HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 1-7 Union, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 1-7 Union Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
39.2
Narrative Description of Property
Located just north of Main Street on Union Street, the former Village Hall and
fire house retains much of its historic fabric. The dark red brick, interspersed with black
klinker bricks, were laid in a stretcher bond pattern. The building has a flat roof and a
short, stepped, parapet on the main (southeast) fagade.
The two-story building has three flat arch bays on the first floor of the main (east)
fagade. Once the entry points for fire vehicles, these openings have been subsequently
filled with windows and a centered door.
A large entablature on the second story is supported by two Ionic columns. The
main (southeast fagade) has three round -headed arched windows. The arch is filled with a
fan light, with double -hung sash and 1/1 light in the lower rectangular portion of the
opening. The rear (northwest) fagade has segmental arched windows. The structure has a
prominent concrete base and water table.
Historically, the three bays on the first floor of the main (east) fagade served as
the doors for the fire trucks. These have been filled in with metal and glass on the north
and south ends. The vertical members dividing the two lights imitate the original garage
doors. The center opening contains a modern glass and metal door.
To the south of the main block are two one-story units that have a round arch
entrance and a round arch window. Both of the arches contain fan lights identical to the
main block, with a fixed light (south) and door (north), respectively. An arcade of found
arches in the brickwork above demonstrates that the top of the fagade is a parapet, at the
same level with the first floor band of the main block.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 1-7 Union Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Significance
The former Village Hall and fire house was designed in 1925 by C.L. Vivian of
Ithaca and constructed by Fred Cornelius of the same town. Originally, the plan only
called for the construction of a fire house, ant the plan was changed to also include an
office wing. The cost to construct the building was nearly $17,000, with $6,000 to the
architect for design services.
Numerous fires plagued Trumansburg in 1864, 1871, and 1922. Throughout the second
half of the 19th century and early decades of the 201h centuries, hose companies, which
were volunteer associations with fire fighting and social purposes, flourished in the
Village. However, the third massive fire that demolished the Opera House Block and
fourteen businesses on June 25, 1922 was the final straw forced the Village to consolidate
the fire companies into a single municipal organization. On March 18, 1924, Village
President Frank Bower convened a special meeting of voters, who authorized the
construction of the fire house on Union Street. The buildings previously on the site,
including a harness shop, a bakery, a jewelry store and a meat market, were burned down
in the 1922 blaze. The Village Board approved the sale of the old engine house (21 East
Main Street). The building was formally accepted by the Village Board on March 25,
1925.The fire companies were successful merged in 1927 (Martin, 35; Sanborn Insurance
Map, 1910).
Between 1925 and 1972, the building house the fire department, as well as the
Village administration office and the police department. (The exact dates of the Village
offices and police department occupancy have not been ascertained.) The Village offices
and police station continued to be housed in the building as of the 1977 survey.
Due to increases in the number of fire calls and the size of fire fighting
equipment, the Village purchased a former automotive repair building at 74 West Main
Street. The fire department relocated to that site on 1972. The building was demolished in
1988 and construction of the current fire house on the same site was completed in early
1989. The fire department continues to operate out of this building (Trumansburg Fire
Co.)
The building is currently occupied by the Ontario and Trumansburg Telephone
Company.
Partial History of Ownership of Building Date Acquired Book Page
Village of Trumansburg 1925
(current owner)
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 1-7 Union Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Figure 1: Main (southeast) facade
Figure 2: Main (southeast) facade
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 1-7 Union 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.
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 Department of Planning. "Trumansburg Police Station and Village
Office, Union Street," Building Structure Inventory Form, Division for Historic
Preservation. Albany, NY, 1977.
Tompkins County. "Property Description Report For: 63-67 Elm Street, Municipality of
V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014.
Trumansburg Fire Co. "About Us." http://trumansburgfire.com/about.html, accessed
August 7, 2014.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 4