HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 25-27 W. Main, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 25-27 West Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Property
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The end building of the commercial block of the south side of Main Street, 27-27
was the last one constructed in a contiguous row. Instead of the cast iron prominently
used on the adjacent buildings to the east, the IOOF Temple relies on cast concrete. The
brick fagade makes it more aesthetically compatible with its neighbors, but is only a
veneer. Despite being constructed about three and a half decades after its neighbors, the
building relates well in size, scale and massing to them, late references to the Italianate
period. However, the use of new materials and the configuration of the storefronts and
other aesthetic details suggests that its of an eclectic style and cannot be easily classified
under a specific style. A corner stone is located beneath the front step, bearing the date
"1906."
Situated on the south side of West Main Street, the main (north) fagade retains
much of its architectural integrity. The building is notable for the use of cast concrete for
details, including the window sills and the pedimented lintels, and the cast plaque on the
third story that reads "I.O.O.F. Temple. The dentiled cornice is metal. The windows on
all three stories of the main (north) fagade are 1/1 replacements. Unlike its neighbors, the
first floor is not distinctively different from the upper floors, as commonly denotes the
Italianate commercial style. Instead, the centered entrance with transom is accented with
the largest pedimented lintel, while the flanking window on either size are essentially
identical to the windows on the upper floors, both in detail and size. At both the eastern
and western sides, doors with transom windows are also accented with the smaller
version of the pedimented lintels. The first floor has been painted; the top edge of the
painted section is the same height as the adjacent cast-iron storefront, an effort to
simulate and articulate a difference between the first story and the upper floors.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 25-27 West Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Property (continued)
On the west fagade, two intact chimneys are visible. The double -hung sash on the
third floor of this fagade are possibly original; the remainder of the visible windows are
replacements. Replacement brick is visible on the upper northernmost corner of the west
fagade, including the northern chimney, suggesting that the brick veneer failed at some
point (likely due to water damage) and had to be replaced. This was not noted in the 1977
survey, and appears to have occurred after it.
Narrative Description of Significance
The local chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), known as
Tuckahannock (Number 20), was granted a charter on December 23, 1844. Their first
meeting was held on January 20, 1845 in the attic of the Washington House
(demolished), which served for their meeting space for several years. The charter
members were N.B. Smith, P.H. Thompson, Samuel E. Clark, S.A. Turner, N.J.
Strobridge, W'm. G. Godley, Edwin Hopkins, Jon Harold, Thomas M. Bishop, John
Furgesom, Daniel Elmore, Abijah W. Barnum, John McLallen. The Odd Fellows first
formed in Baltimore (1819) as a form of mutual aid society, similar in some ways to the
Free Masons. "For some fifteen or sixteen years the society enjoyed a large degree of
prosperity, but like the Masons they were destine t be tried as by fire, but unlike them the
result verified that say that `family quarrels are them most bitter." Around 1860, the
treasurer, Daniel Elmore, fled town with group's funds, effectively disrupting the lodge.
Over the years of the Civil War, a handful remained faithful and kept the lodge alive.
After the Civil War, the membership gradually increased, eventually reaching over
seventy members, a significant accomplishment for an organization that only recognizes
active members (History, 32, 47-8).
By the early 20th century, the organization was prosperous enough to construct the
building at 25-27 West Main Street ca. 1906 They sometimes used it to show movies,
accompanied by piano music (Sears, 102). Parties, dances and banquets seemed to often
fill the IOOF Hall (Sears 110, 111, 128), as well as a youth group in the 1940s (Sears
146). In 1948, the first dry cleaners in the Village, operated by Charles Fulton, opened in
the first floor of the IOOF Temple.
The 1977 surveyors noted that the building was used by traveling theatrical acts
through 1915, and during World War I it was used as a governmental armory. After the
war, a movie theatre, previously mentioned, occupied the second floor, while the third
floor was primarily used for Odd Fellows meetings and rituals.
The Sanborn Insurance Maps (1883, 1893, 1898, 1905) show the parcel as vacant
land, while the December 1910 map and September 1929 map indicate it was in use as
the IOOF Temple. The Sanborn maps also confirm the brick veneer.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 25-27 West Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Significance (continued)
As of June 2014, Life's So Sweet (chocolates) occupies the eastern first -floor
unit, while Short's Barber Shop is in the smaller western unit.
History of Ownership of Building Date Acquired Book Page
James B. Furman pre -1977
Marilyn Higbee June 5, 2008 52705 2002
(not an arm's length transaction, so Higbee
has some familiar connection to Furman)
(current owner) June 30, 2010 56112 3001
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 25-27 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: 25-27 West Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Figure 2: Detail on main (north) facade
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. "27 W. Main Street," NY
Building Structure Inventory Form, Division for Historic Preservation. Albany,
NY, Spring 1977.
A History of Trumansburg. Trumansburg, NY: The Free Press, 1890.
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: 25-27 Main St E, Municipality of
V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 5