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L. Frank Baum Childhood Home - Freethought Trail - New York
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Frank Baum Childhood Home - Freethought Trail - New York</title> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/assets/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/assets/favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/assets/favicon-16x16.png" sizes="16x16"> <link rel="manifest" href="/assets/manifest.json"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/assets/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#800d0d"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/assets/favicon.ico"> <meta name="msapplication-config" content="/assets/browserconfig.xml"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <link href="/assets/css/combined.min.css" rel="stylesheet"> </head> <body> <nav class="navbar fixed-top app-navbar app-red-bg-gradient"> <a class="sr-only sr-only-focusable" href="#app-page">Skip to main content</a> <div class="container"> <a class="navbar-brand" href="/" title="Freethought Trail" aria-roll="button" aria-label="Freethought Trail"><i class="sprite-logo "></i></a> <button class="navbar-toggler " type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#navbarNavDropdown" aria-controls="navbarNavDropdown" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation"> <span class="navbar-toggler-icon "></span> </button> <div class="w-100 mt-auto app-nav"> <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navbarNavDropdown"> <div class="text-center text-uppercase app-secondary-font-stack app-styled-nav"> <div class="px-3"> <img class="img-fluid mb-3" src="/assets/img/default/nav-line-top.png" srcset="/assets/img/default/nav-line-top.png 1x,/assets/img/default/nav-line-top@2x.png 2x" alt=""><br /> <a href="/trail-map/" class="app-styled-font-size-1">Trail Map</a><br /> <a href="/plan-your-journey/" class="app-styled-font-size-2">Plan Your Journey</a><br /> <a href="/our-history/" class="app-styled-font-size-3">Our History</a><br /> <a href="/latest-news/" class="app-styled-font-size-4">Latest News</a><br /> <a href="/partner-links-and-credits" class="app-styled-font-size-5">Partner Links & Credits</a><br /> <img class="img-fluid mt-3" src="/assets/img/default/nav-line-bottom.png" srcset="/assets/img/default/nav-line-bottom.png 1x,/assets/img/default/nav-line-bottom@2x.png 2x" alt=""> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="app-page"> <div class="app-red-bg"> <div class="container"> <div id="carousel" class="carousel slide" data-ride="carousel"> <div class="carousel-inner" role="listbox"> <div class="carousel-item active"> <img class="d-block d-md-none img-fluid" src="/cache/images/204d0f40d0aff61ab5f3b95193c4c589.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/204d0f40d0aff61ab5f3b95193c4c589.jpg 1x, /cache/images/c1487f5e9c6b9ba5868daa8058f87a4e.jpg 2x" alt="L. Frank Baum Childhood Home"> <img class="d-none d-md-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/87ffb58a2ac40d11af3b118064514133.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/87ffb58a2ac40d11af3b118064514133.jpg 1x, /cache/images/a24107f39f01e4593aede049b929cbe1.jpg 2x" alt="L. Frank Baum Childhood Home"> <div class="carousel-image-overlay app-red-carousel-gradient"></div> <div class="carousel-caption carousel-caption-internal"> <div class="app-center"> <h1 class="mt-5 mt-sm-0">L. Frank Baum Childhood Home</h1> <p>2601 Brewerton Road, Mattydale, Syracuse, New York <span class="mx-3">|</span> Unmarked Location</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="app-white-bg "> <div class="container"> <div class="row py-5"> <div class="col-12 app-links"> <p>Baum scholars generally believe that Roselawn, the mansion <a href="/profiles/profile:baum-l-frank/"> L. Frank Baum’</a>s father bought in 1866 with profits from the oil business, stood in what is now an empty lot that until 2015 housed a defunct skating rink. Roselawn was located on the first plank road in the United States, now Brewerton Road / U.S. Route 11.</p> <p>L. Frank Baum grew up here with many happy childhood memories. With his brother Frank, he produced a family newspaper on a printing press their father purchased for them. The yellowish hemlock wood of the plank road may have been an inspiration for the Yellow Brick Road.</p> <p>Roselawn was sold at auction in 1880. Later, the successful Baum author bought it back for his parents. Baum’s mother re-sold the property in 1887. It passed through several hands and eventually became a roadhouse. It burned down on February 25, 1899. In 1900, a new roadhouse was constructed on the site, operating under such names as the Old Rural Inn and Faatz’s Hotel. This structure was damaged by one fire in 1957 and destroyed by a second in 1958.</p> <p>Roselawn’s historic address, 2299 Brewerton Road, ceased to exist following a general realignment of street addresses to improve access for emergency service providers. The current address corresponding to that parking lot is 2601 Brewerton Road. As recently as the 1970s, a former employee recalls that the skating rink at this location, then named Sports-O-Rama, used the 2299 Brewerton Road address.