HomeMy WebLinkAboutStewart Park Historic Designation f
V 1 (-_ k
;.,4.;:
rim
r
!b
$ 4 PREFACE
,.. ;i2. -. tx
= ! •In documenting the works of Clinton L. Vivian, two
j• i; yA�/
7 : n`6, - :primary means have been employed. The more obvious means has
been :extant drawings by his office, but perhaps the more
*: important means has been contemporary published accounts.
Unfortunately, there are a small number of works listed in
= this catalogue where the documentation is not clear, and for
: these works, a note to supplement the documentation will
. occur.
.. _ .y_ Since Vivian' s office records have not survived intact,
known extant drawings and other documents are dispersed in a
° -_ number of locations. At present, the Department of Manu-
• scripts and University Archives of the Cornell University
Libraries has the largest number of drawings , which are in
turn dispersed among three separate collections: Collection
No. 3280, Clinton Loop Vivian papers; Collection No. 1380,
^- Bryant Fleming Architectural Drawings; and Collection No.
43/2/552, Buildings and Properties drawings. The original
. , floor plans for the South Hill School and a set of blue-line
,---- -,--prints for the 1916 addition are in the possession of the
• °:;.Ithaca City School District. A significant number of blue-
line prints and specifications relating to various projects
:done for the City of Ithaca can be found via the files of the
-842-
i
-843-
N
City Engineer;1 at present, the full extent of available docu-
ments is not known but, based on what has already been
discovered as of September 1983, the City of Ithaca would seem
to have the largest collection of Vivian documents, excepting
perhaps Cornell University. The remainder of the documents
are in the possession of the current owners of the various
houses which Vivian designed. Insofar as possible, all extant
drawings have been photographed, with the negatives being in
the collection of the author.
Although drawings and other contract documents are the
preferred means for documenting works by Vivian, far less than
half of the known works are so documented. Most of Vivian' s
works are documented by way of contemporary published accounts
in local newspapers and periodicals. These sources include
the Ithaca Daily Journal, Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell Alumni
News, Ithaca Daily News, Ithaca Morning Herald, and The Ithaca
Democrat. For reasons already discussed in the text of the
thesis, the Ithaca Daily Journal has been the most useful
source, at least until 1911; however, the Cornell Daily Sun
and Cornell Alumni News have been useful in reference to
Cornell related projects. The remaining sources have been
1The Office of the City Engineer of Ithaca has an exten-
sive index card file for documents pertaining to work per-
formed for the City covering most of the twentieth century,
though it may not be complete. When a consultant (for example,
an architect like Vivian, a landscape architect, a civil
engineer, and so forth) produced documents for the City, the
occurence is usually noted. Andrea J. Lazarski of the Plan-
ning and Community Development Department has been of great
benefit in identifying and locating documents by Vivian in
this very valuable collection.
r
-844-
used primarily as only supplements to the first three listed
sources.
•
Other sources which have been used are local histories,
like Henry Edward Abt' s Ithaca of 1926, and the personal •
reminiscences of townspeople like Helen Garrett Sigler or
Edith Horton.2 One of the more interesting documents regard-
ing Vivian's career that surfaced during my research is the
following :
C. L. Vivian: Projects attributed and constructed
Residential: •
•
Ithaca, Elmer H. Wanzer Residence, Cayuga Heights
M. L. (Dorothy) Barstow Residence, Cayuga
Heights
V. A. Davenport House , Lewis St.
Roger B. Williams Residence, N. Cayuga St.
Charles E. Cornell Residence, Stewart Ave.
J. W. Hook Residence, S. Plain St.
George Walters Residence
Church:
Ithaca, First Methodist Episcopal Parsonage
Commercial:
Ithaca, Atwater Grocery, W. State St. [sic]
Trumansburg, Biggs Hardware
Interlake, Bank (for J. H. Wheeler) [sic] I
Hotel:
Ithaca, Clinton House, renovation, 1901
School:
Ithaca, Fall Creek School
Boynton Jr. High
University:
Ithaca, Cornell University, Bailey Hall (supervising )
Agronomy (supervising) !;
Poultry (supervising)
Animal Husbandry
(supervising )
i�
2The personal reminiscence of Edith Horton is reproduced
as the opening quotation for the Introduction.
•
•
•
-874-
1893-94 The Cascadilla -"School`
boat/club house—extant/altered
f;I
Stewart Park, Ithaca, New York' 11 ;
contractor: Stephen M. Oltz (1894) ;,
•
CASCADILLA BOAT HOUSE.
A Crew for Our Most Important Preparatory School.
Rowing is considered to be the foremost branch of athletics in
the University and it is eminently desirable that men have
some knowledge of handling an oar before entering. This will
be made possible by the movement now on foot by which the two
most important preparatory schools of the University; the
Ithaca High School and the Cascadilla School, will have crews. i
Our own coach, Mr. Courtney will train them, so the knowledge
obtained will be of direct assistance to them in getting a
seat in the Varsity boat.
• j
The Cascadilla crew is now an assured thing and the next move
is to build a boat house. Professor Wait, the director of the
school, owns a large plot of land at the mouth of Fall Creek,
which would make an excellent location, easy of access in as
much as the street railway will be extended down that way next
season. The plans have already been drawn.
The proposed building will be a two story oblong ,structure "
surrounded by wide verandas, the monotony of the .,roof being
broken by several small towers. The dimensions will be one •
hundred by eighty feet.
•
On the first floor will be a boat room, baths , and, lockers for t,
forty students. On the second floor will be an assembly room _ `
which may be used for banquets and receptions. The '
architect 's plans call for $4000 and subscriptions are now
being circulated among the students and alumni of the school ,
• to raise the sum.
Cornell Daily Sun, 24 November 1893 , page 1.
WORK SLACKING UP.
Contractor Oltz was asked today [about] the outlook for
continuance of work for the artisans of the city. He said : ,!
"I don't know how it is with others but the prospect for me .
and my men does not extend beyond the middle of October unless •
something unexpected develops. We shall have the Cascadilla -J
Club house roofed and enclosed next week. Early in October
the floors will all be laid and work ended there for this
year. There are fifteen or twenty carpenters now at work
there. I have a small force doing some painting on the plant
in the Gorge. I fear the season will end abruptly and
-875-
'24;i:7 prematurely with us."
•Ithaca Daily Journal, 22 September 1894, page 3.
CASCADILLA CLUB AND BOATHOUSE.
A Handsome Building at the Mouth of Fall Creek.
Last evening a reporter called at the house of Professor
Parsell to obtain a description of the new club house erected
for the students of Cascadilla school. The building . is two
stories high, 117 feet in length and its greatest width is 80
•
feet. _ It is irregular in outline, there being a round tower
on the northwest orner where Fall Creek joins the lake, while .
on- the east end is an octagonal :,tower projecting well out from
the . line of the building. The roof is curved to give it a. "
pagoda-like effect.
•Encircling the structure on the second story is . a piazza eight
feet 'in 'width, furnishing fine views of the lake and the
surrounding country.` The first floor is given up to what 'is
termed '"the boat room," a large locker room and a bathing ;
apartment. On the second floor is .the reception parlor, a .,
committee room and dressing rooms, also the janitor's room.
Surmounting the main building, a story above, is a well ;
appointed observatory.
Vivian & Gibb, of Ithaca, were the architects and the cost
thus far, in getting the boat under cover and putting in some
partitions , has been $5000. There will be considerable more
expense in finishing up the interior.
In regard to Cascadilla aquatics the Professor said that the
prospect was bright for the crews. Four of last year' s men `
are back. He called attention to the unusual fact that the
Aquatic Association was a regularly incorporated body under
the laws of New York State and that with the base ball, tennis
and field and track athletic associations , it formed the
Cascadilla Council similar in function to that of the Univer-
sity.
It may be of interest to state that the 13 _acres belonging to .'
the School are soon to be laid out as a park and athletic
grounds for the use of students. :'
Surely with such a beautiful and commodious boathouse, and .
under the guidance of a trainer like Courtney, Cascadilla
should turn out some winning crews, while with the enjoyment
of all these advantages the prospective Cornellians should
find abundant opportunities to develope [sic] their athletic
talent.
Cornell Daily Sun, 2 October 1894, page 1.
-876-
A pretty picture, from the lake, is the Cascadilla School boat
# ; and club house. Small wonders Cunning artists devised it;
skilled hands reared it and it is said to represent $5,000 as
it now is ,--not yet complete. With its shower baths and other
details supplied it is believed that $8,000 will be near the
cost.
"City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 25 April 1895, page 3.
Proposed Boat House, Cascadilla School, Ithaca, N. Y.
[presentation drawing of exterior]
published : "Cascadilla ' s New Boat House, " Ithaca Daily
Journal, 20 January 1894, page 3.
"The Cascadilla Crew," Cornell Daily Sun , 16 June
1894, page 7.
•
•
.E's::::.n.::::,,i0Altogitivjwii::::,..,.,.-.•-•,...- . .
,.--_,,:-.!!::::.,-,1):::-..:::::::::::::,;:i:Ri:.:::::::::::::::::::::i--:-:-..;--,--.1ii-f:...f:-.-i--.,-„-_.:-..-.....,. .- •
::.:,-ii:'..i:V.:::::::1:11511:1-iiii:101:::::::::E.•:::::::-.11.:----:-.-•:.-.
. !-.,::::-PREii;',.:',i.-:!',RE:T_.'..: E ...:.•-..r . ---
-..-.::Slif,.:::::3:•:-.2,,It-,-:Em::::::,.,-.-..-..---;---.F-:.::::,-..-. .
-.'.1.-5.:-.....',:-J;;:;::,:':- .;-•;...--:::;:'--::1'.-:-E.-'--E--------------:--- ' ..-
. ..„,...„,......-..::..,..„..„-.. .
:.„:„.....................,,,.........„...:::::-..:-.....
- •-•---• --••••-•• - •
..-,..,...s:.....: ...-..--..:-. .....
---1:10.4:::::::::F!!qi-l..:.i'.:::?..::::-..':::-----::::::-:---:.---:--..:•-----.----1-------- .
--...3;i4:4--;:::-.-...-------.--„----:.:-::::'-„,:-.--.::::-.--...::.......:::::--,.. .1 •
..-, ...,. . .
':'...-.43::::;:i...:1:.--....-'..:-......-.:.-..........":.. ::.-•.-
--------1;41'...K.------.-------.•---.....------.---: -.-
.-..-::::::-...i..::: ::::::::-..--.--.--.---.• --
.„.„. ...;........
..,.........-. .
--...;...1a.ii,„:-.......„......; . .
1 • •
i... •
-:-......6?....,- .-- • •
-i.... . ... .
...,..-
.„.,..
.:.--::41::-....-.............-- :-..- --
........,,, .-
-.--,......„,:,..:-.......-...... -
.„:-...:::,..,,,.::::: H.. . -. •
. .
...
.. ,.
.... ...
.... ... .
.. -
-71:::. . .-- -- --.- -
..-:1-:::: .•
'-::-1Eiliri• ,
i--, ft,
..„:::,....„.,.],--....
--:=4-------- : • .
i ,
.•).-1-1,,C ,,,,,...........rit Is.. ' , ' 1
-Aiii .., -I r-• S---_,..f-f:1 Pvt-i'•-- .7.-..p.r" - - 4-1.,t '4,3 ...3 ,.-,...
.:.:.•,..:::::..: . ),%-, •+?,;,':, /.74,..-..a—,St' \74- '''''' ''1 C s'' : Z ,-, .".i I r.).
5Sr. .,..S......," ,ola„ •p. ,..61 fi...,.....„;. . ,, '`.... 1,,Z, , s■••. .4,,it.j,11,..; --,-.„-....
':-.41:;:-.- ' V 44.,i■"' '' .''' X'tiliir 1 .21 's
"-.1:::::-S ...-- r% .L r% - Arli); - , - i*iliNitxf.1.1.) --L.4-1-1--' . `'• ' ---:~3-'------
1 . '4-- 'lit • 4114,1 . ,,,-,.'',..eo-04: '.1-,131..t_L,4,<,„4„, W...-7-----.......
......„...
.---::::::::::: ''....•'.1 i 4: Qt-p—. ,- k,...,- -------k,!-___- ...-7-... •.4.-\-.. . f --------
':::iiv: F.:::•• ..-, •-• -- . -,.... 44.
, .
. ....:::.......,..... . (... A . . , _,-„--........... ..,. .:,„;1.etrilio,fre'rrL-c6. ":„....,../ ........0
ir...-.,,i:l...: • 6. ,6 .,....- t. ...,... - ---
.....----- --15• '
---'.* '.- '
'-...V.' P.:::: ... . .......--- i..,...tr .....
:.:t - —,,„ ---
,...-,, .::-;:•:,;',1.-.-':-.--.: -- . '..:,..•.,:', •:-:-"•..,-;',--_,-:-,- . . .
.,...„,,-;..,-.:. .., :::.-- ..-. : - --.. , ....CASCADILLA SCHOOL TIOAT-H01.7SE.
A-10. Vivian and Gibb, Cascadil].a School boat house
/
Ithaca, New York, 1893-91+, presentation drawing of exterior
gk•
(Cornell Daily Sun , 16 June 1894) .
-,..,.....::A.:.:..: .
........
••2:..*:- •:,.
-,.,•:,,.-:-..-.--- -
.---Iiit-----„-,--__-_-: - • .-_
4V-.------...--.--.-:--: ' • '
s -878-
}-: O UU
1894 Cayuga Lake Electric Railway Company (Herman
Bergholtz)
restaurant pavilion—extant
•
kitchen addition to restaurant pavilion—extant
•
dance pavilion—exists/altered
water tower—destroyed/storm (1955)
•
colonnade—project
band stand ("pagoda")—destroyed
concession stand ("tea house")—extant/altered
•
covered trolley stop—project
?boat houses—destroyed
?bath house—destroyed
Stewart (Renwick) Park, Ithaca, New York
landscape architect: William Webster, Rochester
contractor: Stephen M. Oltz (1894-95)
. RAILWAY EXTENSION.
Electrics to Percy Field. A New Park.
Ever since the street railroad system of this city passed into
the hands of the- present managers , no effort has been spared
to make it second to none in efficiency and in meeting the
demands of its patrons.
Manager Bergholtz announces that work on the park at the head
of the lake has been commenced and is being pushed rapidly
'forward. The park is to be at the terminus of the line and -is
fitted ' up from the land owned by the Company at this hart of
the:lake shore. :: The park will comprise about sixty acres with
a lake `front: of- fifteen hundred feet.
In the center of the park a lagoon is to be made which will be
a source of pleasure in the, summer, and which can be used for
skating. in winter. A system of electric lights will be put up
throughout the park. The electrics are to be run right in
upon the grounds. In addition to the lagoon a pavilion and a
boat house are to be constructed. The boat house will be able
to store two hundred boats. A dock will be built in connec-
tion with the boat house just' at the edge of the park, and
will . be the. landing place of both the new and old lines of
lake"steamers."; Along . the lake front a bulkhead is to be built ,
to protect the shore, _ park, _and boat house landings.
The grading of the road to the park will be finished to-day.
By the seventh of June the company will be able to carry
people down to the new terminus. The length of the extension
is from a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half. It will
pass straight on from Tioga street across the creek, by. the
company' s own bridge, and touch at the west side of Percy
Field. A pate will be opened up on that side so that the
athletes can catch a car directly from the field.
G .
-879-
is _T
4 .:-=t7..=_ _ past. W4 shall: also -finish up -the water- tower; 'but the pert-• style or connecting court will- this - year' fail for lack of
time. "
"The Renwick Tract," Ithaca Daily Journal, 27 April 1895, page
i
The dancing-pavilion at Renwick was opened last evening . The
Ithaca Band discoursed excellent music and a goodly company
enjoyed "tripping the light fantastic toe" until a late hour.
The crowd of onlookers was large.
• "City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 20 July 1895, pave 3.
The lumber for the water tower, which is to be heavily
timbered, and for the house for the Cornell boat launch has
been ordered. A car load of each is expected to arrive today.
"Renwickiana," Ithaca Daily Journal, 7 August 1894, page 3.
The carpenters at work on narrow scaffolding adjusting the
roof cornice to the tall water tower are compelled to govern
every movement with exceeding caution. A half day' s accom-
plishment on terra firma is counted equivalent to a good day's
work up so near the clouds.
"Park Pickings," Ithaca Daily Journal, 24 July 1895, page 3.
The pole upon the Renwick water tower makes silent, eloquent
appeal to appreciative Ithacans for a large and handsome flag.
"City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 26 August 1895, nage 3.
A TREELESS LAWN.
"Mr. Webster has directed all trees and shrubs to be removed
from that portion lying west of the dancing pavilion. He says
there must be there a treeless lawn, with tennis courts and
croquet fields. He says that trees over abundant become so
j common as to lose their beauty. That sunshine .and shadow may
1 be too finely interlaced. That is a professional vagery,
, perhaps; but he is our doctor and we must take down the,—
trees. But there stand two or three beauties which it has
taken a long time to grow and I shall beg hard that they be
1 spared."
/I "The Renwick Tract , " Ithaca Daily Journal, 27 April 1895, page
3•
- -880-
The extension will certainly be of great convenience to
students of the University as well as to towns people and
rt pleasure seekers generally.
Cornell Daily Sun, 4 May 1894, page 1.
a`
A handsome series of designs for the proposed buildings at
Renwick Park have been prepared and submitted to the manage-
_- went, upon its order, by Messrs. Vivian & Gibb. * * *
',City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 11 May 1894, page 3.
The pavilion, for which the foundation piers are now being
laid, is promised to be roofed by the 26th instant by Builder
Oltz.
"City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 14 June 1894, page 3.
The frame of the main pavilion at Renwick Park has been
• erected and the roof is being shingled .
"City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 23 June 1894, page 3.
Renwick was crowded as usual nearly all day yesterday.
"City Chat, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 16 July 1894, page 3.
A large annex ,to be used as a kitchen is being attached to the
south side of the_ main pavilion. The original kitchen was
decided to be too small.
"Renwick Remarks, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 17 July 1894, page 3.
The restaurant pavilion is completed.
"Renwick Notes ," Ithaca Daily Journal, 2 August 1894, page 3.
Work on the dancing pavilion at Renwick has been begun.
"City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 26 July 1894, page 3.
•
•
"* * * We are at once to proceed to cover those piles at the
east of the pier with a model boat house. That dancing
pavilion is this spring to_ber. made,.,,the__counterpart ,of the
restaurant.pavilion._..,_.R.It;is ?fOx7O :and wrillfindthatKthe
weather"has .not' damaged`<the foiled-floorduring`.....the_winter
•
-881-
Contractor Oltz assures us that the band stand at Renwick Park
will be finished in time for concert use on Memorial Day. He
is working only 18 or 20 men at present; but upon the arrival
next week of the lumber ordered he will double his force and
push the completion of Ethel water tower and dancing pavilion
and begin both the Jarvis and Park boat house. * * *
•
"Pick-Ups ," Ithaca Daily Journal, 27 May 1895, page 3.
A white oak counter top, requiring a day or two's work, is
delaying completion of the "tea-house" or soda water pavilion.
"Renwickiana," Ithaca Daily Journal, 7 August 1894, page 3.
The Renwick pier boat house is completed and floats placed .
A bath house at the west side of the pier is to be provided .
"City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 9 August 1895, page 3.
The colonnade to connect the pavilions may not be built this
summer.
"Renwick Beach Spray," Ithaca Daily Journal, 8 June 1897, page
3.
•
untitled
[group of drawings]
group includes: Lake Front [north elevation] of Main Pavilions
Plan
published: Ithaca Daily Journal, 3 August 1895, page 3.
•
•
Y f�
�� : -832
ire
- ,
-q 1 :; ( •
yr
f Ze '�7r• i'
i� Y r. ;.
� ��,.„0, '.
..... .E.,-„,• a%...;•> .,:„�.-ww, o+ "y.- mac.. r
' w+^'” p £:
f'. y Q �� Wn1.M,�p4,,,, S..,. 'Y'.. y.. fl.»wk +:S a oi>
s „. +«s.,. ,,°A«,,,,, ... ...a ro b '4 $�. said. , :. .. t •Y$ L ' , . ��3,
a v s ,y yyA1°!p'°a a j0 'Y 's-
x ,O'ya s.°'6KS., „,„
v. . '�.n}� Y"j hC.Y tdCM t _ • .+h?4 7.,wA.�_�: •'' '4•• M..: � . -•
� ;s w !"�r g» wp7�;:::G'F• L t�_ r M . i�2 N £ s Z rk »h "r `��i�T M?��
�` u :.as3` .t' 1 x<•; ^F'' '' ,,,,y+4, t:-W ,M ,•:. , y:W 1...-:`,.. -t
A-11. Vivian and Gibb, restaurant pavilion, Berwick
Park, Ithaca, New York, 1894, west facade (Author, 1981 ) .•• ,;�,•1,i c
f�
till.
Yi
. -g �,�� , , �Yfi€. , hE .r a f _ , ,,,.
. fr; '''''. '. r , . '. r. t: ig.l. , . ',1 .. ';,>.",,,711.“,,;,..w..2!"4,4-k4.0"-_,..?..is „,..t,,,4.:' -,....,,,,--- ,i7:.
14 4.... . .. ......1...... ,...,.i_ithei5.,.. .... .. 1 . ..:• : :I :.::...:....::.::4.•:::,.5,...z....,...„.,, ...v.,..2,,,,,,....f:..:.......,..4..,:.:.„.04..........,...„.•,..,„.,...,2....,..„..,...„... ,..,..z. ,...1r.....,
. ,.. .,.. .... .... .. ... .... ..45:,............ . . . . :.... „).„...1:..:„..:.,.i..::::„...,.. : 1... i,..,,..‹.........,„.„..,,„.•,...:,:,::,...,...:..,&.,„......;.4„•:,. : ...1w•••:„.••• . ... ......
:.....,..A..i.: ....,... .,.......r„,:....... ,....„,,.... . .......:„..,,.....;..........,.. to0,0......,,,„ . .........7...,. :...........:.„.t'.!.:.•; ',:,''.,.,v,‘,1t-.::•,'„•-..:,,i-OV•ifi.....,4.•.,,,,:4,.''''..'e".•,........:::'.,,, r•- ' .. . ' ...
'Y.- S on 'C+ ;1.,:,_ Y ,V I' .w.,m.ai,:,..: .'Ilk"?'..n.
K
y4 •,” .e �9 it "�; , ''',0^.„',!`'.'"!
.:.;
w W y, 'Gy,
?.M" t 15; V * * . :,+� N
*, 7L1„T� s t�;yy,;ysa �' * � . ;;. . s ...r%."7, '. � ..L? }Y - t 'ii y am'cr;f �ry ., iK.1 .+ t , r� ! .•
su R� � t„ "`a , " .%x:�,,. .,s .a �° F R:., yy t,e, .'°Y i r41,, „rf. ,¢ tt „.*•1 ”•. ° .z,,.. a< ac *' ,' r 'x'4' ' r` �"�° " 'fit'.l v-`*. w�a& � ...; : sn � •'3L+f rF e . s,i si '+v ' ..,4..a. 0 v.:,eL 1I S; s3a ..0 a -3 '''--- `." �`.Mb 47,-,---e --=.�A.-4,4 ry gr 3, 'e't : am • a rra `s ,: .." ,- �w^ t r Pl LO r°Pk , !. iFs '' e Sa .,,,,c ,i ,t �: , 'ir.- dT A7:�P.'1 ":Ye.� "e ? �' - "f " : , s a :< vsajJ� 7t f'sfr 'J 1.ia Z Y"4. . y . . h s�a� s:. i c2 ¢ �'•, _ g ,., -r B-m .
A-12. Vivian and Gibb, dance pavilion, Renwick P rk,
Ithaca, New York, 189+-95, exterior view from northwest
(Author, 1981) .
1
..:::...0. ••••;;;;;7:','f:15::::•...;.!••••::-;•:.•;::::':':.'.:- . -883- .
. ":7.-. :
1
F
r
r
. *
1
}
zt t
.� '�`.°4 «Yid.. aa,♦ ,.fa rIl'. �" �5T5�: y r
''YL „k sad. l fjQ„ ` .,, y��er d�°k„. .
i k 1
'g';`. ,,,,.• r ,rte 4
��p; ,var �;,wga r. :• �'r�.,,ee, 3a,.,..,.:, „riatia-v::...,.; t.�i . ! fir. %'.
f �f:f -,.- . 5 7: .w fI:yam'.
" S'r � yye��ar^y6Yr`rS�.. to " rb «Tf ata S t cw i . ° " "t '�
41
y r` r ' tiSl' 4
i
. % . s x.°' s
.V ♦*# �" >^+ j4a7' . A �5, ? . , a♦J,y � , a ° '�'o r(°14 !vas '� ro : 9 i.3' 54.,,...4" .i' ��'y ,ems`°" c. z. w '_ � 1 !."C__ typ ,� 3n,t � "rtDT..s.x: `44ssaw . Sf ;i �4i!b( kr N� 7♦R l ^f.x z+1.3� s r i Y �Y'°a �4k si S YLbM��
l r- .I"+°Firr a . n ay''KLti,4+ r 6k ,�.,; � �-° i-.r+ i.ft ' f' "' J.k xbRx F ^_7^ 7r 3 S'e bJP -�, '%f y 7"; iT 1 ?'' .d .E� w«ra. i .-i 1-.,4� r ,.K �,?. �" .i �"♦ ;+" sw r •A-13. Vivian and Gitzb, conessi on stand , Renwick Park,
Ithaca, New York, 1892+, exterior view from southwest ( uth.or,
1981) .
r
F
X
-884-
1894 Hannah M. Dana (Mrs. A. B. Dana)
rental? triplex--project
113 (15) East Buffalo Street, Ithaca, New York
Vivian & Gibb have made plans for a three story flat to be
built (for ] Mrs. A. B. Dana on her lot east of the Dudgeon
property on Buffalo street and facing DeWitt Park. Work on
the building is to be commenced at once.
"City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 12 June 1894, page 3.
■
.....
.,
•
,_,..
• *
I.
.. -4:...4.00!,, 1. ,-,-,-,n..-- ,..
...':,.; /-
,'.,.' ',.‘' ' • .-\ - •
1 ••••••• 4*.1
•
". illoi •,,,,_
..4•04,"',,..ht,'.:A'1'4 Y,f, - ,-.::,‘. - ' t
":"1, t...f,,..,,,62'•1%3 ... , z ' •"' : \ . 4 ik.\......S.,)•••••"*"."_. I
t••, '' • -te:'''''t'..‘' . ..{.; '..q....." ..R. . k. . 4
4
t 1,ii., , .■,et:C1.,4:44,7;f.,.,,, . ,' /
. „ .,......v‘v ., , .5...,,: •0„).•,;,-.4.,.1' ••■ 1 • . ,..\ • . ,•• \
= , It..
• ,4-••• , s ... -.1 ••
' '-''', '' i.. ,4.1 li.N.,'t 4-A.' ' • '.. .4
, .,41.,,,, 4.44q. '104,- t`.. . #' -,. . •. . .. 1
.5'4"'!•14.; . \
' . '- in". ./. 1.* - ' ,,.,:-. -.,.‘4 — \
•- ,,
. ....A,s '- . ‘44-4•.-- , -:,,, 4 4:-5-1 : ..- :•., .-4. -.•' 1 i.,,..4`.' , • •
A Cf-
•ii• 4 1, t4%44,.../oet' .-'e '1 ''' ' a .1..... - -.
IK.,MI A 44;4 4, •-, ,:••,'•' '. ' ,\ '' ''......„
4 TS 11)•••••.t6's• ' ' ' • ..4-',' ' 1
-, Al • ' .--,k,,, ..1-, ••'i', tl.,
,
,
-,...,Atz)-4-.m,".'1,....,...1,-- a,.• '.'N , •-•4 .*:,' .•--. -- - / i -
A CI'
s.iyil,-,,,-011.,,,..„.4 ,,..1 7.1-:,.:, •;, 1 ., ,\ .
•°,!'" • .11.,Cit el,,,s.,-t.:,,,,t4s ,-',F%-'„, " A
\
:ist..•,.. .. -• --`"'1:
.0e.tk,, - -3 • , '' -- r ..--
%-i-:-,•, , - .s.,,,....,". .- • -
-',
\ ' .t. ''‘ 0
14c.. .5.••?..A-;.1-`t;;:,7.,.0:;;1 ;'4 t a ''-'} - -•••••"--% ' ,t 7:- ' •
..P.'): tii,..4.V.S"•4',/".•.•:" •1•4',.-1•-•„1:'i k w ; ,'"st 3
,
(--`4.-'1,,I,I-"g;t,:'%/-:,.,:*;•;,-6`stsk.A ‘.,''''- ":': .■.- \
,4--•,.. 4--.14.%),-.4,4igie.v.1' ,s IA' ... j
A-,•4--,. x.c,,..:. ....,,,..g . .,..,....- . -- -.r- , .
