Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 11 Elm, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 11 Elm Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Property Jr r VILLAGE OF r TR1JMAN*p$llA r 4 r � � ALLAGE OF • � $4$ � ala EF ISCOPAL CHURCH fir , ¢ 17 Church of the Epiphany is located on the east side of Elm Street, south of East Main Street. The property has a deep set -back and is bordered by a municipal parking lot to the north. The rest of the property is bordered by a residential neighborhood. The complex is comprised of the historic chapel (1873) and an addition, Horton Hall (1954), that was added to the rear (east) side of the north fagade, forming a "L." Both the main block and chapel are sided in board -and -batten, likely original to each building phase. The chapel rests on a stone foundation that has been parge-coated with cement and articulated to resemble cut stone with mortar. Horton Hall has a concrete foundation. The chapel is a simple version of the Gothic Revival style. The chapel has a steeply pitched roof, clad with asphalt shingles, and a cross extending from the western apex of the roof. A centered vestibule, a miniature version of the shape of the chapel, projecting westwards and containing a lancet shaped pair of doors. A single, small, fixed rectangular window is on both the north and south facades of the vestibule. On the main (west) facade, a circular window with circular tracery is centered above the vestibule. A single lancet window with two horizontal mullions is centered on the fagade on either side of the vestibule. Concrete steps on a stone foundation lead up to the doorway. The south facade contains three pointed arch (lancet) windows with stained glass and a single operable hopper window at the bottom for ventilating the chapel. A concrete block chimney extends off the east facade of the chapel. The north fagade of the chapel is identical to the south facade, with the exception of the addition covering up the space where the third, eastern most window would have been otherwise. Internally, a comparable opening is where the chapel is connected to Horton Hall via a short hallway. Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 11 Elm Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Property (continued) The hallway connecting Horton Hall to the chapel is accessible via a projecting vestibule that mimics the vestibule on the chapel. Above the entry way is a dominative 6 - sized spire with a louvered pointed lancet opening on each site. This structure contains the church bell, and has a metal roof toped by a rooster weather vane. The hallway has a single window on the east fagade. Horton Hall runs perpendicular to the chapel. Both the east and west facades have three pairs of double -hung windows. A red brick chimney is centered on the north fagade. Narrative Description of Significance On January 25, 1871, Trumansburg's Episcopal parish was formed by fourteen people. Since the previous year, the members had been gathering for informal services at Dumont's Hall. Rev. Thomas Lyman Randolph was appointed their first rector. Other parish officials included Henry D. Barton (senior warden) and William Willis (junior warden). The rest of the vestry comprised on James R. Willis, W.B. Dumont, Edmond Pearsall, Warren Halsey, Benjamin Dunning, Clark Daggert, Jr., John D. Woodworth and Jared S. Halsey. The same "Epiphany" was selected because the meeting occurred in close proximity to the Feast of the Epiphany (Martin, 73). In 1873, the parish constructed the current chapel on land donated by Henry Disbrow Barto, a local lawyer -banker. He also donated the Gerald Treman house for use as a rectory, which was located on the southeast corner of East Main Street and Elm Street. On September 17, 1874, the parish began construction on a stone church on the parcel south of the current chapel. It was completed in November 1877 and consecrated by the Right Rev. D. Frederick D. Huntington, the first Bishop of the Central New York Diocese. Construction was largely funded through a $9,000 legacy by John Carr, and English stone mason and clergyman who settled in Trumansburg (Martin, 73). The chapel became the parish hall after the construction of the stone church. In the early 20th century, local Episcopalians distinguished themselves from their more evangelical counterparts, including the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians. The latter were the most socially moderate of the trio, who oven partnered for revivals and other activities, while the Episcopalians embraced secular interests instead. In a delightful passage, former Village Historian Lydia Sears wrote about a divide emphasized the division between the Trumansburg Protestants. Around 1912, Sears writes: the village ... was rather neatly divided between those who `believed' in dunging and card playing and those who did not, with little friction between them ... There was dancing too in the Church of the Epiphany Parish Hall (always called The Chapel) which might have been called the recreation center of the village. In this unusual year, Mrs. Hermione Camp Griswold returned to the home of her Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 11 Elm Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Significance (continued) childhood to live with her nephew, Fred C. Boggs and his family. Mrs. Griswold was an excellent pianist an loved to play. Hour after hour, she furnished music for dancing at the Episcopal Chapel (Sears, 113). Meanwhile, the Presbyterian minister was overcome with revival fever and preached against the evils of dance and cards from the pulpit, driving some of his congregation into the welcoming fold of the fun -loving Episcopalians (Sears, 114). Right from the beginning, the vestry struggled with the shortcomings of the stone church's foundation. The constant repairs took an enormous toll on the financial health of the congregation. Fiscally defunct, the property was deeded to the Diocese and the parish was dissolved, and the congregation became an organized mission. The church was dismantled and the Diocese "received the proceeds form the sale of the stone [to Cornell University] with the stipulation that they be used to provide a suitable building for services. The congregation chose to renovate the original chapel, although ongoing financial strain required the sale of their bell, which had been purchased in 1888 for the stone church. The current bell was acquired later from the Hayt's Corner's Church, as well as other furnishings, which were installed in the chapel (Martin, 73). The renovation of the chapel was completed in 1951. Amazingly, a contractor was able move the prominent stained glass window above the alter in a single piece from the stone church to the chapel (Interview). The congregation continued to rebuild their numbers and coffers, as well as their physical assets. In 1954, the parish hall, named "Horton Hall" for Rev. Henry P. Horton, was constructed. In 1955, they sold the deteriorated rectory to Robert Newport, who demolished the house and built the Taughannock Motel (50 E. Main Street). Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 11 Elm Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Figure 1: Main (west) and south facades of chapel 0&1� Figure 2: East facade of Horton Hall Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 4 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 11 Elm Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg F Figure 3: West facade entrance to Horton Hall Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 5 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 11 Elm Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg 0 0 Figure 4: Former Church of the Epiphany, 1878. (Sears, 62) Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 6 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 11 Elm Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Sources Celebration of the Bicentennial of the United States of America in the Town of Ulysses and the Village of Trumansburg. Publisher unknown: 1976. Digital Sanborn Maps 1867-1970. Ann Arbor, Mich.: ProQuest UMI, 2001. Interviews with parishioners at Church of the Epiphany. May and June 2014. Martin, Carolyn A. Trumansburg, New York Incorporation Centennial." Trumansburg, NY: The Trumansburg Centennial Association Incorporated, 1972. Sears, Lydia. A History of Trumansburg, New York, 1792-1967. Location unknown: I -T Publishing Corp, 1978. Tompkins County. "Property Description Report For: 11 Elm Street, Municipality of V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014. Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 7