HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 9-11 W. Main, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 9-11 West Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Property
N.
-�+
y.J
Ll -
• i$
/28
{l IL LLk
73.1 5pp ae U MAS
The four -bay block at 9-11 West Main was built contiguously with 1, 3, 5 West
Main and was originally connected to 19-23 West Main. The Biggs Building that divides
them was previously the site of the two four -bay connected buildings. (Thus, historically,
the block likely contained six identical buildings with a combined total of 24 bays.) This
assessment is based on a review of the Sanborn Insurance maps and the recognition that
the Biggs Building is roughly twice the width of the adjoining buildings.
Historically, the buildings were uniform in mass, scale, and detailing and Sanborn
Insurance Maps indicate that the units were structurally independent. Collectively, the
brick buildings are good local examples of the commercial Italianate style, featuring a
detailed pattered and metal, corbelled cornice with large brackets. The roof is flat.
The third floor on the north fagade has simulated flat arch hoods (they arch at the
top, but are squared above the sash) and painted sills. The second floor has horizontal
lintels and the same sills as the third floor. The third floor windows of #9-11 are 1/1 vinyl
replacements, while the second floor retains its original French doors, which originally
opened out on to a second -floor wrought -iron balcony (Sanborn Insurance Map, April
1889).
#9-11 retains more of its historical integrity than the adjoining #1,3,5 because of
the extensive use of glass, but has lost the set -backs that characterize the style. The
facade was cast at Gregg Iron Works, a local foundry.
The rear (south) fagade is a hodgepodge of materials, including metal fire escape
stairs, balconies, and a raised one-story addition. This is a service area, lacking the
formality and aesthetic cohesion of the main (north) fagade.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 9-11 West Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Property (continued)
The majority of the windows have been replaced, but a single window on the first
floor of #9-11 appears to be original.
Like other sections of Main Street, the area in front of the block has been filled in
order to eliminate some of the depressions of the street. The block has cellar windows
that are blocked by the present raised level of the street. Trumansburg Creeks runs
directly south of the property.
Narrative Description of Significance
The second great fire in Trumansburg history (the first occurring in February
1864), erupted on May 5, 1871 and proceeded to destroy the parts of the commercial
district that were spared seven years earlier. The fire erupted along the south side of Main
Street and quickly spread among the wooden buildings. County Historian Carolyn A.
Martin wrote, "Even buildings on that side of Main Street were lost, and when the fire
jumped across the street four more went, among them the Washington House, one of the
finest hotels for miles ... In all, twenty-three businesses were lost." As in the case of the
1864 fire, arson was suspected but never proven (Martin, 25-26).
The row of predominantly brick buildings (the masonry Biggs Building is the
exception, a replacement due to fire) along Main Street west of Trumansburg Creek were
constructed after the 1871 fire. The previous lots were smaller and the buildings
constructed of wood. The fire provided the opportunity for the creation of larger lots and
the construction of larger, brick buildings in a compatible Italianate commercial style
(Martin, 27). The 1977 survey identified William Hazard as the possible builder of the
five identical buildings, including #9-11, but had no definitive information.
The April 1887 Sanborn Insurance Map indicates that the two buildings, plus #9-
11 to the west, were connected on the rear (south) fagade by a balcony, presumably on
the second floor. (This is also suggested because the middle opening on the second floor
n each of the buildings is longer than the flanking windows.) At the time, #9-11 housed a
grocery store, which the surveyors continued to note in the May 1898
The December 1893 Sanborn lists #9-11 as a boots and shoes store/grocery, as did
the December 1905 map and the December 1910 map. In the simplified September 1929
map, the final one produced for Trumansburg, the building is only designated as a store.
According to the 1977 survey, prior to 1923, the grocery store in #9-11 was owned by
John Jehue. (The Jehue name is associated with the telephone exchange on the second
floor of 7 East Main, currently an apartment over Gimme Coffee.) The Market Basket, a
grocery chain based out of Geneva, NY, purchased the shop sometime between 1923 and
1925. The Market Basket was the first chain store in the Village, "not counting the Cam
brothers who at the turn of the nineteenth century had stores in Owego, Ithaca
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 9-11 West Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Significance (continued)
and Trumansburg" (Sears, 129). The store was operated by Anna and Roy Smith. "When
the store opened and for several years after, the store hours followed the general practice:
seven to nine and as long in the evening on Saturdays as there were customers to serve"
(Sears, 129). In farm country, primarily before World War II, Saturdays were the
common day to come into town and do the weekly shopping. (Note: As of 2014, the only
area grocery store, Shur -Save, which is located just south of the Village along Route
98/Trumansburg Road, is open from lam-IOpm, very similar to the Market Basket.)
Around this same time, the eastern building (of the # 1-5 grouping) also housed a grocery
story, the National Economy. In 1929, the Market Basket purchased the National
Economy as well, moving from #9-11 into the eastern building of #1-5. The Market
Basket renovated the exterior and interior at this time, adding large storefront displays,
possibly changing the configurations of the set -backs and openings. Simultaneously,
Potter's Restaurant, located in the western building of #1-5 was able to expand into the
newly vacant #9-11.
Around the mid -1920s, the upper floors of #9-11 were in use as residential
apartment. As of the 1977 survey, it was in use by Kosmos (restaurant).
The first floor of #9-11 is currently occupied by Sundries, a boutique gift, jewelry
and clothing store that was previously located in 6 East Main Street. Sundries moved into
the building in 2013. The upper floors contain two walk-up apartments.
Partial History of Ownership of #9-11 Date Acquired Book Page
Dennis C. Whittle
(current owner) September 10, 2012 59701 7001
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 9-11 West Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Figure 1: Main (north) facade
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 4
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 9-11 West Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Sources
Celebration of the Bicentennial of the United States of America in the Town of Ulysses
and the Village of Trumansburg. Publisher unknown: 1976.
Digital Sanborn Maps 1867-1970. Ann Arbor, Mich.: ProQuest UMI, 2001.
Goldstein, Carol and Tania Werbizky. "9-15-19 E. Main Street," NY
Building Structure Inventory Form, Division for Historic Preservation. Albany,
NY, Spring 1977.
Martin, Carolyn A. Trumansburg, New York Incorporation Centennial." Trumansburg,
NY: The Trumansburg Centennial Association Incorporated, 1972.
Sears, Lydia. A History of Trumansburg, New York, 1792-1967. Location unknown: I -T
Publishing Corp, 1978.
Tompkins County. "Property Description Report For: 19 Main St E, Municipality of
V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 5