_,
• \ CC.
dit I -1 kll • , k
4;i4tiii°*' --f/en'el-47•°',' ,Z?-i-•;,"'W--''' '\ ' cl .,--•\ -- .
•t* --,.,. cz. . 1 \
,
,
U-r r
. .t•V.Ift.. *.4t.,. ' ..-'-. ---:- 0.tr..' " k*--
.■-t. ' IN ''' .4 v..• /‘‘,.,t, - ... •---'
. t '''le*'''-'4 -•.'• "V•‘" ts.‘'• .•, 1 4.
7.-
, -4• ,.... - 4, Ni4::.',.- .111.\1 :
-...
is, , . , - _. . „ .-.. - .1, k -I
, ..• .. . \ 0,... lki.
• •it r F•-....14.,„ ytiA',4‘.-.?*-,. 4 -'' -1 (5 ' • ' • •
s.,414-*ri,- C4'.-".',,/O.,' •• :, ..
.,„,..,. .Yi.4•••',. . -....-,, .".' "Z. _...e
....e.../ *• g.,:., .4t1,,,,4:ry.;.'"%.•41^--.. c, :
$• % rl ' 1 0
."•,•' t %• "..••• •
Ytt.tiC4.1 iii.:t*9nt't# .'• I;
4*.irl.r. ' 4 t .4•••••"... *.Z
.N.:461:44 , T'lk'',. , A'. ;,, ' , k :„....-
x ... \ -Z.-
-',. ..
. ..7:',Vti'.`4 •sr•f''''',"-'':" i '"'III . „3.
t II-.
• k""r:-.1 te, ,
,4...,,,,,o•
' -
- •ts .
. ,
0 ,
.,..,.A, ,* t) %TN •414,p_„.,,. 1,,K ',..•
II
S 44 4).A.,, -IL ,Ii. -:*;4• 4
-..• .44 1•••V A ;,t,•,=-1:1 .1i.e.`.... ""...•
‘..„.._.. .r......-A.... dr••
a
, ....,
..., ..
. ti..4•i''''„ ..-..i'i '•44,!, .*.-A, •:-• 7-- -'nt . , _ -
•-"-^-0,-, . ' 1-\\11c\C.k,Icl
`_,„:,,, ''''' '-' - . • ...-
, 4, * P•. ;Q.,t,..'",, - * - • \ 1-10-c
It.,1:1;g11?;.;1;)':':: ... ‘• '\ 115 c 0-0 k-' TN -
,, . •-1 -S..0 ,, _or
.-.4,4,...4,--t..-•z‘''''\---„, ..2- :.,..,7,
•
--4-4‹ ":•`*'''''"-•;-f.,;-:•4:,,i;;;,z '...,%„-,-: • 4--------
v. Pu :--...."„. 0-4,--/•.-.'•,',:i. ' • .0 V 2:si 3-1-,;(1. Lu-I.B9
r-ia3- go.-c•0- ,-t,
..- ,..- ,....‘ ..-
-,,..,,,„f„.?..,4,,...4
-r.31 i. ••.-4,14-1. .
,I,S' '•••
:; - • C.11.16113 'tk.....9u) ,
......
,-.. - -‘1.vkl- .2,11 an \c-, 1P09\3-TnaIl j
1, 9 •
1e Da'i-1-
k-,
el-e.la
: _
a,
CHAPTER 3
74 PUBLIC PLACES AND INSTITUTIONS
"Whatever the Americans are proud of—whatever they
consider to be peculiarly good, useful, brilliant or
characteristic of themselves or their climate—they
Ykt designate, half in jest, though scarcely half in
earnest, as an 'institution. ' Thus the memory of
. George Washington—or 'Saint ' Washington, as he
;z. might be called, considering the homage paid to him
' �- —is an institution . . . 'sweet potatoes ' are an
institution and pumpkin (or punkin) pie is an insti-
`" tution; canvasback ducks are an institution; squash
is an institution; and the firemen of New York, a
;_ . great institution."—Charles Mackay (1857)1
may ,
When this thesis was first being organized, preparat_ry
to the actual writing , what is now essentially the first -lf
of the present chapter was envisioned as a separate chant=_r
entitled "For The Crews And Other Institutions". At the time,
one member of the special committee for the thesis questioned
the applicability of the term "institution" to the Cornell
University and Cascadilla School rowing crews, not to mention
the Renwick Park amusement facility. In the literal interpre-
rF tation of the term, neither Renwick Park nor the two school
crews were institutions. In contemrorary American usage, as
the opening quotation indicates, they most certainly were.
The point of the above is not to validate my initial Idea
1As quoted in Rebecca Zurier, The American Firehouse: An
Architectural and Social History (New York, N. Y. : Abbeville
Press, Inc.) , 1982, pages 11+-15.
_231+•
t
-_'
-235-
organizing the thesis since that is now mute due to subse-
quent reorganization. The point is that in the late nine-
.,
" ^ teenth and early twentieth centuries rowing as a collegiate
sport was as much an institution as football is today, and
F: during its first decade or so of operation,Renwick Park was
.P; I so much the object of pride by local residents as to be
virtually an institution.'
In public places
In 1893 and-1894, unrelated decisions by. the Cascadilla
School and the Cayuga Lake Electric- Railway Company would �y
result in the development of a.ma j or public place whose impor-ee
1' older DeWitt Park, at the
tance to Ithaca rivals the much o
).eart of the city, and for a time surpassed it. This new
place is now known as Stewart Park.
V ; During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,
• :t.4
1, t the premier collegiate athletic sport was rowing, and Cornell
r'niversity under the coaching leadership of Charles E.
,c rtney was one of the dominant powers in American rowing.
'e importance of rowing at Cornell was made evident by the
,rection in 1890 of a new boat house (Figure 3-1) , designed by
R les F. Osborr ,2 and in 1899 of a house at 218 Eddy Street
r Coach Courtney (Figures 3-2 and A-41) , designed by Vivian
•
J•
Gibb, both of which were paid for by the Cornell Univer-
`7 y"Athletic Association.
9'The Cascadilla School was founded in the 1870s as a
;?Ithaca Daily Journal, 5 May 1890, page 3.
<
:� y -236-
R
A
yo-
...01121211-11.221111k
� �,'L3� cif " V• -144"'/i2:
-237-
private preparatory school by Lucien A. Wait. Since Wait was
also a Professor of Mathematics at Cornell University, the
emphasis of the Cascadilla School was in preparing students to
enter Cornell. As the popularity of rowing and its importance
to students at Cornell increased, it became an adjunct to the
Cascadilla School's curriculum. Consequently, when the school
began an ambitious expansion program of its facilities, the
fledgling Cascadilla crew was high on the priorities list.
In 1888, the Cascadilla School commissioned W. H. Miller
to design a new school building and, apparently in the
following year, a new dormitory building.3 The school
building (Figure 3-3), now known as Wait Hall, was completed
in 1890, and when its third story was intact, its external
appearance was that of a more modest version of Miller 's
Richardsonian Romanesque Barnes Hall of 1887. The dormitory
building (Figure 3-4) , known as Upper House, was not begun
until 1895 with completion occurring in 1896 and was far less
of an aesthetic success than Wait Hall. Before the Upper
House was built, approximately 20 acres of land were bought
along the southern shore of Cayuga Lake where Fall Creek
drains into it. Initially, the land was to be used for
skating in the winter and swimming at other times, but by
1893, plans were underway to erect a boat house on the
property.
3Geoffrey M. Gyrisco, A Guide to the Works of William
Henry Miller, Ithaca 's Architect ([Ithaca, N. Y.?]: Author) ,
1978 (Revised Edition), 'pages 4-5.
-238—
.. y '
-^♦... L
s
r E 4• . �` "g •s
tw`
s
E
c...
:k f f ,,.F c , -, X •f_,*y'. . y - r�v q -,..k. � s N W} S tet, �, `• aat{ `n . . Jt�"k � d a p . > r y ur > 3iAW rFy zi .,.asy . } r Fb q r^ s i rfi sk ,i #FYt 1z t` ,r #v , a' - �� L .2 °i y I . b us i"'r' 3I s 4 r _t om 'i.l w,:Y;° .0.'� +a Z^'VSaNX iyPNO!s �„��� � &1yp. CY •F - t f t ff»h^� v a t�hi,`s s f ;1a$4. i`; i��i s.Sy`L1Kti��tt ��ri.^ 4 i 4 7 -
4.4? • . . i' 1 a�.gx 0 r .A si R r ,i, m 4 Z � $ .,R � x.,,� 'SK b r w dNk a: 4 »1 > . �� ,�yI C
Y
/''S%Si,.i �• sx G i,s b A L 1 a w�▪ 9W f r � S ✓;k i � G '^ � *4.
ft.
.•..°C n r".". r v • � s y It z 3 K a dM"'fi▪ E L._" v ▪ � .� ak a: '3"3 � , � �y 4 S1 i' . J ▪ ! y x s X v.,• R S I .....,-.;..f.... Y `r ; R ,,
t,''';:-. ' i !Q' � - < rt'• S x l-' wq r �1 1_, • tA . ,r� £ -z.`3,- r : �" ^ i 0 r ,. Y a j 'y �.( } > � f J fa}t;
a� '.:i-4.;,,,' '''''... s r ...::44..., t x . .
7� 4 Y 9r f 6 .. >s*':a. sg c va .�• r)7,.'.
t i - !-.1'...r." fbs > #r< tifi.7":" Drq �'v `1� =3 a '.:•�F ' a +;;;!".....:. a: g ty . • vSar "� <��T!1� s fir.
�.�° i. t L4'{.%; .3.t , �.. ..� t flr i!.h �;k �J ` ' .
K-9� • '-K:;<' R$ lY4ki 1� "f+., `-"'.: w ',-> •'c r y� '4' x.3 5. .t `
c �}d
,.ts 4 s•"4j.;f?„5•C. ao .s>:` . ! .w ^, +s` ..roC. � a s• • N
W°k?r`�'aewir:•f.±a.a.r,+.x<,m wsx",s �.e..�a"��a �e <;n a�f af, w�f �..•��°:w.e+k � �d5ri.'.<„, - S b.y s,_an,."F" tee^'..�-, ,�:s,<..� .. .. .., ,.- r �� �a�.
3-3• William H. Miller, Wait Hall, Cascadilla School,
Ithaca, flew York, 1$8$-90 exterior view from northwest
(Miller, Ithaca, N. Y. , 191).
•
r,. .•r
r
. .‹::::: : , ,,.........4.,....,,,..,,, 44 %,,,...,...... .
T;1a
•
i
• ,... -.„-",I.. ;',2`..: .. '., ..-e iii .,. .
, , .A,..., -\.----,,,,1:74." -
N.,41:,1:4;fir'''',- ' ''', .��` ]tai .a 44441.46'""*",' ^ Y Ii f
y, Fs^t} : ?; €< i F '.i I<aj ;s' �'n` ,i..,%.,,` ",1 ;f'F t.
E A ;
t, has ,..t,.,,,,,?,,-4 �€ � ib z � h e � f�°
t ��}r+ . , t t
'3,e �fi y .Yi,. ,„,,,,,,..11.2„, w,ek` " x aid-e. '" < 3i 't t ,' i \ '.�t ,•
� t'il '.' 1iiIt s¢ ' ., AX � x, _ t ci.: \ a Y X04, #.. ama,• I r� v K '� ty'
r :, .. +7-4;-.1'1''''----'^ ,< t i. .'',„$ t y t..:$.. .` ,, ,..° �' 'r. • ,�
r t bL.aa" l�. s • ?..
p el fir.L.i.,- Y:., 4 . f,w.er,7pt ii-,:44` V t5 a„7Mw ek±M'y.,•
Upper
3-�+. W. H. Miller, House, Cascadilla School.,
Ithaca, Pyew York, 1889-96, destroyed, exterior view from
southeast (Griffis, Art Works of Tompkins County, 1896 ) .
-239-
In_planning the newboat house, ,-Vivian and Gibb inspected
"` rowing= facilities _in., New_York `city, Philadelphia, and -other`-
order to familiarize` themselves witYi contemporary
state-of-the-art design in .collegiate-boat- houses:
i
R.
-2 .0-
4
N
1.t.:, �^ z `'"h'4sa1$a%,"°�sSe'� •. a i' S`"� w�ss £ g"
t,'i` , 1� tik 4 � ' 'ffi 1,-- ',,..,:i.,k8„�c3. b R' ,..,'',4 `a ,: ,g
9�^✓7'' ,-v ''° .1 �' <4e +�yx. n 'mss .rres � s4s ,..2,i;,�y u k �k
9s,^ 7"� s\ d P' W a' ` " ,-,i&F `, •a& '?¢'„ �` �. 3H.'` "k3' ,,"."
A.'rF�^rs�" � ja ` � sm S�R _,.��5 ' ,ty k,fy r; , i ''
4p(,,,,i ..„„z �a ' qCL u i,JC S� � ffi' k � ... , ,�,,,.51i 1�'..."xv„4.
R h....'1',..‘''' A rte -"-", " ,',�-& {,;r • '' r ,` f;{x R y+ I ".� X'•
' 3 .a°'., ,� •'' gs, " fir �rgs� ",4, i< ^y s"ri c'�.a
,�^ e . " °'° 'z a+q 't r��; r}, ,�� r''"F hz 3 .5 'y < '''. : +om aL tR"s S
��s r � t `'�S' e � '�'�..b.5a�y�����5�"f9gQ ,,,;.,,,:-..:,,,,4,>„,i, ,i '� 5 A .M
I
�. 5, X.. ass ,x,X,41. .„:,,,s F a , `�� , Y� ,,,,,,A.,- >„1 s #.s ;
York r sa, f` y.t t----4,,, s1r - " a . �:".2,,,,i`4.. y: '
,,te a `s ;tip, f s' try ' r ,
i� eY,
am' • !...f u,I 1 , , ' .-',,=...,„:„,,..4....t.,44.4......2,,,T.,,,,0
, rLz 4 tog .4.S�b«8,4,A� ,.. .� I ;it.. .
3-5- Vivian and Gibb, Cascadilla School boat house,
Ithaca, New York, 1893-9k, exterior view from northwest
(Some Sur,pestions About Ithaca, 1896 ) .
. fit l am, .�� -1 ,a' .� � y',1�; ' fr
1
r"J
. ,, I . - . -.,,,,,-!:,-,11',°'". ;,•,,,,t,,TE''''',4:,'''''''it 1Wir411Q Ilb s*4 . 'op' --lh'
....I 4 2 , *,,,. ,.,s ,..rtitfr,,Or
:1,,r?rvied;;', ,.,,,, ,14411/0f,,,./.,,,,- 4z..1.0:14„,0 ,.<:','• "„eirsazioddilrillh::, se ,i ',,t,. t'' *TAT
. '^.�'r. ,L2•4,",, ,, fin- ( 4 1, ,€r .1,:. f`.,,, ? ,.1.4' � � ',
' a
>~ � r
�
rr
r , Fes} 'V a �-( } #''TsT 4'4' Qk 4 F ; lit
if
-< ,lv .G t 7 r I
;,mss S px" V i^ >, ��
l~ :. G�3' :' rte£ ,,y, y ` 1 ^
3-6. Cascadilla School boat house, Ithacl , exterior
view from northwest (Author, 19£1),
•
241-
building ;a.distinctly,horizontal;emphasis..; The building was
Lt sheathed almost entirely with shingles giving it a marvelous'
continuity of form. x `
With its minimal decorative detail and expansive shingled
walls and roofs, the Cascadilla School boat house was 'once
Ithaca's most notable contribution to the Shingle Style. " It ?
also continued the noteworthy tradition of waterside architec-
ture illustrated by the Narragansett Casino of 1883 (Figure
3-7) by McKim, Mead and White at Narragansett, Rhode Island,6
Charles J. Osborn residence of 1883 (Figure 3-8) by McKim,
Mead and White at Mamaroneck, . New York,7 :
the summer residence
of ca. 1885 by William Ralph Emerson at Bar Harbor; Maine, -
and "Indian Spring" of 1889 by Richard Morris Hunt at Newport,
Rhode Island.9 Unfortunately, the Cascadilla School boat
house has lost its northwest corner tower, most of its second-
story veranda (what remains is now propped up by wooden
uprights, ironically similar to ones shown in the architects '
presentation drawing; see Figure A-10) , and the wood shingles
of the roof. The roof now has shingles of asphalt composition,
6A Monograph of the Works of McKim, Mead and White (New
York, N. Y. : The Architectural Book Publishing Company) ,
[1915-20] , Volume I, plate 5.
7Works of McKim, Mead and White, Volume I, plates 12-13.
8Vincent J. Scully, Jr. , The Shingle Style and the Stick
Style: Architectural Theory and Design from Downing to the
Origins of Wright (New Haven, Conn. : Yale University Press),
1972 (Revised Edition) , figure 84.
9Paul R. Baker, Richard Morris Hunt (Cambridge, Mass. :
The MIT Press) , 1980, pages 340-341. "Indian Spring" was the
Joseph R. Buck residence.
-242-
a7 A•
K
D
K' Y
e
5 Sk c wv A�`YRr^MYY' C`i
s zv�"fs����- ,-
" ¢ v s ::
Y �
.z`g>. a1 �' '�„ �" v x :a x mkt s,r "'�,
b
gm� E v' 6�� � .., � � Z_x ; �y x �.,�5
' � s. 34F ba R E a t
svr< '"dY ,�',.� Fxa ? ,fr >Y ^ `+�
t 1� a ' �� r
.LAS `'x:' P z,. �` ::
a,b 3 ri ,,;$� - �4,+ .9^ 3 6
Ftl ge4' 't5„�K� �v�(' y 6.
tai ,:::$ r-`' f�
I $$:ir z ilF^•!!�'.[: Y }. =.
o?k 4 w -
Y ,'�E _. f Ea {T1) EEt 1 ��)ff f j;�"' �r ¢G
x-.X. s,,, 3 i f jf i a.� V Arb'vYf P Y_
$pe'� ,.sw� fi
xis y'C.TI+�t R �_. <t , �Wtf) w. ..
j--; �gy' i,—.`t K Y
M 3+ ^3Ygz., k.N fi� "R.
as d .v Rf ,xS �'n �.u�f'�� f`..�'� �, a.
7 r kd 9Y L a.'.I B �S� 'Q: '
3-7. McKim, Mead and White, Narragansett Casino,
iarraansett, shade Island, 1£383-$6, partially destroyed,
•exterior view from south (Sheldon, Artistic Country-Seats,
1886} .
moo
3 �zsR '�X:A " 'a. 't a. 6 +tz. �u�° 7 ,„c^ �� 4,R
>� ax y '`"zRt it a ,a.:.£ K' c'd'" t�3 .,.' a '�Y� "}z'
;oa SYhf. T 4i^'> >R a3, 1 3c t .. _ ''e. .X
` ¢PZ r3 @fi oY.W: (yB ry .:•,..-` dy 5.
4 � .,. 4 -a':
K' "� 1^ ai off'tp'
K g■
t'.. ' �` ,tv a .� -,,r,lc, `• _ _
.a. ..s'sy ,w '(u.. ,.aw.. �.-,'a.r .,r.r' ;yd aa, a`g; �r"♦sa"5: g x'N
- "`.. ' '«C./W ,.1�1�'�r4e ' � ' � rae` .
:,:' ' .a'a.'T°"`'b.("`a.. 3 R s{. ». + '°7-.. t`�+y,ywo. `°s' arts 7-, "Ey+h::?..,::.:;..77.. .....P.'.10./.1V$ _,,,,,�o
'X �t ... '� '„� ".nfS- ±- po' '. '�'n'tas.� ` ..:7....'''.. 7'''''-'7,'-'7"7-----e>aa. .p ,w
n ... ,.s :k elw.. •r x R. „z. a..,>-: ,a. x ,,^-^•^, otxz ,: �c"y”" ;:: ..
.esh .t¢..�'°k' .... s�., .y,„k"'' ^,rt.., .`..7" c '»4 '.��y.
.eex.e� �t:'..Rtb.� y�S-ec�^. Lw .s>%, �
z. '7 raa; t ..' ."' ''.a �i+cyl 7'..„yy's»r° _:?s - ,;
# ,yy wa» Yr° '"'°Et e'4 au¢ ; {
V N
,a. ar.t3,. xa,r.«:' a:E
,A Ywes.:.aot^ * '' xasi;�, °'-° 2"'�''?...._ o3,v. T?Ywr,.�..').+4u.M,xebc: ..:,"a*x.,..aGc:ss
v 3-°. McKim, Head and White, Charles S. Osborn resi.-
dente, t�ariaronec' , New `fork, 1£x$3-:35, partially destroyed,
exterior view (Sheldon, Artistic Country-aeats , 18$6 ) .
-243-
3
44 much to the detriment of the remaining octagonal tower. All
3
of which leaves the building a mere vestige of its former
!-mf glory (Figure 3-6) .
is
The boat house was' purchased by -the City of Ithaca in
1 AL 1923 and was incorporated into ..-StewartPark.' It is currently
used for storage and as the lodge for the caretaker of the
park. The remainder of Stewart Park was originally developed
as a trolley amusement park, and its history began in the
early 1880s.
On 29 November 1884, George W. Apgar, Alonzo Chase,
George B. Davis, John H. Selkreg , DeForest Van Vleet, Otis E.
Wood, and S. S. Howe incorporated the Ithaca Street Railway
Company with a capitalization of $25,000 and with Wood as
president and Chase as secretary. Little, however, was accom-
plished in establishing an operational street railway until
1886 when the Haines Brothers of New York city entered the
situation and obtained franchises to build in various right-
of-ways. On 27 December 1887, Ithaca became only the third
city in New York state with an operating electric railway
system which extended from the Lehigh Valley Railroad station
to the intersection of East State and North Aurora Streets.10
Despite the promise that was achieved in getting the
system started, the street railway operated haphazardly under
10Richard D. Kerr, The Ithaca Street Railway (Forty Fort,
Penn. : Harold E. Cox) , 1972, pages 5-7. Binghamton inaugu-
rated the first street railway system in the state on 31 May
1887; the second was the Jamaica and Brooklyn Road Company' s
railway inaugurated on 17 December 1887.
-244-
the management of the Haines Brothers due to mechanical diffi-
culties. The mechanical difficulties were not overcome until
new management appeared in 1890 in the form of Horace E. Hand,
Judge Alfred Hand, and Herman Bergholtz of Scranton, Pennsyl-
vania, plus A. L. Robertson of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.
ri
=` ''' `= This group of men had the technical expertise and the finan-
cial resources to embark on an ambitious and successful expan-
sion of the existing system and to upgrade the equipment to
assure dependable service. On 4 December 1891, a new fran-
chise was obtained to connect with the East Hill depot of the
Lehigh Valley Railroad and with the Cornell University campus
from the existing State Street line. ' franchise was also
obtained for a line along North Tioga Street to Railroad
Avenue (now Lincoln Avenue) . In addition, the new management
bought the Brush-Swan Electric Light Company, which originally
had been incorporated in 1884 to provide street light service
in the city, to furnish the necessary electrical power and
expanded its generating capacity accordingly.11
On 31 March 1894, Horace E. Hand and Herman Bergholtz,
the latter having removed to Ithaca by this time, obtained
title from James Renwick of New York city to most of the 640-
acre Renwick Tract north of Fall Creek with plans for the
eventual development of a trolley amusement park, a new
cemetery, and a new residential suburb, the latter like Hand 's
successful development of the Elmsford suburb outside of
11Kerr, Ithaca Street Railway, 1972, pages 8-1.1.
-245-
:' Scranton.12 Although the development of the residential
suburbs of Cornell Heights and Cayuga Heights did not occur
until later and by other people, the extension of the North
Tioga Street railway line to the lake, contemplated in late
1893,�3 did proceed in 1894 as- well as the development of the
•
amusement park. ' To this end, the Cayuga Lake Electric Railway
Company was incorporated on 14 February 1894 with a capital-
ization of $75,000; Herman Bergholtz was made president of the
new company and William Hand the secretary-treasurer. This
new company was created in order to allow for the anticipated
• summer only operation of the line to Cayuga Lake outside the
city limits , but the company was solidly under the control of
a
the Ithaca Street Railway Company by a leasing arrangement and
was bought outright by the older company in 1908.14
The "formal" opening of the amusement park, named Renwick -
Park, was scheduled for 26 June 1894 with the arrival of its
first major excursion from Binghamton, New York,i5 even though
the 'contract for the construction of the park's pavilions was
not awarded to Stephen M. ' Oltz until 12 June 1894.16 The main
restaurant pavilion and the "tea house", or concession stand ,
12"An Important Deal, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 3 April 1894,
page 3.
•
•
�3"Lakeward Ho: ", Ithaca Daily Journal, 11 November 1893,
page 3.
14Kerr, Ithaca Street Railway, 1972, pages 11-12.
15" 'Twill Be A Big One, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 29 May
1894, page 3.
16„City Chat,” Ithaca Daily Journal, 12 June 1894, page 3.
-246-
were completed in 1894. The remainder of the park' s buildings,
st the dance pavilion, bandstand, water tower, boat and bath
1 houses were not completed until 1895. A covered trolley stop
and a colonnade to connect the restaurant pavilion, water
tower, and dance pavilion, were never realized.
Renwick Park captured the imagination of the Ithaca Daily
Journal like no other project before or since. Literally
hundreds of announcements and articles appeared in the news-
paper during 1894 and 1895 describing the progress of the
. development of the park, leasing arrangements between conces-
sionaires and the park's management, excursions planned to the
park and various other aspects. The newspaper also published
the ground floor plan and principal elevation of the main
pavilions complex (Figure 3-9) on 3 August 1895. As late as
1897, it lamented the continued nonconstruction of the connec-
ting colonnade.17
The very development of Renwick Park itself was the
result of Vivian and Gibb's design being able to capture the
imagination of Horace E. Hand, the major financial backer of
the development:
When Architects Vivian & Gibb submitted to Mr. Berg-
holtz a pretty, ideal sketch of a group of buildings
for Renwick beach it was with no expectation that the
same would ever materialize in building materials.
When they were requested to prepare detail plans the
realization seemed to them yet far off in the dim'
future. Only a year has elapsed since the making of
the pretty water color picture now treasured by Mr.
Horace E. Hand and the group of ornamental buildings
17"Renwick Beach Spray, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 8 June
1897, page 3.
r.,
•y . , t
t3 r n�4+•)r ,...i."
fi
ti',.'r'''' -,:e.,�Xty�,� �
t ywlV 4,A(* < y
�" p.•rr '..r.:'.^tA�"...a+Y^..e.+�'�"'� 1 Al' 'h1c.5 # "!St#
aXKZ„rv>*, w• • .*'••••-••-•-› I.;•4, - ..4.,,,. ,•,. . ,.... .
. , . .: . : :... • . . >,,.. ,:,.,54t..... 4,,.;...,. ,.c....,1 “,.. v ._, —
R # T
f p .:gtf y':'� h%r ' c f.:%'e+• ...ilt Stt.ides," 1 y: ,.,.. rt:` •r ,,,.....f,a.�7l�r �s,4 w-∎
rç wd�(f; < '.l � ` yZ',�;+ p4`< _�L ,,,..yll.� •�f'`• '}`*y ice' '.i. .,i tr 's�.t y"S'�3" y"'!+
� ;>s j� t� t r ,,TTt� a"1 ,• ,+ l+r.' t •r k. ems•
y .-.. ..s.4;(;/.1.„,•.-;,,is-4
ip& 'a/'1•^�`� OSN7L'.�" 04."T"?' r R ,,,i�, yy:"1r•, Y S� '� ti, �XSjlT., ty�• ,1.1 � r 'i or s :H CI �.1 ' // 1q +i J 1),`/r I17` 't ; 't..',-`= i,r--: � '> ; jr �.. 1 s �.4:;.J 1-4 ,Jit
c,. t -o -4:f/t Y' � ''' •--A `..r/ -14t .73' 4; , ♦ J i r .! �,y J .i i.t- „R 1" i w a 1 ]r "%q:6 S x S, / 1• Z + 4' .� r „ r,- • 'Y'r �•i .c Y u Fes' `• /4 �Y Le� t 74.'$1 ""�3�3t is ;t �. Z� r1■•
/I) c „, y''z'','",t' �';*7' 0.1L , 't .-�•� �Irl 1 'c���,�.�.+�•^' i'
,-, a ;, r � p c R E N C K ';� �
�, DINGS ,ti °
0 r.J jf i.+ '{ • (.7 v . lf SITv i b zYrtt,
11 -P-'
:.
� �^ ~ - ., t !+~• r"l A -Jy 't • `. R y
om •
�(� i. „f. K,•f } C Y +' "7. �
Y . t ir t•-" 'ii t �
u v0 ' tip - ' • � rt,s
•
LAI L11't ' ilJ ` y J.-•r t . a r
J ,;C'" •''. { t . , i r
>O + ir • �w �rt �s
yam. t• #?+ :S
�'. �' ° 1 t 1 F ; 4, .w 1... .t ti' rS
♦� 1 1 •� M' �#
CO y o ' • -': .N,.. K B u i L D G .
