HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 6 E. Main, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 6 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
*4 V 25 :5.
10 1310
I � sfi ra �a
•r r
I
:aa
y $
w 28,
l V I LLAT
7a 1 aooa "� UMAN
Narrative Description of Property
A three-story brick building of the Italianate commercial style, 6 East Main has a
triangular footprint that conforms to the contour of the west bank of Trumansburg Creek.
It is situated on the eastern end of a row of primarily brick buildings (the Biggs Building
is the exception), constructed after a major fire in 1871. The first floor is a commercial
unit, and the upper floors contain apartments. It relates well to the adjacent buildings, the
most prominent surviving commercial block in the village. (This block is characterized
by three-story buildings, while the other two brick blocks are limited to two -stories.)
The architectural details reflect a maturity of the Italianate style at the time of
construction, with a sense of delicacy that references Victorian influences gaining
popularity at the time in primarily residential buildings. Its attenuated cast iron lintels
above the main three -bay front windows. A simple cast iron front (north) fagade and cast
iron sills (similar to those on the Trembly House/Masonic Temple.) The ends of the third
story cast iron bracketed cornice feature eagles, which may be a later addition. This
building has the lowest cornice line on the block and a flat roof bordered by a low
parapet, typical of the style.
The windows on the second and third floors are slightly dissimilar in size: the
third floor windows are slightly shorter than the second floor's. Each window on the
main (north) fagade has a flat arch cap, also in cast iron. The window sash are all 1/1
replacements, but these look less out of place than the other blocks with round -arch caps.
A late 19th century photograph shows a narrow cast-iron balcony ran the length of the
second floor, supported by brackets.
The stone foundation is visible, unlike the other commercial blocks, and is
situated below a poured concrete pad. The first floor fagade retains a high degree of
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 6 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
integrity. The transoms remain visible and the double -arched, four fixed light door (east
end of north fagade) with two inlaid wood panels leading from the street to an internal
staircase is original. (Similar versions are in other local commercial buildings.) Inlaid
wooden panels are also located between the large display windows.
The east fagade overlooks Trumansburg Creek. The continuity of cast iron caps
and sills indicates that the wall was originally designed to be exposed. However,
historical photos and Sanborn Insurance Maps indicate that there was a two-story
building adjacent to #6 as of 1889, and possibly earlier. There are three windows on the
third floor, three on the second (the middle one was altered to be used as a door to the
adjacent building), and one on the first floor. Although the majority of window surrounds
and caps remain intact, the painted brick surface suggests that the part of the skin of the
building was damaged by the adjacent building, either when it was constructed or when it
was destroyed in the flood of 1935. The rear fagade is not publically accessible/visible
because the triangular shape does not afford any space for windows or other building
elements.
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 noted that the bricks many have been brought in from the
Seneca Falls/Waterloo area, as Trumansburg never produced any great quantity of brick.
Given the intriguing footprint of the #6 and a roofline noticeably shorter than the
adjacent #2, it is likely that it was constructed after the more central buildings. Soon,
another building would be constructed along its eastern facade over Trumansburg Creek,
producing disastrous results in the flood of 1935, suggesting that the real estate in lower
Main Street was valuable and desirable.
The first Sanborn Insurance Map in Trumansburg (April 1887) notes that #6 is a
post office, also confirmed by a late 19th century postcard by George A. Hopkins.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 6 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Significance (continued)
By the surveys of December 1893 and May 1898, the building is still occupied by the
post office and also contains the Western Union and telephone office. In December 1905,
only the post office is mentioned by surveyors. In both December 1910 and September
1929, the building was vacant and marked with an "S," typically the symbol for "store."
Between approximately 1940-1950, the first story was occupied by Smith's
propane company.
At the time the building was surveyed in 1977, it was vacant and owned by
Vincent Giordano of 602 Hancock Street in Ithaca. The surveys cited a 1935 photograph
that showed a wooden balcony, but there is no evidence of it in the Sanborn maps.
In 2012, Sundries, a boutique store with gifts, jewelry and clothing, relocated
W. Main Street. As of 2014, the first floor commercial space is occupied by
Creekside Caf6.
History of Ownership of Building Date Acquired Book Page
Vincent Giordano (owner as of 1977)
Lawrence Reverby post -1977
(current owner)October 2, 2007 51583 6001
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3
Nk; e a
AL
•
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 6 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.
Goldstein, Carol and Tania Werbizky. "9-15-19 E. Main Street," NY
Building Structure Inventory Form, Division for Historic Preservation. Albany,
NY, Spring 1977.
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: 19 Main St E, Municipality of
V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 5