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Home My WebLink AboutBuilding Structure Inventory Dec 1976-9bUILDING-S] RUCI URE INVENIUKI r�ttn� UNIQUE SITE NO. DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION QUAD NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND RECREATION SERIES ALBANY, NEW YORK (5I8) 474-0479 NEG. NO. YOUR NAME: Joseph Schuchman . DATE: June, 1981 YOUR ADDRESS- 128 E. Buffalo Street TELEPHONE:(607) 274-5286 Tompkins County Department of Planning ORGANIZATION (if any): IDENTIFICATION First Presbyterian Church of Trumansburg 1. BUILDING NAME(S): 2. COUNTY: Tompkins TOWN/CITY: Ulysses VILLAGE: Trumansburg 3. STREET LOCATION: 75 East Main Street 4. OWNERSHIP: a. public ❑ b Erivate 5. PRESENT OWNER Presbyterian Church ADDRESS: �75 E. Bain St. h. 11Sl:: Original: Church ° Present: � �Ye 7. ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC: Exterior visible from public roa�, open Nfor ❑ worship Interior accessible: Explain DESCRIPTION 9. BUILDING a. clapboard ❑ b. stone ❑ c. brick d.,board and batten ❑ MATERIAL: e. cobblestone ❑ f. shingles ❑ Z. stucco ❑ other: °). STRUCTURAL a. wood frame with interlocking joints SYSTEM: b. wood frame with light members ❑ (if -kn(wn) c. masonry load bearing walls ❑ d. .metal (explain) e. other 10. CONDITION: a. excellent LA b. good ❑ c. fair ❑ d. deteriorated ❑ 11. INTEGRITY: a. original site ❑ b. moved ❑ if so,when? c. list major alterations and dates (if known): The exterior has witriessed no major alterations although it did receive a sandblast cleaning in 1976• The church interior has been decorated in 1868, 1880 and, for its centennial in 1904, records indicating that the church was thoroughly _ -_ 1 d -- _ - ,l.L - - L ,- A „L A. \ t') PI10Tn- 13. MAP: t uoiI i,ii3ueu Vli G, %' VGit:1LwU z arc..---• `' --,. E. MAIN I, • ° C. 14. THREATS TO BUILDING: a. none known IN b. zoning ❑ c. roads ❑ d. developers ❑ e. deterioration ❑ f. tither: 15. RLLATED OUTBUILDINGS AND PROPERTY: a. barn b. carriage house ❑ c. garage ❑ d. privy ❑ e. shed ❑ f. greenhouse ❑ g., shop ❑ h. gardens ❑ i. landscape features: j. other: 10. SURROUNDINGS OF THE,BUILDING .(check more than one if necessary): a. open land ❑ b. woodland ❑ c. scattered buildings ❑ d. densely built-up ❑ ' e. commercialI f. industrial ❑ g. residential (2 ``h.other H; stor; rat marker at northeast corner of church property commemorates site of Abner Treema.n's first log house. 17. INTES RRELATIONSHIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDIN : (Indicate if building or+structure is in an historic district) e church is located amid the village's commercial district. It is set back from the street and, with its adjacent Greek Revival Session Houses creates a distinctive ensemble of late Greek Revival architecture. To those entering Trumansburg from the east, The First Presbyterian Church serves as a distinctive and fitting entrance. 18. OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING AND SITE (including interior features if known): The Church exterior is dominated by a two=:story temple form portico while the interior is decorated with trompe 1' eoi l wall pai nti r_gs. An elegantly crafted wooden_ vestibule chair was formerly in the possession of Cornell University and was once owned by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. SIGNIFICANCE 19. DATE OF INITIAL CONSTRUCTION: 1849-50,- dedicated January 10, 1850 ARCHITECT: Possibly Thomas Judd. Geneva, N.Y., BUILDER: 20. HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE: The First Presbyterian Church of Trumansburh was the first church in the town of Ulysses, of which Trumansburg is a part, and was organized on January 100 1803. The organization of the church took place in the house of a Mr. Atwater, the original congregAtion consisting of eight people. The first meeting house was built at the Updike Settlement, located three miles south of Trumansburg= this meeting house was of hewn log construction, 25' by 35' in size. The first Presbyterian Church structure in Trumansburg stood on the site of the present edifice. The lot on which the church stands was purchased from Trumansburg founder Abner Treeman for $300.00. Treeman's fibst log house was located near the pktBent church, its site now indicated 21. SOURCES: (continued on attached sheet) Martin, Carolyn A. Trumansbura. N.Y. Incorporation Centennial. 1872-1972 Trumansburg: Trumansburg Centennial Ass. Inc,1972,PP-55-7 Schaefer, Francis H. First Presbvterian Church of Ulvgseg 22. THE: n1F: Trumansburg, 1978 O'Connor, Lois, "Trumansburg Clock, 103 Years Old, Chimes Again in Church," Trumansburg Clipping Files, DeWitt Historiaml Society C.Goldstein, T. Werbizky, State Inventory Form, Trumansburg Baptist Church, Spring,.1977 (Continued on attached sheet) First Presbyterian Church of Trumansburg 11. Integrity repaired, refurnished and rededicated in the spring of 1894. In the late 1940®s, the rear balcony and choir loft was removed and a new organ was placed in the chancel. New lighting fixtures were installed in 1967. In 1973, the interior was redecorated and restored and the trompe 11oeil wall decorations were repainted according to the original designs. 