</p> <p>The long-closed skating arena was demolished in August 2015, prompting a local outpouring of nostalgia for Sports-O-Rama, which in the mid-twentieth century was a hugely popular recreation center for residents of Syracuse's north suburbs.</p> <p>Thanks to Michael F. McGraw, Gary Karpinski, Ray Leonard, and Jeannine Chubon for research assistance.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="app-white-bg app-box-shadow"> <div class="container"> <div class="row py-5"> <div class="col-6 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 mb-5"> <a href="/cache/images/e9da3904230ae96329de65c2970a60b8.jpg" class="app-gallery" title="Demolition site at 2601 Brewerton Road, Mattydale"> <img class="d-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/e9bd6abad68b9b1309add8422c17be5d.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/e9bd6abad68b9b1309add8422c17be5d.jpg 1x, /cache/images/91487560561bcfe149c3cf09be246c0f.jpg 2x" alt="Demolition site at 2601 Brewerton Road, Mattydale"> <div class="app-white-text"> <div class="p-3"> <h3><i class="far fa-fw fa-search-plus mr-2" aria-hidden="true"></i> Demolition site at 2601 Brewerton Road, Mattydale</h3> </div> </div> </a> <div class="mt-3 app-caption"><p>The former Sports-O-Rama site at 2601 Brewerton Road, Mattydale has been vacant since 2015. This view looks north toward a neighboring property.</p></div> </div> <div class="col-6 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 mb-5"> <a href="/cache/images/dc85034436c6aa59374daeb71276c540.jpg" class="app-gallery" title="Another view of demolition site"> <img class="d-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/9de78e301b14e18401b81aee286dbd03.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/9de78e301b14e18401b81aee286dbd03.jpg 1x, /cache/images/4dedd91a4ed49a6424d6f3655209cb96.jpg 2x" alt="Another view of demolition site"> <div class="app-white-text"> <div class="p-3"> <h3><i class="far fa-fw fa-search-plus mr-2" aria-hidden="true"></i> Another view of demolition site</h3> </div> </div> </a> <div class="mt-3 app-caption"><p>Another view of the demolition site, looking west from Brewerton Road.</p></div> </div> <div class="col-6 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 mb-5"> <a href="/cache/images/c06269c5c2b511492716b9cf527b6ecf.jpg" class="app-gallery" title="The casualty next door"> <img class="d-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/ab3d7650ff67845f174454198daecd19.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/ab3d7650ff67845f174454198daecd19.jpg 1x, /cache/images/351e46aa631e9f6bcf0ccd257e285d7a.jpg 2x" alt="The casualty next door"> <div class="app-white-text"> <div class="p-3"> <h3><i class="far fa-fw fa-search-plus mr-2" aria-hidden="true"></i> The casualty next door</h3> </div> </div> </a> <div class="mt-3 app-caption"><p>This Pizza Hut immediately south of the vacant parcel closed at some time after the 2015 demolition of the Sports-O-Rama site.</p></div> </div> <div class="col-6 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 mb-5"> <a href="/cache/images/43494746726dbd4326edd3f3c46956d5.jpg" class="app-gallery" title="The former skating rink building"> <img class="d-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/557b2f3e05797a7527c1e46b7f3492e2.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/557b2f3e05797a7527c1e46b7f3492e2.jpg 1x, /cache/images/a9a4fdf05c3abf5e4d30dabd37d484a1.jpg 2x" alt="The former skating rink building"> <div class="app-white-text"> <div class="p-3"> <h3><i class="far fa-fw fa-search-plus mr-2" aria-hidden="true"></i> The former skating rink building</h3> </div> </div> </a> <div class="mt-3 app-caption"><p>Until 2015, the Roselawn site housed a skating rink that attained regional prominence as Sports-O-Rama, operated under various names (including Action Sports and Skate) during its prolonged decline, and ultimately was razed.</p></div> </div> <div class="col-6 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 mb-5"> <a href="/cache/images/42b9de1d9833d19637369dd173cdbadf.jpg" class="app-gallery" title="The Last Sign"> <img class="d-block img-fluid" src="/cache/images/7dbd685294b3158ffc78f6c48d8b42df.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/7dbd685294b3158ffc78f6c48d8b42df.jpg 1x, /cache/images/74862e5d57797fb899a35114ac38d17f.jpg 2x" alt="The Last Sign"> <div class="app-white-text"> <div class="p-3"> <h3><i class="far fa-fw fa-search-plus mr-2" aria-hidden="true"></i> The Last Sign</h3> </div> </div> </a> <div class="mt-3 app-caption"><p>The final occupant of the Roselawn site was Action Sports and Skate, whose sign remained for years after the business became defunct. The building and sign were demolished in 2015. At right, U.S. Route 11 / Brewerton Road.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="app-tan-bg"> <div class="container"> <div class="row py-5"> <div class="col-12"> <h4>Associated Causes</h4> </div> <div class="col-6 col-sm-6 col-md-4 col-lg-3 mb-5"> <a href="/causes/cause:freethought-atheism-secular-humanism/" class="app-item"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/27aabec993ace73d7bf98b4065273141.