HomeMy WebLinkAboutContinuation Sheet - 43-45 E. Main, Trumansburg.pdfN.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 43-45 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
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Narrative Description of Property
The converted residence of 43-45 East Main Street is located on the north side of
the roadway. The adjacent property to the east, 47-49 East Main Street, has the same set-
back.
The L-shaped two-story building has a front gable and a side -gable wing is a late
example of the Greek Revival style. A very heavy entablature runs under the eaves,
terminating in returns on the gable ends. The clapboard building has thin corner boards.
The first and second floor windows, with the exception of the storefront and the
enclosed porch, are 1/1 light vinyl replacements.
The storefront on the main (south) fagade is original. The storefront retains the
shape and massing of the neighboring cast iron facades, but lacks the materiality. These
storefront is defined by a narrow cornice capped by flat stock. The windows flush with
the fagade are divided into four lights by wooden mullions. The paired door is set back,
with a transom above it and paneling below. The surrounding storefront is also paneled at
the bottom.
The space between the gable end and gable wing is in -filled by a one-story
enclosed porch with shed roof. Five windows with fixed sash and 2/2 lights wrap around
the porch, three on the south facade and two on the west facade. A twelve fixed -light is
on the northern end of the west fagade of the porch. The roofs of both the porch and the
building are clad with asphalt shingles.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 43-45 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Significance
Trumansburg has an unfortunate history of massive fires, and buildings that
stretched the length of the north side of Main Street from Union Street to the Presbyterian
Church were consumed in a monstrous conflagration on February 22, 1864. In The
History of Trumansburg (1890), local historians record the fire in the following way:
There was no fire apparatus of any description in the town ... it became apparent
that the town must go not with out standing the almost superhuman efforts of the
people to check the conflagration. Lines of men, women, and even children were
formed, buckets of water were passed, and the advancing flames persistently
fought at every step until delicate women would fall to the ground from sheer
exhaustion....Main Street from the bridge to the Presbyterian Church and Elm
Street to the corner of Whig were filled with the house hold goods and
merchandise of all descriptions ... Thee scene at daylight beggards description.
One half the town in ruins, scores of homeless people searching the saved
property for their belongings. (As quoted by L. Sears, 53).
The Trumansburg New York Incorporation Centennial (1972) notes that many of
the buildings devoured in the fire were of wood and the majority of owners chose not to
rebuild, instead selling the lots. The new owners overwhelmingly constructed their new
buildings out of brick, historically an urban guard against fire, and adopted more uniform
designs and greater set -backs. 43-45 East Main Street appears to contract this
phenomenon. Based on the historical descriptions of the fire, it seems unlikely that a
building constructed of wood would survive the conflagration in such immaculate shape.
Instead, it's more likely that the replacement building was constructed in c. 1864 of the
Greek Revival style, despite the fact that this falls a few years outside the style's typical
period of influence (A Field Guide to American Houses).
The first Sanborn Insurance Map survey of April 1883 identified that the eastern
portion of the building served as a grocery story, while the adjacent western gable wing
served as a dwelling. The porch was already extant on this map. The next map of
December 1893 repeats the designation. The May 1898 map indicates that the western
portion continued to be used as a dwelling, while the eastern commercial space served as
a "work room."
A jewelry store moved into the eastern commercial space by the time of the
December 1905 survey; the western portion continued to be a dwelling. By the December
1910 map, the western portion continued to function as a dwelling, while the adjacent
"store" was vacant. In the final September 1929 Sanborn again identified the western
portion as a dwelling, with the inclusion of a small addition, possibly a garage, at the rear
(north) of the property. The eastern portion continued to be identified as a store.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 2
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 43-45 East Main Street
Village/Hamlet: Trumansburg
Narrative Description of Significance (continued)
Partial History of Ownership of Building_ Date Acquired Book Page
Charles Stewart
Caroline Hoover 1/29/1995 748 329
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(current owner) 10/7/2005 48028 2001
Figure 1: Main (south) facade
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 3
N.Y. Historic Resource Inventory Form - Continuation Sheet
Address: 43-45 East 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.
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.
McAlester, Virginia, and A. Lee McAlester. A Field Guide to American Houses. New
York: Knopf, 1984.
Sears, Lydia. A History of Trumansburg, New York, 1792-1967. Location unknown: I -T
Publishing Corp, 1978.
Tompkins County. "Property Description Report For: 45-47 Main St E, Municipality of
V. Trumansburg." Image Mate Online. Accessed July 29, 2014.
Compiled by Katelin Olson, August 15, 2014 4