20. Historical and Architectural Integrity by an historical marker. The first Presbyterian Church building was begun in 1817 and completed in the summer of 1819. This Federal style structure featured a central pediment, a main facade roofline balustrade, and an octagonal bell tower and spire. This structure was demolished in 1848 to make way for the present house of worship; its clapboards, and possibly other materials, were used in the construction of the adjacent Session House. The present brick house of worship was begun in 1849 and dedicated on January 10, 1850. Strongly influential in the building of the new edifice was Hermon Camp, Trumansburg°s most prominent and wealthiest citizen. Camp, who had "got religion" several years before, became the moving force in the construction efforts it is believed that architect Thomas Judd of Geneva, who was responsible for the recently completed Camp House, drew up the building plans. One tale 1'e1a -Ueu lii1a -t, trG1111J, NN1I0 'v'1`viiiu iiav c a v icy+ vi the ci::)vy i+c3 id,li Church from Camp House, desired a doric columned facade for the church but requested one less than the six which adorned his home, hence the five here present. The presence of fluted columns without bases, a feature used prominently at Camp House, indicate the hand of architect Thomas Judd as do the presence of other details, most notably the rosettes adorning the bell tower and the fact that Camp, being influential in the construction effort, would likely have desired to employ afa architect with whose work he was familiar. One source notes that the top stage of the bell tower, with its rosette ornamentation, was featured in the published works of early nineteenth century American architect Minard Lefever, writings which Judd and most other practitioners of the building craft would have been familiar. On the exterior, the structure remains as -it was on the day of its dedication in 1850. The First Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church of Trumansburg 20. Historical and Architectural Importance is one of the finest buildings within the village. Dominating the church is a five columned, two story fluted portico, a full entablature which encircles the building and an unornamented pediment. The church steepel features rosette ornamentation, louvered shutters, tapered forms, and - four -faced clock, each side of which is framed by pilasters. The clock, ironically, is the official town clock of the Village of Trumansburg. In 1849, no village building was considered appropriate to house a clock so an arrangement was made by which the clock was incorporated in the church tower. This clock was manyfactured in 1849 by Manley of West Troy, N.Y. as was the three ton bell of cast bronze. The Cornell chimes, also by the Manley Company, were installed in 1868. Main access is through paired entrances, each festuring a single pane leaded glass transom. The redtangular one and two story main facade windows depict religious themes while the paired round arch side windows, which recall the growing influence of the Italianate style at mid-century, feature geometrical patterns. While the interior has undergone several renovations and redecorations , the basic plan of the worship area remains largely unchanged. Most noteworthy is the fine use of ornamental trompe 1•oeil. While the finely decorative ceiling no longer exists, the original wall painting has been recently restored, pilasters; Ionic columns, elaborate window moldings and a gull entablature created in three dimensional Greek Revival form on a one dimensional surface. Of particular note is the magnificent use of perspective in the wall surface behind the main pulpit, where Ionic columns and pilasters create a marvelous illusion of existing space. On February 22, 1864.a fire spread throughout the Trumansburg business district. The church narrowly escaped destruction, due to a change in wind direction and the placing of wet carpets on the church roof. During the years of the Second World War, in an effort to minimize the use of energy, the Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations held services together in the Baptist Church. Though the idea of a union church for Trumansbutg was considered, the enthusiasm for such a proposal soon waned. First Presbyterian Church of Trumansburg 20. Historical and Architectural Importance In the 1960's, enthusiasm for a federated Baptist and Presbyterian Church again surfaced. In June, 1964, the two congregations united to form the First Federated Church of Ulysses. For several years, Baptist and Presbyterian Houses of Worship were alternately used. Due to rising costs, services were held only at the Presbyterian Church, with the exception of an occasional service at the Baptist Church. In July, 19710 after growing disatisfaction on the part of both Baptist and Presbyterian members, the congregation was defederated. In recent years, due to rising energy cost, the First Presbyterian Church remains closed during the winter months, services being held in the nearby Session House. Since January 1, 1974, the church has been under the administration of Rev. Thomas Lange. Lange -is well regarded by members of his congreation and is deeply concerned not only with the spiritual, social, and economic means of his congregation but also with the preservation and maintenance of the church structure and the equally historic and adjacent Session House. 21. Sources J.A. Chewing, State Inventory Form, Trumansburg Baptist Church, December, 1975 Conversation with Bruce Payne, member of First Presbyterian Church, 5/27/81 Conversation with Francis Schaefer, Jr., historian of Presbyterian Church, 5/7/81 Conversation with Reverend Thomas Lange, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Trumansburg, April 17, 1981 73 a,,,°'!°'A • �"'� kp �� a z`YV •v' ":' T � '+��...xva�,1 � L"5 %1 tw! r�i- ''�" N ...-•�'�'_ S3• �♦ '�5.�,.1�:.:�' �` � .1, '41 � a' .e' r1^Ys ,nr �"''"•A,. ram":.•.•.-,. , � 'N oil '�. ��$ti fSM1" r a •wt'1 - �s,T� �.tp� � �.%"Y'�° � +r�4K :� q�„�r�1 �u"�;.�'� v _-'t'r - owe, x, ,��,4�Y��w�l ,�'+.. �� '� .P:• �;',. •('-yYryF.__`�i'•,'�,�..�1nRµ."r��?, �Y��i:;�+ t.:t'• �rL��a,:' 4� as :;��.r�`. 3: _ �xa'��,,�v�-'r, ry � �` �:: �r i, .�-� * -'t;� ^n 1,:. hj; _ J'• iF�,.„ ,,T ;:�� .,� ,s.� � i��w +"'�yrz��€,� �W .k�� 5..�. :�5'v�-.s,,�,_..r.,+' ' Vie:-' '": i ,$�. v° a»gr`.`„4� -rt ,, Y:• tp• t� ",.*.cv„^',7: y',.v'M'.'t�•„a,. r •' 4) ,nr•�i " �N •Itk3,.� ,'> °� i r.�m„'-,�s,. `i a x;f _ i bL � i � n, era t ..w r r. 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