A
P• � r D PLAN Gp R
Cu GROU
VO
O
H —
C}
c+
-248-
•
adorning the beach lack only colonnade and covered
t landing platform for the cars to surpass anything 18
d of ,kindred nature in this state- if not in this country.
, ; � The design which so captivated Horace E. Hand was a grand
-4.q civic gesture comparable in its effects and pretensions in
*0!t,*S1 Ithaca only with the Clinton House of a half-century before.
s ,f 4w
� It was also, even in its never completed form, an appropri-
ately delightful design as an architecture for Victorian
American amusements (Figures 3-10 through 3-15).
The largest pavilion originally housed. a restaurant and
consisted of a main block two bays deep and three bays wide,
each -bay featuring a large semi-circular arched opening set
into the simple shingled .walls. Each arched opening was
filled with small panes of fixed glass with paired doors at
the center, similarly glazed. A wide veranda surrounds the
main block which supports the broad shingled expanse of the
moderately pitched hip roof on a colonnade of coupled Tuscan
columns. A subsidiary addition, with shingled walls and
hipped roof, contained the restaurant's kitchen and is
attached to the rear of the main block. The interior walls
and ceiling are covered with wood siding, and the three-sided
• fireplace planned for the center of the pavilion was removed
less than a year after its construction.19 Today, the
building stands sadly neglected with the flooring of the
veranda removed and apparently replaced by a lower concrete
K 18"City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 17 July 1895, page 3.
19"Briefs, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 8 May 1895, page 3.
a
-249-
'1. [ ,
--
- a-, •; , ,'4".*:‘vtlt • *• .-... ";-.4'J '..'' # (�J. 1. ••C , .'• Y -,. t.) t 1M"
x _ Q•4,-,,;40-1 j -:\..,,.e......,...73-.. • , 1�d � .fit
• t)'''
) '1'1\ ) �! 1 :' • ."47:'#''.4.4 n
'L 111j�...-..r.ne-.... { '1 sal?^,.1 — 1 L:LiMMU.i----i ....m-•
— F.. a'i: --7. •-_::,•-- ,7�/'�2`yi�t"`+.3�- '.Z,- ri.L +{.i1..j�A1Lj;A 6T
'it:�M� ..`..7•!J- _�.�.�Y"! Y... h n7r�.-.a .f •3' a�!.`,, �V
+. _
.g....• .,'•`.T.3;d" ..ci3' r,S:r.L ,'.:..nt'i'"---tr- .-..,
Xqc+• G� r ,ti,. }
`
3-10. Vivian and Gibb with William Webster (landscape
} architect) , Renwick Park, Ithaca, New York, 1894-95, exter-
=_ _ terior view from northeast (Griffis , Art Works of Tompkins
County, 1896).
- .i mot.-...i:! '� •.i•"/":".„". ."£,nt
111+ v_.
•
!" y a^ c�.' ! L7 ~ t s� ?.... .i •�> •a 1 ! 7 1k j:..p. ,..„,'1;.F ,, �i�{
T,t„� r •
�►py�i.. '1+� 1 �'. r� f� ` ,. ..? M- a •Y -�L ,.Iw,.. A ' _f�, 1�'3•
a r � yy4 1_`i y ♦ ., � x, '• ~.gat 4'.,. >} '°'t �'� t�l
r X*K":".4..- A * 'f.e'- 1 1 I. 1 1 II b lit ti• I hi A 1
:f . �.,rs; -- —mil
.5^ _ Ti* lkY/-� ' .b5 `,xo.,�Ga�f'wYr.. ...__..
~_Y J-n�.w +ti ` � '.-.j".'J*""!�a1r.' ,t1r
,
( 4 ,ktl -•_;:•,... �..__�. y- F[ -iJ F y.i ... -.. N 1i" 0..• ,- r•7" '----11.:::..:. f .k.,".:;it ...
a. w _ iCCyYJ .1•:,..,„:-:{ �
1-
3-11. •main pavilions complex, Renwick Park, 1894-95,
exterior view from northwest (Griffis , Art Works of Tompkins
� -
County, 1896) .
,3!
_250_
'41 floor and with many of its windows broken and boarded up
;mac
(Figure A-11), but it still serves essentially its intended
-: function, now as the main picnic pavilion at Stewart Park.
r >= ; A second large pavilion, originally used for dances, was
located some 150 feet to the west and was similar in size and
appearance to the restaurant pavilion except that it lacked
the rear addition which allowed the veranda to surround
. completely the pavilion. Although this pavilion was not
completed until 1895, it was altered in 1896 by the addition
. '-: of a stage with short wings at its west end and became
Ithaca's first vaudeville theater.20 Two years later, the
construction of a projection booth allowed the Renwick play-
house to be the first theater in Ithaca to feature motion
pictures,21 although the motion pictures were incidental to
the main attraction of vaudeville. In 1903, the stage was
moved back to the west edge of the veranda and enlarged, which
• also allowed the seating capacity of the pavilion to be
increased to a claimed 1,000 or so.22 Beginning in 1906, the
pavilion was used for several winters as a roller skating
rink,�3 while reverting back to a theater during the summer.
•
20"At Breeze-Swept Renwick Beach, " Ithaca Daily Journal,
=23 June 1896, page 3.
21"At Renwick Beach, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 28 May 1898,
-page 3.
22"At Renwick Beach," Ithaca Daily Journal, 11 May 1903,
`page 3.
�3"Roller Skating," Ithaca Daily Journal, 20 October 1906,
. Page 5.
-251-
Throughout all these changes in use, the pavilion was able to
k accommodate the changes while remaining the visual twin of the
" -restaurant pavilion. But when the Renwick Park and Traffic
Association leased the park to Wharton, Inc. , a motion picture
production company, this pavilion became Wharton's primary
interior studio. At this time, the colonnade was replaced by
the present stuccoed walls, and the west wall was raised to
two stories in height by the addition of a shed dormer. . The
pavilion (Figure A-12) , as it stands today, hardly resembles
its former self and is used primarily as a bath house and
storage building.
Mid-way between these two pavilions and set back behind
them was a four-story tower, square in plan, which housed the
park' s water supply as well as an observation deck just under
the steeply pitched pyramidal roof. Like the two main
pavilions, the tower was finished with wood shingles, and
entrance to the structure was gained through paired, glazed
doors with sidelights of small paned glass. At the second
story, a second pair of glazed doors were incorporated into a
Palladian window and were intended to open onto the roof
promenade of the proposed colonnade. At the fourth story,
over the water tank, the view from the observation deck was
framed by three arched openings supported in part by Tuscan
columns . The water tower was unfortunately destroyed by
Hurricane Hazel in 1955.24
24Barbara Bell, "Glance Backwards : Stewart Park," The
Ithaca Journal, 10 January 1970, page 17.
•
•
:
-252-
.-/
.1:::::!....:
A
.h
^ >r. ,�.e,
zz"IA •,L 4 � '?tk ' " 'c k'° %1 � ;rh - k., k J F 88 y d " � gA s i' f Z * : y ,.. . a rk �,?a .. :•t• ?;:M„ � e - .z€ � ,Y . u.a s L
S e
£'
,xt , _. am �a vy _,i 'a w . '4' ' '
':... :'.,M::
a ' �s ,' .1.4.31141; t:V,:' b- °' ..r., i r . 4# � , n s� A a �a c ma '°:e� "^ Ms se"1 c �e , ...* x [3 oS ",:,- w ' g, ka ' s v' " ... :P: g• v'L: , a' y 6.ya " < tM �,„ i : y 3 . 8. rFre ,>r „4. , f :.,: .:. v x dY ,�, r £ - m ``sk �”x *:........v.- & Frn x ::F ---,. 4 I %,stoc:#:.,r w 1'#3 yu + " 7 to - ��x ' . , ` ff y°`^: � y'��7::,, .� a �'x ,ofk> �` � �.y v< „im+. ' � '�.� jx g fz :"'::.:0 Ai' ; S•Y "as_rva s N ti ' ':7�j'� �*��l « 5 a l .f :e ; F , Y�£ q� . � b k� A w f � � �., § t ' r t R. n�`� 3e � `. 5 exterior view from n;. ".. :n l Park 18?4-9 ,crwc Ihaca, I Bib}•.3-12. bout Su estons east {SorrP or
t
n-
-
..
;'k £ ..,,��°° z°" L'»' a •.w�_,v"s'T fe%'Kkar.Y+'Sxv....
") �'` k got
R �6M G,..� 4 t _
e eM
3 F L 4 v N<:". ,.,,,, > A.�� L 5 YAh y� M.:
, Ys `. X yf `:,£. 6y A ..� � S ) f< `l it ^J Y r >I1
Y.,. y. ;. «r s� 3 3, �N tss n.e" .. ,F,, `v"4" ^,,/� .; £°fie
3 — ��`' F R 1x.,y Site%'- iy y,,:a ,,,. y `-�nr'"'y""`•
£ a T?,'u x t t.,..''pf '''''.' f y A IfF p sy ` w:�iili ,.
�'� 's ,a/n�zi`�xb '; t -'s., '"`° ,.,*�.'x "°x r� .rs k sK'r`� t t t q.:..
ro '° „a,,,,,,_-.--,‘
'+� .,may{ ,re..c.+�'rtYy.,a.. � Y,..s.n.rr 's J,t '
� � ^`�s” '.af.'�"W �''�Y'� �M �"�� � y'f-x,ICY '�i
u �„ .,+ .d1 "' w >� ...:, ., F ,.. a kt . f A Ff r r^ :..,, A_'
..,...ae�°' .r .aexe /ae .rF �% 3 w' s'� r• z k'k4' x'6•
° ,cw.��1 1ve ,e ` e "e� +w w� k4'� •`i sf -'a:w a� ie. 1-.. . a.. , ,e, '; . ✓�'.'..
r•c te ..:.- y I& � 'rte 9` r :,,,,,,,e,..4:::'.r ^s "" ✓;
"3+- �m CDs a x .t,. t�r„p"� ." ✓s L'•S„s>y, - , ,, . .., .x F '`s .c«L, �: :t t$ r4 ti g '' v %y "' f t^l
_ ? £' - X:x '7. ;N: ,,,.4.g?• '" rs r'.^9� ,;``�y`•a.: , �$4f# %ST"v e c `i "
0... €'t ? % `-a ;w- ` .ie',a' ;i ,- �'"',.s '.--,&y,' •".0, '4`?.Y�a x r < ,,,�`�,�x r^-4'''.2.A' .,I.-.�,.f
t R3.��1 abs, .`A �' . �. --'-✓`'�--• ' 1 k s t k +F s�,"',%.;;;,':•:::"::?.
k ,b < . La: aa`4, `, s . ", `°a,5FYw'�'"` Y,�`-, s-7 R� :f..a ' .n 3 ""`y: A,",2"'0� .�
�,,; . ?-13. boat houses, lienwick. 'ark, 1—z 9 -95, exterior•t;iF.r 'r on nouth:�rest Some Sur?fl estions about Ithaca, 9 ) .
;tip:
x :
1
-253-
To connect these three structures, Vivian and Gibb pro-
posed an off-set semi-circular colonnade of Tuscan columns
E �.
supporting an open promenade on its roof. This was never
built nor was the proposed trolley stop which would undoubtedly
t._
have been placed immediately behind the water tower.25 At the
focal point of the proposed colonnade was built an octagonal
bandstand which was referred to as a "pagoda". The Renwick
"pagoda" frequently featured the music of Patsy Conway and the
Ithaca Band,26 a band sufficiently popular in the region to
have inaugurated the trolley park pavilion at Cortland in
189627 and for merchants in downtown Ithaca to have expressed
relief over increased business on Saturdays when Conway and
his band did not play at Renwick Park.28 As with all too many
nineteenth-century bandstands, this one has succumbed to the
passage of time and disuse without a trace.
Of the many other minor pavilions and structures erected
at the park, only the "teahouse" can be safely ascribed to
Vivian and Gibb. This pavilion originally housed the conces-
sionaire who sold iced teas and other non-alcoholic beverages
�5This was the location to which the "teahouse" was moved
when it was used for this purpose.
26For a short, informative synopsis of Patrick Conway
(1867-1929) and the Ithaca Band, see Barbara Bell, Glance
Backwards (Watkins Glen, N. Y. : Author) , 1970, pages
and "Conway to Conduct Band of 200 Pieces, " The Ithaca Journal,
15 February 1916, page 3.
27"Personal Mention, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 23 June 1896,
page 3.
28"Business Improving ," Ithaca Daily Journal, 18 May 1903,
page 3.
-25+-
as well as ice cream and other confectionaries. It was square
r ;, , in plan with an arcade of three arches set into each shingled
wall with each arch supported on a set of Tuscan columns, and
the pavilion was capped by a shingled, moderately pitched,
roof. Beginning in 1898, the "teahouse" did duty as the
billiards pavilion for a couple of years while the water .
tower' s ground floor housed the previous concessionaire.29 In
1900, the "teahouse" was moved from its original position east
of the restaurant pavilion (Figures 3-10 and 3-12) to a posi-
tion immediately behind the water tower (Figure 3-15) where it
served as an open depot for the street railway.30 The struc-
ture now stands (Figure A-13) southwest of the former dance
pavilion as a picnic pavilion and is missing its columns which
have been replaced by simple rectangular piers and triangular
corbels.31
Conceptually, Renwick Park represented a new philosophi-
cal approach to street railway development that emerged in the
mid-1890s. The earliest street railways , including the first
franchise in Ithaca, were developed to meet an existing need—
for example, providing fast reliable transportation between
the two main railroad stations at the inlet with the central
29"City Chat," Ithaca Daily Journal, 20 April 1898, page
6.
30"At Renwick Park, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 31 March 1900,
page 3.
31This structure has been incorrectly identified as the
park ' s bandstand in S. Hector, "Building-Structure Inventory
Form: Stewart Park Pavilions and Boathouse, " July 1979.
r
m ��
far
' ' :.-_Q fir y try h f< 4 ) £
fir, a 3
Y ':§ f u
i �
C 4115::''..-',.: K l _ w x
L ah`£ d. .3Q
--W::::::::-:::-
ph
L nY3' rt
3 H
} , n ' > > 3r 3,r"t- D» z a r a; £ dx ..+¢ <( fr w x,�.f ) � .
R£� i x� 'fl r z a s .17 6 SSA; e t ° . f ,.
HS 5� - ° d � � jqg L.
3N'
*' �, S �A7 ; Y Y �+6 a,`''r r� '"w!"'�', ,"az& a +� s � g g , i '.
s `.�'. C• .,v, .}( Y -Fd: i 3w.t�* y � F � +� +w i_,•S. F£`y.
r w `"kyr tx p, x ..?7'o h 3 ut°s t,�xF �zw `� - '� : : Sfax df� :
f s a�+aR<^._°� r X<' Y a SS t.i sY'°< ✓e x "... - 5 : 3.4 63, 5,: gf
W of F -!"_ #�<7 +yam£�a �';a :q '` ; p ' :.''.3a -' .'`" I� �H '
�`" _ yes_ `E+ I 0--�.... sF , to Rµ x°:Z` x �ir', C7 Rn..aX SuC,s,MF
aJ 'b Y:13 Sys 7 - £ £: 111.s. P wYny:: et'°' <. 't, :.
,.g, M1S.g y i' Z,� x, <. 5 ' � c. :;, f 9v Y � c F
qx 5-, � y ,i ,, W� °'<"'S < ;;°:,4-'*:-''''-''
�� t x1°i` ,Jr `3�7t; x ,z R� a
s;� %'� Q,��44:4s? ':4.X`;x k V EF z .'w,' 'A,r.ranaa. �t ;s ya $£ 5,A y" G aa� Yt ,�„{
6^rr ,<«y,:n �-�e' ,..��:�Q,e�,ks -�?' s%.:.,$a�� ��? ° ?'F[ �3�;.,a� '3 .. < `.�: ed F�
-?4, east arotznds , erwic'_ Park, 3894-9 , ex :erier
view from ;•rest ( ��� A sue,�z t.ton.s bout Ith� ca, 18 r7 Z.
-...,....„1
...,.. .,,::: :,......:::,
.....„.,:::::....-.,
,..::::::,.:::_:._
w„
.....,..
4,,..:-...z.::..N4,:,..,...,
s.,,,..„::,,,...,..,.,..,..,.:„4
...,......„.......,.„.„..
:. ::::::.„7_,-.:,,_
y mss`
„ ,, .. .,.
,. .... .
..,:,,::,..„.,..:i.__::
:.....,„....,::::..,...::::::...
......,
,5
. ,,:., it? ,, .:--
_.. - 11,,,i ., —
.,. . „:. i• . •...
i x � t Y 1
'' Vi azd.. :5At.t ek 8'L� P ! 1! 1 e b Y - s ,`TX;
ac�aF #- 'F R .``. , u �. ` ) •`;. tic
�aoa " °` ed � .» ' >«- K�. fir wx .
��si<' i��w� � a :yyfi�jz" ,s X .. ,.:.� "�"�Se i.,ee +x.;�'.,
zt�H §kwd ':, ,R .g'Yas 's' '�� _i ." 'E° art 1rZt i n '! 'r
z aQ. = '.�. ` .. azn ,r `` a ,9y°: ° ,ff' ,t4.iikl '
s 'c .:,,,:v. { ) E�y Sk' � z' R a�.� g -„ 5 j,ee r a4 tE 2 ?- 4k
"'' yt:�°a7 eM,�° ';x+'' ^`Y. "j`.'7 F" ro ,,,-24- tl J M t: e,„f R!`S �. �, 'F
�Dfx w.5.y, » < °FF .x' . £ +ea£& xe a Yryae"w.. a`.. '
a •"' Q: a. 8:. TF3'`=T'£:. 4.V .'x'iie" 5 `lls�S.<vr .: �3',.��✓'be..•
?-?5• main pavilions co le: , ern.�ic_; ;ark, 1' .-9-;,
e : r rior v ew .frcm east (views, o Ithaca, 1 906 ).,
-256-
business district of Ithaca. In addition, street railways
«- were often extended to areas in order to make the real estate
along the route, or at its end, more valuable, like the Maple
Avenue Railway of 1887-88 in Elmira, New York,32 or the
Seattle Electric Railway and Power Company's route to the then-
northern suburb of Fremont, Washington.33 Renwick Park, on
the other hand, was developed solely to generate new traffic
for the street railway.
As an amusement resort, Renwick Park was not especially
unique or innovative in itself. A comparable resort had
developed in Elmira as Eldridge Park, which had been begun in
1860, though on a much smaller scale, as a landscaped park but
began to evolve into an amusement park sometime around 1890.34
More typical of late nineteenth-century amusement park develop-
ment would seem to have been resorts like Charlotte, New York,
north of Rochester. Here facilities for lake bathing were
32Shelden S. King , The Street Railway Operations of the
Elmira Water, LiPht and Railroad Co. , Its Predecessors and
Successors , 18 1-1939 (Elmira, N. Y. : Felix E. Reifschneider) ,
1961, pages 2-4. The Maple Avenue Railway was the first
street railway in Elmira to be electrified, which occurred in
1890.
33Clarence B. Bagley, History of Seattle : From the
Earliest Settlement to the Present Time (Chicago, Ill. : The
S. J. Clarke Publishing Company) , 1916, Volume I, pages 429-
438. Curiously, in 1889, when the Seattle Electric Railway
and Power Company was organized, it was the seventh electric
railway in the world to purchase equipment and the fourth to
commence operations; however, at the time, Seattle did not
have regular steam railroad connections with the rest of the
country.
34-Carolyn E. Boyce, Eldridge Park: A Walking Tour
(Ithaca, N. Y. : Harley McKee Chapter/Society of Architec-
tural Historians ) , 1981, no pagination.
‘fir, -257-
advertised in the 1850s in addition to fishing and boating;
construction of two major hotels, the Spencer House in 18?3
and the Cottage Hotel in 1874, and four minor ones made the
town the leading_ resort on Lake Ontario; and the addition of
an auditorium and mechanical amusements, like a merry-go-round,
roller coaster, mystic swing, and maze, allowed Charlotte to
be called "the 'Coney Island' of Western New York" in 1891.35
In either case, the actual amusement parks were owned separate
from the transportation systems that serviced the parks.
The Panic of 1893 convinced a number of railway systems
of the need to find new ways of generating traffic beyond
• merely laying track. In 1894, the Seattle Electric Railway
and Power Company bought John Cort 's Lake Washington Casino,
renamed it the Leschi Park Pavilion, and began presenting
vaudeville and concerts in it in an effort to boost ridership
on its Yesler Way line.36 Also in 1894, the Altoona (Pennsyl-
vania) and Logan Valley Electric Railway Company formed the
Lakemont Park Company to develop an amusement park with a
casino, theater and mechanical rides.37 And of course, also
in 1894, the Ithaca Street Railway Company began the develop-
35Richard W. Flint, "Meet Me In Dreamland: The Early
Development of Amusement Parks in America, " Victorian Resorts
and Hotels : Essays from a Victorian Society Autumn Symposium,
Richard Guy Wilson, editor (Philadelphia, Penn. : The Victor-
ian Society in America) , 1982, pages 100-104.
36"Another Opening, . . . Another Show" : Seattle Theatre
History (Seattle, Wash. : Museum of History and Industry) , 27
June-14 September 1980.
37Flint, "Meet Me In Dreamland, " Victorian Resorts and
Hotels, 1982, pages 104-105.
-258-
ment of Renwick Park.
From the developer's point of view, the development of an
amusement park along the south shore of Cayuga Lake was not a
particularly innovative venture even though Renwick Park may
have been among the very first to be developed by a street
railway system. For the architects, on the other hand, the
commission was essentially unprecedented. In addition, this
type of commission does not seem to have often come the way of
architects with the high-style pretensions of Vivian and Gibb.38
38This may only be indicative of the present lack of
investigation by architectural historians in this area.
Frederic Thompson was one of the few well-known designers of
amusement parks around the turn of the twentieth century who
has been identified with an architectural background, his
having been that of a former architect 's draftsman in
Nashville, Tennessee (Oliver Pilat and Jo Ranson, Sodom by the
Sea: An Affectionate History of Coney Island (Garden City,
N. Y. : Garden City Publishing Company, Inc. ) , 1941, page 142) ;
Thompson ' s architecture was definitely not high-style though
still quite appropriate and successful in its own context; see
Gary Kyriazi, The Great American Amusement Parks : A Pictorial
History (Secaucus, N. J. ; Citadel Press) , 1976, pages 54-61.
Another well-known amusement park designer contemporary with
Thompson was Frederick Ingersoll of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
whose background was that of an engineer (Flint, "Meet Me In
Dreamland, " Victorian Resorts and Hotels, 1982, page 106) . On
the other hand, William H. Miller was involved in reland-
scaping Rorick's Glen (The Ithaca Journal, 20 August 1913,
page 3) , a tolley park about two and a half miles west of
downtown Elmira which had been developed in 1900 and whose
attractions included a casino, restaurant, dance hall, roller
coaster, Circle Swing and Little Giant Railroad (King , Elmira
Water , Light and Railroad Co. , 1961, pages 10-11) ; the
designer of the original buildings is not known. In addition,
Peter J. Weber (1864-1923) was responsible for the design of
the original buildings for Ravinia Park at Highland Park,
Illinois, which included a music pavilion, casino, and theater;
this park was developed in 1902-04 by the Chicago and
Milwaukee Electric Railroad and its amusements included an
electric arm swing , skating rink, toboggan slide, and an elec-
tric fountain in addition to the more formal entertainments
(Philip Berger, editor , Highland Park: American Suburb At Its
Best (Highland Park, Ill. : The Highland Park Landmarks Preser-
-259-
With its provision of facilities for eating , drinking ,
K FS•
dancing , performing of music, sight-seeing , picnicking , and
taking the air, as well as bathing and boating, the planned
use of Renwick Park was quite similar to the popular resort
hotels, particularly like those that once dotted the shores of
Cayuga Lake such as the Cayuga Lake House at Sheldrake39 or
the Glenwood Hotel at Glenwood Point,40 but without any over-
vation Committee) , 1982, pages 23-24) . Weber was very much a
high-style architect who had worked for Daniel Burnham and
Company during the 1890s after coming to Chicago from his
native Germany in 1893 prior to the World' s Columbian Exposi-
tion ("Obituary: Peter J. Weber," Journal of the American
Institute of Architects , volume XI, number 10 (October 1923) ,
page 416) ; one of his best known buildings was the main public
library building at Seattle, Washington (Herbert Croly, "The
Building of Seattle: A City of Great Architectural Promise "
The Architectural Record, volume XXXII, number 1 (July 1912) ,
pages 12, 13 and 20) , which was completed in 1906 and replaced
in 1957-59.
39The north section of the Cayuga Lake House was built in
1875 to the design of William R. Mead of New York city, later
a partner in the firm of McKim, Mead and White (Leland M. Roth,
The Architecture of McKim Mead and White, 1870-1920: A
Building List (New York, N. Y. : Garland Publishing , fnc. ) ,
1978, page 7) , with the south section of similar design being
added in 1879; see Carolyn Hamm, William Henry -Miller and
Shingle Style Planning (Ithaca, N. Y. : unpublished Architec-
ture: & Urban Planning 404 term paper/Cornell University) , 3
May 1974, figure 8. The hotel was noted for the excellence of
its appointments and cuisine; its attractions included
billiard and pool parlors, bowling alley, archery and croquet
grounds, boating , and its livery, in addition to the salub-
rious climate of its lakeside locale.
40There were two, and possibly three, hotels at Glenwood
Point, now the site of the Ithaca Yacht Club. The last
hotel was designed in 1895 by John M. Wilgus of Ithaca and was
completed in time for the 1896 season; an excellent descrip-
tion and exterior perspective of this hotel (at first referred
to as the Hotel Evans ) can be found in the Ithaca Daily
Journal, 8 February 1896, page 6. Although the reputation of
this hotel was not as great as the Cayuga Lake House or the
Sheldrake House, it was noted for its dance pavilion and the
public dances held there on Wednesdays and Saturdays (Allan H.
-260-
night accommodations. Except for possibly the extensive incor-
poration of wide verandas in the main complex of pavilions ,
the lake resort hotels were not utilized as a prototype for
==;-,
r~d
Renwick Park, despite their functional similarities. The
prototype for Renwick was not even located in the state of New
York, rather it was located on the shore of Lake Michigan and
had had an even more ephemeral existence than Renwick Park was
to have. The prototype was the World's Columbian Exposition
of 1893 at Chicago, Illinois.
The World 's Columbian Exposition was the architectural
event of the 1890s. Among the approximate 27*-million
visitors to Chicago and the exposition in 1893 were at least
two architects from Ithaca, Miller in August and Vivian in
September.42 Neither Miller 's nor Vivian's impressions of the
exposition are, for the most part, documented, but certain
aspects of the exposition were congenial to Vivian's later
professional needs and were incorporated into his works. The
first instance of this was in the planning and design of the
main complex of pavilions at Renwick Park.
In plan, the main complex of pavilions had many similar-
Treman, As I Remember: Recollections of Allan H. Treman,
Joyce H. Finch, editor (Ithaca, N. Y. : Department of Manu-
scripts and University Archives/Cornell University Libraries),
1979, pages 89 and 91) ; the hotel was destroyed in the great
flood of 1935.
41"Purely Personal, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 19 August
1893, . page 3.
42'fPurely Personal, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 18 September
1893, page 3.
. -261-
Af
{ sties with the so-called "Peristyle" complex at the World' s
1
Columbian Exposition designed by Charles B. Atwood (1849-
1895) . The Peristyle complex terminated the eastern end of
•
4a
the Court of Honor (Figure 3-16) and consisted of two identi-
• cal pavilions, the Casino and the Music Hall, which were
connected by a rectilinear double colonnade which was pierced
•
by a triumphal arch called the Water Gate. At Renwick, the
main pavilions complex was oriented toward the lake while the
proposed connecting double colonnade was semi-circular :in
plan;44 the water tower, which occupied the Water Gate's
43Stanley Appelbaum, The Chicago World's Fair of 1893
(New York, N. Y. : Dover Publications, Inc. ) , 1980, page 21.
McKim, Mead and White are credited with the design in Vincent
Scully, American Architecture and Urbanism (New York, N. Y. :
Holt, Rinehart and Winston) , 1969, page 139; however, Atwood' s
obituary in 1895 lists the Peristyle at the exposition among
his many designs ("Charles B. Atwood, " The American Architect
and Building News, volume L, number 1044 (28 December 1895) ,
page 141) . Charles Bowler Atwood was born on 18 May 1849 at
Charlestown, Massachusetts, the son of David and Lucy (Bowler)
Atwood; at the age of 17, he began his apprenticeship in
architecture with Ware and Van Brunt of Boston and two years
later entered the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard Uni-
versity. In 1872, he left Ware and Van Brunt to begin his own
practice in Boston only to join the firm of Herter Brothers in
New York city in 1875 as chief designer where he was respon-
sible for the William H. Vanderbilt mansion among other works.
