huge fan: Rooting for the New York Yankees.
tasty treats:
season starts: Syracuse Opera announces 2014-2015 productions
Why is this Springside at Seneca Hill resident the biggest fan of this baseball team?
Go maple sugaring, enjoy some pancakes at Beaver Lake.
To read more see page 10.
To read more see page 9.
To find out see page 6.
sprIng!
March 2014
A supplement to Eagle Newspapers
Get here,
INSIDE:
Ten ways to speed up your warming trend
Legacy of an only child lives on
The Gifford Foundation continues to benefit CNY through endowments By Farah F. Jadran You hear her family name often and you see her name associated with organizations and events throughout the community. But very few know much about the woman whose legacy has helped dozens of local organizations provide services to the people of Central New York. Many accounts and pieces of research have come together over the years, especially since the passing of Rosamond Gifford in 1953. Even so, there is still much mystery surrounding the only child of one of Syracuse’s most historically-prominent families, who lives on in the works of so many organizations. Looking back Labeled as a “recluse” by those who knew her, it isn’t hard to understand why we still cannot locate many photos of Rosamond, who was born in 1873. In addition, not many people got to know her. What we do know about Rosamond is that she inherited an estate worth $1.25 million after her father, William Gifford, passed away in 1917. Rosamond’s father served as the district attorney for the city of Syracuse. Her mother, Mary Augusta Ayers Skinner, was from the Tully area, where Rosamond spent much of her childhood. There was a short period of time where Rosamond was married to Alfred LaFayette. According to the account in “Promise & Performance,” Rosamond
had run away to Scranton, Pa., in the fall of 1895 to be married. The marriage reportedly lasted only four years before LaFayette’s gambling and drinking had taken their toll. LaFayette was described as having a threatening nature toward Rosamond. The two lived in Chicago, but Rosamond insisted on spending her summers in the country with her mother at the Tully residence. However, when Lafayette asked that Rosamond return to Chicago with him for the duration of the summer in May of 1899, she made her preference known. To counter, LaFayette revealed to Rosamond that he had “a girl in Chicago,” and that she should be worried about losing him to the young woman he described as “a sport.” Soon after, Rosamond found herself in court testifying to LaFayette’s affair. She and a Chicago building manager confirmed what she had seen and when the judge asked if she wished to assume her maiden name, she replied, “I certainly do!” In addition to her family’s successes, Rosamond also claimed her own accomplishments. See gifford foundation, page 3
Pictured at left is William Gifford; above is the Gifford’s Thompson Road residence which sat on land that, when donated, became the site of LeMoyne College. At right is Rosamond Gifford. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GIFFORD FOUNDATION