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HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 80 E. Main, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 80 East Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Property The Trumansburg United Methodist Church is located on the southeast corner of East Main Street and South Street, with the main facade fronting Main Street. This is a prominent visual location, and the eastern -most church within the Village. Constructed in the Gothic Revival style, the church stands approximate 30 feet tall from the ground to the eaves of the roof, with the square tower on the north fagade extending an additional 10 feet beyond the eaves. The tower extends north of the main fagade and is the dominant feature of the building, and is delineated into two brick components that appear to be stacked on top of one another, topped with battlements and conveying great weight and strength. The tops of each block are detailed with brick corbelling in a lancet motif. A multi -sided spire soars above the tower, topped by a pinnacle. The east and west facades have subtle engaged brick buttresses. The orange -red brick was laid in a common bond pattern. The brick structure has hollow walls and a plaster interior (Sanborn, September 1929). It rests on top of a rusticated stone foundation and has an asphalt roof. Lancet window openings punctuate the brick walls on all four facades, and this motif also characterizes the exterior door openings on the north and south facades. The main entrance is situated within the tower on the north fagade, a lancet opening that is set within steeply pitched gabled opening. A four-part stained glass window set within a square wooden frame is directly over the entry. Above the stained glass is another lancet - shaped opening, filled with a wooden louvered vent. Pairs of louvered vents are on all four facades at the top of the brick tower, and the bell historically pealed from within this space, the vents providing protection and acoustic support. Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 1 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 80 East Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Property (continued) A large lancet stained glass window is situated within the brick wall on either side of the tower. Five lancet stained glass windows of approximately the same size are located on the east and west facades. The windows are all delineated by brick work configured in a pointed arch with side brackets. The windows on the east and west are bifurcated, with the stained glass on the upper portion. (This reflects the fact that the historically large nave was subdivided into two floors, with the sanctuary on the second floor.) Decorative vergeboard in a lancet pattern delineates the eaves on all four facades. The rear (south) fagade has two painted concrete block chimneys that extend above the eaves of the roof. Two historic exterior entrances are located on this facade, providing access to the rear parking lot. These entrances, again, are lancet -shaped openings with modern doors. Tracery fills the upper transom above the doors. A third, non -historic entrance with gabled roof extends from the south fagade, and is constructed of the same painted concrete block as the rear chimneys. Narrative Description of Significance Methodists were early settlers of the Trumansburg area. Carol Martin writes that "As early as 1795, there were three Methodist ministers preaching in this area: the Reverends Mr. Cook, Mr. Thornton, and Mr. Fleming. Over thirty preachers followed them on the circuit to carry forth the missing work they began. Among them was the Rev. Gideon Draper in 1808, who later became the first presiding Elder of the Genessee Conference" (Martin, 76). According to Lydia Sears, Reverend G. Draper was the first to preach in Trumansburg in 1808. Methodists continued to hold classes for the next couple of decades, and eventually the Trumansburg Church grew out of the Kingtown (now known as Covert) class, formally organizing on January 4, 1831 (Sears, 13; TUMC History). Martin writes, "The purpose of the meeting was to effect a permanent church organization, and to lay plans for the house of worship in the village. Moderator was the Rev. William Johns; clerk was James McLallen; and the trustees were: Josiah Smith, R.M. Pelton, Frederick M. Camp, John Wakeman, James McLallen, F.S. Durmont, and Abner Treman" (Martin, 77). The current building was the second structure erected by the Trumansburg Methodists. Their first facility was constructed on a lot on the north side of Main Street, east of the present structure. The congregation purchased the lot from Trumansburg's namesake and one of the seven original church trustees, Abner Treman, and constructed the building for $1,800. It was dedicated on January 3, 1832 (Sears, 13; TUMCHistory). By the 1850s, the congregation had outgrown the facility. They sold the building to local Catholics, who moved it to 17 Whig Street. (See Historic Resource Inventory Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 80 East Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Significance (continued) Form, 17 Whig Street for more information, including the catastrophic fire of January 1949.) The current building was dedicated on April 15, 1857 (Sears, 17; TUMC History). Soon after the dedication, the Trumansburg Methodists hosted the Methodist Conference in August 1859. Among the topics under discussion was the question of slavery, an issue that divided the membership. Reports of the time suggested that 8,000 people gathered in worship, filling the local churches. Many reportedly camped in Herman Camp's orchard, covered a large area along Elm Street that are partially filled in 2014 with the Town Hall and former post office building (Sears, 41). The Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians occasionally partnered with one another to hold evangelical revival meetings during the latter half of the 1800s, and by early years