By 1884, he had again established his own practice now in New
York city. In 1891, he was made "designer in chief" at the
World' s Columbian Exposition of 1893 upon the recommendation
of his mentor, William R. Ware, replacing John W. Root after
Root 's untimely death on 15 January 1891. In this capacity,
Atwood designed more than sixty of the exposition buildings
including his acknowledged masterpiece, the Fine Arts Palace.
Atwood eventually assumed Root 's former position as chief
designer for Daniel H. Burnham's office until shortly before
his death on 19 December 1895 at Chicago, Illinois. ("Charles
Bowler Atwood, " The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography
(New York, N. Y. : James T. White and Company) , 1932, Volume
XXII, pages 110-111. )
Curiously, the original plan for the exposition's Peri-
.... V.E.!..-,
tit,.
'r.N.mo:::.
.. ....,.„
1..,.a.m::::::..
lut Pur--,,r,:r.:..,7.7,-..--:-.-:-':
.........: , „...........______ ,,..--_--- 6,, .,„:„,,ai, . . „........„, ...: .... . . .
:...„ .: .-:,...„,.., , s,,,, ,,:>_____________>____„___ ........... , ....,.:,:..„::.:..:.;.:.:.. ,
, .,.„.
,---,,_- .-__ -_-_,,,,,„--,-5,-, ,,),,i4 :: ____,„-
..,,,...,-,
,: , ,....
....,_ ,..i, „.....„<„--
..,..........
::-.:.,.i.,;:. a ii.4i :.. ..,_;;,,-,...:---..---____•:...--= _,--_, v,;ie._.._._. -..:-.-,,,,. )44.4 .Et
-.40-;.: • --- -- 111I?
..::,..-.:..-:::: _..---,:,‘3,,:-, ---.. „--- ,...tik. •Jr
---7.--->-_..--::::.--::- jlibla _-_,..-,..-----.::._.....-,......--- __...-----; 3.1. .- „ .. 1 . •iff -'4:41V" •
:-:::.----:.-;::: 7,-;:::-T-''' ...---;.;, I*A1110.;i 7,----'-'-7:----"-.^1%.,';••':- ---<-''''''''. -;14:;:%. ll . ".....co 41,of.4116.
0 --1,46 .... .....--- --.-• - ' °Apr; - 46
stox‘1..w), 0 iiiv( 0 (
) 0- a ( WA1.L'3!c_o• •
gil ate ,f I sot"cs ......)::/eAd '._pa •, ..P t1/21, 0
1 oi
‘;';':::;:--,;;;i'v"...;•• N (5:::rN*)P""n'.a."-----7.7B- ICAESI"-____...-----;:tre."0-iitTICA, -;;;;-,r.11 :Bo. H
.i 1)
•:::".-:-.-:-• r:';;;I:i'L i , 112. i 1
/.:;?-1: i.f=1.0.01:L f;:-777-.::::::::,74.77-77;:-.,=-':Vii::1 `04 ::' it
-- --------. ' —— ) ,,, 4.0 e,
33aaa Stand 0 ',.... 1...,,,Ng ( )a a C
‘..." ,r,.i!iv. _'''.... - ,), 4_____ - 5,-1 _:,__, P
a.
„---;
. - '''..‘"' :;--.----:;;'-;=?:";-'...---:;"-:::" ---- ■L■il ;"---;---.'" !ir)C
- :::::,:ii
„lity.-- -Tt--::::-:::::.:. Pid.1 . •I.‘ "-- ' 17rtlili;' W
.;....,. -„.-:::-:::::::" . . :: „:::: :: ::„. ;.....,..,-;....------- riyAel p.t.,
ql.
-I--.
I ! -""::-."-----i--:_---2411r--;.-;1. ------- ' 4P:44,z,
,:i. . :-;---Alif::is:1----:-EI2:-:::":':=:71-..::-::::: 1,)4.-,I --:::3,:----;,--.•'....>->„....„--- ,
--. :::,%.,„<:::=;',::::: :::::::-.-^:, i''' `';• .5--....--- -'''''--,:i."---' . -...- ...-71•0.0
-.: - --;:--,;:-'.;;;..--,,---:■-,--:::;:;--;-:-.-- IF) -....---- "::::-.;--"...-„--:":■•••:, „ ,--i, (1{.(' `\t 14 4
1Tiozer-;-7-.... ri I vb-aulg :ii, iii- ;i15:-Ilii,1.4.-1,' .:i.i.i. tr--
3-16. hddi \sitiiii71,Vat.
:. :...- roTrgrirf1(4•=1 ..11.- t 9.:,.: It. ",::::htt#31.:P1,7 1:1 . 4 Jer"..--t PilIVI
:.,,....i ..-.. 4.).9 9 t....E z.0 V•c.'ete-.._rt:' ,---=.?...,- .. ::.j,--------4:.:-.ii7":_:,-;:-.;---.5;:;-:-.: 6i:f:.,,...... i‘-;:.--.4\-‘,..kz,14.1,\. t.
....,
0 (1 ndsclpe architect ) ,
Frederick Law Olmste , (landscape,..., .
:'. „..
....... .-: ' Court of Honor, World ' s Columbian Exposition, Chicago,
..H.i.. . Illinois , 1890-93 , destroyed, site plan (Jenks , Century
. '...'. ..:
World ' s Fair Book, 1893) .
.., .
.--,
.: . ..
.:: .
. . r•-• '''':.'. - '-'''.:':-..: - -,4L-',-4.'.-6-'. . -ess414-0 .I ' . .I:.:.r:,.. .' .''.... :
..,..,-,,,,,:-.
:(-F,--:,7:';'.1-::--i4-;44(4:'. .C,--.
... 1.::: Ni
_----- ..........,.;,....,„-:,,:o:t.,,.r,• :„.7.,:-.......:.:.„,;:;...„:•.z,„:.:::...:....i.,..,..:„.•-.:„: •••••::,..:..... . ;. ,,-/.....::7-7....,...51 , : •
-•,...,•:-.,.. ,.,.:;„ 4:•:: • .:-.:,,:,:::;,,.--.::•,•,..:::,: ,,,,----1.- - ,.--- ' - - '. - • Ilk
- _.,•.i -
:, ..i .... ' ' ' Iii1111011prOiNIVIN NIErNiimiimi -:::.-..,......,:,...... .•,...• . . - . , : ,
....,.......
:,.
: .
:......
::.
_ ._ . .. • . .. . ..... ... . . .. .
., . • . . .,. . . , . . , . .. _.. . ,
• .
. • . . .. ... . ,
.::: . ' ........ . , . ... .
::,... . ...,.”
..:: ___ •
'I .. ,......:.......
...: : .
Forestry Building , World ' s
3—17. Charles B. Atwood , F . . - 09 91 destroyed,
..!.....' ..
.1... ... Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois , lo 2- ,.„, , . ‘ .
exterior view from southeast (courtesy, Chicano Historical
....:•::- : Society, #ICH1-02245; photo by C. D. Arnold).
..: ..,
.:::: ..... .
..!:.:..:. ..
-263-
:f
position in the ensemble, was placed behind the colonnade
9 rather than interrupting its intended sweeping arc. Perhaps
a significant, had the Peristyle complex been placed at the
opposite end of the Court of Honor and connected to the tall
07 Administration Building , one would have the conceptual base
for the main pavilions complex at Renwick Park, including even
the location of the trolley stop/railroad station.
The two principal pavilions at Renwick Park were remark-
ably similar in the use of wide colonnaded verandas with broad
uncluttered expanses of shingled roofs to the Forestry
Building (Figure 3-17) at the Chicago exposition; a building
also designed by Atwood.45 Vivian and Gibb did away with the
gabled monitor and simplified Atwood' s busy colonnade. Their
use of coupled Tuscan columns also gave the Renwick pavilions
greater pretensions of high-style architecture, in keeping
with their use of the Peristyle complex as a model.
To compliment the pavilions and to help the park grounds
in accommodating the crowds of visitors, a landscape architect,
William Webster of Rochester, New York,46 was brought in.
style was for a semi-circle of 13 isolated columns (Appelbaum,
Chicago World ' s Fair, 1980, page 21) , whether Vivian or Gibb
were aware of this is not known.
45Appelbaum, Chicago World' s Fair, 1980, page 95.
1+6 Little has been discovered about William Webster beyond
his Ithaca works. His known works outside of Ithaca included
a number of parks for the City of Scranton, Pennsylvania
("City Chat, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 21 May 1895, page 3) , as
well as private work for the Hand family of that city, most
probably including the layout of the residential suburb of
Elmsford ("An Important Deal, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 3 April
- - 1894, page 3), "the arrangement of the grounds of the Masonic
ik
-264-
F Webster ' s typical work would seem to be evident at Lake View
Cemetery, in the planning of Cornell Heights, and in the 1896
: s alignment of the Cascadilla Place approach to Cornell Univer-
I L +a `
f C sity,47 where the informal, picturesque mode of landscape
t,. $�,;; design popularized by the great nineteenth-century landscape
` architect Frederick Law Olmsted is evident. This would seem
to reinforce Webster' s reputation for having once worked for
Olmsted. Despite this preference, the landscaping immedi-
ately surrounding the main pavilions at Renwick Park was
formally organized (Figure 3-14) , as was much of the landscape
design at the Chicago exposition.
But the most significant attribute that Renwick Park
shared with the World 's Columbian Exposition was the ability
Home at Utica" in New York state ("Renwick Park and Lakeview
Cemetery," Ithaca Daily Journal, 30 April 1895, page 3) , and
the trolley park at Cortland, New York ("City Chat, " Ithaca
Daily Journal, 6 August 1895, page 3) . In Ithaca, he was
associated with W. H. Miller in the planning of the Herman
Bergholtz mansion on Renwick Heights ("Renwick Park Pickings,"
Ithaca Daily Journal, 21 May 1895, page 3) , which was not
built, plus projects mentioned in the text of the thesis.
47"To Be Beautified," Ithaca Daily Journal, 2 November
1895, page 3. Webster was not the only professional involved
on this project with Miller, which ultimately included a
formal entrance gate where Cascadilla Place meets Eddy Street
and a new stone arch bridge over Cascadilla Creek, who has not
received due credit for their work with Miller. Professor
Henry N. Ogden of the engineering faculty at Cornell Univer-
sity was also involved ("Campus Adornment, " Ithaca Daily
Journal, 4 June 1896, page 6; Ithaca Daily Journal, 20 March
1897, page 3) ; Ogden' s specialty was the design of masonry
arch bridges. The 4 June 1896 article specifically states
"the plans [for the new bridge] are being drawn by Instructor
Ogden of the Department of Civil Engineering."
. 48Henry Edward Abt, Ithaca (Ithaca, N. .Y. : Ross W.
Kellogg ) , 1926, page 132.
-265-
to create a very special sense of place, though each on a
vastly different scale. The White City, as the 1893 exposi-
tion was commonly referred to, was quite capable of dumb-
founding its visitors.
With a wheeled chair to save mother from the fatigue
of walking we started down the line and so rapidly
did we pass from one stupendous vista to another that
we saw in a few hours many of the inside exhibits and
all of the finest exteriors—not to mention a glimpse
of the polygot amazements of the Midway.
In pursuance of our plan to watch the lights come on,
we ate our supper in one of the big restaurants on
the grounds and at eight o 'clock entered the Court of
Honor. It chanced to be a moonlit night, and as
lamps were lit and the waters of the lagoon began to
reflect the gleaming walls of the great palaces with
their sculptured ornaments, and boats of quaint shape
filled with singers came and went beneath the arching
bridges, the wonder and the beauty of it all moved
these dwellers of the level lands to tears of joy
which was almost as poignant as pain. In addition
to its grandeur the scene had for them the transitory
quality of an autumn sunset, a splendor which they
would never see again.
Stunned by the majesty of the vision, my mother sat
in her chair, visioning it all yet comprehending
little of its meaning. Her life had been spent
among homely small things , and these gorgeous scenes
dazzled her, overwhelmed her, letting in upon her in
one might flood a thousand stupefying suggesj,ons of
the art and history and poetry of the world. yy
Renwick Park, on the other hand, had the ability to transform
the mile and a quarter or so trip from Ithaca to the lake
shore into an excursion of memorable proportions :
But best of all were the times when the Band gave a
Concert at Renwick. You knew about it before-hand.
A picnic basket was packed with potato salad and
hard-boiled eggs , and cold-tea which always became
luke-warm, in a quart can. With your family you
49Hamlin Garland, A Son of the Middle Border (New York,
N. Y. : The Macmillan Company) , 1918, pages 459-460.
-266-
walked up to Tioga Street and stood waiting impor-
tantly for the street-car. Once aboard you went
bumping along happily, past the houses , past Percy
Field, the smell of the lake growing stronger, around
the curve, and there it was, Renwick:
You climbed down and ran to find the best table for
the picnic. - There you put the basket and unpacked
it. There were the bears to feed, and deer, slender
and startled, and a chattering monkey who was always
eating peanuts.
After you had eaten twilight fell, the sunset
turning the lake to rose, then came night, the sound
of lapping water, and the twinkling of many lights.
The Band climbed into the round stand, Mr. Conway
raised his baton, and unforgetable music floated out
across the darkness. Row-boats and canoes glided in
and out of the shadows near the shore. Mosquitoes
sang about your ankles. Fans moved back and forth.
You ate buttered p8corn and leaned sleepily against
your Father. • • .7
Curiously, in late 189+, a design very similar to the
main pavilions complex at Renwick Park was published in The
American Architect and Building News. 51 This design was for a
shelter and look-out on Castle Island (Figure 3-18) in Boston
harbor and was the work of Edmund M. Wheelwright,52 the city
50Edith Horton, A Child of the Nineties (Ithaca; N. Y. :
DeWitt Historical Society of Tompkins County, Inc. ) , 1971,
pages 6-7.
51The American Architect and Building News, volume XLVI,
number 990 (15 December 1894).
52Edmund March Wheelwright was born in 185+ at Roxbury,
Massacusetts (now a part of Boston proper) , where he was
educated. In 1876, he graduated from Harvard University and
then studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and
the Ecole des Beaux Arts during the next five years. Upon his
return to the United States , he worked for Peabody and Stearns
of Boston, and later, for McKim, Mead and White of New York
city and E. P. Treadwell of Albany, New York. Although he
apparently did not officially start his own office in Boston
until 1885, he was the architect of "Kelp Rock" (the Edmund C.
Stedman residence) of 1883 at New Castle, New Hampshire. In
1890, Parkman B. Haven joined Wheelwright as a partner in the
w � ;
a k 67
-G
2
�
✓:c
d as
. L �' '
a f
r k y a r; .
• l: .L
J
y�r�t� : M ` q` f .
a
•r..,,:4 .ry �j xA �' i. r r #1,.'� 44. ! II � p c j.:._ rye..^
'! a YS 'e te•▪ 1•;j�'" s 1 t� �, : _ ,
a -rte 1 wr .N !cr,: ����41j -+'t,i. ,/ —s [a �y�i..ti,
•��y7n�k4 -r a�- „...1,-,v r 1r ,, +:� }h!y!tIY{i4 llr 'fey, ' 1.. -.1--,,...,—,--fr.-".t
'". y,}, �1M pe i.1 .R' ' i'St�‘” L•: -∎jtr. SYn T-• �^�+.. 4"•r' C t s je r 1 , t�CY n �Pj�u�Y ri C
�t.-� i �.. : Iffi- zap..i �' v. "+ > =9.,j � : .
3 1.': .r• t,tyrr •-" _ 7 ;•
3-18. Edmund M. WheelwriEht, shelter and loot-out,
Castle Island, Boston, Massachusetts, ca. 1894, presentation
drawing of exterior (American Architect, 15 December 1894) .•4rge.,,,,,,:...-., ...........1" .. , . . ...„: .:-T:'--74,-
Rq 4:x E r a .: a . i i41YI� —:4= �_
+ra - 2�. cr'.tea ..a" r.. 0ll"'+ z ';...Y :el, 44,1.1.,,,,,.;y.,,
.4'4.i�,.7 �+-.
t e
r� x r
:;4110.,7x ., v ..Y';`s , •.cr ,AA�_':� ,1g'4y` w `JI:r 1.,� 4 ':,.Ne �°r+ 'Soo•1.r J .,Ai,
F ;�. mom" ,,g a:t-x-w, „ � rg;✓ at ,,.: I+Rry y
. i �
r 1. ` .ra�� Q " .�u �4,,. iw � A vb�' �a A^;-aqua. n a.;44„..6'.1r7.::>:"..,,--(,::::;:,':
o ""a < .!ns'A.: w �i . 44. tr� r� 'k �w `'�
'''',x " r 7s: E : 7:„A7 t T
3-19. McKim, Mead and White, Newport Casino, Newport,
Rhode Island, 1879-81, exterior detail of courtyard (Sheldon,
Artistic Country-Seats , 1886 ) •
•
-268—
architect of Boston, Massachusetts. The design featured two,
round, three-story high towers connected to a central two-
�•e
story structure by a semi-circular colonnade; at the focal
point of the colonnade was a tent-covered merry-go-round
surmounted by a tall flagpole.
There is no indication in the American Architect as to
when, or even if, this design was ever constructed; however,
even if it had been built previous to its publication, the
likelihood of Vivian and Gibb having known about it prior to
their design for Renwick Park seems remote. First, the only
known instance of either Vivian or Gibb having been in Boston
occurred in 1895 when Gibb attended to some personal affairs
there.53 Second, the design has some significant differences
which suggests an entirely different precedent than those of
the Renwick Park pavilions.
firm of Wheelwright and Haven, and later in the 1890s , Edward
A. Hoyt was added as a third partner in the firm of Wheel-
wright, Haven and Hoyt. Beginning in 1891, Wheelwright served
for four years as the City Architect of Boston. In 1901, he
was elevated to the Fellowship of the American Institute of
Architects. Wheelwright died on 15 August 1912 at his home in
Dedham, Massachusetts , after suffering a nervous breakdown in
1910. His best known works in Boston were the Horticultural
Hall (1900-01) adjacent to McKim, Mead and White ' s Symphony
Hall, the Opera House (1908, now destroyed) , and the Larz
Anderson Bridge (1900-12) . (Henry F. Withey and Elsie Rath-
burn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects
(Deceased ) (Los Angeles, Calif. : New Age Publishing Company) ,
1956, pages 648-61+9; Scully, Shingle Style and Stick Style,,
1971, page 106; The Boston Society of Architects, Architecture
Boston (Barre, Mass. : Barre Publishing ) , 1976, pages 69 and
172; Arnold Lewis , American Country Houses of the Gilded Age
(New York, N. Y. : Dover Publications , Inc. ) , 1982, no pagina-
tion. )
53"Personal Mention," Ithaca Daily Journal, 30 August
1895, page 3.
-269-
The precedent for the Castle Island shelter and look-out
would seem to be McKim, Mead and White 's design for the
Newport Casino at Newport, Rhode Island. There is the obvious
connection to McKim, Mead and White since Wheelwright had
worked for that firm, though apparently a few years after the
Casino had been completed. There is also the similarity in
plan between the Castle Island structure and the enclosing
veranda of the Casino. Additionally, both designs eschew
classical references in the detailing of the supporting
columns , and the flanking towers at Castle Island are somewhat
reminiscent of the bulging clock tower (Figure 3-19) in the
courtyard of the Casino.
But the one aspect which suggests that the Castle Island
design was derived from the Newport Casino and the Renwick
Park design from the World 's Columbian Exposition is the
siting of the two projects. The pavilions complex at Renwick
Park was oriented so that the principal facades faced squarely
toward the lake in the same manner that the Peristyle complex
faced the main basin of the Court of Honor at the Chicago
exposition. The Castle Island shelter, on the other hand,
revealed its flank to the waters of Boston Harbor which
suggests the Newport Casino, since once the casino building is
removed from the composition, the orientation of the veranda
is of little consequence.
The greatest similarity between the Castle Island shelter
and the main pavilions complex at Renwick Park was the semi-
circular colonnade; however, this particular architectural
-270-
device was fairly popular in the late nineteenth century. Not
only was it used at the Newport Casino, the Castle Island
shelter, and the main pavilions complex at Renwick Park, but
Frank Lloyd Wright used this device in 1893 in his relatively
obscure design for the municipal boat house at Lake Mendota
z
for Madison, Wisconsin, and in his unexecuted 1895 project
for the Wolf Lake resort near Chicago, Illinois.55 In
addition, as previously noted, Charles B. Atwood's unexecuted
design for the Peristyle complex was in the form of a semi-
circle of thirteen columns. McKim, Mead and White also used
the device in their design of 1892 for the library group for
New York University at New York city,56 as did Willis Polk
with his proposed colonnade and triumphal arch entrance of
1897 to A. Page Brown's Union Depot and Ferry House of 1893-98
at San Francisco, Calif ornia.57 Furthermore, John Van Brunt
used this device in his ca. 1896 design for the peristyle in
North Terrace Park (now renamed Kessler Park) at Kansas City,
54Grant Carpenter Manson, Frank Lloyd Wright to 1910:
The First Golden Age (New York, N. Y. : Van Nostrand Reinhold
Company) , 1958, pages 59-61. This was perhaps the only commis-
sion that Wright ever received by way of a design competition.
55Manson, Wright to 1910, 1958, Page 85.
56George Humphrey Yetter, "Stanford White at the Univer-
sity of Virginia: Some New Light on an Old Question, " Journal
of the Society of Architectural Historians, volume XL, number
4 (December 1981) , pages 324-325.
57Richard Longstreth, On The Edge Of The World: Four
Architects in San Francisco at the Turn of the Century (New
York, N. Y. : The Architectural History Foundation-Cambridge,
Mass. : The MIT Press) , 1983, pages 21+0-244.
-271-
rye=
Missouri.58
i tit Throughout its twenty-year existence as an amusement park,
Renwick Park underwent almost annual change in order to main-
"l
tain and enhance its patronage from the residents of Ithaca
and the surrounding area, which included a name change for a
few years in the late 1890s to Renwick Beach. In addition to
the many changes already mentioned in connection with the
principal pavilions, numerous minor structures were erected.
The first of these were the boat and bath houses erected on
the park' s 880-foot long pier, as well as a covered steamboat
58Joan L. Michalak, Kansas City (Kansas City, Mo. : The
Kansas City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects) ,
1979, page 25.
John Van Brunt (1855-1925) was one of three sons of G. V.
Van Brunt , Commander of the U. S. Navy, who practiced architec-
ture during the latter half of the nineteenth century and the
early part of the twentieth century. The other two sons were
Adriance Van Brunt (1836-1913) and Henry Van Brunt (1832-1903),
the latter being the most famous of the three. In the late
188Os, John Van Brunt moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and was
associated with Henry Van Brunt in the firm of Van Brunt and
Howe. He also served with Adriance Van Brunt for a period as
architects for the Kansas City Parks Board, for which they
designed : the peristyle in North Terrace Park (J. Van Brunt,
ca. 1896) ; the Paseo Pergola (J. Van Brunt, ca. 1899) ; stables
building (A. Van Brunt and Brother, 1904) ; and Shelter House
No. 1 in Swope Park (A. Van Brunt, 1904-05). John Van Brunt
was particularly interested in residential design and was
responsible for the designs of the M. E. Dickinson residence,
the J. R. Crowe Jr. residence, and the H. L. Root residence,
alone, and the S. W. Moore residence, in partnership with
Alfred W. Hertz, all at Kansas City, Missouri. (A. D. F.
Hamlin, "The American Country House, " The Architectural Record,
volume XLII, number 4 (October 1917) , pages 293, 348-149;
Fiske Kimball, "The American Country House," The Architectural
Record, volume XLVI, number 4 (October 1919) , pages 338, 339
.77—561; Withey and Withey, Biographical Dictionary, 1956 ,
pages 614-615; Michalak, Kansas City, 1979, pages 25, 32, 109,
and 154. )
-272-
I
landing at the far end of the pier. By 1898, a photo pavilion,
fruit stand, and a canvas-topped platform from which buttered
popcorn was sold were clustered around the water tower, which
were later joined by a bowling pavilion.59 A menagerie was
also developed to the southwest of the dancing pavilion, and
by 1898, its collection of animals included four very small
foxes plus a full-grown one, a woodchuck "with a bad temper,"
an oppossum, a gray wolf named General Weyler, a number of
docile deer, and a bear named 'Rastus which had been at the
park since she was a cub.60 By 1900, a merry-go-round was a
permanent attraction at the park,61 and it was almost joined
by a Ferris wheel, scenic railway, and other mechanical amuse-
ments in 1902,62 but these later attractions never did
materialize.
After 1907, when A. H. Flint of New York city acquired a
controlling interest in the Ithaca Street Railway Company, the
street railway's interest in Renwick Park declined, and the
amusement park was sold to the Renwick Park and Traffic
59See Sanborn Insurance Maps of 1898, 1904, and 1910.
60"At Renwick Beach," Ithaca Daily Journal, 28 May 1898,
page 3. As early as 1895, Renwick Park had acquired its first
monkeys , an adult male and female plus one offspring, thanks
to Mr. Hammond of Hammond and Lawson, lessee of the restaurant
pavilion ("Pick-Ups, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 2 July 1895, page
3) .
61"At Renwick Park," Ithaca Daily Journal, 31 March 1900,
page 3.
62"Terse Tales, " Ithaca Daily Journal, 30 June 1902, page
7.
V -273-
Association, which included Edward G. Wyckoff, D. W. Burdick,
Franklin C. Cornell, Charles H. Blood and Uri Clark as incor-
porators.63 After 1908, vaudeville was discontinued at the
park due to the limited seating capacity of the theater and
the increasing cost of high-grade vaudeville acts.64 By 1914,
the park seemed destined to close like the Cayuga Lake Park at
the north end of the lake;65 however, a last effort to rescue
the park was attempted by Paul K. Clymer, Theodore W. Wharton
and Fitch H. Stevens who incorporated the Renwick Park Amuse-
ment Company with a capital stock of $10,000 and with the
intention of renovating the grounds and constructing a 2,000-
seat outdoor theater.66 This effort fell through, and in the
following year, the park was leased to Theodore W. and Leopold
D. Wharton of Wharton, Inc. , for use as a motion picture
stud io.67
63Abt, Ithaca, 1926, page 132.
64"Renwick Park Is Not To Be Abandoned," Ithaca Daily
Journal, 25 March 1908, page 3.
65"Cayuga Lake Park To Be Discontinued?", The Ithaca
Journal, 11 March 1914, page 7. This amusement park was
operated by the Geneva, Seneca Falls and Auburn Railroad
Company which placed a major blame for the park' s annual
losses during the last several years of its existence on the
cessation of through steam-boat traffic on the lake; the site
of this amusement park is now a New York state park.
66"Put Renwick Park on Better Basis as Public Resort, "
The Ithaca Journal, 30 April 1914, page 7.
67"Whartons Likely To Lease Renwick Today, " The Ithaca
Journal, 5 April 1915, page 7; "Renwick To Lose Its Summer
Character, " The Ithaca Journal, 6 April 1915, page 3. The
Whartons began the transformation from amusement park to
motion picture studio almost immediately by awarding a
contract to Driscoll Brothers and Company to remodel the
IL
-274-
Although Renwick Park was no longer available for use by
gat the public, it was not forgotten. During the mayoralty of
Edwin C. Stewart, the city purchasedthe park in 1921. Mayor
Stewart, who had been a leading force in the acquistion of the
park, died before his term had expired and left $150,000 for
development of the park as a public facility. In turn,
Renwick Park was renamed Stewart Park in honor of the mayor.
Herman Bergholtz was given the task of overseeing the restora-
tion of the extant pavilions which resulted in Stewart Park
becoming by 1926 "more beautiful and more extensively patron-
ized than ever before. "68
In addition to Renwick Park, Herman Bergholtz and his
Scranton financiers began in 1894 the development of Lake View
Cemetery on a hillside location just north of the city limits
between East Shore Drive and Wyckoff Avenue. The landscape
architect was William Webster who modeled Lake View Cemetery
along the lines of Spring Grove Cemetery at Cincinnati, Ohio,
which Webster ranked as "the handsomest cemetery in the
world. "69
former dancing pavilion ("Begin Work On Wharton Studio," The
Ithaca Journal, 14 April 1915, page 7) .
68Abt, Ithaca, 1926, pages 146-147. Since Vivian was one
of the original architects of the Renwick Park pavilions and
was involved with Bergholtz in a number of projects after
Bergholtz decided to return permanently to Ithaca in 1909, the
possibility does exist that Vivian was also involved in the
restoration of the pavilions at Stewart Park.
69„City Chat,” Ithaca Daily Journal, 1 June 1894, page 3.
Curiously, in light ow Webster 's reputed association with
Olmsted, Spring Grove Cemetery was planned the the talented
German-born gardner Adolph Strauch; see Albert Fein, "The
4,. 1Tt.,0 k)h
Cyra-
olopo ii ,lto
'Of
CITY OF ITHACA
1OB EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
OFFICE OF TELEPHONE: 272-1713
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT CODE 607
November 7 , 1983
Francis R. Kowsky
Asst . to the Dean of Arts and Humanities
State University College at Buffalo
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo , N.Y. 14222
Dear Professor Kowsky ,
Thank you for the information clarifying the extent and
location of holdings of The Olmsted Papers in Brookline.
