Non-Profit Organization PAID Rochester, NY Permit No. 1759
133 South Fitzhugh Street Rochester, New York 14608-2204 Executive Director Wayne Goodman
Landmarks
SPRING 2015: VOLUME LIII, NUMBER I
Director of Public Programs Cindy Boyer
THE LANDMARK SOCIETY OF WESTERN NEW YORK
Associate Director of Preservation Larry Francer Horticulturist Beverly Gibson Community Relations Associate Carolyn Haygood Membership Associate Norma Jean Hildreth Architectural Research Coordinator Cynthia Howk Director of Finance Andrew Lambrix Preservation Planner Caitlin Meives Education Associate Sharon Pratt Stone-Tolan Tour Guide Judith Trabert IT Associate Douglas Yormick Landmarks Editor & Designer The Verdi Group, Inc.
2015 NEW YORK STATEWIDE PRESERVATION CONFERENCE
THE ART OF PRESERVATION Painting your community’s future APRIL 16–18 GENEVA, NY
LANDMARKSOCIETY.ORG
DISCOVER, PROTECT AND REVITALIZE
Landmarks 2
SPRING 2015 FEATURE: PRESERVATION CONFERENCE
NEWS
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SCORECARD
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TRAVEL
MEMBER PROFILE
TOP LEFT: SALEM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST. TOP MIDDLE: SWAN LIBRARY (COURTESY OF TOM RIVERS OLEANSHUB.COM). TOP RIGHT: GENEVA SMITH OPERA HOUSE. BOTTOM LEFT: FALLINGWATER (PHOTO BY ROBERT P. RUSCHAK COURTESY OF THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY). BOTTOM RIGHT: SOPHIE PAILLARD ELKIN. COVER: GENEVA SMITH OPERA HOUSE
This newsletter is the official publication of The Landmark Society of Western New York, Inc. Publication is assisted with income from Marion Moore Whitbeck Fund and public funds from Monroe County and from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The mission of The Landmark Society of Western New York, Inc. is to protect the unique architectural heritage of our region and promote preservation and planning practices that foster healthy, livable and sustainable communities. Landmarks is published quarterly by The Landmark Society of Western New York, Inc., 133 South Fitzhugh Street, Rochester, New York 14608, (585) 546-7029. Fax (585) 546-4788. Look for our website at www.landmarksociety.org. E-mail us at info@landmarksociety.org.
The Landmark Society of Western New York is supported, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
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For additional and up to date information on all of our events, visit www.landmarksociety.org or subscribe to our 3 times a month e-newsletter at the same location.
MARCH MARCH 10 Spring Partners Roundup TIME: 6:00 p . m . – 8:00 p . m . LOCATION: Landmark Society Offices See right for details
APRIL APRIL 4 April Fools Tour at Stone-Tolan House Historic Site TIME: 12 noon – 4:00 p . m . LOCATION: 2370 East Avenue See page 10 for details APRIL 16–18 NY Statewide Conference The Art of Preservation LOCATION: Geneva, NY See page 8 for details
MAY
SPRING PARTNERS ROUNDUP
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
The Next Generation
The most common request to The Landmark Society is, by far, the request for assistance. “We need help!” are three words that we hear consistently. The type of help that is needed varies greatly, from fund raising assistance and organizational management, to last-minute efforts to save a historic resource that is soon to be demolished and lost forever. People contact The Landmark Society to determine appropriate paint choices for a historic house, how to use preservation tax credits, how to effectively plan heritage-related events, where to find appropriate building materials, how to contact trained craftsmen to perform the work and how to put the finishing touches on restoration projects. We are asked how to market historic homes for sale and what to look for when purchasing a historic property. Our staff is asked how to go about the complex and difficult task of saving a structure and how to protect historic resources and landscapes in the future. The organization is routinely asked to offer educational programming to groups and communities of all sizes. The Landmark Society’s assistance is a sought-after commodity, and as our organization strengthens the preservation ethic in our region, our help is needed all the more.
The 2015 Spring Partners Roundup will take place Tuesday, March 10 th, at The Landmark Society’s offices. The Partners Roundup is an opportunity for community advocates and preservation partners from around the region to gather and share their communities’ or organizations’ challenges and successes. The formal portion of the program will feature a panel discussion with The Landmark Society’s Young Urban Preservationists, Landmark staff and other young professionals who are active in their communities. If your community or organization has struggled to engage the next generation, come armed with your questions— we’ll have an amazing panel on hand to brainstorm ideas and provide examples and inspiration!
