HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 51 E. Main, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 51 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Property
Units 51 (E. Main Street) is part of a larger block that is one of three major brick
blocks in the commercial Italianate style along Main Street constructed ca. 1864. It is
situated on the north side of Main Street, and is divided into five commercial units with
individual storefronts. Particularly noteworthy, the block's entire southern facade along
Main Street has a cast iron storefront manufactured by "Cheney, Rochester" (NY). The
two-story block has round -arch windows with corbelled brick hood molds with key
stones and stone sills on the second floor of the south and eastern facades. (This is the
same style that appears on 9-19 E. Main Street.) The fully -occupied first floor is used for
commercial purposes, while the second floor contains apartments. The rear (north) fagade
is a hodgepodge of a variety of building materials, reflecting a less public (and therefore
chaotic) use, functioning in utility and access points for the commercial and residential
units.
This commercial unit retains a high degree of architectural integrity, particularly
in comparison to the adjoining units to the west.. The brick corbelling at the roof line is
intact. The second floor has replacement rectangular window sash with infill in the arch
of the opening. The cast-iron storefront is intact and the configuration of the openings
and windows is true to the historic design. The transom windows above the display
windows has been painted, while the doorway to an internal staircase, on the eastern end
of the unit, retains the wooden historic doors (paired with arched lights) and the transom
is visible and intact.
In the 1977 historical survey, the researchers found that "According to retire[d]
Village Historian Lydia Sears, the height of this section of Main Street was raised several
times by infill so that former cellar windows of the block are obscured and inoperative."
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 51 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Significance
Trumansburg has an unfortunate history of massive fires, and buildings that
stretched the length of the north side of Main Street from Union Street to the Presbyterian
Church were consumed in a monstrous conflagration on February 22, 1864. In The
History of Trumansburg (1890), local historians record the fire in the following way:
There was no fire apparatus of any description in the town ... it became apparent
that the town must go not with out standing the almost superhuman efforts of the
people to check the conflagration. Lines of men, women, and even children were
formed, buckets of water were passed, and the advancing flames persistently
fought at every step until delicate women would fall to the ground from sheer
exhaustion....Main Street from the bridge to the Presbyterian Church and Elm
Street to the corner of Whig were filled with the house hold goods and
merchandise of all descriptions ... Thee scene at daylight beggards description.
One half the town in ruins, scores of homeless people searching the saved
property for their belongings. (As quoted by L. Sears, 53).
The Trumansburg New York Incorporation Centennial (1972) notes that many of
the buildings devoured in the fire were of wood and the majority of owners chose not to
rebuild, instead selling the lots. The new owners overwhelmingly constructed their new
buildings out of brick, historically an urban guard against fire, and adopted more uniform
designs and greater set -backs. The block at 47-55 East Main Street reflects this new
building style.
The larger block (#47-55) is a good local example of the commercial Italianate
style and is most notable for its complete cast iron front. Cheney iron fronts are found in
many central New York communities including Seneca Falls, Lyons, Clyde, Rochester,
and others.
On the 1887, 1893, and 1898 Sanborn Insurance Maps shows that #51 was a
hardware store with a tin shop (in a separate addition) attached to the rear (north) facade.)
By the 1905 assessment, the space continues to be utilized by a hardware store, but the tin
shop was demolished sometime between 1898 and 1905. By the 1910 survey, #51 is
designated as a dry goods/grocery store, and as a plumber's shop in September 1929.
Around 1963/1964, Karle Baldwin closed his furniture and hardware store (see
HRIF 47-49 East Main Street), which had expanded into this unit. When the building was
surveyed by the Tompkins County Department of Planning in 1977, it contained the
Village Clothing Shop. Subsequently, it served as the headquarters of the Trumansburg
Free Press (subsequently relocated to Newfield), which closed its Trumansburg office c.
2008. As of June 2014, the space is occupied by Dressella's, a bridal consignment
boutique.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 51 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Significance (continued)
Partial History of Ownership of #51 Date Acquired Book Page
Kenneth Riemer ? (sold property to Bilinski)
James Bilinski September 3, 1993 708 204
(current owner) January 27, 2010 55387
4001
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 51 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
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Figure 1: Main (south) facade
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 4
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 51 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Sources
Goldstein, Carol and Tania Werbizky. "47-55 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: 51 Main St E, Municipality of
V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 5