As you suggested, I have contacted both Charles Beveridge
and Sherry Berg about recent information that may have
come to light . While neither of them were hopeful of
finding papers clarifying the firm's possible involvement
with the Renwick Park Development in 1894, they have offer-
ed to investigate further. Thanks again for the leads,
I ' ll be sure to contact you if anything comes to light .
Sincerely,
tea(
Richard Piepe
Architectural Conservator
RP:bg
An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program"
` .rt Oi,h
i \'•,.,
• "�'�1' United States Department of the Interior
}
op-
• ;OM NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
IN REPLY REFER TO: 99 Warren Street
20K Brookline; Massachusetts 02146
RECEIVED
November 14, 1983 pINN1NG & DEVELOPMENT
NOV2lW83
Richard Pieper
Architectural Conservator
Department of Planning and Development
City Hall, 108 Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Dear Mr. Pieper:
Shary Page Berg has passed on to me your request for information on
Renwick Park in Ithaca, New York. I have been unable to locate any
mention of this park as an Olmsted firm job in our various indexes.
Our geographical file which lists Olmsted -work by town, lists only
Cornell University Agricultural College (Job #5055) and Bryant Fleming
(Job #3042).
Our indexes and inventories, I must add, are neither up to date nor
comprehensive, and it is always possible that plans have been misfiled
or remain unrecorded. We are in the process of improving these records,
but it will be some time before we can respond to such requests with
complete assurance.
Good luck with your research, and please let us know if we can be of
any assistance. Our archives are open only on a very limited basis
at present, but we will be pleased to provide what information we can.
Sincerely,
Anne E. ordan
Museum Technician
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY POca-i-e--
BUILDING-STRUCTURE INVENTORY FORM -
UNIQUE SITE NO.
DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION QUAD
NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND RECREATION SERIES
ALBANY. .NEW YORK 1518) 474-0479 NEG. NO.
YOUR NAME: S. Hector DATE:JOIY 979
YOUR ADDRESS: 108 East Green Street TELEPHONE: 272-1713
ORGANIZATION (if any): Planning and Development Department •
(
IDENTIFICATION
I. BUILDING NAME(S): Stewart Park Pavillions and Boathouse
2. COUNTY: Tompkins IP3 /CITY: Ithaca VILLAGE:
3. STREET LOCATION:
4. OWNERSHIP: a. ublic P b. private El 5. PRESENT OWNER: City of Ithaca ADDRESS: City Hall , 108 E. Green
6. USE: Original: Amusement Park Present: Park
7. ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC: Exterior visible from public road: Yes ® No ❑
Interior accessible: Explain Public
DESCRIPTION
K. BUILDING a. clapboard El b. stone ❑ c. brick ❑ d:board and batten El
MATERIAL: e. cobblestone ❑ f. shingle:,C3 g. stucco ® other:
9. STRUCTURAL a. wood frame with interlocking joints El
SYSTEM: b. wood frame with light members El
(if known) c. masonry load bearing walls El
d. metal (explain)
e. other
10. CONDITION: a. excellent El b. good ❑ c. fair ®C d. deteriorated ❑
I I. INTEGRITY: a. original site ®C b. moved ❑ if so,when? ..
c. list major alterations and dates (if known):
Not known ! !
12. PHOTO: 13. MAP: Scale: 1" = 1000'
•
, •' n
t.,' > liAct-(ii st 7
_ r
Oil
II al '
HP-1 i
ltnaca, NI
Y t
14. THREATS TO BUILDING: a. none known ❑ b. zoning❑ c. roads ❑
d. developers ❑ e. deterioration a ( i
f. other:
15. RELATED OUTBUILDINGS AND PROPERTY:
a. barn❑ b. carriage house ❑ c. garage ❑
d. privy ❑ e. shed ❑ 1. greenhouse ❑
g. shop ❑ h. gardens ❑
i. landscape features: Small animal zoo, duck pond
j. other:
16. SURROUNDINGS OF THE BUILDING (check more than one if necessary):
a.open land ® b. woodland ❑
c.scattered buildings al
d.densely built-up ❑ e. commercial ❑
f. industrial ❑ g. residential ❑
h.other: recreational
17. INTERRELATIONSHIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS:
(Indicate if building or structure is in an historic district)
Originally developed as a trolley amusement park, this park has been avail-
able for the public's enjoyment for the last 75 years with a brief interrup-
tion during its use by the film industry. Its location, at the south end of
Cayuga Lake makes it an appropriate public space that should be maintained.
18. OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING AND SITE (including_ nterior features if know n)•
Three shingle style pavilions remain in the park. Eacg is capped by a low-
pitched hipped roof supported by exposed rafters, curved at the ends, and all
incorporated large semi-circular arches at their ground level . The buildings
are listed in order, east to west:
- A large square building encircled by a veranda. Three large arches on
the north face the water, and two on both the east and west, are comprised of
SIGNIFICANCE (see attached sheet)
19. DATE OF INITIAL CONSTRUCTION: C. 1895.
ARCHITECT:
BUILDER:
20. HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE:
The only remaining building that was part of the original trolley amusement
park development is the main pavilion. The attached map, #1 shows the
arrangement of these original buildings. The boathouse was built by Casca-
dilla School , a private prepatory school for Cornell University, and was
originally used as gymnasium. According to the present headmaster; Mr.
Kendall , it was built around 1900, certainly not earlier than 1890. the
bathhouse was built between 1910 and 1919 as a studio for the film industry.
It was converted to a bath house between 1919 and 1929. (map #2). The tower,
one of the original buildings, was built as a water tower with an electric
pump. It was destroyed by Hurrican Hazel in 1955.
21. souRCEsFile #500 and #607 - City Clerk of Ithaca
Photos from Mr. Barber, Senior Engineer, City of Ithaca.
Abt, p. 132 & 162-163, Sanborn Maps. 1910, 1919, 1940.
Niedick, Arthur, A Sketch of the Theatres of Ithaca, 1842 - 1942, A Thesis L. )
22. THEME.:
Stewart Park
Stewart Park Pavilions & Boathouse
Ithaca, NY
18. small glass panes within which double doors are contained. The veranda
has double columned supports.
- A Bandstand in the form of a small square, with three arches at each side
resting on brick piers except at the corners where the supports keep the
shingle siding. The interior is horizontal wooden siding.
- The Boat House is the most complex in its massing, with an octagonal tower
on the north side facing the duck pond. A veranda wraps from the south extend-
ing across the full width on the east and covering much of the north side,
projecting beneath the lower. This veranda is placed on the second floor
level , has exposed rafters beneath and large curved brackets as supports.
Stilts lend additional support. Beneath the roofline several layers of
horizontal siding act as a cornice and as a decorative break with the
shingle siding. On the west are two very\arge arches, the doors composed
of diagonal siding; on the east two garage doors, partially glazed, and an
open stairway can be seen at the first floor level . This was built by Casca-
dilla School and not part of the amusement park development.
Other pavilions in the park are:
- A Canvas-topped 32-year-old carousel , with aluminum horses and featuring
art deco streamlined ornamentation, neon lights, and stacked tulip motif, At
the center is a three-sided music box.
- An undistinguished cinder block refreshment stand.
- A large cinder block and stucco pavilion, built to match the shingle one
in scale and proportion, matched at the hipped roof. A large dormer extends
across the north, revealing a second-story use.
c Mry.♦
y -
_„,•40.• • ". ,
v s.sx i
a
�.
,..
~,
' �,e, 3r, -•,•', ,�.
. i
• r
. . ,.,. F1.(• , M �,: ..,.$ � /.,•'
.. • --,--..•.--.-.- :..,..,t--.T- . •`may. •
' �•�
. . ✓ ........u...-•��� +.✓mile
t
y., ;mss .y , ;•a r ' Y�xs r i r
•
..„s 4 Yt •‘:.-,:...t.-:----'z Y a•t , + eve.,; 7
7 J 4 .-'- t t t ,r.. f S 1•
f S r ' • N-..
Y r t c { 1 �
'c -' ° r r " L .�'j fr e `�.. t--- > ,;''i... > y •1 j K + w - . te• .f, s, -'
"
; ,1c+-r ,;.'-;',.,..„•,.-..;'...,',,..,--:,...! r •,r c r y `„0, `.r.�y a� 1:-..:,, s { .4”' w
w
r "- ,y K y a r yr r, <.;,-,;',„•.,. s •-.`i •o ' ' '• •
4,, ��$ � , ?t ' :r . ...,,i7,-,..';," . i _'t 47„,..`. „•„o•w i• > ten '� l".'
. _
s ''''','>'''':' .nLO a4K ,e� s . , i . .�/"rt+ r:„ r`•b,,,?:. .. •� ° ` � t J -- f f {
. ^' ,r �•IM �{y 1 y • r � �
•,'�'� _7th sir 111‘ '.
• j g
yy�
_ F •+ ` Y'►• •t
" ".1.� a •1, ••• a aQ'a '5 .•• jt .y •14''' +�, • � . !• ' � , 410, j f l
•
v
1
.ms;' w - KY � ►• • 'y
.
r.K ;�' y'+Ms •+y
f .� " r'.rri a 'V'
': r, •It y =(r.�t!i ..Y`` Nejtio t s- i..�.ww ' " 'r t • t ',.i�e„iyl�...''i•••
,'fit
tf • fit t F�, r, y a � +K . — ti Y���1r
t, 1i J,,i r 'y K •y .NZ Y . J '�,�' •
s �; ...*•„: •.,�•.% .,•
1,11.111�yi�.), ' ,• i J { • ,'.4.1. ` ,1 •. a, 4 . . '• 4► , 'aJr .yr••rr•it,a 4e - Y t` )).. t", .Si; +I .,�i. , ! }-"'.y „ ice•
•.'�Y� W• 1' .t • tI'y.... r"/‘. Y /t�g L' • 4•�.; , and►. p •.,•�. - ' t - t i'! :,: ki - + tr t, ,• { ,t t k
r
rit af'.y1 1.4...,111 y.- •� _...
'S tidy' lit "
�,� •
� .. I 1
1N1\---i•ti`4111 43:1 d"'.•:., fig-..'
y
'�R ce` IS i} t ...fir
EAU
7
/ , "r 1• •• ) . r .I o f _
fl .-1'• .�- l) O t, ?d / if
•
wirovr.-..If I Jor ...24) v )/.O t,1 ,/I ,/y , , .
I1 mss_ � l�!1J I + :
I •
" /1 /1 J i-,4-:� _ w•
r \ 1 .
iti. 06 \ � 1 � � F °` 2s O� • v:>ti� i7;— Ci ) .J.r z E x4'4'4'4'4'4'4'
/5
• • I _• •Iiiiiip
r • • • ♦ • • •
•
4 4 1,,,,S------- --/ _,,,..,.. • • • • • • • • • • • •■-1.-47C--..k.„ -,,--
\` • •+y•;•▪ • • • • � I. ,.i.: •••••••••••••••••••••••••
i.•. :-� Ai ri
. -...-_-_---.,. 3;E:yclW,..."a"j: :---jr-/ ....\ `'..........- -- ::: ''.:.-:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•%*•••:•:•:•::*XSZ.......•••01..... x' 3 ....„ ..-6-':, ...,;:. MI , :::•:•::::::::P.*: If'.::::,..., Mb,'..',...^s% -..<7‘... •
,7,.4 ,IE 1 1 t-l'N. I. ( 1•••• :1,-,- % ''''''' ";[:-‘j '' :::...:•:•: 'k:•:•:•:" ,W.:73''*;:,<7,1:ti• ,•E
' _rill j E ' W i l \ Q [ '�•2T.• F. : i l:: 4
7 ` I . E
----- : •.-% ' '-'-' ",0-+ ne,J„.„.„..;,. ,..
, .:',..c: 1,.., ..,. , s,-..,_:„...:.:,.:.:.: ::.:.: .,
. .i.,„ %„........::: , ::.::.::, ,,:),----
, , , i. . ar
4,//•t- N.• E.....\_,,,' INV- 0.04 [ :
, ' OA • F' :'r '
• : a•:::
q •G
t•
o liti• Y �.. $t
1 to 1 (-'V } '_ I.••. {i,c
•
z , .4 lllllll I'S fi I,- _, %, p
51. ,!::! !. A 1 g A 8111 li 1 1 is.
tuIW;Ip'
SS ic(m 1 iJjJflM.
4 !1 ckc�V��1�I11�1� CC1C1 :
Y �, 01;.1.1n llrllnnnul» Zm.
�' it �l as
i /' I. ' t' 11 ■ 1: s t
�v e:
{ Stewart Park
The area now known as Stewart Park was originally part of the James
Renwick estate. It was Military Lot No. 88 which had been granted to
Andrew Moody of the Revolutionary Army on July 9, 1790. It was then sold
to James Renwick on December 12, 1790 and remained in that family, un-
developed for 104 years. In the summer of 1894 the owners of the Ithaca
Street Railway incorporated a Cayuga Lake Railway Company and purchased
the lake property from the Renwick estate. A railway line was built from
Railroad Ave. to the lake and Renwick Park, was the terminus for the line.
The owners developed forty acres of the property as an amusement park "with
lawns, woods and paths laid out by a landscape artist of the firm that
planned Central Park in New York City, there was a landing where small
boats were rented, a small zoological garden, a theater for vaudeville
performances, and a pavillion where 'Patsy' Conway's band gave concerts
during the summer months. " (Aa*. , p. 132, See map #1 ) Aware that trolley
amusement parks were a passing fad,the new development was promptly sold
to a group of local men who incorporated as the Renwick Park and Traffic
Association, this group included E.G. Wyckoff, D.W. Burdick, F.C.Cornell ,
Charles H. Blood and Uri Clark.
In 1915, the park was leased from this group by Theodore and Leopold
Wharton and remodeled it for film studios. (See map #2) The Whartons first
came to Ithaca to film "Dear Old Girl of Mine" a film about college life
starring Frances X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne. Attracted by the possibilities
provided by the natural setting of Ithaca for film production, Wharton
Studios, Inc. was formed and for the next five years a number of films
including the series "The Exploits of Elaine" starring Lionel Barrymore and
"The Mysteries of Myra" were made in Renwick Park. The lot was sub-leased
to the International Film Service and later to the Metro Film Corporation
and the Norma Talmadge Corporation. During the war a number of "propa-
ganda" films were made here including the Patria series starring Irene
Castle and Milton Sills. With the end of the war and the growth of
Hollywood the film industry in Ithaca died. In 1921 , the City of Ithaca
purchased the property. This occurred during the mayoral term of Edwin
C. Stewart who died in office and left $150,000 for development of a park.
Herman Bergholtz, the original developer of the park, having owned the trolley
company, was hired to restore some of the buildings. He was the electrical
engineer who bought control of the street railway and electric light
companies in 1891 and started trolley service up East Hill . In 1923, the City
purchased the boat house from the Cascadilla School Association and in
1925 some additional land was given to the city by an ex-mayor, Henry St.
John.
In the early 30's the city undertook some improvements through the WPA
project, adding the duck pond, extending the shoreline to the north and
improving the inlet. Swimming at Stewart Park was possible until 1961 when
it was banned because of the amount of silt and pollution in the water.
The buildings in the park are in need of repair with immediate attention,
saving money that will be required for more extensive repairs if they are
not attended to soon.
. •
•"..-4•!-..•-
.4,
,, ..
. ..-st'. • Wilt ., - ,,,:v • ' ' ' .:-",•■4111..-'4',-..' ''
1 . . . , , VI . ' ''. .■.;"t:.' ..41,-,*-'''''..-' '''''
• .. - A
i,.. ,,-.1„• .
`... : ''' .,..,1%.-• -.4'•!'''.A. 'I. .. -.; ..'74.%.,' .91i.''' •-.' ' ' ','",e'• t*
Vt- •7-4,....
-.01/ ,___ •., . ,..- . . . - . • , ..4.
_----__ ' • -. • ' ,fr - -
--• -.-. ., - .. ;,.>,...: .:,,.• --,,-:L.,.....1.4-..,-,:-.• ,,, ' 'i .
_ 1
. C;1011111111111111.1111r . , .
-iill'1 i1 I •-• 1,‘ ,.......a41444- l• , . ___ _ __.______ ',-;
i
,''. •''J .:. l• / _
4:,.. -•.v.--A -,--..- sarlikai 1 .
_ -- _
• • , ,
TT ET r ' .__
. .
\-..,-- - .., -- -
. .
. 1__ 7_,.. , no.. - , .,
.
. ....- .-- , 1 .11-05..:,........ • i4_...
Z. 3 .-.
.-2 rj •-...-le., i
cl_ :..; .
.._. ._ , _. _ -1......,,,,-_--;.:-..„4„:„,.• 7'- -_' •e
"""--•••,---
-"'-"--!--4.•••-'-;•••-..:.-..aff.---'--z"'•-- ...'''• "- - ' *-- - - - "-
'..ar'''- .--- •- ''- 1
.., s , A .
_ . .
— .
oaVIA-av s..... Fy-o-r-, s e B.0 a -t,t,,-,3,4._ Er .' "6 —_ ...
. 1
, [
.:., ''s.•
, .. .. .,
. , .
'f!•0190,--f:`,-77- ' ,/
i"; .• 1,,' '-'43,',.
. ,i.•".1-' `i ,i4: ' • 1- --: ___-_, fil
:t,'''' -"'...., -' -...-1 . , :4.4' - ,...' It .i.,.•' t'r-'r'''•-.' ' --k, . 1
.. r
i,-...,... ,.. ., ,',At;,. .-•;•-; . f.- ;,...,,ik`.;:,:, ",4,- '-',V.
.: . •, -. '•,,. ,,../.:4..r.-A ,4.,,,,,...'
P..-• .
;4..1... . ;..-.` ..-%.1-''''''- •.., -:::.. •....,?.#41-p.i,' '
i'- - -.'''-.•----. - ,‘.•'' ..- •• '.;4;t"-- •'-' •- -`-- -- 4-. . '
1-` ' " ',-: - . • -''. .`.-i;.- I, .'-''4 ';, '•..',
. • . . 4 -• •4:•••.. _,. i „
1 ' ''-"' '''''•-•;''t-..-.'..4....:-- - 4..4, ' - -;-:'-;•_.,--•- - 1•A l ,,. , -
''''' -''''' ' ..i ik•-t•''• . ■ .4.
I•L‘.•• •
i -•-•., • • .4'; . • 4. '. L i ..1,,.. it, •• A
' .r..14 * • -- --- -
9' ••.. ilj ii,„,_ ,_____ _-_____
, . . " .., -- ' - .1.;.:,-.:.-:' :; A,„ - "' .." X.-.;•-• - ; - ---
" • - ..- ,-•:*it- i ;--.S •.:. .•'.,• ....'-, •".41.•;."'''''-i'' , . •• •
,. tr., ... ,.. !al ,. . kit . ,r--'::-, . - - ' --- -....
. ,
T.■ . ,1 ,
'''',4■ r •.1
' ,..'/;;:_ '7 ` -....'!"‘ '44
i-
,,..411111.
• '44'3•,A"-'...„-7'-t*-4---.:'.-1'.:•• •"•••-"'- •••:A-, - ••••■'-%'' , " -
.-1.,,,,:-.t?„,:,:l.;,,.i.,,r,s-,,,..,.;,..,, .- -, - .v.t.i,...• ,,,,,,,ra.,-,,...,,.„:,;;...,„::::-...------,Li::: s -----• ,•,'.-!!"-..---,---. '-'---..-1' '' '
.?4,;;k..V.,o----,;e7„1,0,*;;;„;:,-,:,h,--.1._,,,.41"-I, ..-.e."0.-,‘-.4.;•1.4.,:,...i-.-..,„::....;;.-.. "Min;7'441.2.ii,-,4. , _ -„,:,,...?,-..,..,,
ii,-.':.:;'"'/4",k,...;),,V74..:^ 4e4;....1,4.„',.....„.,,,A7',..e... .77-.‘"4 at 41.,„„.1...,.,,,i',41..:,,,-•:;,,.;:..,z,
•
. ■
13241,111.GNI S c. er2r," NE;
'Baal-in e u sr_ - A
•i*; .. ' i
7 • , .,
-i•',. •
.,`r•poiv$ ' -'-
44. •
. .
L L . A •
• •4;
I .0 .7. '''...F,'• .
t. . 1• , -r e'-
...; . . •
. ,
i ..
Ai soi%e 4 -
. 4 .1 • .,
.. ,. ,
.. •
Le ------- ._ ,-,•
. . . ---•••• _'
, •• . f , ,
( , . A •
;•.; . , ;.., . ... . .. Iv' ' .• i . _ • s laIL- "
. r
'-17'L ,.**Lc.... ' . ..'"••• -.'-':•-'4', ..r."-- •—- •
D kilt A0011, &.D.,A. 5W .
......
;.,,1-:;;;:i-,,''...i;`•'-,
, -
.7.t S:Y'', •1'
•.--4 i".t,' "X.'e,,`"•'"'-
•,' t:',..'r.,....
. \
■
C-'
. ..
... . ,,t, ,
,.. ,
,
\
.,, _..
,. .,I.,..:„.
\. ..,
\Sneci
\
■
C------\ ,
■
C4e,
1 . .
.t
it. .
.1,
Sknell-cr
t.'
....1
7.,
cS
I ■
i *;
ft, .
• ..---1
...--
rt
Stand jo,,der
( -o.
..5
8
- .--6
LI i'V'c' D5
I.
?.-,•.
3---
5
'44 d
V _Oty,,,,LAse'v'en\"
elf,
1 30°
- c\t-----
too
SeCk'
0
a
vc,
50 6c-a\e
too..
ki
1.
_ -
. ...,_ ...-
wow'
, .
1
.. . -..:.
P -'
.. . ._
. . _ .
. .
i
It a) C 1 i ?, s z.,
Irl dP p:.. F
t 1 ,� r.; chr�Y .j u d ke
) ,.`fi `
Cy' r- --' 4 r u .-T-S19
A Kap of Ren,+3ok Park Reoonetruotet� ;•:
for Motion P,toture Production
— 1919
1 - To bs a Studio.-- . r j_ '?
r 4 t
1 J
8 = Sand Stand
3
r - 3 Toxer Blinding and Oft_ ice s
4 - Stages n--- --�
L M t 8• - Tr stormier Room i ' k
} . .S = motor Roos {--
Prop•rti es ;....; -
y yt
r ° 8 Heater Roo=i a
.
a ' ��` 9 ~ Developing Room
t :,‘,-.'.---...A.,3�'
D 10 —.Dr7iag'Roon �� i � 4
H e
ii ...`properties Y� f1;
- r r ,
a ':� 12 ! Stu t - rr...., >t =1'-'',. �r;.,,� fi` '�yt's •s.
- 4.-:- 1 Y� _ ,
Y4 platform' g ,
i ' 3 5 — Prole ting f1Ao4 :-?;;31:,3 RS'Agr 3
2 g
."6 *, 74.'1'1.7,,i x Vi ti4 r " Po,rd r agasins ._ —__ __,
k
'F
` Zv. 3 .ns "-e�
"
&
-%,,,,.•4-4.--V, -'"'::- -
p1..;"4-
. 4
_ -
. i
2, $ 11(6
-
?r1411'3t1(311
- \
clt litettvlue:t 0- et:
X re
:.-.
Itotl°11
- ,
for, 4
-, tt
Sta61 o
Stan& Otti°4 , ,
it S - 134'4 1,111.1ding, an6-
-
1 rover ,
,
. .
1 staigee
4 4 — Itio°11 ,
roer
10
''.
X , Trealfil -
5
6 ...:::.ts
Iwo%
glsater
..,
1 ing
1 9
SO°111
f Dr/in6
t rr0.94rtlell
stual°
,
. IS '" IweesIng
vlatfora
It
14 -
a nig
15 ' ?Tole II arta- I'll%
duttIng
16 ' Villa
...,
--;,.';,7,-ci-swlival .,,, 11 ' Slle" vsgaains
- -,
‘ # ,
, ---
. ..
■r r 1i.. Urr idf r< r
V‘1,4, .. . ,••' •e .•
} 0 ',,�Y,.
r " , ' t'i r/I 1I kofe• .: ., ;.. . f_ r
'r r hi ;i? !r� i 4* ! 1',ft!,` ,�, t( hJ fir t} f
• t'J4!, l u r(r , ,j. '
J i z jr.,,f j' ,I 1 +: :.
1 r T
'I Y t' t'r I
, k
. flit -1 * { ; 4 - h•
t jilt;Jur(S , 1 • r ' - r±4 j' I'• 1� . 1
-MMMM II
�.a1i/; / t ) ;,R i„ / ' .4, ,� .. s
., . v- ,•.
�' Y 'id•1,1 , 1 ri,u , { �" l {y.;i�';j' y '1 rtr., f J -. ,1. .4 L,c•
J'I'j • 1r,,:;�•r•
•i 1 11111 i f ; r III .1 'I• t , : :.1.! , � r 1 ' l r yt ,�� , ! ,,ff. ''
■ yt1r 3// '�)rJ,i,J, it I %L• ., ., ti
' ,,ki ,''rP,41 17 tig,i,p f ,,
'• ,
•
' ~ w x,{I .. lyy' 1.1' > , ii►t, , .� t. 4.
,i, , , , , A„,,,../0. p s,ill ,
T .t- ,:: 0
•
.. '1(4' if' fiii,!I ifi''illi A • • %.....-- - •
Iv i, I/ ,il 1,i' 1 i 14.0.'1. . . /''.. -
/, t •1 r •f •'( •.(t tfr c T -.41-'4` .C.•'fit l , t �r '�. •� r <"Cj�y •C.7 JM c ,. Jtt .+ I Y:a.
' ,t• a <�"ri,.' A�ties` . y" ti `
ii
1 ,j if i .r ' r ' ~
•
ike, _ .-6.-
• `N t. .Ii a 1� 'Xt w�•y ! 1�}„`
r •
(<J /L -;: 4i ., .',:�`r°pia
// i,,�j
?l wfv ' _ ��(J
• •-5'21
bpi, + TL � 1• �y'[ti4 'C" `. ,"1,' , 1 ' ..rt.'S�(r
•t F.L r... T..r �',k.,,ft,&t .YT.• T,�: .... 1 q Ft�[ •,. vi A"•k,, ♦ .'A Xy,, '.,i1;i4;,: lr .
• .., r ..'�;+•i . `5 t y %4. k '-'4 : P : 5 frc f, 2./ ? ,: .� »r+'1 A by y 'A•vie �, i■
"Zf'f` r ,.%,.z.,,,,`F „,,;,„.i.„1."41.,+ ! Y f t,Yt•:�. l ..o;'; 7' !,' S � :� i'�.nl'w�p? 'i • i,Ct{ j'��1 '' u” lA'o a r •+ r r i ^S '♦ •- M y; r rI' J� 1p l
--:',,,,r, �.2.,,* Lt.. ;it'7v i,''...''.�'''..f '-._*..i :� ,3h•.J'. 'b. j.. ` "?':' 4'"Y ,Ctr N'y . ...7......1.- •"' ''..
4 1 r ti .4 r �+. fit Y ya 4■ aK''�•
„4:;.-Y 4F'../r.-�. • ?'.7;;'
` x (.•N ' �+rPr`! �. 7/i' '; ..�-,. K t `'a it ..
., 1
., t.,' i c -, z�,�+ ,y�'�+� F r-I4 ::_ ca' •^'4 1t ‘4- f4•
.F "'L"i' .:',N a ! t
�,�j,r 5 ; xtl•
D•* a ,,, fi¢" y°f� .fr....) 5, :a t t.../i.�ik,1�f..AS '44*.•� ww•Y Y L ,F)ri•t,.4+ i,� ti 7o ♦,7�f <1�y .
'C�'Qx ^:.. ) �.
j1 l S vr,♦xy.b '......0•".!'w . 3r{"'• 1 1' i t t,' t a` [,v c, j.
if 4 Y':+.� t n r H,4'i q+t i ::cl:k:: ` . ~- -, } . '} Z?tJ T. . r JY" • t y 1• . ' j f A „, e .y ' ` ,g).1 +�;S, r' . 5 8 4'1.'41114,v''',11•.•. .', ,, l `� :,.,�”. 1•r ..N .Fri t ev4 t - � +. / , ' Y-z e.... ( �. ; 1 e t i , 1., '4.'1'4..'yFr
..'t( { 1 r'•r 1 ' ) '.%• .4-'':Y.:'',''''.:-.1:4-:'':''t,'.,Ex a t;S A• •,: y }
n r{ N •, tj r - , fit: r i �� '�
, '..'''.`,,e.:.•-r r .,-■ , .,_ xs ._ .; f, tt N''� .:1.,
�-4,1,-,Ns^ t { t"Y 4:f ', 1, t t; rv'1� t. t ' .vi. Ai:` ,1, r'''.i•',..,,,'... f k...��•" .,0.,-e. „ w r .r w u r ... ....,...„4,.../..14•A; ,-,,'�
.2,t r t > 1^1.1 f t' 'n. Y _ fr
eG t' �e .. " F'j': : o t v ?:'. .i ? - A'9,ti., i t-,s.•ir.8 r-y+,1 .... ''}',+{f, ��'
Ail
L. : :: . �. J r , � +1 .. � t 4,,_.
ty' L a'� t� + w �t ` t t. t ; a 4;•,' we ' ^
•t,'•�' y, ',�: a .•Mi w_. i'., : l;� tSYM is 51
t 3 ♦ i'. • :Teo): •• ii :4 K''• * i•-"ti-5 1+..
