A bike shouldn't be destroyed by a single winter. That's just not true. I use a 1990s steel frame rigid fork mountain bike for winter biking with nokian studded snow tires and sks fenders. Look for a good used one. Touch up any place on the frame where the paint is gone. Plan on cleaning and lubricating the chain a few times over the winter. You may occasionally need to spray lube into the derailleur pivot points, and a cable may go bad here or there. That's about it. Internal gears aren't really necessary.

I have little emotional attachment to my winter bike, and I recommend the same. Don't spend too much, and you won't worry about a little rust here or there. If it gets messed up in a crash, parts for old mountain bikes are cheap - as are replacement bikes.

I grew up near Syracuse. Plan on lots of snow, partial melt during the day, turns to ice at night, snow again, warms up enough for most of it to melt, snow again, turns to ice.... Best of luck!