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HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 53 E. Main, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 53 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Property
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Unit 53 (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 the highest degree of architectural integrity of any of
the units in the block. The brick corbelling at the roof line is intact. The second floor also
retains its original double -hung wood sash windows with 6/6 lights on the street (south)
fagade. It is the only unit in the block with its original second -floor windows. 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 covered,
while the doorway to an internal staircase, on the eastern end of the unit, retains the
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: 53 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.
The 1887 Sanborn Insurance Map indicates that Unit 53 was a grocery store.
The 1893 ,1898, 1905, and 1910 Sanboms shows that Unit 53 continued to be a grocery
store, with an undertaker occupying the second floor through the 1898 survey. In the final
survey of September 1929, the space is only designated as a generic "store."
In the 201h century, it has been used for a variety of purposes. In 1943, Barbara
Cronk opened the Teen Inn, a center for local youth. King's Ice Cream Parlor was opened
by Bob and Harriet King in 1945. Retired Ithaca Police officer owned Malone's Ice
Cream Store. ("Ice Cream Center," according to Lydia Sears) from 1948-1962. Malone
sold the establishment to Frank and Margaret Kostrub in 1962, who ran a restaurant
called "Kostrub's" until 1976. In 1976, owners John and Ruth Ann Gromley changed the
restaurant's name to "The Store at Treman's Village. From 1982-1986, Ernie Kostrub
bought the restaurant and leased the building from John Gromley. In 1986, Ron and Lu
Poley purchased the restaurant and the #53 and continued the dining tradition until Hal
Olsen bought the restaurant and the property in 1993. Samantha Izzo purchased the
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 53 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Significance (continued)
restaurant, changing its name to "Simply Red." In 2006, Jonah and Christina McKeough
purchased the building from Thomas Callaghan, opening Hazelnut Kitchen, a gourmet
farm -to -table restaurant, the following year. Current Hazelnut Kitchen owners are Justin
Paterson and Lisa Jonckheere, who purchased the restaurant in 2012 and have continued
its philosophy and cuisine.
Partial History of Ownership of #53 Date Acquired Book Page
Bob and Harriet King
John Malone
Frank and Margaret Kostrub
John and Ruth Gromley
Ronald and Lu Poley
Harold Olsen
Thomas Callaghan
1945
1948
1962
1976
1986
September 14, 1994 734
December 11, 2003 44551
Jonah McKeough September 14, 2006 49767
Justin Paterson and Lisa Jonckheere (assumed) July 16, 2013 2013
155
1001
3001
9369
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 53 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Figure 1: Main (south) facade
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 4
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 53 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: 53 Main St E, Municipality of
V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014.
Ulrich, Sue. "Down on Main Street." Ithaca Times, Ithaca, NY, July 13, 2011,
http://www.ithaca.com/news/trumansburg/article_9573ae6a-ad7b-11 e0-a7ed-
001cc4c03286.html, accessed July 27, 2014.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 5