,y� +ti yr ta' _`"'�. 't.',.''' '.,:. }'' 1 ; �;.(. ..:,^•, -; } err:,.. l,'.-_•iTty �.1 `�. . ,� tr >,I, •;.'";r ,.' i'j4 44 a,1,,-•'.,
t. —^"..s..,.... ..,;
�1.
••• :FrH� its Y' r q ..1 r* ti t 4°h 4 .
• ' 'i•` '•• •• _ �. to l• `4. + .:rtf , >• •'r•
• / r = --..- rc‘:----:..._:_. r,. t" dt F Myra
i.:4140140, -. I ti o •,� r +y, t• .-f F
-,. .',.•t • '7,,,,,.•. —. ............-- ------:.: ...-----1--.... --it •- ' , ..IVT;`, .. •. ' ' ' ,•a;I.i " 014, .4-
r Y F r tt t ,',,"•.,„. '� � }
7T t :.\,,,.'1' t,,,,-1:-„,:i.,, i •`: ;. -
.,•,..,. t "' - �i/ 4aC iY 4 M °t a ..,r' : , -y tiC ,
•. r f
y �, r `,, '1 R ,r % . •.� W F , ' . l•
,y. .:' ' , :ms` 3t , < j �( L`:e 1
r
.,:yam ......,1U 1.1 1 ? t."' 'r.s 11'. viral:
r e--^!5.�..-a,-� _ y� � �' �, �4itlt t FOY/P
•
. - ..
...
. ..) ,1 -.,..
16-1A-)''• - -- ' .„ ;...,._L „____
1 1 *,'*WI'. .%t. t ''
-...,", • .
,}
•• ;r•. `
• ' • , . 1 „.4.e
•
. •fir '
• mi$VE4444......kr,
- r • —
* *1411094."• 1
i -4 . -••
.4.?.... ,
4
4. -4,
4 •-
•
I ...:i ' . ?..4"•- '' ,
..„,..•,,,,.
.... , .
. 4
. .
.,,
. •, .,„
. . .
• . ,..4,:,-. '. ' ,_ .
•
N ?\ :,...4•'.
*is,: • . .:4 '.
•.....i, ,,....,- ,...,
14t3.1" 3'710 .1.i..,,, •-
4 .
4, 7
• W41'41.00',
• '..4,:id.9.4 0,.„., .. . .. ,. :' ,,. , .,. ..
., : ‘ .\1‘+'4'.'•c‘\ ' hi;•'.. . .1...r;- , .
i.At Vt...:4*\ i...0,:,I:1 ' •'If' .
' • .....,;.
% .
. ,
...,.. '.4"
. . . .,.
„ .
4 •.
..-;--..'„_..;,,,,,,-,=,,-.1.„---.....„-_:;:,
. -...„4-
.. • -..--*/'st'''''';':' : ' ..4.
,,-.''.1:!.--i -4,ri.'''.7--7,' ...-,,•-• • %.,
' - - . . - '- 1, - .. s.!•-"”-- iA,='1
• • . ‘ • . ..---' ,. '. .'-- ,..,--- -,.'--- - -it N.
- , . • v,,,''.\;',. ,........, k k'r ' ..,,!.2 , ,
• .1 .?. .si't4';''... '-'''' .., .• I 0
' . ',• .V0.1•1'',,'
, . •..' -:;:','"A'..i4 k • I ,.,
It „A
• ,-... .-, :-.-. ‘ , .. -. t",.,-,',
.‘
.
•
.-,. -, -.. 't- • +.-'.74,44.41s.='!-A ..
. ,
. w,v
• . , . . ; -. , i,..1t,..,,J; 1
1. •-• • ioefk.A. :, 1 ., . . .1,..,: - .. .,
— •• . • .- . . .' •,,,,, ,,,,,, ..
i, ...--._. ,,. ,, ,.....„......• , ,
, ...,,, ,,,. ,6.ffr„t ,, •L ., ' !,t '.,1t7It'4.A.. ,1 ,•,,,:,...,,,,,',%,.., %.02,;17., .
''..•,' ,A04,11Y'','..k t•t,'.: '':i'r.'",.4.,."',,!: ..',.,„ '',;(• ,, -
•••". ' ' ''. "'" • ''.• . •,. .4 ..'N''',,'$‘4,'Vt.it‘L''''', t:...4..... .i . .l.
...,v, ''u.,., . . As /4 4-,,,,1.1,..„-,,4*-0-',.\ . -,4-.A.,-;...".•:.As••'!"4--.":- i,
. ,„,:t„. Itx. ' . • ' , •-,'. ,.,1, ',,,A--:`.t7,`z1 , ' .41-,-,..„;`,„:, .,- ;;;;:-.i.,,,,,:;$, ':.
• ..-- ,- -.v.'''. = , k N P' N''''.''i'''''.. "040.)..C‘f-N.,.'N.' '. ' i "". ".
,,-,i......., . 34 , . . . ,1,,,,:,........,,.,,,,• • ; ..=1,-- ...v, ...! .1 ;
I i
;, ..... i.;+;.tsn',.,. . . :,..,. ,,..,-tz :1,..t..,, .. .,. ,..
'I' ". ' '' 1111■'', ' ' t,. ,..'''''' '4°...;%.. ,.: ;, ,1 ..,,- i 4.4%; i' .k.,',4 — •
T,ia 0' '.: .' A,.'',1'',:‘,44;d\o'•'• '' ' *, • ii.v-,- t I 4: •.*-k 21: - ';',y.'.,,.‘..s41:',.•- ' i'.,t c, • ,, . , ‘ -,1/4 ...,,—,,,,,,,...„-\,4.,..4 • ., ,.,-; ,....... ,.:,.,..., •
,
%, . ko ' -:,>'\1.$,.\,,...... • . ''''k...'-.' r ' 4•• ••
7i....„
•'--5-.:• _\ * ' '. ' .,v• 2'.q''''t:',04`,4,41;. • ' ' •
•_.. \ ..... ... . ,. , . . ., ,, ..:.,..4,,.. t ..,..,4.3.-
*, - ' ',. - - ; 1 . . . .. %1 '1.,31, .!: .''.■ i „ ',..> .,,,:.i,....'''"? ''',. k
1,1
. .
,
.--- . . . , -...• • ,,.. .)`i1 ".V.:L..: . 's ' -- "". "
. ,
‘.' • % - '. !, ' .,.'1,"(...-l'' • • '
• ' .
': . A, '• ‘.,., ' ' ,' . ,,',:, t.
• % , ■:\ ',, 14.1'.?:,‘:„.1.1.
' '...
\
' ■ I
■ .
• t ,".• ,..,
to
,... 4 . . . ,..‘ .. ,
.,- . •
i , t! •'I ' ,
ir- . . -, r.nr".•.1.,''',,11 *-
, ... .'• ' , * ' • , : •' • '''..
1
1 ,-.
•!114. .
. . . — .
,1 • • 1't Ata• .
. ,,,_ . • . .,..:'•' ,'•:''.,' „..‘'i;.;. ;.Zt.T.ct -:- •v ".
,, ,,' .`•....,,,,'q'.'...' ,to.i.f'''.I, ' " ?Iwer31.
''. 1 . ' '`1 ., k,....,0,., .1,■„I,\ ..
''' ;':.', 1 , •• i - "V.F. .. , •
lit ,...,.; 1
14 f.
. 1.
■ '44/ t
4 ' % '■ ,,.,:.;,.•: ; 1 it t •
• •
e •
,
,11.1t14...,.. • 1
•■••
• •
' ) ' ''.' 'N' .. fi; ' ■•:`,',1A,.., f N 4,4 ..4., . . . ) ,
O.•
0
,'.'V.,t .ii:„0-4• .
elle, ,.. ....„..., • ,:.,
■ . ' ..,..,, . ....i- :. • '‘. i
.“ • • A 1
■ .1{' ?
. , .
-' '•
. .., .0
AlleAlr. ,-.; „.•:, ..
.-r• . ', ...' .k.', 1., ..•'"4 :2'
Ii• • , 0) 4 46. - • ' " . . ' -
•1...•t ' .
.. ' ■ ,1•‘,1,k,...it'i.1 .1.,4 , :.' ••,, t . t ,
' ' ' '''''V•rt4• • t, - .. 4t.." i.
, .`• f■.';', .'''■, .1..!.'.''''4.0%'4‘i .1.,, ,•••,-
.11, •4-:., -„...4 4 ..‘,,s / . .-/- 4* - 4.4 4***., : „It- — -- - . ',....- -
—1..1. - 411',.',', " .4:44h,,t,,p.'"'• • . .. . .. . .•
' .• 1.‘i$ ...4.2-A.;:,..41,.. ' , . t- '' r'-•
! , , i,,,....,41.,,S.., .. 4*, %., ;„, .•
• .i. . - 4,4-.;.„. ,.. •4,-,‘ • .,4 .
\
_ 'st
• � $t ,
,s � Ii a �+ .Apr:►Z •
' ia• , :. 4 " 1' r
fi ..
v i 1;... %4«,',4';:iii*Itt...er.,!.. -- , . ,
A' �M .:.� `off,. :,• ., ■• :.- , ..
• '4, .I� ,0.�; Y- -14`.'"' ,� ` •rte �.. •'-
t, �1J < �' ^+• `
...4, r ..•n� f't. .','-,tii rw sue.' a `.! 7 n.' •�•i? ••••' 'lam i s f t r ',`, ',TO!� .� f ;ti »,`. ✓ 8}, x
.d.. a A-•
� X11
P y. bv v...746;11
,4 ,„ „.„............,, , ,, . \ , ..:-:.:- _..,.,,,,,.____..,.. 4 vt..-;-:, ..,,...,..*.. ,.
•'s L""4.. r•��� r.
Ilit -
t
ii•\11-)1)1/"(a44-j-
1---)t.Stvc)11A2 ,ViL4,A---- 111-11 Al 77
-.{ .may::yf:► 1
1 1; 1 '-1,{I S . 7 ..ur•u• .,,, '� r.y �r q.,, ' ), .;,. :1 - !-1 ,•
( ';'1,'.41 i.,,„„,„1'1{ -11.: + i t r«•::. . . ,
it �! t u---.
-• ;T•
-I •.....t.•-#4. - ,•
'' 1 lT, �i" "%'.• - '43•x%
;1 r I r r „•, p �, a r.�
it,?:-5.-...k`:."4/' V.. ....-..., .. _„.,,.
l•
�1. .'.p') �K .1 E t -•5'.: .:ro,•1 hY `J . .Y•:•
.`.. f'`b:• �_'" ••
• .4 :. Ow- , ` E 161r1 t. .r. ... .�.
1 it, •iL .g.,i-•,, ,..; ,f r4` tq'i'1 .�p ;ti ( 1 i 1 - .;;ti..,«r; _ 1;•t1.:i ni'msi--..::='•
•+,I T . �1 1 „ 1 1 _ •`' M -4.. ,.' .1 i.- ,/�. !/i�'leA. ',..4.-0.- •
. iltilit :k.f. , 1,•;(1 i ,,. r:_. , . tt''-lrit.' -.-.9...■•• ,' .t. .. - „•.C.11•.4 -,,,M,,k7.- . ....:..." ,
,� ' i., • ..,., 4••••••. ...• , .....A.,..7,, , R,,. .
-. . __, t am M • r} "y
. ii , , I : .
i •.° Ai� , k Kj L►+• .art ':5 -'. 't.' •}...". •�^:A�,.•4•�.
• r% a • . I t• 0 •: .i Yy_,: • " -
r- {1+ /4,t,%. 4' ./ '#_ .r:•` tf r�;.� :yy'�� ,,•r,1116
1Irt 1 V1• ) I {4 f -��,,1 t'- J . �j .11•� .AR 'j34IJ.
l 'l {(k1. '1a,�,t,i1� „,‘.1
•,y+ Pr Imo— . t.,.. '?�!'�,,;-�'��' '''�:ta ,%',.r•
\ ----,
T _-
+ 1.
1; �� ,• mot.( 4 161L'(ft\.•)lit 6.4 'e4it'°
-tiiir.CI,, 'I ,'. ,.1..tt'• ‘..,IN', .4 S,Ili 2
I
?a ...
,Az�Gc.-cam" l. a-Cam `.
, irs.k.4.... '
f, IN
.
y
,
•. . .„ •! >•
c . .. ..4•.-, ... Vii..
4
- - elr•..-w-' , •-- tr... ..„.. .
r+
j:.
.. ! et.. ter+•` �{ �•� �• 1
• ,t,
•
• r t .f1
. .t ... , i (-61
t !
_ r • 7 ••' Y . . ., `` era!"• t+' 4 ' • \!I_—.- . 4. ._z
•
/ ..t(2)
. . • • • s„, . •.•• • _\:.
t� ..n � ,�1 1
�• •�•
•, `
•
"- .. ' ,
.
J.
,,:.�„r ',-..c .•(.• f .•••�_r. • s -/J! 3/..
.Frr »'. t.7'J ham'
lr� ►' Fa�"Y
.F +• ..,,..„,..4 � , . ... i- 'F f Y
•
`
_ R •*` �, ` am ate'r Ar
r ; . • -. i 1.„3"; t 3 y .. .
•/ x -".
, v v .r r •f~4' "--
• ).� ' _ t 4 ' ' n ue . I -' 4 -....1.! �..• r vq yd ,: := > s ' _
:/ ? •
Xy � tit,. ,44.-.1,...*:,..- S'9M1� w.I'•, f . i I• y- •1.'''
,,J I' .q
L•. 4� " 1-4: .<,',..,..e,:•*.Y•Prop- A . . mot. t ,�`�•..��,...�P..
'i !�
t;a ,.r,. Ys+J .:
—i_. - v.
..✓
v
Y � t. •`f� p
t` • O
rte;,
.1Att. tor .
f r
• . -4.:: „J.,,....,r.._.,3,•44 ''' ''''-.limit,
1--0--,... . 1 A......
•
•
44
` a :. Kt tt •
fit• €R •'r `. • P'. R," • . �'•
` ±r vi ..} �s•,. \ • villa.) . .. ,.,...,, ..t., • ,,,,,t,
Y '� 4 �,1 n f,, A
t �, '� 1 t. 1.
'r ,
. .' r f� t 5a\tt'A
,. At tit t'
fit',.. % 1 Y
.; ■, Y
y- � N
i,,,. ..., ` t a
'q • KS++�Y-y P St' Yr
' `_ "'`Nri \ \' f
i s .l. • ?{ ; ``4'. .N `
w
. ` t r .e + - U'''
Y r
;'a tK t c , . i '* r3 r•
'4'�
*1* 4"• •• - - � — f. , X ; i. , ' .SCE 1
41-•A►y. s+ , `Y.- • --",---°.
~J� 1 , i — V 41LC
't {gi p•"'• i !` .✓,` �i-'
Cutia, C.Robert: 1701 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca N.Y. 273-8364
Director, Ithaca Youth Bureau
Ruth Davis, Same as above. above
Supervisor (Arts)
Jeff Gyrusco;120 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca N.Y. 273-6633
Historic Ithaca, Director
Pie �
Richard Pager; Architectural Planner, Historic Ithaca,Same as above.
John Kieper, 900 East Avenue, Rochester, N.Y.14607 ( 716) 271-3361
Director,. George Eastman House International Museum of
K .y€63, . Alas Cul n \-es.kuz., `i
Photography (ere,_ AQn cr 5 r,4 r4. hm r,z� yrju < sew- V a ye-
cy 1=.1.1-7Ser.C'S ebnr (C &S t-Eccaf- n
Walter Stainton (Middle initial H, ) 1735 Ellis Hollow Rd. 5180
Professor Emeritus Reasearcher on Warton Studios.
` cQ c�scz U
(�� ✓ f_� Q Q.c �Ca. r,\C/Y� ����-cam c u v .e n S c2 n fi r\c�
m . O .
Oz �'\eA) \1,\ \guz..∎n c k 1-$-• Cr)cu t-e_ cl i0Th u S k
n rte ce C cF �(3� $
ct 0:6 a._ kila A b�s�-�-� - �(Y1ce lC� cs m S e�c m lk.) l In Sp y" k
- . e @ c cs- �1l ca
s kA Gf t :c ri c( (1 i C t cLAQ_S
col/ \Cx,i COX c-� S k rO c,� c� @�i1 Y " r
k �' Y'Y)ca( c 2}t e C ∎■n = C �c Q�c cn r�l AC_ cL1'�
Se ' VI
Vow-Q
b�ScS •- 01/ c� .sVl " � c�, St . ,� —
SF, 4 Tc is cx-� vv,.<_ Len. r, _,.-
Future Contacts -(32-- Scl K s c�„ b �t-c� s Cc�u�cL
Mary Tomlan President, Board of Historic Ithaca. J c i - tc, e � (Cu e-c_.0s (s
sV COvt S Co L, v\J..0i4
•
Calt c l d s_ea . l c GL t
S,,ces c
ih SLieu..wv� F
Mrs. James Buyoucos Summer: Savercool Rd. Trmbg.14886 387-9054 Lki"
Winter 316 N. Geneva St. 272-3271
Chairman of Civic projects, Ithaca Garden Club. C1coss,cs
Andy Giles Photographer 213 Cascadila Park Ithaca 272- 8402 --
212 the Commons
Barbara Hall W .1EiCT5 Star Street 272-2345
5 Z
t3 � ck-m-.2---, W-tSr Y2) «-v) S <<< � , '.(
Skip Landon
d�, die ca r t aC c,c4-, Tr-(2-0)17-(Q. &e.6-ktte.- -42.
r
i ?
Z I
t 1 a I a
N I a 1.
1 0
a 1 i
I,
I a I
L
d/7 S O B r g O Al
•
I '--
4 r
I
a I
.4..iViii
I I
04
Q
r..-- T --... 4( i�*'HI c A i NI
1
'ued.1sN
I
J
C 1
3 111 ) µ n
w= ,
0
i JS0///,O9/',sways$W d1MO1 d p1H4f
Nf/3.(1/R?OdN1 SjS/W7dd NO ref.7.77r NUW 0
/I
Ode0Pyl/.,°N 4'.91/1 11 Z Pare✓vr
.\ 41
r.
,ist
1
,
•
. •
•, •
.'20 • .
•
-•
. ,
•
I,r J �Gq
d 1
1 1 76 1 1
1 i 1
willo REN wrote = Race
°
ice. :44
_ F
r w
cb RENWICK PfIRK
K;1
"pMR' i
i
r/ ,i
co ,i I
1b OF S/tlOVO� K
st
1
aY{ I
TOWER ' '
_ u El
.7 CROSSMRN PICTURES /NC. >
MOMS P/C)7/RE 377/0/0-0 ;x.'
tit
_ .., 1_ r 1.,•wuvrPORMr
\ 111 1 .
Iarra/aasras>�wvrw aca
Naar MOOS,.6477/76NO-OOPTVE1W-
w U6Y?•OILl«'/p/a S3Y[Er67olY.ORPIO
.SYOIIM il54 41'HP 7RNA M07AP 4 �4
,,� RNYEN A'/MP-
aR.
C.
4Z CHSCRD/LLI7 SCHOOL
RI /7TNLET/C GROUNDS
I
a -T-
'0'
tO
ale 100 Ft.to One Inch.
loo zoo 300
"apripte MO br Mr$.NIrn MY CO ,
.. •• ■•■•• \
VW ; .
1-1000 1 , - • l '. ..
•
O � ,fit .. : it
h.
„mat GAI� UGA LAKE
t •
TNT 0 NM�twr i Ph. ti! t ., ,
, ‘..
.111714 I
...A•r ,a,, i
0
S1 t w A►RZ P ARK 1 w�M�RM►�
+ +++i �. I'' 1 OD Nt
14LIBMIIP t 4.011,! , 4. J:' C'•
%, too FUER�'E S C)
11 ”
•
�r
• N. �
•oo1 t
et* SAVA CTUAaY M.
I
NEwMAN et
��t
13 I 1
•
MATMitAt. , 1
LAMWyse% --,.`. CsROM1TM
I r, *Amos MI C A
Got-F *
1
t40 I
V
r1_._. ;
, , __... ._ , ._ _ _ . _
- '-----,,-
. ----...........,,,,
....,,
..,
/
. ..
. .
, .. .
....;:• ,
' .
'\ .
itf...
4
. , •
.,4.. .K.
■ ,-.4-. '',i ,i.,..:' -0! , ..,i' .' ' . „ ..•
4*>W • '",100407.7r. '1--11:---- ------
.....- -
t .■4..' •.4,„. ..- >, % - . , ' . ' ' t ..-----
-, ..----
..„„,,,?!.,,, - -'''''' • „..,-.-:', -.1-'-,-' -',..:"--;-- ,
■06( , . ------ _ -41...; , -
. , .
-,-,==-.' , •"'W 'IP% -4111/....00'-',...1'--- - .,:: - .--' ,,,',.,,r,-4:-%'''',.',. ' II .
.., .t
.•„-- .
• .
. . .
- •01' ,i ,
:„.• --
• .. :'4'
1
.......-
. , ........--
. ...--------
. \
6 \ ._.-Z'... .0116.6.CA. •,..774
1.Clr'
• ......... ....--
\ \Oh* ■ 'S..-.. ..
f. t
AT THE southern end of Cayuga lake is a low, level delta.plain faced upon the
lakeward side by a sandy beach. A part of this land has been improved and trans- \,
formed to a pleasure ground called Renwick Park, to which the people of Ithaca VVV
resort in large numbers in the summer, for there is direct electric car connection
from the campus to the city and from there to the park. Connected with this is a
large boat house where row boats and sail boats are rented ; and from the Ren-
wick pier all of the lake steamboats start. These steamboats make frequent trips
to the summer er cottages along the lake shore, so that at almost any time of the day l�
or evening one is able to take a sail upon the lake.
4
Memo Bob Cutia From Ruth Davis June 1, 1983
John Kieper. Director
George Eastman House
International Museum of Photography
900 East Ave.
Rochester New York 14607
Contacted November 14 , 1982 by Ruth about the idea
of a museum for the early Ithaca films at Stewart Park , He was
very enthusiastic, Said he keeps in touch with Walter Staiton,
and comes to Ithaca once in a while to see Walter.
Walter H. Stainton
1735 Ellis Hollow Road
Ithaca New York 14850
Ruth contacted Walter 's wife, 4une 1st. She said
she was certain Walter would be very interested in the project.
Ruth suggested that he meet with John Kieper and Bob Cutia.
Mrs. Stainton said that Walter had lots of ole photographs about
the film company and some showed the inside and sets at the present
location, when it was a movie studio. She also mentioned that
Walter had given footage of the old movies to the Museum fo Modern
Art, thinking they would take care of the old type of film, but
they hadn' t done so. It seems that it spoiled, She did say there
was more around.
Ruth suggested that Walter be our consultant, and that
we promised not to tax his energy by meetings and so forth. She
said that was exactly right and that under those circumstances she
thought he would be glad to talk to Bob by phone and a meeting later.
It seems to me that large photos displayed on the walls with a history
read out be each one one be a good start for this project; and if
after talking to the two men, we start by involving the county and
city Historical organizations, the preservation professors and students
at Cornell and perhaps a funding organization such as America The
Beautiful through the Arts Council , we shouldn' t have too much trouble
establishing this historic, and intrinsic to our park, site. Visitors
schoolchildren and the whole community would benifit honoring the
early spawning of the movie industry. Museum expertise and photogra-
phers like Andy Gilles in this community could be involved. Grants
would mean jobs. Work study projects or theses material could be
Sterwart Park preservation
Film Studio
-Contacted in person „ 1983 by Ruth Davis
Historic Ithaca
120. North. Cayuga Street
Diary Tbmlan President, Board of Historic Ithaca
Jeff Gyriscl Director, Historic Ithaca
Richard Piper Architect, Preservation, Historic Ithaca
Listened to plan for proceedures for investigation a renovation of the
building at Stewart Park that was the old movie studio, and agreed to help by investigating
the building and coming to a first meeting to act as consultants on what might be needed
to proceed with the project. Richard will look at the building, getting the keys from us.
John Wilson has keys to the building.
Also a DeWitt Historical contact was made. Chris was contacted and is going to set
postcards and pictures for us to look at, next week. Helen Blauvelt said that bhere was a
lot of books and written material. Chris said that there was so much that they were
duplicating scene of the material to meet the demand of people using the collection.
Bob asked me to write a letter to John Piper at Eastman asking him to came to a meeting
after the 20th. with Walter Stainton. I think it would be good to have Barbara Hall tape
Walter in an "on the spot" interview. I ui erstand Walter is writing a book on the movie
industry when the studio was used. It would be fine if the projects coincided.
,/ '/ — ./Ifit: ° )41-67----- ?-1A1-*--)
"I'd2e7.
'1/6f ct`i'ir
Notes-Davis
June' 16 , Meeting about Park-Warton Restoration.
At Youth Bureau at 1:00
John Kisper, Bob Cutia, Ruth Davis After meeting Ruth Took John to
park to look at buildings. John felt they should be identified.
Meeting: Bob talked about his idea of a museum and how much ist
should be done at the park for the community,etc.
John mentioned that a film group at Astoria Long Island had a grant
to do something concerning early filming in New York state. He also
mentioned that vidio should not be overlooked. He said he would kee p
his ears open about grants, projects, etc.
John said he would be happy to attend a meeting in July. The 14th.
at one was decided on.
: I I .
• I !
S • t
t ' Returned phone call to Walter Staiton June 29 . 1983
eitrHe suggested Don Fredrickson, Cornell. Theatrts Department
Is counter part of Walter's Cronell position before he retired.
Would be very important on films, photos and mezrorabilia.
Told Walter Barbara would tape him in August. He agreed.
Historical Society Director Greg Williams
Walter mentioned that a lot of the material collected is not copywited and
original collectors have not been credited.
I asked about the old bathhouse building and what it was in the Warton comple
Walter said that it was a film studio and that the platforms and 44111ins were (C";,'s )
for cameras. That the ceiling holes and tracts were for lights. He said that
the original exterior was hollow tile and that the porches were enclosed.
He said that the building was not stucco in those days.
The big room was the studio roan, . John Keipper and I saw were the shingles were
and assumed that it was a closed porch.
I think that Walter said the structure was originally like the existing pavillion.
June 29th. Walked through Walton Studio with Richard Pieper.
He agreed that the bmmlding in such a prominent place in the •
park should be better lookin_g and devoted to people rather than a maintenance
garage. We told Denny he was looking at it as the old Warton Studio
He saild it will probably be expensive to get to pre-bath house shape.
He seemed intersested and &Ld he would continue to do research on the hollow
tile and when it was put in. We think we have different info on when it happened
and also on where the tower stood. He told me the big house at the end was
the cascidila boat house
He would like to look at it again and I asked him to come sometime when Bob
•
could walk through it with him. Radio indicates a p4nk renovation. Time for
this project is right, we have to join together effectively.
•
II
I
:' �
�=r
, 11 �1 r ;l
•
CITY OF ITHACA
1 701 NORTH CAYUGA STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
OFFICE OF TELEPHONE 273-6364
YOUTH BUREAU CODE 607
TO: Bob Cutia
FROM: Ruth Davis
RE: Summary of meeting conerning renovations of old bath
house building, Stewart Park (once a movie making facility)
DATE:
July l4 , 1983
PURPOSE: To further explore possibilities of restoring the
pavillion and Warton Studio Building; to provide a
focal point for the park.
PRESENT: ,Bob Cutia
Ruth Davis
Jeff Gyrisco (Director Historic Ithaca)
John Kiepper (Director of International Films, Eastman Kodak)
Walter Stainton, Professor Emeritus, Cornell
(Authroty on old movie facility)
Richard.Piper (Architect, Historic Ithaca) - Absent
1 . Bob Cutia briefed committee about other groups looking into
Stewart Park development. He also talked about his long term
interest in the Warton Studio renovation.
2. Jeff Gyrisco related that John Kiepper, when visiting the
site with Ruth Davis, found the building structurally sound.
He mentioned that the loggia (porch) had been closed in at .
a point in time, and mentioned the additions of "ceramic
tile" . Jeff and Ruth had suggested that this important
area should be a focal point of the park, for people to learn
about its history and use for viewing films, lectures, etc .
Jeff explained the possibility of getting the site on the
historic register when Bob Cutia gets authorization for it,
and notifies or meets with Jeff, he will put it in motion.
