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HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 13-17 W. Main, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 13-17 West Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Property � �s. • rC3� � 1� 13 14 21 .� I tii /28 FLi . Z. V I LLAT -Moe UMAN i ....� W5 r 1 s The three story, three -bay building (three stories on the north fagade, four on the south) at 13-17 West Main Street was constructed in 1911-1912 to replace a demolished building. The eclectic structure retains elements of its Italianate style neighbors, while also incorporating a more modern, Beaux Art style tone. A steel -frame structure, the building is sheathed in brown/gray brick and has a flat roof. The height of the massing of the building mimics its predecessor and is compatible in size with the adjoining structures. The heavy eave of the flat roof, supported by two substantial brackets, references the Italianate style, as does the flat arched windows and the heavy first -floor cornice with brackets. The most decorative front (north) facade is three bays wide and features Ionic pilasters. The large plate windows in each of the three floors reflects the showmanship purpose of the building, different from the upper floors of the adjoining buildings. The size of the windows and grandiosity of the elements are all suggestive of the Beaux Arts style, quite popular in the period of the Biggs Building's construction. The first floor windows were altered at an unknown date. According to the 1977 survey, the front canopy originally had overhanging panes of marbleized glass. The second floor has trios of hopper windows over each of the plate glass windows; the middle plate glass is subdivided into two units. Two of the hoppers have been removed for the installation of window air conditioning units. The less decorative rear (south) fagade retains the majority of its original 2/2 double -hung window sash. A brick chimney is attached to the east fagade; the building is considerably deeper than its neighbors and sheathed in reddish/orange brick. Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 1 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 13-17 West Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Property Attached to the south fagade is a three-story brick building that was likely constructed c.1871 after the fire of the same year. (The buildings along this strip at the time of the fire were reputed to be constructed of wood.) All of the windows have been replaced and the building is currently used as a private residence for the owner of the Biggs Building. Narrative Description of Significance #9-11 is a single building that was constructed to replace a section of block that was demolished (presumably due by fire) between 1898 and 1905. The Biggs Company Hardware, a local hardware store, also experienced a fire on October 9, 1907, temporarily relocating to another site, and building the current structure on the cleared space on West Main Street (Sears, 95; Sanborn Insurance Maps of 1905 and 1910). The Briggs' Company was the leading store in the Village and well known outside of the area. The enterprise began as a hardware store, founded in 1885 by David S. Biggs. The company was incorporated as the Biggs' Company in 1900. On February 9, 1912, the company celebrated the opening of their new store with a banquet for 300 on the second floor. According to former Village Historian Lydia Sears, "The Methodist Ladies served the meal, under some difficulties since the outside temperature was 20 below zero. Several officers of the Lehigh Valley Railroad attended; State Senator Murtaugh of Elmira was the principle speaker" (Sears, 111). Biggs continued as a hardware store until after a 1926 family trip to Europe. Following their return, the Biggs' store began offering import European goods such as English china and Czechoslovakian glass, greatly increasing the popularity of the store outside of the Trumansburg area. The business continued as a family enterprise by William P. Biggs, son of David S., until William's death in 1947. The store passed out of the family's ownership in the early 1970s. (Note: This was a business of incredible importance to the Village and deserves more research, which was outside the time constraints of the current survey.) William P. Biggs was a member of the first New York State Highway Commission. Due to his efforts, Trumansburg's Main Street was improved with the laying of yellow brick in 1912. The structure was an early example of the use of steel beam construction in the Village. It was constructed along the principles of skyscraper design and is able to support additional stories above its third story if such expansion is desired. William may have contributed to its design. Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 13-17 West Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Narrative Description of Significance (continued) A well-known feature of the store while it was open was the model of a horse that stood in the center of the second story window. Truman the horse was made in France in 1890 of paper mache and purchased by the Biggs family through a New York City importer for $90. For many years the horse was used as a harness model, as it was reputed to have been made in perfect proportion to a live horse. Also known as Silver Dan, the horse was sold to Robert Treman (Ithaca) after the Bigg's store finally closed. Treman give the horse to Cornell University where it was put on display in the Big Red Barn. (On display as of 1977.) At some point subsequently, it was placed in storage in the vicinity of Newfield. The Ulyssess Historical Society was able to acquire it in the last decade, and the horse has been restore (new tail and mane) and installed in their museum on Elm Street. As of the 1977 survey, the building was occupied by Alice's Gifts, Marshall's Laundry, Black's Plumbing and Heating Company and an apartment space. As of 2014, Marshall's Laundry, owned by the building's owner, operates out of the western unit and the Gemm Shop is in the eastern unit. The upper floors are currently vacant. The rear unit is a converted residence. Partial History of Ownership of Building Date Acquired Book Page Biggs Company 1911 (current building) Skip Davis (current owner) ca. 1982 Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 13-17 West Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg Figure 1: Main (north) facade Figure 2: Former tin shop attached to rear (south) facade of Biggs Building Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 4 N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet Address: 13-17 West Main Street Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg 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. "Biggs', 7 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: 9-11 Main St E, Municipality of V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014. Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 5