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/27aabec993ace73d7bf98b4065273141.jpg 1x, /cache/images/f9be28a654e87c7f8c610cf2332b24c6.jpg 2x" alt="Freethought / Atheism / Secular Humanism"> <div class="app-dark-gray-bg-b-gradient"> <div class="p-3"> <h4 class="app-white-text">Freethought / Atheism / Secular Humanism</h4> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class="col-6 col-sm-6 col-md-4 col-lg-3 mb-5"> <a href="/causes/cause:womans-rights-suffrage/" class="app-item"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/788c323869eaf86a7c38522d12a6d156.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/788c323869eaf86a7c38522d12a6d156.jpg 1x, /cache/images/d57f592355fd1ed7c0143690a0c1cc33.jpg 2x" alt="Woman's Rights / Suffrage"> <div class="app-dark-gray-bg-b-gradient"> <div class="p-3"> <h4 class="app-white-text">Woman's Rights / Suffrage</h4> </div> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="app-tan-bg"> <div class="container"> <div class="row py-5"> <div class="col-12"> <h4>Those Involved</h4> </div> <div class="col-6 col-sm-6 col-md-4 col-lg-3 mb-5"> <a href="/profiles/profile:baum-l-frank/" class="app-item"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/f54c9ae58b551229d604da372ecf3487.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/f54c9ae58b551229d604da372ecf3487.jpg 1x, /cache/images/153b2fe829fce5ee6d1c378ad358c8e6.jpg 2x" alt="Baum, L. Frank"> <div class="app-dark-gray-bg-b-gradient"> <div class="p-3"> <h4 class="app-white-text">Baum, L. Frank</h4> </div> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="app-tan-bg-gradient"> <div class="container py-5"> <div class="row row-eq-height mb-3"> <div class="col-12"> <h4>Associated Historical Events</h4> </div> </div> <div class="row row-eq-height mb-3"> <div class="d-none d-md-flex col-md-5 col-lg-4 col-xl-3"> <a href="/historical-events/event:l-frank-baum-early-life-in-syracuse/"> <img class="d-block img-fluid w-100 " src="/cache/images/ea225929db1576ffaace8baa76d38f4b.jpg" srcset="/cache/images/ea225929db1576ffaace8baa76d38f4b.jpg 1x, /cache/images/b4b70674d5a9129d9793356fca1e3c5c.jpg 2x" alt="Early Life of L. Frank Baum"> </a> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-7 col-lg-8 col-xl-9"> <h3><a href="/historical-events/event:l-frank-baum-early-life-in-syracuse/" class="app-red-text">Early Life of L. Frank Baum</a></h3> <p>1861–1888</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="app-red-bg app-white-text"> <div class="container"> <div class="row py-5"> <div class="col-12 col-md-8"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12 mb-3"> <h3>Browse Historical Sites</h3> </div> </div> <div class="row text-uppercase"> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6"> <h4><a href="/causes/" class="d-block py-3 app-white-text app-border-bottom app-border-top">By Cause <i class="far fa-long-arrow-alt-right float-right"></i></a></h4> </div> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6"> <h4><a href="/profiles/" class="d-block py-3 app-white-text app-border-bottom app-border-top app-no-border-top">By Those Involved <i class="far fa-long-arrow-alt-right float-right"></i></a></h4> </div> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6"> <h4><a href="/regions/" class="d-block py-3 app-white-text app-border-bottom">By Location <i class="far fa-long-arrow-alt-right float-right"></i></a></h4> </div> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6"> <h4><a href="/historical-events/" class="d-block py-3 app-white-text app-border-bottom">By Event <i class="far fa-long-arrow-alt-right float-right"></i></a></h4> </div> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6"> <h4><a href="/types/" class="d-block py-3 app-white-text app-border-bottom">By Type <i class="far fa-long-arrow-alt-right float-right"></i></a></h4> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-4 mt-5 mt-md-0"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12 mb-3"> <h3>Sign Up for our Newsletter</h3> </div> <div class="col-12 mb-3"> <p><a href="https://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php/store_example/product/become-a-friend-of-the-ingersoll-birthplace-museum" class="btn btn-lg btn-block rounded-0 app-white-bg app-red-text">Sign Up</a></p> </div> <div class="col-12 mb-3"> <h3 class="">Follow our sponsor on</h3> </div> <div class="col-6"> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/centerforinquiry/" class="mr-3 app-white-text"><i class="fab fa-fw fa-facebook-f"></i> Facebook</a></p> </div> <div class="col-6"> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/center4inquiry" class="mr-3 app-white-text"><i class="fab fa-fw fa-twitter"></i> Twitter</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="app-dark-gray-bg"> <div class="container"> <div class="row py-5"> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6 app-gray-text"> <p class="m-0">© 2024 Freethought Trail. 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