3. Walter Stainton presented old site pictures and showed the
actual movie scenes and actors on sets at the pavillion,
and adjoining area. Heralso showed some interior scenes.
He mentioned that some of the "myths" about the movie days were
not authentic but that it was of great importance because it
was "a beginning" in the movie industry.
It was one of the first "location" sites. "Perils of Pauline"
was not shot here, and only parts of other Pearl White silent
films were made here.
Ar EU.,a!Or.port r r Emp■•yer war ar Af■rmatwe Acton Program
_ I
- 2
Important actors did come here and it was our exciting time
for towns people who were "extras" .
Warton was not the only company that used this location, but
Warton held the lease. Stainton' s book on the subject is near-
ing completion.
4 . John Kiepper suggested that if they did silent films again
(saying some were being renovated) that they be shown here
as a film festival. The films would be 35 mm, developed with
money from the State Arts Council. They would have to be
shown under strict regulations.
John suggested when we're ready at the park, a tent could be
used to get a local orchestra to perform for the movies as
was done for Peter Pan, in Ruth Davis ' film series. He would
probably start them with Cornell Cinema in the Statler, but
thought they should be part of the park renovation program.
He felt they would attract a large audience. (We had talked
about activiites, video tape, and displays in the bath house
renovation at a previous meeting) . He encouraged Ruth' s "now
and then" idea, using new video tape projects to supplement
the old films.
Ruth mentioned approaching Ellen Buyoucos about the Garden
Club doing the plantings around the two structures if renovated .
•
ti 11
i POW j
s °4;
CITY OF ITHACA
1 701 NORTH CAYUGA STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
OFFICE OF TELEPHONE: 273-8364
YOUTH BUREAU CODE 607
July 24, 1983
MEMO: C. Robert Cutia, Director, Ithaca Youth Bureau
Ruth Davis, Arts Supervisor, Ithaca Youth Bureau
Jeff Gyrisco, Director, Historic Ithaca
John Kiepper, Director, International Museum of Photography,
George Eastman House
Richard Piper, Architectural Consultant, Historic Ithaca
Walter Stainton, Professor Emeritus, Cornell University
CONCERNING: JULY 14TH MEETING: one o'clock at Youth Bureau, Entrance,
Stewart Park, Ithaca, NY
PURPOSE: To investigate proceedures of preserving buildings and site of the
Warton Studio and filming heritage of Renwick Park (new Stewart Park)
TENTATIVE AGENDA: (Please add to this meeting any ideas and findings that may
help develop this project.)
1. Introductions -
2. Richard Piper: Report of his visiting the site and
observations of conditions in regard to restoration.
3. Robert Cutia: Remarks about City conmittment.
4. Jeff Gyrisco: On proceedure of restoration, and funds.
5. Walter Stainton: On the material his research can contribute.
6. John Kiepper: On Museum ideas and funding.
7. Ruth Davis: On stages of proceedure, people to involve,
various points of planning.
8. Robert Cutia: Recap and Plans.
SELECTION OF NEXT MEETING DATE
*Will those unable to attend please notify Chris Brill at the Youth Bureau.
Ruth Davis
JK
An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program"
i•
.. provided as it was done when the restoration of the Clinton House
took place.
Barclay Jones
Prof. of City and Regional Planning
Director Urban Regional Studies
111 West Sibley Cornell
502 Turner Place 272-6146
The person who could have done an outstanding job on this was the
late Prof. Jacbbs. I don 't know if this man exactly replaces him
but he was recommended ,and certainly has knowlAge and input to
work study and field students.
0
..APPr '
.,rs-+..�, 07-.1 tom, r-'''.'„ , �, ... {
.' « rte-c`� .1 .. -„ , ,, F C'_j l En
,; .
. fit .. i c4 * --
PHILIP M.
t White
and Associates
. - ....J +4... ....o.-mss.._s.ki.,.., x.4____„,..r,...b ..4=-4 mss....-4 s>-n.....w.....
Horticultural Cr Arboricultural Consulting•New York State Licensed Landscape Architect
Mecklenburg,N.Y. 14863 •Telephone(607)387-7O2Z 6370
August 15, 1986
Nis. Leslie Chatterton
Coordinator
Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Dear MS. Chatterton:
This concerns the public uproar about changing Stewart Park "for the better.” In
my opinion, it really needs only a few minor changes.
Other cities have named parks historical monuments to prevent such drastic changes
as are proposed for Stewart Park (i.e. , Highland Park in Rochester, the Commons in
Boston, Central Park in New York, etc.), While Stewart Park is not of their scale,
nevertheless, to the smaller Ithaca community, it is fine "as is.”
As one old enough to remember the Old Wharton Studios, the skeet shooting range on
the shore, and the old City baseball league games, it seems that Stewart has had
enough change to bring it into the 21st century without several million dollars
of so-called "improvements."
Wouldn't it be appropriate at this tine to have your commission designate the park
as an historical landmark?
Sir rely,
-t -
....,-.2
Philip M.JWhite
August 14 , 1986
Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission R .I.;_._�4s_'
Leslie Chatterton, Coordinator
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850 !
To: Members of the Landmarks Commission :
The preservation of Stewart Park and its protection from a
drastic transformation contemplated by the City of Ithaca have become
necessary. Because the park is a precious resource for the entire
community, unique in its site and natural beauty, I believe that the
Landmarks Preservation Commission should bring its historical pre-
spective to bear on this issue.
Stewart Park deserves to be given landmark status. Since 1894 ,
when it was first shaped as Renwick Amusement Park, it has been the
chief area of recreation for residents of Ithaca. From this period
date the dance and picnic pavilions , one of which was later rented by
Wharton , Inc. for producing silent films. In another section of the
present park, the Cascadilla School built its boathouse, a major
building that has been called ` Ithaca' s most striking example of the
Shingle Style of architecture. " Plans to rehabilitate or modify these
buildings , or change the use they have at present, ought to have the
oversight of the Landmarks Commission.
Even without its buildings , the park would merit landmark designa-
tion. Its effective, open design and informal landscaping, its swings
and benches and duckpond, allow people to congregate easily with their
families and to enjoy the lakefront in tranquillity throughout the
seasons. More than ever, our busy city life requires this free space
that has served us so well for ninety years .
Various gifts of monuments , trees and a rose garden by individuals
and civic groups all have their place in the present park. Again,
the LandmarksCommission is the appropriate body to consider proposals
to remove or relocate these gifts .
In this letter I do not speak for any group. My interest in the
heritage and progress of Ithaca has , however, led me to membership in
several civic organizations . I have been a board member of Historic
Ithaca, the DeWitt Historical Society and the Ithaca Garden Club. I
greatly respect the work of the Landmarks Commission in safeguarding
our common heritage.
Sincerely yours ,
\\^ c-
Mary Ellen Buyoucos
316 North Geneva Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
•
l�,r'd «•,,�1,11
Q1WE 1fl
`117
t,P
'S\ORA7E0`q
CITY OF ITHACA
108 EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
DEPARTMENT OF TELEPHONE:272-1713
PLANNING &DEVELOPMENT CODE 607
H.MATTHYS VAN CORT•DIRECTOR
MEMORANDUM
To: Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission
From: Susan J. Cummings, Council ( /-1
Re: Stewart Park Buildings , t
Date: September 17, 1986
I would like to request that the ILPC consider designation
of the Stewart Park buildings. This action has been suggested a number of
times in the past several years both by the Commission and by members of
the public, but has been repeatedly sidetracked by more pressing business .
As I indicated to the Commission several months ago the buildings would
seem to me to be eligible, and, in addition, with the passage of the
Environment Bond Act money would be available for assistance to municipally-
owned landmarks. These wonderful structures are in tremendous need of our
carefully guided care.
I am assuming that this suffices as a formal request for
designation and should get the process moving. Let me know your initial
thoughts on this matter so that I can report to the Planning and Development
Committee next week.
SJC/mc
cc: Mayor John C. Gutenberger
Common Council
Superintendent of Public Works J. Dougherty
Board of Public Works
Historic Ithaca
An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program"
ITU4''
•'= I�1Jli :•'�'s
s
11111\`\ „..-
CITY OF ITHACA
108 EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
ITHACA LANDMARKS TELEPHONE: 272-1713
PRESERVATION COMMISSION CODE 607
STEWART PARK SITE VISIT AUGUST 18, 1987
I. 1894-1915 Trolley Park/Cascadilla School
A. construction of Cayuga Lake branch of Ithaca Street
Railway
B. William Webster, landscape architect:
1) Two north and south boulevards above lake road on
the hill(?)
2 ) formal entrance garden south and east of the
pavilions, large raised flower bed w/moat (site of
present flag pole?)
3) park land to south remained wooded
4) carriage entry and road along the lake shore
5) lawns and turnaround between lake shore road and
tracks to south
C. trolley stopped south of the tower
D. survives; pavilions, teahouse
no longer survives; pier, pier boathouses, water
tower, and bandstand
never built; colonnade
E. tower located between two pavilions
F. bandstand on north side of court
G. menagerie south/southwest of dancing pavilion
relocated to west of lagoon
H. 1896 completion of Cascadilla Boathouse
I . 1896 stage added to dancing pavilion
J. 1913 Renwick wildwood bird sanctuary (Fuertes)
K. 1917 concrete arch constructed at southern entrance to
sanctuary
II. Wharton Movie Studio 1915-1920
A. conversion of dancing pavilion/theater to studio
B. construction of storage buildings (none survive)
III. Municipal Park 1921
A. 1921 removal of trolley tracks
B. conversion of "studio" to athletic building
"An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program"
-2-
C. introduction of automobile entrance and drive along
southern edge
D. land between North Cayuga St. and RR acquired to
provide direct auto access from City streets
E. channel connected to the lagoon
F. Lake shore road truncated/remained as lakefront
parking area
G. 1923 City purchase of Cascadilla School property
H. Park Road extended to form a loop around the old track
I. headland stabilized and enclosed for bird refuge
J. Russell Van Nest Black Planning Study, includes
Stewart Park
K. 1927 Stewart memorial flagpole south of pavilion
group, set in formal garden recalling trolley era
entrance garden
IV. 1934 Hewitt and Metzger Plan/Work Relief projects
A. eastern range of tennis courts
B. bathing ramp
C. construction of pedestrian suspension bridges
D. land between Fall Creek and Inlet graded, drainage
systems installed
E. golf course laid out and seeded
TO: Interested Parties
FROM: John M. Bacon, Architectural Conservator ,15.4.Conservator i .
RE: Stewart Park Landmark Designation
DATE: 12 October 1987
This memorandum will sum up the"research Historic Ithaca has been
performing with respect to the Stewart Park designation. The Ithaca
Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) recommended the designation
of the entire park for local landmark status at its 24 August
meeting. This recommendation was forwarded to the Planning and
Development Board (PDB) for consideration at their 22 September
meeting. The PDB voted to send the recommendation back to the ILPC
for further consideration. The PDB members stated that the case for
the entire park was not clear enough, i.e. they would not argue with
the designation of the buildings, but feel that the landscape either
doesn't merit landmark status or should not otherwise be involved in
the ILPC process. In general, it appears that the board members are
unsure how and if the ILPC would/should review a landmark composed
of both buildings and historic landscapes. It should be noted that
the ILPC expressed similar reservations during the initial
designation hearing in August (which no PDB member attended) .
With this background in mind, Historic Ithaca has contacted other
municipalities were city-owned and -maintained parks have been or
are in the process of being designated as local landmarks. The
contacts have been primarily with representatives of the landmarks
boards in the cities selected. Specific questions about the method
of designation, review procedures, and relation to "normal
maintenance" were asked. The results of this survey are presented
in Appendix I. In all but one city (Albany) the person or persons
contacted felt that designation was beneficial to the park and city
as a whole. There was no apparent animosity or major problems with
the relationship between the landmarks boards and the parks and
other maintenance departments. But in the cities without well-
defined standards and criteria for evaluation and review (i.e. all
those except Boston, New York City, and hopefully Syracuse) , the
landmark review process does not run as smoothly as preservationists
might hope. This appears especially true in Buffalo; without the
Friends of Olmsted Parks watching the process, it is uncertain what
might happen to the city-owned and -maintained Olmsted parks. Thus
designation is not the problem in other cities; in fact, it appears
to be the rule. Once designated, carefully worked-out standards and
criteria appear to be the key to regular and successful review of
landmark parks.
Of course, the Secretary of the Interior' s "Standards for
Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings"
(1983 edition) contain useful if general standards for historic
landscapes. These are found in the sections on "Building Site" and
"District/Neighborhood" (Appendix II) . The "District/Neighborhood"
section states, "The relationship between historic buildings, and
streetscape and landscape features within a historic district or
neighborhood helps to define the historic character and therefore
should always be a part of the rehabilitation plans. " Further, it
recommends, "Identifying, retaining, and preserving buildings, and
streetscape, and landscape features which are important in defining
the overall historic character of the district or neighborhood.
Such features can include streets, alleys, paving, walkways, street
lights, signs, benches, parks and gardens, and trees. " The section
goes on to recommend replacement in kind, maintenance, and other
basic preservation measures. Then it addresses the more difficult
questions of "design for missing historic features" and
"alterations/additions for the new use. " The advice in these sub-
12 October 1987
page 2
sections is clear and reasonable and can be used to create a set of
standards from which both general and specific criteria can be
derived. The Secretary of the Interior' s "Standards" are the most
widely-accepted and "official" in use, and their provisions for
historic landscape and building sites are explicit and useful.
The City of Boston has developed such a system of standards for
designated landmarks from which specific criteria for each are
derived (Appendix III) . The 1983 Boston Landmarks Commission report
on the potential designation of Back Bay Fens for landmark status
provides an excellent example of these standards and criteria. The
report contains the following sections: location of the property
including map, description, significance, economic status, planning
context, alternative approaches, recommendations, bibliography,
general standards and criteria, and specific standards and criteria
(these last two sections form Appendix IV) . The general standards
and criteria could very easily be applied to Stewart Park and other
historic landscapes/sites in Ithaca. Similarly, the specific
standards and criteria cover much the same activities that would be
under review in Stewart Park. Historic Ithaca also retains the
reports for the Boston Common and Franklin Park, where the standards
and criteria are slightly different.
The Boston reports present a compelling model and are not actually
that complex. They seem to be effective and are deemed adequate by
both the landmarks and maintenance people (per phone conversations) .
A similar system could be employed in Ithaca, with the participation
of the ILPC, Department of Public Works (DPW) , and other interested
organizations. Historic Ithaca has recently broached the subject
with members from these groups. Two related problems have emerged
that have led people to hesitate to sit down and even begin to
discuss a system of standards and criteria for Stewart Park. The
first of these is the still incomplete set of guidelines being
produced by Trowbridge & Trowbridge in consultation with the Stewart
Park Advisory Group (SPAG) . SPAG has not met in several months and
not yet been able to vote on the revised guidelines. One person
contacted suggested that SPAG might be the group to discuss and
develop standards and criteria-- if they are not addressed in the
guidelines. The other major variable is the proposed Parks
Commission, which will almost certainly become a reality (but
when?! ) . The relationship between the Parks Commission and the DPW
has not been adequately defined to date. The final set of
guidelines will hopefully offer suggestions for some of these
questions. In the meantime, a set of standards and criteria could
be developed by the ILPC and the DPW, so that the nomination can be
advanced and finally decided upon. It is unclear how long a
recommendation from the ILPC stays "alive" without action by the PDB
or the Common Council. Part of this effort should also explain that
the functioning of the ILPC and its relation to the PDB and the
Common Council. The ILPC has an unnecessarily negative image among
some uninformed people involved in this process.
Appendix V presents a rough outline of for a set of standards and
criteria for Stewart Park, based largely on the Boston reports and
conversations with Robert Page of the Syracuse Landmark Preservation
Board. Mr. Page is going through this very process with the
Syracuse Department of Parks for already-designated Upper Onondaga
Park in that city. Perhaps this material can be presented to the
ILPC at its 21 October meeting.
� ti 11
°1_ 1
icj ® 1r4
* Miran
CITY OF ITHACA
1 OB EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
OFFICE OF TELEPHONE. 272-1713
CITY ATTORNEY CODE 607
MEMORANDUM
10: leslie A. • -tterton, Planning Department
Fia'l: - , City Attorney
Imo:: • ...- 20, 1987
SUBJECT: Stewart Park Designation
This is in response to your memo of October 15th on this natter. Since
it appears that you are going to modify the designation, I suggest you treat
the fi cation as a new designation and follow the procedure, including
filing with Clo®mn Council, closely.
1 :blh
An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program
'� ITS'1111'4
RECEIVED NOV 23 1981
•
yc�R°�RATEO�00'
CITY OF ITHACA
108 EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
ITHACA LANDMARKS TELEPHONE 272-1713
PRESERVATION COMMISSION CODE 607
TO: Mayor Gutenberger , Common Council , Planning Board
FROM: Leslie Chatterton �11Z-
RE: Stewart Park Landmark Designation
DATE: November 20, 1987
At the regular monthly meeting held on November 18, 1987 the
Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to withdraw the August
24, 1987 recommendation to designate Stewart Park as a local landmark. •
The Commission as directed by the Planning Board is currently working
to refine and clarify the designation and will hold a public hearing on
the modified proposal within the next two months.
LAC:eh
0-hd-STEPK.LAC
An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program"
1 y
i
.,=,\. l i Q.k. n
P - u_v-( te-ce .- Le s cry 4c) .
kettft-kc-6YityQrusefk*T Lc3-12u2-0-- A---- C .J.ic difc_ 42_J. _ (c-t I ct'Z' 75
-e_9_. t 9-Q11 1 C Q 4, PaoLej P,0 S oC.c_5 Vl L r) --
ie,
t
e__s2. ry) rri e Kr-Livc_cLit.A., k-ez__,,__ ry-)ciaCe_ dyn(--2,-c_a—s2
VG Q-
c ),-Q c --"A0 AA. (\327 .--k-d Vey. On-) et< %"
TOLL) • c CA/A C-1-)0a-S C_-_>o---er--) • r Tge - -dIA--e:-(--Q.' (SLiaL--0 -J2--S .( (-----
6\x Q( iY1c/Uc t CO + . .
-L Gt S CQ Mc( v< e n L('-)C2t3--ark....L .k---Cc r1 C4./1 e)
\AcQ C ( � 7 ce -c17t,- 4 ryze� C ti a"N e ,n c \'c,
asol 1
lac yr, 0-1 a v ti,__Q,,-- Rev
(y)(.l (rt c(L_ vlci a 1 Cam\ c C2s_iL Yc eS
.ot or, - -e'c-a,_< < (d-.c= _St L c fie
P \n c \k CIA cm n C v S ( s\n C-f ff)k ►,ci .,,ti,
_ g` 43-k_. lecs.22 at-FezA_cce-A— 4 ae4. g-vtd--- A (-0, —
C C _ _ \oo<Ll 01 c> ee�( hil sc m s-. c , _
t ( r1 ct W-2,_Q__ ' S 4)_ CYO r--- , ?e Vncm --\--
_ fczoe. eft( v ,,Lr k rTh -ems :y_ A` . ,
Ur-- __is __a- _ . \ Vic' c 9 QUO
..' 6-ef\AQ.S . A k in L * lam_ c c V-iYI - v^E t v --
� _
on - tI V
kczots, \ cPti.s ...A l 'ot._)--1.__-<:) cry,,,t.,,,,L9,-,
, �()`S , RS2� CLD- Metysi„y(c_.\-„,„,• &!r) _ J\` ' \CM c vu-) �` c . ce r■ e\L.
Le crwlekRK:
--; If Stewaet Park could talk. thr s'ories
mull fill a book. It's been a ;hjpping
r' part. a movie studio. a trolley, station
C r eui An amusement park. But mostly
!: St_w?rt Park has spent the 20th century
in the sl^e car'acity as today A place
Jfor recreation.
Stewart Prrk is named after former Ith?ca
9ry r ant State Senator Edwin C. Stewart.
t-- who in his will created A trust fund for
:J preservation of the perk. a 39-acre snreae
on the southern edge of Cayuga Lake.
It was oric'inally known as Port P.envick
and later Renwick Park. In 1790 r.ajor
�. Janes !',en' ick of New York City purch?se
F01 acres from the orininal devolutionary
.:- War lane tract orantee- Pnctrev 'ioodie an,'
opened a shall port on the property's
southeast corner.
In the lest I^^?s the Cayuga Lake Railway
Company purchased the property_ and in
— 119t built an electric trolley leaeino
from town to the lake. They developed
U an amuse 'ent park there, with a theater
for vaudeville performances a pavillion
for sorer concerts, docks for boat
rental and a smell zoo. " version of the
-t 4 ,- x y
zoo still exists today.
.
" ' In nit the next owner the Renwick Park
1- • ' -.4 gL tof and Traffic Association, rented the site
; - • to tlherton Studios Inc. which made
w P. ; , ; movies on the lake's shore for five
' – years. Screen personalities were fre-
:s ''� ;; quently seen in Ithaca • early movie
1 ' di.: ere?t5 <IIch as Pe-r1 '-`Hite Lionel '?rrry-
-�:__ more -starred in Ithaca films. It'ticrns
- from 1 '1A to 1919 often played extras'
. - :4 , .",., in the Mrs.
a i(
- But by the en' of the deca1e the park
• y was deteriorating. t'hen the City nur-
y :` chased it in the 1920s. most of the
ny :: ' pp builc�inns niers and pavillions were run
•it dor:n. The lawns were overgrown. an(' the
lendscane was disfinured with picture
sets and old shacks.
` ;- i ,. , In his will Stewart left a S10r7.Y)C trust
I' t
'. to be user for the renovation of the park.
a _ j-. Today it has tennis courts. baseball fiel^
z a swingsets and acres of lawn and oicnic are
i lis
gr
. .` cr li1 t : t And once. lthaeans could scrim off the
17. park's shore. Not any Wore. In i '(3
I s% inrinn vas banned because of the rurky
a conr4ition of the water.
v i t •
p
( Reprinted by rerrlssion of John 'wines
t Ithaca Journal staff).
- t _ c
? '
At the t�resent time. the City of Ithaca
I . i. has uncier study najnr renovations for
Stewrrt Perk.
v, STEW!.4T PARK:
o
—7 If Steaa%# Park cc l e WI . the t'ories
4— wc',l'f fill a boot. It's been a shtppinrt
cc) p'+rt. e movie stueio. a trolley station
cni an amusement park. Gut mostly
,q Stewart Park has vent the 20th century
1-7: in the same caracity as today A place
for recreation.
Stewart Prrk is named after former Ithaca
-iaycr ane State Senator E&'in C. Ste'- rt.
who in his will created a trust fund for
preservation of the park. a 39-acre snreac+
on the southern edge of Cayuga Lake.
It was originally known as Port P.envick
and later Remick Park. In 1790 !ajor
r:. Jams Remick of New York City purchased
FO acres fron the original Revolutionary
yam, War lane tract grantee. Pnc+rev 'ioodie any'
opened a shall port on the property's
Cel • southeast corner.
In the last I"^'1s the Cayuga Lake Railway
Company purchaser the property_ and in
119a built an electric trolley leading
frog town to the lake. They developed
r an anuse^ent park there, with a theater
for vaudeville performances a pavillion
for surrey concerts. docks for boat
rental and a snail zoo. version of the
zoo still exists today.
`3 In 1�1e the next owner the Renwick Perk
i . _,, ' i_ and Traffic Association, rented the site
_ y " a which rade
-- -.,:k to fh rioa Stueios Inc.
:- movies on the lake's shore for five
Q .. !
rs
• .j Y . years. Screen Personalities were fee-
4uentiy seen in Ithaca- early movie
1 . '�'' erects s!"ch as Pe-rl ,.`Mite Lionel "rrry-
1.�. 11ore starred in Ithaca films. It'�'ce"►s
r
; li •• f --
fror 191A to 1.19 often played extras'
='= in the fiirs.
rf F- r Ih_.-�.f ,� But by the ene a ' of the decade the park
s was deteriorating. t Mhen the City nur-
chased it in the 1920s. most of the
�: builcsinns niers and pavillions were run
_ r' ~- e
- down. The lawns were overgrown. an the
Y Ti: landscape was disfigured with picture
ALL, sets and old shacks.
;t; In his rill Stewart left a S100•'9" trust
fi` r_: . to be user' for the renovation of the park.
>: _.� : Today it has tennis courts. baseball fief
z ; - : . _ € - swinnsets and acres of lawn and picnic are
r. . .�; „e=y. And once_ Ithacsns coulr4 swim off the
- : • park's shore. Not any pore. In I�'C3.
# _ _ =_ swirrin" vas banned because of the rurky
a t eonc+ition of the water.
v -� j •
•
(Reprinted by remission of John 'iaines
oc
Ithaca Journal staff).
�- $ t - e.
i fp- ' ' At the rresent tine. the City of Ithaca
f has under stuey major renovations for
Stewart Park.
HWiTf
g RNEW_ LETTERR g
No. 2 -- Summer 1984
FIRST RENWICK PARK, NOW STEWART PARK : A Bit of Its Past . . .
As we Tompkins Countians head for the cool resources and people for her material . The
spots this summer, during our hottest months complete inventory is available at the
of the year, one of the most popular stops Museum for your future reference.
in the area is our lovely Stewart Park. The area now known as Stewart Park was
While it is used all year around, this is originally part of the James Renwick estate.
certainly its busiest time and we thought It was Military Lot No. 88 which had been
you would like to know something more about granted to Andrew Moody of the Revolutionary
it. The following information has come Army on July 9, 1790. It was then sold to
primarily from the inventory form researched James Renwick on Dec. 12, 1790, and remained
by Sarah Hector for the Division of Historic in that family, undeveloped for 104 years.
Preservation of the NYS Parks and Recreation In the summer of 1894, the owners of the
Dept. in Albany, who drew on a number of Ithaca Street Railway incorporated a Cayuga
' Lake Railway Company and purchased the lake
property from the Renwick estate. A rail -
ICE CREAM SOCIAL way line was built from Railroad Avenue to
the lake and Renwick Park was the terminus
Yum, yum! The 5th Annual Ice Cream for the line. The owners developed 40 acres
of the property as an amusement park "with
Social will be held Sunday, August 5, lawns, woods, and paths laid out by a land-
from 5:00-7:30 p.m. , at our beautiful scape artist of the firm that planned Central
Eight Square School on Hanshaw Road. As Park in New York City. There was a landing
before, members of the Society and their where small boats were rented, a small zoo-
families are invited. It is free and one logical garden, a theater for vaudeville
of our most popular events. We handcrank performances, and a pavilion where 'Patsy'
a number of terrific flavors, have plenty Conway's band gave concerts during the
of goodies for making your own sundae (a summer months." Aware that trolley amuse-
grand Ithaca tradition! ) , and hope you ment parks were a passing fad, they promptly
will also take the time to admire our sold the new development to a group of
handsome octagonal schoolhouse. local men who incorporated as the Renwick
Manual ice cream machines are welcome Park and Traffic Association -- this group
-- as are people to crank them. If you included E.G. Wyckoff, D.W. Burdick, F.C.
wish to help with the festivities, please Cornell , Charles H. Blood and Uri Clark.
leave your name and telephone number .with In 1915, the park was leased from this
us at the DeWitt offices (273-8284) . group by Theodore and Leopold Wharton and
YOUR R.S.V.P. IS REQUIRED if you plan remodeled for film studios. The Whartons
to attend so we know how many people to first came to Ithaca to film "Dear Old Girl
plan for. Call the DeWitt by August 3. of Mine," a film about college life
See you there! ! !
(continued on page 4)
2 Summer 1984 Newsletter
GRANT AWARDED FOR FIFTH YEAR IN MEMORIAM
For the fifth year in a row, the DeWitt The Society lost another long-time friend
has been awarded a grant by the Institute this Spring with the death of Rebecca Harris
of Museum Services (IMS) , a federal agency. in May.
The award of $12,082 will be applied toward She was a 1913 graduate of Cornell and
staff salaries, the purchase of materials was later librarian in the School of Archi-
and supplies for the conservation of collec- tecture until her retirement. Miss Harris
tions, and materials for the production of was an active supporter of several brganiza-
new slide shows and loan kits, tions in Ithaca, including the Paleontologi-
Only 530 museums were awarded IMS grants cal Research Institution (which her father
this year, out of 1 ,245 applicants. The founded) , the Cornell Women's Club of Ithaca,
DeWitt's five-year track record attests to and the Cornell Public Library, as well as
its continued growth in all areas and good the DeWitt. She had been a member of the
work in the past. DeWitt for many, many years, had been our
"clipping service" also for a long time,
was a former Trustee and valuable counsel .
OUR MEMBERSHIP IS GROWING We miss her.
A warm welcome to all our recent new DON'T FORGET TO BITE YOUR BYTE!
members -- it is a pleasure to have you
join: George and Helen Bayer; Col . James Contributions to the Computer Fund are
H. Hoag; Erich Sachse; Margaret Jacobs; coming in nicely now. If you haven't given
Frederick L. Billard; Jean M. Cookingham; to this important project and wish to, we
George and Anne Maloy; Dorothy N. Miller; would like to hear from you soon! Remember,
Barbara Bundy; Roger A. Morse and family; one computer byte is a mere $25.00 -- bite
Mrs. Charles Keirns; Joann, Michael , and off a few for us now!
