Williams House

Roger B. Williams, president of the First National Bank, engaged Ithaca architect Clinton L. Vivian to build his home in 1906. Although it could be labeled Colonial Revival, the architectural style is also referred to as American Renaissance, based on the rich, careful assembly of classically inspired architectural elements such as the raised basement faced with random-coursed ashlar, the use of brick veneer at the first story, the two-story corner, pilasters, and the steeply pitched hip roof. Detailing is derived from Georgian and Federal styles. The heavy semicircular bay on an elliptical entrance porch and curved windows of leaded glass flanking the door suggest the very opulent interior. Inside, elegant branching staircases curve up to the second-floor gallery, above which is a domed skylight of blue and pink marbleized glass. The dormer contains a group of windows in a Palladian motif, perhaps Vivian's favorite architectural signature.

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