About John Packwood
NAMESAKE OF TODAY'S PACKWOOD HOUSE

John Packwood was born in Bedfordshire, England, on April 2, 1824 and came with his parents to Auburn, New York, as a young boy in 1830. He apprenticed to a blacksmith in Amber at the age of eighteen, but after only a few months he went to Skaneateles and learned the trade of carriage blacksmith under John Legg. He worked there for several years. In 1847, Mr. Packwood married Amanda King of Niles, New York.

After developing a thorough understanding of carriage building, in about 1855 Packwood began a carriage manufacturing business with William Stacey on Railroad Street (now Fennell). Packwood attended to every detail of his work with personal attention and gained a good reputation for the quality of his hand craftsmanship. In 1865, he purchased property on Genesee Street, where Shotwell Park is today, as well as the hotel property (Sherwood Inn) across the street. He built a large, three-story brick building and employed up to fifty people for the manufacture of carriages, sleighs, and wagons on the lake side and operated the Sherwood Inn across the street. In 1871, extensive renovations amounting to about $20,000 where made to the Sherwood Inn and he renamed it “Packwood House.” Town meetings were held in Packwood House for several years. He continued to operate Packwood House until he sold it in 1874.

An original Packwood Carriage

Packwood was a very successful carriage builder and did a large business. His carriages were shipped to all parts of the country, and The Syracuse Journal of September 8, 1881 reported that Packwood was “filling an order for five buggies for parties in Australia and New Zealand.” Much credit is given to John Packwood for building up the village of Skaneateles through his carriage manufacturing and his hotel.

Said to be “a man of kindly heart and generous impulse,” Mr. Packwood continued his carriage manufacturing business until his death on July 12, 1890 at the age of 66. He had suffered a severe attack of the “grippe” the prior winter from which he never recovered, and then developed dropsy which caused his death after two months of confinement. He was survived by his wife, a daughter, and two sisters. Packwood was buried in Lake View Cemetery, just a stone’s throw from the Skaneateles Lake shore, where he passed the most successful days of his life.

Photos on this page are courtesy of the Skaneateles Historical Society (www.skaneateles.com/historical). Many Thanks.

John Packwood