Sara Schaff; Roger and Irene Gleason; Paul
H. Harrington; Laurie and Alan J. Hahn; CURRENT EXHIBITS
William Jorgensen; Charlotte and Ronnie
Coffman; William H. Gilmore; Julee Johnson; *"Brava Italia ! - Italians in Tompkins County,
Mrs. Donald H. Bush; Heather M. Tallman; 1800s-1980s" (Opens July 21 )
Mr. and Mrs. Ed S. Hill ; Daisy Kirkpatrick; *"Without Knife or Pain : 19th Century Alterna-
Priscilla D. Grout; John and Jane Bradt; tive Medicine in Tompkins County" (Opens
H. G. Johnson; Nancy L. Ross; M. Lou Mc- July 28) [Concurrent with exhibit at
Isaac; Jan Drier; Eric B. Nelson; Donald Hinckley Museum; see article elsewhere.]
and Elizabeth MacKenzie; Doris M. Edwards; "Maple Sugaring" - illustrated with photos by
Donald B. Smith; Elwood L. Peters; David W. Verne Morton. (Up through October. )
Fuller; Mary M. Benson; Sue Battaglini ; "Bake in a Gentle Oven" - 19th century baking
Michael E. Lane; Ellen Vanas and William utensils , cooking equipment. (Up through
Gertzog; Alice Martin; Edna R. Clausen; through September. )
Helen M. DeGraff; Clayton R. Smith; Anna *"Handed Down: Traditional Artists in the Mon-
Lounsbery; and Madeline E. Grover. tessori School " - objects made by stu-
We look forward to seeing you at Society dents in the folk artist program, with
events coming up! objects from the DeWitt's collections
(including the Tompkins County Bicen-
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tennial Quilt) . (Opens July 17)
"Mother's Day" - mothers and children photo-
This Newsletter is published quarterly by graphed at the turn-of-the-century.
the DeWitt Historical Society of Tompkins (Up through September)
County, located in the Clinton House, 116 "William H. Miller: An Ithaca Architect and
N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 (607/ His Clients" - photographs , documents;
273-8284) . Margaret C. Hobbie, Director. with self-guided walking tour pamphlet
Hours for the Museum are: 12:30-5:00 p.m. , p
P• . , now available at no charge. (Up through
Tuesday-Saturday. Membership information December)
is available at our front desk or by contact- *"Teddy Bears' Picnic" (in the Collector' s
ing us. A number of publications and other Kiosk, opening July 31 )
items of local and regional interest are
available at the Museum desk. Members re- This has been a busy Spring and Summer, with
ceive a 10% discount on sales items. many new (*) exhibits going up. We hope you
will come in and browse!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Summer 1984 Newsletter 3
RECENT ACQUISITIONS . . . (by Shannon O'Dell , Curator of Collections)
Some 46 donations to the collections and archives since January 1 , 1984, have been made.
Approximately 75% of these are archival and/or photographic materials. We are pleased to
briefly list below some of the items which have come in to us. Of course the generosity of
these donations to our collections are deeply appreciated!
84.21 H. Hill Jewelers jewelry box - from Ariel Burchard.
84.22 Photos of steamers and of Roy Shurger - from Lois Shurger Jayne.
84.23 Two 1912 Primary ballots - from the Dept. of Manuscripts/Archives, Cornell .
84.24 The Park Baptist Newsletter, 1889 - from Helen M. Hanmer.
84.25 Photograph of Henry Stutz - from Annette S. Page.
84.26 Photographs of Ithaca area and Cornell , and others by Ithaca photographers - from
Margaret Hobbie
84.27 Four books published in Ithaca - from Lois O'Connor.
84.28 Brownie camera, laundry bag, letter - from John Marcham.
84.30 Diaries written by Viola Cruthers, 1920-31 - from Dr. and Mrs. James Hoffmire.
84.31 Dr. Humphrey's Manual , c. 1935; Ithaca City Board of Health Sanitary Code, 1938;
"Quiz Me" game, 1938; Teachers Notebook of Laura Bryant' s, 1930s, of East Hill
School - from Helen Avery.
84.32 Householder' s sugar card, 1918-19 - from Robert Brown.
84.33 Receipt to Liberty H. Bailey from Ithaca City Hospital - from Annette Page.
84.35 Early 20th century man's suit and suit coat - from Florence Townsend.
84.36 Photos and booklets relating to Ithaca Fire Dept. #3 - from Sally Gillette.
84.39 1960s man's lounging robe - from Anne Baldwin.
84.40 Photos relating to the Union Hotel on Cayuga Street - from Dr. Jane Carboni .
84.41 Archival and photographic material from the estate of Helen White Coryell --
from Brianwood Antiques.
84.43 Clinton family photos, glass plate negatives, IFD annual reports - from Gordon
Clinton.
84.44 1905 Annual Greeting of Journal Carrier Boys - from Connie Hill .
84.45 Romeyn Berry's hayrake, pair of straight razors - from Anne G. Baldwin.
84.46 Ithaca Candy Shop box, ca. 1920s - from Leo Georgiou.
84.47 Ca. 1970s baby clothing - from Gretchen Sachse.
84.48 Early 20th century light bulbs, truss, bedpan - from Annette S. Page.
84.49 Lantern slide of Roberts Hall , Cornell - from William Roberts Shaw.
Items needed for our collection: ceramic mixing bowls; cooking utensils from the early
20th century; old quilting equipment such as templates, frame; mens work clothing from the
20th century; any letters, photos, military clothing of a local Vietnam veteran; diaries,
journals by men, women, and children, particularly relating to Tompkins County.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ANNUAL LACE DAY PLANNED WANTED: For research purposes only, the
The sponsored by location of any spinning wheels or related
he 4th Annual LACE DAY, s
P Y the equipment signed GREGG, WILLIAMS, or FARN-
Society and the Finger Lakes Lace Guild will HAM. Please contact: Peter Farnham,
be held on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 11-4:30 Chenango Co. Historical Society, 55 Rex-
p.m. , at the Museum. It is free and open to ford Street, Norwich, NY 13815.
the public, and has been a well-attended
event in the past.
There will be bobbin lace-making demon- "Origin of Place Names" to be Reprinted
strations, a do-it-yourself table, lace on
display, and much more. The featured speaker The Society is in the process of reprint-
is Carolyn Pierce from the Chesapeake Re- ing W. Glenn Norris ' wonderful Origin of
gional Lace Guild who will address "Lace Place Names of Tompkins County, with a new
Identification." Visitors are encouraged to Preface by Lois O'Connor. One of our most
bring in their own laces for identification popular publications, it has been out-of-
and discussion. More information: Holly Van print since Christmas.
Sciver, 277-0498. Copies should be available in mid-August.
4 Summer 1984 Newsletter
FROM RENWICK TO STEWART PARK. . . (continued from page 1 )
starring Frances X. Bushman and Beverly buildings. He was the electrical engineer
Bayne. Attracted by the possibilities pro- who bought control of the street railway and
vided by the natural setting of Ithaca for electric light companies in 1891 and started
film production, Wharton Studios, Inc. , was trolley service up East Hill . In 1923, the
formed and for the next five years a number
of films (including the series "The Exploits City purchased the boat house from the Cas-
cadilla School Association and in 1925 some
of Elaine" starring Lionel Barrymore and
"The additional land was given to the city by an
The Mysteries of Myra") were made in Ren-
ex-mayor, Henry St. John.
wick Park. In the early 1930s, the City undertook
The lot was sub-leased to the Interna- some improvements through the WPA Project,
tional Film Service and later to the Metro adding the duck pond, extending the shore-
Film Corporation and the Norma Talmadge Cor- line to the north and improving the inlet.
poration. During the war, a number of "pro- Swimming at Stewart Park was possible until
paganda" films were made here including the 1961 when it was banned because of the
Patria series starring Irene Castle and amount of silt and pollution in the water.
Milton Sills. Today, the only remaining building that
With the end of the war and the growth of was part of the original trolley amusement
Hollywood, the film industry in Ithaca died. park development is the big main pavilion.
In 1921 , the City of Ithaca purchased the Other structures have come and gone. The
property. This occurred during the mayoral boathouse was built by Cascadilla School , a
term of Edwin C. Stewart who died in office private preparatory school for Cornell Uni-
and left $150,000 for the development of a versity, and was originally used as a gym-
park. Herman Bergholtz, the original de- nasium. It was apparently built about 1900
veloper of the park, having owned the trolley
company, was hired to restore some of the (continued on page 5)
Left, the water tower at Stewart Park. Note
the popcorn tent to the right, the water
it 1 wagon being filled at the base of the tower,
and there is a photographer's studio to the
back of the tower. The benches are set in
front of the bandstand (not visible here) .
Below, a later photograph taken during what
er
appears to be a busy day at the park, show-
ing the bandstand. (Dates/photographers of
f 1 these photographs are not known. )
$t a'
!.
a 7/ 'yY"5.�`z � Nan -.' 1. k '.40
. $
i
, . fHdL
s . a f a
, . Y �
. y
F
p ` O' tea. � .�,�;.
. t
...' L \ illf,.--- _ 1.g � � .�~-- � y'� a-� �
_ ? K.M t ga ,
Summer 1984 Newsletter 5
. * ,■
k
____________________
i '
t 1
Right, a "Cornell ,�� _.. 1, �' iI � I
g ' V ' I1i1 ,11111.1�ll? '_ III 1(�
Crew" (from Cas- 11 II Et3�II1+ Ih�I ^�' �''` �11 1( r7' 1 111 NIR 3.
cadilla School ?)
at the Inlet " g „ ,, ,�-�._
Boathouse at r. M
Stewart Park.
(Date of photo
and photographer `, ,
' 41441
unknown. ) i !r III 4. ? Lj4
i` r f jL
1
; I I ++" `i�
1
1
1
4
tt. .
--- r ,g, _.... +lack _
and certainly not earlier than 1890. The and restrooms, and the brightly colored,
bathhouse was built between 1910 and 1919 canvas-topped carousel (new to the park in
as a studio for the film industry. It was 1951 and privately owned) . The small zoo
converted to a bathhouse between 1919 and has given many young children pleasure
1929. The huge tower, also one of the ori- through the years. The tennis courts have
ginal buildings, was a water tower with an gotten plenty of good use.
electric pump. It was destroyed by Hurri- Frequent visitors to the park in past
cane Hazel in 1955. years will have many fond memories of other
Three shingle-style pavilions remain in amusements that have come and gone, perhaps
the park today. One is the large pavilion most noteworthy being the swimming. Or the
on the east side, with a spacious veranda little train that even went through a tunnel ,
around it on three sides and facing the not to mention the many events and get
lake. A smaller pavilion, sometimes used togethers through the years that refreshed
as a bandstand but more frequently as a pic- and relaxed us.
nic area, is near the children's playground. [Editor's Note: Dig out those photographs
The Boat House is on the north side, facing and memories, for the DeWitt is planning a
the duck pond, with a big veranda beneath Stewart Park "History Day" sometime around
the tower. Labor Day, and you are invited to partici-
Also in the park today is the refresment pate! Watch our calendar and the newspapers
stand, a big pavilion for equipment storage for more information.]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
and dates for them -- whether you are ex-
Genealogy Notes perienced or just a novice at "researching
The newly-formed group whose interest is your roots," you will find kindred spirits
genealogy met at the Museum in June. The in the Genealogy Group. (Mrs. Hilda Myers
meeting was informal -- with general ex- has more information if you wish to call
changes of ideas and information. Several the Society. )
persons who had expressed an interest in
the group were unable to join in at this MOVING? OUT OF TOWN FOR AWHILE? Please
meeting. drop us a note or telephone so that we may
Other meetings will be scheduled this hold your mail or forward it accordingly.
summer -- check the Calendar for times
6 Summer 1984 Newsletter
TWO MAJOR EXHIBITS OPEN In the best health interests of our members,
we would like to present the following,
Two concurrent major exhibits open on from a journal of the Dansville Sanatorium
July 28: "Without Knife or Pain: 19th Cen- (a water cure in Dansville, NY) , Feb. 1885.
tury Alternative Medicine in Tompkins The ABC of Health
County" at the DeWitt; and "With Scalpel
and Stethoscope: 19th Century Orthodox Medi- As soon as you are up, shake blanket and
cine" at the Hinckley Foundation Museum. We — sheet;
hope you still stop in soon to see them, Better be without shoes, than sit with wet
although both will be into 1985. feet;
The exhibit at the DeWitt looks at the Children, if healthy, are active, not still ;
many facets of alternative medicine, its Damp beds and damp clothes will both make
promises and its practices in this area. you ill ;
Among the topics covered: homeopathy, eclec- Eat slowly, and always chew your food well
ticism, water cures, folk medicine and home Freshen the air in the house where you
remedies, patent medicine, Thomsonism and dwell ;
botanic medicine, the popular health move- Garments must never be made to be tight;
ment, and electrical devices; and the impact Homes will be healthy, if airy and light;
of alternative therapies as they challenged If you wish to be well , as you do, I 've no
orthodox medical practices. doubt,
At the Hinckley, "With Scalpel and Stetho- Just open the windows before you go out;
scope" focuses on orthodox medicine, tracing Keep your rooms always tidy and clean,
its evolution from heroic medicine in the Let dust on the furniture never be seen;
early 1800s with its bleeding and purges to Much illness is caused by the want of pure
the development of scientific medicine and air.
the beginnings of specialization at the end Now to open your windows be ever your care;
of the century. The impact of technology, Old rags and old rubbish should never be
kept;
(continued on page 7) People should see that their floors are
well swept;
Quick movements in children are healthy and
DR. PERRIN'S FUMIGATOR FOR CATARRH. - right;
BEFORE L8I\D IT. AFTER USING IT. Remember the young cannot thrive without
�,__,
light.
^ ` See that the cistern is clean to the brim;
q
� Take care that your dress is all tidy and
' tW\\ _ W►/ - trim;
_.�'' :
r.f .:.1i Use your nose to find out if there be a bad
ttOt � ,.7_7,t°//).� drain;
` � Very sad are the fevers that come in its
ti`' /1. train.
..\, R= \'‘ k\, r�lid�'',* i Walk as much as you can without feeling
fatigue,
Xerxes could walk for full many a league.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Your health is your wealth, which your
wisdom must keep,
Zeal will help a good cause, and the good
THE NEW DEAL IN TOMPKINS COUNTY you will reap.
Historian Joanne Florino has begun
research on the history of the New Deal * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Program in Tompkins County with the support
of a $3,120 grant from the New York State SOME OF OUR MEMBERS will receive their re-
Council on the Arts. newal notices shortly. The DeWitt advises
Ms. Florino is examining the extent and in July its members with renewal dates fall -
impact of Federal and State economic pro- ing between January and June that it is
grams and policies in the county during time to renew; and in November for those
that period of time during the Roosevelt whose renewals are due between July and
administration. The project will result December. If you have any questions about
in an exhibit and one-day symposium this this, please contact Jean Warholic, the
Fall . Membership Chairman.
Summer 1984 Newsletter 7
c - ' I 71:::1:7'—'9i
- : , ',M z+ ~ X Ski q a t F t ::t.::::::1--;'
L
' : $ t , ,,a�` n# e } fin+" , .•.1 It ' Y T i , '�` „,,,,to ' ^!
4 3
- - ' '4 1 AL r
, 1 -,
., 101,P, , _ .. 1: 4 . ,,: --- kk a” '44
p
itik x }'
The Maternity Ward at the Tompkins County Hospital (then on . Street) , at
Christmastime, year unknown. The DeWitt is interested in acquiring more information
for an article relating to hospitals and public health •in 20th Century Tompkins County
for a future exhibit -- might you share with us your photographs and material ?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Society recently received an original
letter (thanks to Annette Page) from F.C.
TWO MEDICINE EXHIBITS. . . (from page 6) Cornell to Dean Liberty H. Bailey, acknow-
ledging Dean Bailey° s gift toward a new
changes in education, and the institution of Maternity Ward. Since it bridges the two
standards and licensing are also considered, new exhibits concerning health and medicine
A lecture series on .topics in 19th Cen- in 19th Century Tompkins County and leads
tury medicine history s planned for the into an exhibit planned for.1985-86, we are
Fall at both museums. Further information including it he for your nterest. The
about the exhibits and lecture series is letter is dated January 30th, 1913.
available from either museum in the form of "Dear Mr. Bailey: I have your letter of
a posterlogue. the 27th with check enclosed for $500. For
Also, the Cornell Plantations will offer your contribution to the City Hospital given
a free talk on medicinal plants and their on the understanding that they accept Mater-
uses by Dr. Scott Camazine, on July 28., from nity cases to the hospital and properly care
1-2:00 p.m. , at their Herb Day. (Informa- for the same. I can assure you that the
tion; 256-3020. ) above conditions will all be carried out and
These exhibits and programs are made in the new building there will be ample room
possible, in part, by a grant from the New to properly care for such cases.
York State Council on the Arts. The Curator "Thanking you for your generous gift, I
is Gretchen Sachse. am, Sincerely Yours, (signed)
F. C. Cornell "
8 Summer 1984 Newsletter
News of the Collections VOLUNTEER NEWS
We have four new people working with the Recently, we have welcomed the following
Curator of Collections now and great pro- new volunteers: Eva Poysa and Robert Scho-
gress is being made. knecht, who are assisting our Curator of
Since April , Eva Poysa has started to Education; Harriet Tucker, who is working
work with the accessioning backlog. She with our volunteer library cataloguer Carla
puts in about 10 hours a week. Eva recently Weiss; and Betty Stuart, Fraces Marx, and
re-
retired from the Dept. of City and Regional Michelle Glade,, who will be front desk re-
Planning at Cornell and her excellent cleri- cepA capabl
cal skills are being put to good use. She A capable, dependable volunteer force is
is a pleasure to have around as well , absolutely essential to the functioning of
Beginning in May, Bob Schoknecht, who any museum. The Society is most fortunate
works for the Ecology and Systematics Dept, in having a dedicated group working in all
at Cornell , started to work on registration areas of service -- behind the scenes as
projects as a volunteer. Currently he is well as up front.
correcting and updating the donor records, Have you considered joining our volunteer
putting in about five hours a week,
staff? Right now, we are in particular need
For the last month and a half, Karen of a volunteer to catalog our photographic
Sharp, an Ithaca College student working equipment collection (a knowledge of the
toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, has history of photo equipment preferred) . If
been working for the Society to fulfill you wish to volunteer for this project,
requirements for an Art History internship, please contact Shannon O'Dell , the Curator
Her project involves inventorying and re- of Collections. If you have other interests
searching our oil portrait collection. She or projects you wish to volunteer for,
is seeking information to fill in the gaps please contact Mrs. Hilda Myers.
of our knowledge on the portraits -- parti-
cularly the painters. This information will PAPER CONSERVATOR NOW IN ITHACA
benefit us when we write a grant proposals Area residents will be pleased to note
to interpret them in exhibits and on display, that a paper conservator, Daniel Clement,
as well as provide additional insights and has established a practice in Ithaca.
increase our appreciation of them. Mr. Clement is a graduate of Cornell
Christine Hall , a CIVITAS workstudy stu- University and of the .Cooperstown Graduate
dent from Cornell , has been working with Program in the Conservation of Historic
Karen on inventorying and cataloging paint- and Artistic Works. We are fortunate to
ings. Christine is also an art student and have such a well-qualified conservator in
will be working on a variety of projects this area. For more information or to
from exhibit painting to collection research make an appointment, please call him at
all summer. 387-9608.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DeWitt Historical Society of
Tompkins County Non-Profit Organization
116 North Cayuga Street U.S. Postage
Ithaca, NY 14850 PAID
Ithaca, New York
Permit Number 292
Ms. Andrea J. Lazarski
306 Lake 'Ave.
Ithaca, NY 14850
4 ITHACA JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT • Friday,May 13,1983'
THE LAKE: STEWART PARK
ril!it.„;',* A ' , 1',-4"i„, ' ':,''
Swimming was permitted at park
r,'
i, _.
,,,,
Stewuri
...
By JOHN M
Journal S
. � .:
F STEWART PARK could talk,the
„�,y. a shipping port,a movie studio,a
t-- ,, + park.
But mostly, Stewart Park has sf
capacity as today: A place for rerr
.
a
r
u
.. s 4'
x
g
'
a
s
n
Swimming was permitted at park until 1963.Note slide in water. 4,
ParC
Stewart
By JOHN MAINES'
Journal-Staff
1'STEWARTPARK could talk,the stories would fill a book.It's been
a shipping port, a movie studio,a trolley station and an amusement
park. i
But mostly, Stewart Park has spent the 20th century in the same
capacity as today:A place for recreation.
Stewart Park is named after former Ithaca mayor and state senator
, Edwin C.Stewart,who in his will created a trust fund for preservation of
the park,a 39-acre spread on the southern edge of Cayuga Lake.
It was originally known as Port Renwick,and later,Renwick Park. In
1790,Maior"James Renwick of New York City purchased 600 acres from the ;,;
y original Revolutionary War land tract grantee,Andrew Moodie,and opened
a small port on the property's southeast corner.
In the late 1800s the Cayuga Lake Railway Company purchased the ," +
property,and in 1894 built an electric trolley leading from town to the lake.
-, They developed an amusement park there,with a theater for vaudeville
performances,a pavillton for summer concerts,docks for boat rental and a
small zoo.A version of the zoo still exists today. ;`
€ � In 1914 the next owner,the Renwick Park and Traffic Association,rented d i
' the Site to Wharton Studios Inc.,which made movies on the lake's shore for !
five years. Screen personalities were frequently scene in Ithaca: early e I
1` movie greats such as Pearl White, Lionel Barrymore starred in Ithaca r y
.'"'.-444 films"Ithacans from 1916 to 1919 often played"extras"in the films,
air�" �T"'� '' P Y . x
• But by the end of the decade,the park was deteriorating.When the city .
purchased it in the 1920s,most of the buildings,piers and pavillions were
run down. The lawns were overgrown,and the landscape was disfigured
with picture sets and and old shacks.
In his will,Stewart left a$100,000 trust to be used for the renovation of the
park.Today it has of tennis courts,baseball fields,swingsets and acres of
—..40,-„,, lawn and picnic area.
And once,Ithacans could swim off the park's shore. Not any more. In
.k 1963,swimming was banned because of the murky condition of the water. i
s
:r r Q4,* r)
win F
4 ITHACA JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT 0 Friday,May 13,1983
THE LAKE: STEWARr PARK
:
v
* , s..m
r,
. , 7-7-'. . — a
. S
7
S Aga=x e- s
9
.
y
'
St
!
Swimming was permitted at park until 1963.Nate slide in water., ;
Stewart Park
By JOHN MAINES
•
F STEWART PARK could Jou talk,rnal the Stafi stories would fill a book.It's been.
a shipping port,a movie Studio,a trolley station and an amusement •
park. !
But mostly, Stewart Park has spent the 20th century i •
Y n the same
,-E capacity as today: A place for recreation.
Stewart Park is named after former Ithaca mayor and state senator •
• Edwin C.Stewart,who in his will created a trust fund for preservation of
0.m the park,a 39-acre spread on the southern edge of Cayuga Lake.
- '^ It was originally known as Port Renwick,and later,Renwick Park.In
1790,Major-James Renwick of New York City purchased cres om t ,
• a, ' ` a o. w� o N 600 a fr the .
;; •; original Revolutionary War land tract grantee,Andrew Moodie,and opened !
'' ' '' a small port on the property's southeast corner. •
Renwick Park looking east.Note steamship behind tree. In the late 1800s the Cayuga Lake Railway Company purchased the ;
property,and in 1894 built an electric trolley leading from town to the lake. :
t - - s .'" They developed an amusement park there,with a theater for vaudeville
a a performances,a pavillion for summer concerts,docks for boat rental and a <
small zoo. A version of the zoo still exists today.
tY a r In 1914 the next owner,the Renwick Park and Traffic Association,rented !•
.I ' ,.` '
" '- the site to Wharton Studios Inc.,which made movies on the lake's shore for` "
-- �• k' zs five ears. Screen personalities were frequently scene in Ithaca: early
�r �c ' Y P 9 Y
F ' movie'greats such as Pearl White, Lionel d"extras"starred in Ithaca ;
""r�tr8"rS`dY*°'°."k'."°'>1:.�-?i. ;mN �.• c -,` % a"a te " �:
F` .v:4,
, ��:.x' +�+,,„ �',w.i= i' .,' ✓'�.. +" t
• ---0 - --* . , , " Wi.--v ,,. ) : -.:IV A'i, ,..,'.44,;,,,,'-...., . ..'
• x
,ate.
A 1916 boat launchin on the west side near what is now g '� � � w Tretnan marina. �° � �.
•7''''''
. a tl, i„,,,,,.,..0,---,),,-,,, ,--,.--, t'i 4
i .7.0
•
•
R
' ro-
% F ve � —�`K T�''a - +m d +': chi'� �,h;-x.,,x.,+M�✓.���'F. m ��"' ' �, :,�rte f
tkle
f a I = u . ,� .5 err 4`'" ' ? B ,-y "4 N" P Ai x- � *•► .rte
Archway entrance to bird sanctuary'in park.
: - :- - Southern end of Cayuga Lake,as photographed from a dirt road on east side.
A
tl
f
k Y
9
•,,--- f i
v,
v
tl
tl
k �. ,
1
•
(jj
-
T
6
...."^ate ,r. k`
•
Early entrance to park.Note railroad tracks in foreground. Lake's low water level in 1973 left different scene at park shoreline.
4 ITHACA JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT • Friday,May 13, 1983
d 1
THE LAKE: STEWART PARK
� ;
w.
"- ,
i f Swimming was permitted at park until 1963.Note slide in water.
� � Stewart Park
By JOHN MAINES
a _ Journal Staff
s � -, ., F STEWART PARK could talk,the stories would fill a book.It's been
a shipping port,a movie studio,a trolley station and an amusement
*.` tfr4 � r r • , park.
1
��" + 4 ,t,,.,,. ,- But mostly, Stewart Park has spent the 20th century in the same
t r' j ` ,II, s '-,"' capacity as today: A place for recreation.
� I hi . Stewart Park is named after former Ithaca mayor and state senator
�� '� Edwin C.Stewart,who in his will created a trust fund for preservation of
"^`+� the park,a 39-acre spread on the southern edge of Cayuga Lake.
� � , �e•. v It was originally known as Port Renwick,and later,Renwick Park. In
"` 1790,Major.James Renwick of New York City purchased 600 acres from the
s ' t original Revolutionary War land tract grantee,Andrew Moodie,and opened
a small port on the property's southeast corner.
Renwick Park looking east. Note steamship behind tree. In the late 1800s the Cayuga Lake Railway Company purchased the
property,and in 1894 built an electric trolley leading from town to the lake.
They developed an amusement park there,with a theater for vaudeville
fir.' `' § I erformances,a pavillion for summer concerts,docks for boat rental and a
Ii small zoo. A version of the zoo still exists today. ;
In 1914 the next owner,the Renwick Park and Traffic Association,rented y
the site to Wharton Studios Inc.,which made movies on the lake's shore for
five years. Screen personalities were frequently scene in Ithaca: early
movie greats such as Pearl White, Lionel Barrymore starred in Ithaca
— :° *mT°rr° �. -r" t films. Ithacans from 1916 to 1919 often played"extras"in the films.
r But by the end of the decade,the park was deteriorating.When the city
purchased it in the 120s,most of the buildings,piers and avillions were
t , run down. The lawns were overgrown,and the landscape was disfigured
'� " r ^`;' �*: ' ^tl ; ' va .,t' a'. . A 1. . r with picture sets and and old shacks.
r :, In his will,Stewart left a$100,000 trust to be used for the renovation of the
park.Today it has of tennis courts,baseball fields,swingsets and acres of
r it - a ` • �, � lawn and picnic area.
t
s,,, y And once,Ithacans could swim off the park's shore. Not any more In
- rte� .y c.
1,'l k 'ryt a t , s.., Otaa? ° Ah7' wig;
A 1916 boat launching on the west side near what is now Iceman marina. x>' '� ;
mss: �z ?f• ;....,71-,-,..,',It� .# 9. 1'it t r 'lit
''1 l T
--' do �..INS
-. .. �,F _
r''i ,
t „ 10;
}
`
'..,V4: n w
*� • Archway entrance to bird sanctuary in park.
Southern end of Cayuga Lake.as photographed from a dirt road on east side.
c
xt 1:
e l e �4
f
710°1
f
l
a
*r�
h
I -
_
? e `x a
N'
� -.� -`•.."-+' -, �,- •t t — —*:, .. ,e .a. :p '' tr`. {a• j > M $yC •. �yy o
37 , xry .ri'!fi yys.YM�I
Early entrance to park. Note railroad tracks in foreground. Lake's low water level in 1973 left different scene at park shoreline.