Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 1,3,5 W. Main, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 1, 3, 5 W. Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg 10 y'�a 13 1 � I J f r �c r I Li .1 �y�y 731 UM0 Narrative Description of Property The eight -bay block at 1, 3,5 West Main, divided into two four -bay buildings, was built contiguously with 9-11 West Main and was originally connected to 19-23 West Main. The Biggs Building that divides them was previously the site of two four -bay connected buildings. (Thus, historically, the block likely contained six identical buildings with a combined total of 24 bays.) This assessment is based on a review of the Sanborn Insurance maps and the recognition that the Biggs Building is roughly twice the width of the adjoining buildings. Historically, the buildings were uniform in mass, scale, and detailing and Sanborn Insurance Maps indicate that the units were structurally independent. Collectively, the brick buildings are good local examples of the commercial Italianate style, featuring a detailed pattered and metal, corbelled cornice with large brackets. The roofs are flat. The third floor on the north fagade has simulated flat arch hoods (they arch at the top, but are squared above the sash) and painted sills. The second floor has horizontal lintels and the same sills as the third floor. All of the windows are vinyl replacements in. The second floor windows were partially in -filled in 2014 to accommodate new vinyl replacement windows. The lengthened openings on the second floor reflected that these were originally French doors that opened onto a wrought iron balcony. (The original doors are still visible on the second floor of 9-11 West Main.) (Sanborn Insurance Map, April 1889). The cast iron facades on the first floor have been altered in both buildings. Only the main entrance of the eastern building retains the set -back. All other openings are in - filled to be essentially flush with the exposed cast iron components. The rear (south) fagade is a hodgepodge of materials, including metal fire escape stairs, metal balconies, a two-story addition with shed roof, a deck constructed of Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 1, 3, 5 W. Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Property (continued) pressure -treated wood, The majority of the windows have been replaced with vinyl, but a pair on the second floor of eastern building appear to be original. Like other sections of Main Street, the area in front of the block has been filled in order to eliminate some of the depressions of the street. The block has cellar windows that are blocked by the present raised level of the street. Trumansburg Creek runs directly south of the property. Narrative Description of Significance The second great fire in Trumansburg history (the first occurring in February 1864), erupted on May 5, 1871 and proceeded to destroy the parts of the commercial district that were spared seven years earlier. The fire erupted along the south side of Main Street and quickly spread among the wooden buildings. County Historian Carolyn A. Martin wrote, "Even buildings on that side of Main Street were lost, and when the fire jumped across the street four more went, among them the Washington House, one of the finest hotels for miles ... In all, twenty-three businesses were lost." As in the case of the 1864 fire, arson was suspected but never proven (Martin, 25-26). The row of predominantly brick buildings (the masonry Biggs Building is the exception, a replacement due to fire) along Main Street west of Trumansburg Creek were constructed after the 1871 fire. The previous lots were smaller and the buildings constructed of wood. The fire provided the opportunity for the creation of larger lots and the construction of larger, brick buildings in a compatible Italianate commercial style (Martin, 27). The 1977 survey identified William Hazard as the possible builder of the six identical buildings, including #1,3,5, but had no definitive information. The April 1887 Sanborn Insurance Map indicates that the two buildings, plus #9- 11 to the west, were connected on the rear (south) fagade by a balcony, presumably on the second floor. (This is also suggested because the middle opening on the second floor n each of the buildings is longer than the flanking windows.) At the time, the eastern building was in use as a feed store and the western building housed a general store. The December 1893 Sanborn lists the eastern building as a variety store and the western building. The May 1898 Sanborn indicates that eastern building was a hardware store and the western one was a hardware and general store. The December 1905 Sanborn map has the eastern building blacked out and does not indicate how it was used. The western building remained a hardware and general store. This map also indicates that the local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Treman Post, rented the third floor. The chapter was established on January 1, 1874 (Sears, 72). Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 1, 3, 5 W. Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Significance (continued) According to the December 1910 map, both buildings were used together for a business dedicated to hardware, paints and wallpaper. "Club rooms" were located on the third floor of western building. In the simplified September 1929 map, the final one produced in Trumansburg, both buildings contained stores, with a third floor dance hall located in western building. Independent second -floor balconies ran the length of the rear fagade of each of the buildings, possibly indicating they were no longer owned by a single individual. According to the 1977 survey, prior to 1923, the grocery store in #9-11 was owned by John Jehue. (The Jehue name is associated with the telephone exchange on the second floor of 7 East Main, currently an apartment over Gimme Coffee.) The Market Basket, a grocery chain based out of Geneva, NY, purchased the shop in 1923. Around this same time, the eastern building (of the #1-5 grouping) also housed a grocery story, the National Economy. In 1929, the Market Basket purchased the National Economy as well, moving from #9-11 into the eastern building of #1-5. The Market Basket renovated the exterior and interior at this time, adding large store front displays, possibly changing the configurations of the set -backs and openings. Simultaneously, Potter's Restaurant, located in the western building of #1-5 was able to expand into the newly vacant #9-11. Prior to the consolidation of the local fire companies in 1925, the Gregg Hose Company occupied the upper floors of the western building. (These are likely the "club rooms" noted on the December 1910 Sanborn map.) The second and third floors eastern building were already in use as residential apartments. During the 1940s, the Red and White grocery store was located in the western building, while Potters Restaurant in #9-11 was replaced by Durling's Restaurant. The Market Basket continued in the eastern building until 1956, when the Acme Supermarket chain purchased the business, closing the store in 1958. Afterwards, the eastern building stood vacant, serving as Charlie's Gift Store until the Rongovian Embassy to the USA, a bar and music venue, was opened by Montgomery Brooks III, known as `Brooksie" in 1973. He sold the Rongovian to Mary and Eric Ott in 1984, and the buildings have had an assortment of subsequent owners. The Rongovian, nicknamed the "Rongo," declined after the Ott years, finally closing in late 2012 and the first floor of both buildings are currently vacant and undergoing renovation for possible reopening. The upstairs apartments are being renovated, resulting in window alterations discussed previously. Supposedly the famous bar, constructed in 1973, was made from a giant Trumansburg tree and required 20 men to carry it (Group to reopen Rongo). [Note: The Rongovian has a rich, important musical history that deserves greater attention. The time limit on this current survey prevented deeper research.] Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 1, 3, 5 W. Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Significance (continued) Partial History of Ownership of #1, 3, 5 Date Acquired Book Page Montgomery Brooks, III/Elaine Gill 1973 Rongovian Enterprises, Inc Eric Ott 1984 Carl L. Burk Bruce A Tompkins Michael Barry The Goodworker, Inc. Dan Scherer November 5, 2001 2500 4728 September 3, 2003 43921 8001 October 27, 2004 46331 2001 June 30, 2009 54445 8001 November 22, 2011 58391 6001 Figure 1: Main (north) facade Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 4 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 1, 3, 5 W. Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg t4fl Figure 2: Rear (south) facade Sources Celebration of the Bicentential of the United States ofAmerica in the Town of Ulysses and the Village of Trumansburg. Publisher unknown: 1976. Digital Sanborn Maps 1867-1970. Ann Arbor, Mich.: ProQuest UMI, 2001. Goldstein, Carol and Tania Werbizky. "Rongovian Embassy," NY Building Structure Inventory Form, Division for Historic Preservation. Albany, NY, Spring 1977. "Group to reopen Rongovian Embassy in Trumansburg," Press and Sun -Bulletin, June 10, 2014, http://archive.pressconnects.com/article/2014071 O/NEWSO 1/307 100010/, accessed July 30, 2014. Martin, Carolyn A. Trumansburg, New York Incorporation Centennial." Trumansburg, NY: The Trumansburg Centennial Association Incorporated, 1972. Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 5 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 1, 3, 5 W. Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Sources (continued) Sears, Lydia. A History of Trumansburg, New York, 1792-1967. Location unknown: I -T Publishing Corp, 1978. Tompkins County. "Property Description Report For: 1, 3, 5 Main St E, Municipality of V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014. Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 6