of the 20t century, they also sponsored (possibly independently) union meetings (Sears, 108). In the fall of 1912, they again teamed up with the Baptists and Presbyterians to the "Gospel Team," comprised of Ernest Cranbill, Harley Mosher, and their wives, for preaching and choral direction. The group held a month of meetings in the vacant Morse Chain building (Sears, 112). The church, again working with the other Village congregations, hosted the welcome party for the returning veterans of World War I (116). The 1859 plan included a chapel to the south, called a "lecture room," that was altered during the remodeling campaign of 1911. This building (84 E. Main Street), is located to the southeast along East Main Street, was purchased by Rev. Hobart and converted into a two-family home. It currently contains four units (Sears, 110; Tompkins County Real Property). In 1911, the congregation also approved subdividing their tall nave into two separate floors. Their sanctuary was installed on the second floor, with Sunday School rooms on the first (Sears, 110). The 778 -pipe organ was built in 1862 by Buffalo's Garrett House, an organ company, and installed in Ithaca's First Presbyterian Church. It was relocated to its present location in the early 1920s, and around 1929 the original pumping mechanism was replaced with an electric blower. The basement was excavated in 1959 to provide additional space (TUMC History). Traditionally, Methodist preachers are circulated among the various congregations on a routine basis every few years. The assignment of 1963 was of particular note to former Village Historian Lydia Sears. "In June of '63, Trumansburg's first negro pastor was sent to serve the Methodist Church. Both the church and the village were prepared to make the Rev. James Busch welcome but the difference in points of view made the pastorate untenable" (Sears, 171). Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 80 East Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Significance (continued) The 1970s marked another period of church renovation, including "sandblasting and refinishing the exterior" and painting the Sunday School Rooms. The administrative office spaces were reconfigured as well, and in 1994 the congregation celebrated the installation of an elevator (TUMC History). In 2001, the sanctuary was again renovated, involving "new paint on walls, refinished hardwood floors, reupholstered pews and an enlarged choir loft" (TUMC History). Martin notes the evolution of the name changes of the congregation in her 1972 text. "This church began as the Methodist Episcopal Church of Trumansburg, and in later years became the First Methodist Church. In 1968 the name was changed to the United Methodist Church" (Martin, 77). As of 2014, the church calls itself "Trumansburg United Methodist Church." History of Ownership of Building Date Acquired Book Page Trumansburg Methodist Church c. 1854 Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 4 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 80 East Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg a Figure 1: Main (north) and west facades Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 5 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 80 East Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Figure 2: West facade Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 6 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 80 East Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Figure 3: Rear (south) facade Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 7 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 80 East Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg MINISTERS OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1880-81 William Jones 1917-20 �IcKendree Shaw 1882-83 Schulyer Ross 1830 Robert T. Hancock 1851 Delos Hutchens 1836 Thomas Tousey 1852-53 John Dennis D.D. 1930-31 S. L. Congden 1854 J. R. Carpenter 1932-35 Nathan Fellows 1855 J. W. Nevins 1936-40 E. H. Cranmer 1856 W. H. Goodwin 1940-41 A. Sutherland 1857-58 Joseph W. Tinkham 1941-44 D.W.C. Huntington 1859-60 James Durham 1944-46 William Manning 1861-62 Isaiah V. Mapes 1843 James W. Wilson 1863-65 Ira Smith 1948-55 Thomas Stacy 1866-67 Daniel S. Chase 1844-45 W. B. Holt 1868 H. Ryan Smith 1846 Martin Wheeler 1869-70 I. M. South 1963-66 J. L. Edson 1871-72 Benjamin McClouth 1847 George C. Wood 1873-75 1848 M. S. Wells 1876 Calvin S. Coats 1849 Dwight Williams 1877-78 Ralph Clapp rth) 1850 Frederick Devitt 1879 Joseph Ashworth(AinswO 77 B. H. Brown 1880-81 D. W. Proseus 1917-20 �IcKendree Shaw 1882-83 Harry Stubbs 1921-25 E. E. Morris 1884-85 B. A. Little 1926-29 A. N. Damon 1886-87 T. G. Miller 1930-31 J. E. Rhodes 1888-92 J. R. Carpenter 1932-35 L. S. Boyd 1893-97 C. Clayton Comstock 1936-40 D. M. Young 1898-99 Leland A. Barnes 1940-41 C. C. Wilbor 1900-01 Chester V. Zogg 1941-44 Loren Eastwood 1902-03 Dr. Arthur Moody 1944-46 H. I. Andrews 1904-05 Charles A. Smith 1946-48 P. H. Reigle 1905 Warren G. Babcock 1948-55 A.L. Hobart 1906-10 Milton T. Jefferson 1955-59 W. S. Tompkins 1911-13 R. Emory Smith 1959-63 William Jaques 1914-15 James E. Busch 1963-66 I'. M. Cullinam 1916 Royal E. Filkins 1966 Figure 4: Church ministers (Martin, 77, 79). Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 8 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 80 East Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Figure 5: Methodist Church, 1857 (Sears, 40). Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 9 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 80 East Main 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. A History of Trumansburg. Trumansburg, NY: The Free Press, 1890. 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: 80 Main St E, Municipality of V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014. Trumansburg United Methodist Church. "TUNIC History." http://tburgumc.org/history.htm, accessed August 7, 2014. Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 10