1924, pg. 315

---

There has been a hotel on the northwest corner of South Salina and Jefferson streets since the time when it was but a step to the mill pond at Clinton, and the bridge over the Yellow Brook in Salina Street, between Fayette and Jefferson streets, had been just disposed of.  It was first a drover's hotel, it has had many names and almost as many sizes; it has had sheds, barns and now it is convenient to garages.  In later years it has been the New Jefferson Hotel and the Dixon House, but the old timers of 1867 knew it as the Westcott House, when David L. Sternberg had it, and then in 1868 it became the Brigham House, with W. Morris and A. J. Vroman as proprietors.

Andrew N. Van Patten bought the lot December 30, 1833, when it was most vacant property on the south side of Salina Street, between Fayette and Jefferson streets, and there had been a woodyard for the Syracuse House just to the north with a highboard fence around it.  So low was the property on Salina Street at that time that the sidewalk on the west side was on a level with the top of the fence.  Mr. Van Patten was frequently minded to buy corner lots and build taverns at that time.  In other years he bought one on the block above at Onondaga Street, and the story goes that he was so sure Francis Granger would be elected Governor that he bet the tavern on the election and lost it.  Mr. Van Patten bought from the Syracuse Company, and two years after sold to Asa B. Meach of New York, who soon parted with the property to Henry Agnew and Julius J. Wood.  There were many transfers, and, in 1859, after a mortgage foreclosure, the property came into the possession of Amos Westcott.  March 4, 1865, Lucius Brigham bought the place for $25,000 and he and his heirs owned the property for twenty-five years.  The lease was held by Leland & Hickok for a number of years.  April 15, 1897, there was a transfer to Edwin C. Hall and others.  In 1898 the old hotel was built over quite completely.