Tuesday, March 10th 6:00–8:00 p.m. Landmark Society Offices
133 S. Fitzhugh St. | Rochester, NY 14608
RSVP:
Caitlin Meives, cmeives@landmarksociety.org
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Executive Committee President Jeffrey Pollock Vice Presidents Preservation
Tom Castelein
Education & Properties
Mimi Freund Tilton
As 2015 begins in earnest, it is certainly appropriate to extend a sincere appreciation to everyone who makes our work possible. Addressing the volume of requests that we receive is a privilege, but without the tools to address these issues, our impact is greatly limited. Our members, donors, supporters and volunteers provide the underlying foundation to everything we do. It is because of you that we are able to provide authentic and meaningful responses to these requests for help. As this New Year continues, The Landmark Society reaffirms our deep gratitude for your support, which allows us to fulfill our collective mission in so many different ways to so many different people, and to be mindful of how we can better serve the entire region of western New York.
Mary Z. Nicosia
Finance & Treasurer
Jim Marasco Secretary Anthony Bellomo
JUNE
JUNE 13–14 Peony & Rose Weekend Ellwanger Garden TIME: 10:00 a . m . – 4:00 p . m . LOCATION: 625 Mt. Hope Avenue
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Development
MAY 9–10 and MAY 16–17 Lilac Weekend Hours at Ellwanger Garden TIME: 10:00 a . m . – 4:00 p . m . LOCATION: 625 Mt. Hope Avenue
JUNE 6–7 The Landmark Society House and Garden Tour TIME: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Landmark Society responds to these requests efficiently and effectively. We meet with community leaders to devise strategies to save historic places. We provide research and guidance to property owners, opening the door to possible preservation funding sources. We perform numerous site visits to advise property owners on design challenges. We offer small grants to help ignite larger preservation projects. We provide multiple resources for buying and selling historic properties, and we assist communities on how to best create, fund and facilitate a myriad of heritage-related events and programs. The Landmark Society provides quality educational initiatives for all age groups interested in learning more about how and why our heritage impacts our lives and our futures. We maintain an active and strong voice at all levels of government to advocate for preservation legislation that makes good aesthetic and economic sense. We consistently place preservation projects in their historical context, making sure that not only is the resource itself being preserved, but so is the entire history behind that resource. While we are always looking for ways to broaden our scope and enhance our offerings to the region, we are also mindful that our “preservation tool-belt,” which we have all worked hard to build together, is something to respect and protect.
Welcome Douglas Yormick Douglas Yormick is our new IT Associate here at The Landmark Society of Western New York. He recently received his B.A. in Environmental Design from SUNY at Buffalo before relocating with his family to Rochester. During his time at UB he received many awards for his work and his highway removal project, “Bridging the Gap,” was selected for presentation at the 2013 Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA) ceremony. In addition to historic preservation, Douglas is passionate about city living, urban design/planning and is an avid Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Blue Jays fan. He currently resides in the Pearl-Meigs-Monroe neighborhood with his wife Melinda, daughter Rose and cat, Lady Byng. He can be contacted at dyormick@landmarksociety.org.
At Large JoAnn Beck Drew Costanza Glenn Kellogg Bleu Cease Jean France Sandra Frankel Andy Germanow Hugh Hamlin Kate Karl Jerry Ludwig Lee Lundback Bill Moehle Carol S. Mullin Louis P. Nau Ed Olinger Delores Radney Jason Roberts Richard Sarkis Jeffrey Skuse Burt Speers Bill Sullivan Beth Teall Stacey VanDenburgh
All the best,
Wayne Goodman Executive Director
HONORARY TRUSTEES
CALENDAR
William Balderston John Bero A. Vincent Buzard Christopher Clarke John C. Clark III John W. Clarke Frank Crego Susan Crego Jean Czerkas Jim Durfee William Edwards Charlie Fitzgibbon
George Gotcsik Fran Gotcsik Judie Griffin Frank S. Grosso Thomas Hargrave Art Holtzman James Knauf, Jr. Marianne Koller Sally McGucken Paul Nunes Andy Olenick Sherri Olenick
LANDMARKSOCIETY.ORG
Ann B. Parks Richard Reisem Jon Schumacher Marion Simon John Thoman Joanne VanZandt Sterling Weaver Houghton D. Wetherald Henry W. Williams Jr. Arlene Wright Vanderlinde Mr. James Yarrington Mr. Craig Zicari SPRING 2015
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Writers & Landmarks:
NEWS
Personal and Pithy.
