Wikipedia:WikiProject Syracuse, New York/Project history

This page is dedicated to the history and evolution of WikiProject Syracuse, New York.

Background

This WikiProject started in 2006 with a focus on articles directly relating to Syracuse (as in locations, buildings, parks, etc. that are in the city proper), as well as the towns (and their respective villages) that share a border with the city. Articles were started on each of the neighborhoods of the city of Syracuse. The main early focus was upon developing the Syracuse, New York article, which was pretty well-developed but was failed in its first nomination to Featured Article, in part for lack of adequate supporting articles on Syracuse-area arts and culture and similar topics, which have since been improved.

Another early concern was new Syracuse-related articles that were constantly being created, often by good-intentioned but inexperienced editors who violated copyright, or simply violated NPOV and style guidelines. As the Syracuse scope goes far beyond the main article, a greater level of coordination than what can be achieved on just the Syracuse article's talk page was noted to be required, hence the wikiproject.

Continuing, during 2007 and 2008, some members focus on the numerous sites in Syracuse that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in part because there is information on each of these that is public, but not too readily available, which we can get to and which can be presented here. This subgroup's interest in historic places is reflected in development of National Register of Historic Places listings in Syracuse, New York and National Register of Historic Places listings in Onondaga County, New York.

An issue that once faced the project was Category:Greater Syracuse, New York vs. Category:Onondaga County, New York. Greater Syracuse was a sub-category of Onondaga County, but Greater Syracuse arguably extends beyond Onondaga County. The situation was rectified when the Greater Syracuse category was renamed to Category:Syracuse, New York in May 2007.

Projects

In its early days, the WikiProject had at least two active projects. Both were eventually discontinued as activity in the project declined.

Photos

As part of the project's efforts to identify good-quality, free use photos, some editors offered to take photos by request:

If anyone has any requests, just let me know. I am rather busy at the moment, but I am trying to get around and get some decent shots. -- Gizzakk 19:03, 4 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Same for me. Though I am not formally part of the project, I live near Liverpool High School and do photography, so I can also get some good shots. Contact me through my talk page -- Blown-Upp

Collaboration

A "Cleanup/Expansion of the week" feature was used by the WikiProject to develop the following articles:

New content

For years, the editors of the project compiled a list of new Syracuse-related articles and pictures. This practice was also eventually discontinued as activity in the project declined.

Articles		Pictures
Please feel free to list your new Syracuse, New York-related articles here (newer articles at the top, please). Any new articles that have an interesting or unusual fact in them should be suggested for the Did you know? box of the Main Page.		Please feel free to list Syracuse, New York-related articles with new pictures added to them here (newer articles at the top, please). Consider nominating any particularly striking ones as featured pictures, either here or on Wikimedia Commons, wherever they are stored.
September 2010 Palmer-Moore Company Sanford-Herbert Motor Truck Company Lefever Arms Company Chase Motor Truck Company James Pass Arboretum August 2010 Crouse-Hinds Company Iroquois China Company Bert E. Salisbury Iroquois Motor Car Company Stearns Steam Carriage Company Brennan Motor Manufacturing Company Century Motor Vehicle Company Syracuse (manufactured products) Harvey A. Moyer H. A. Moyer (automobile) City founders of Syracuse, New York Industry in Syracuse, New York July 2010 John Wilkinson (Franklin automobile) John Wilkinson (Syracuse pioneer) John Wilkinson (American colonist) Herbert H. Franklin Onondaga Gazette Syracuse Telegram and Courier Syracuse Telegram June 2010 Geneva Medical College November 2009 Stephanie Miner April 2009 Red House Arts Center December 2008 Gustav Stickley House Chapman House Gang House ...and many others on List of RHPs in Syracuse June 2008 John H. Mulroy Nicholas J. Pirro May 2008 New York State Route 175 January 2008 White Memorial Building Hamilton White House First Baptist Church of Camillus, a NRHP December 2007 Alexander Brown House, a NRHP Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, a NRHP Grace Episcopal Church, a NRHP Drover's Tavern, a NRHP in Oran Oran, New York, a hamlet Camillus Union Free School, a NRHP Hall of Languages, Syracuse University, a NRHP Crouse College, Syracuse University, a NRHP Wilcox Octagon House, a NRHP List of Syracuse University buildings October 2007 St. Paul's Cathedral (Syracuse, New York), a NRHP September 2007 Syracuse Savings Bank Building Onondaga County Savings Bank Building, a NRHP Onondaga County War Memorial, a NRHP Gen. Orrin Hutchinson House, a NRHP Earlier Syracuse Symphony Orchestra: 27 February 2007		February 2008 Estabrook House (Syracuse, New York) (NRHP) January 2008 Grace Episcopal Church (Syracuse, New York) (NRHP) 47 New images so far this month on the commons of SU at Commons:Category:Syracuse University. Willard Memorial Chapel-Welch Memorial Hall (NHL in Auburn) William Seward House (NHL in Auburn) December 2007 Landmark Theatre (Syracuse, New York) (NRHP) Onondaga County Savings Bank Building (NRHP)