Huntington Memorial Library Archives

Wilber Mansion was built by George I. Wilber, the son of the founder of Wilber National Bank and president himself from 1890 to his death. Built in 1875, it was at first a simple, flat roofed structure. In the early 1890's, the building was renovated in the High Victorian style with deep porches projecting out at all angles, fanciful decorative motifs, a turret and port-cochere and stained glass windows.

George I. Wilber left the mansion to the city of Oneonta, but gave life rights to his sister-in-law and brother. David F. Wilber died in 1923, and his wife, Esther Rosine Wilber, died in 1954.

The use of the property after 1954 was uncertain, but in the eyes of merchants, the place held great potential as parking space. Others had thoughts of multiple uses for the public. The city held an open house, asking the community to vote on the fate of the mansion. Over 2,200 residents voted 16 to 1 in favor of maintaining the property.

Huntington Memorial Library Archives

For the next 10 years, the Wilber Mansion housed community organizations such as the Cancer Society and Red Cross. The first floor was used for other purposes, and eventually an arts center. The carriage house was used by the Upper Susquehanna Historical Society.

By the mid-60’s urban renewal and again, the desire for more downtown parking, reignited the debate to demolish Wilber Mansion. A "Save the Wilber House" campaign began in the summer of 1964. Bugbee School pupils and teachers paraded from the school to Main and Dietz Streets through the parking lot to Wilber Mansion on Ford Avenue, chanting slogans, singing songs, and carrying signs to save the landmark.

A newspaper and radio campaign urged residents to contact city aldermen and more than 3,000 residents signed a petition. Demolition plans were dropped and the city retained the property for the next 25 years, eventually renting the mansion to the newly established National Soccer Hall of Fame in the 1980’s.

Oneonta, however, could not afford the high maintenance expenses of the mansion and during this time, the building greatly deteriorated. Controversy rekindled over the mansion's future and in the early 1990’s the Wilber family heirs offered to buy the mansion back from the city.

After a prolonged court review, the city of Oneonta sold the building, in 1997, to David F. Wilber III, grand-nephew of the benefactor, for $1. In 1999, the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts purchased the building from the Wilber family for $1, with the agreement that the facility would be used as a center for arts and arts education.

Senator James Seward secured a $100,000 gift from New York State to help in Phase I of the restoration of the building. Public and private funds provided a comprehensive architectural survey of the property and have made the mansion handicapped accessible, functional as an exhibition and meeting space and helped to improve much of the exterior façade.

The mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Restoring and maintaining the mansion is an honorable, but expensive commitment. There is still much to accomplish. Plans for Phase II of the restoration effort, which include electric, plumbing and heating systems, a new parking lot and additional classroom space are under review. In addition, the annual maintenance needs of the mansion approach $20,000.

A. Briggs, The Daily Star

The council is grateful for the numerous volunteers who, every year, help to paint, clean the grounds and tackle smaller maintenance tasks. Local stores and contractors, such as Sherwin Williams and Upstate Paving and Contracting, contribute valuable in-kind supplies and services.

Wilber Mansion is undoubtedly a centerpiece of Oneonta’s history and a visual focal point of the downtown landscape. Local residents fought time and time again to save the mansion from demolition, recognizing its potential and importance. We invite you to visit us at our home in the mansion to see the progress we’ve made and the work yet to do. If you believe, as we do, that this unique and historic property deserves to be returned to its former glory, please consider a special contribution to assist in the restoration of the Wilber Mansion!

A. Briggs, The Daily Star

The Arts Council gratefully acknowledges contributions to this page by The Daily Star, The Huntington Memorial Library & Mark Simonson, Oneonta historian.