The Landmark Legacy Society—Recognizing Planned Gifts The Landmark Legacy Society recognizes those thoughtful individuals who have included us in their estate plans in the past, as well as those who are committing to do so today. The Landmark Society is extremely grateful for every gift that it receives regardless of the contribution’s size. Planned gifts in the form of monetary bequests or real estate are welcomed by the organization. The real estate need not be a historic property. When we do receive such a gift, we frequently place protective covenants on the property, ensuring that our community work is funded and that the historic property is protected. If you own such a property or are helping a loved one, friend or client with this process, we encourage you to call us directly to discuss your wishes and the details of the gift. Our staff would very much appreciate knowing about your intentions in
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Landmark Legacy Society, we only ask that you send us your intention in writing and include your current contact information. We would be pleased to list your name among our Landmark Legacy Society members and invite you to an annual social gathering solely for members of this select group. Please contact us if you would like to receive our planned giving brochure, or if you would like more information on the Landmark Legacy Society at (585) 546-7029 x10. Thank you, in advance, for your thoughtful contribution and your interest in continuing our important preservation work for years to come.
Did you know membership dollars are a significant part of our operating budget? Please encourage friends and colleagues to join you in supporting the work we’re doing.
SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP LEVELS Individual Senior $40
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Individual $45
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Government & Non-Profit $50
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Couples & Family $70
Member Benefits
• Free admission to the Stone-Tolan House and Ellwanger Garden (special events excluded) • Subscription to Landmarks Magazine • Reduced admission to ticketed events • Access to the Wenrich Memorial Library for assisted research (advance appointment required)
MEMBERSHIP FORM TO JOIN, RENEW OR INCREASE YOUR MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE FILL THIS FORM AND RETURN.
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A BLONDE WALKS INTO A BAR
advance so that we can better prepare to receive such a bequest. Your intention can be kept anonymous if you wish.
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Phone #: I would like more information on including The Landmark Society in my estate plans. My employer participates in a matching gift program. Enclosed is my signed form. I plan to waive my membership benefits and deduct the full amount allowed by law. Yes, please sign me up for Landmark Alerts e-newsletter.
by Jennifer Litt
Ho’gans Hideaway Hogans Hideaway Hogan’s Hideaway
The exterior of Hogan’s Hideaway at first glance may strike you as a rough draft of prose in need of proofreading. It may spark a discussion on the once and future use of the apostrophe. It may ignite a desire to scrutinize the menu for commonly confused words and misspelled foreign food items, but don’t give in. Otherwise, you’ll miss the point of this popular landmark restaurantbar located on Park Avenue in Rochester.
in the 1940s when it was a grocery store, and Tom described the many incarnations of the restaurant he and his family fleshed out through substantial renovations during the years prior to the establishment of Hogan’s Hideaway—butcher room, take out deli, greenhouse, bar and bistro. Tom, the current president of the ParkMeigs Neighborhood Association, opened the restaurant we know today in 1980, but he didn’t want to call it LaDuca’s Hideaway. Believe it or not, Hogan’s name comes from a Korean man named Ho Gan w i t h w h o m To m worked. For obscure business reasons, the spelling on the DBA was H’ogans.
Hogan’s Hideaway is poetry in motion, a distillation of spirits and spirit, food for inspiring thought and nourishing bodies and my local hangout. Jason Reiss, Hogan’s new owner, understands the internal rhythm, end DRAWING COURTESY OF MARK PAYTON rhyme and enjambed lines of the restaurant world. With years of restaurant business experience and a deep respect for Hogan’s iconic status, Jason has restored luster to the interior without sacrificing its authenticity or charm and improved the food and drink menus.
The columnist and editor Doug Larson says, “If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur.” This week I (a blonde) walked into the bar at Hogan’s Hideaway and found the backside of the draught tower had been transformed into a play board covered with tiny word magnets for creating poems. As the self-appointed poet laureate of Hogan’s, I christened the game, and there were no separate apostrophe magnets to be found.
He says, “I knew I was buying an institution. I’m the curator.”
JENNIFER LITT Jennifer Litt is the sole proprietor of Jennifer Litt Writing Services (www.jenniferlitt.com). Jennifer’s poetry has appeared in several anthologies, journals and magazines, including Cease, Cows, Jet Fuel Review, Lake Affect, LUMINA, Mixed Fruit, Naugatuck River Review and nycBigCityLit. She lives in Rochester, New York.
These days Hogan’s is like a woman of a certain age who’s had some really good work done. She looks like herself, only refreshed, and she’s over the moon about her subtle transformation. Salvatore and Joseph LaDuca, Tom LaDuca’s father and uncle, purchased the building
Email Address
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Member Profile: SOPHIE PAILLARD ELKIN
Jean France Receives Honor
by Caitlin Meives
by Cynthia Howk
With our Conference coming up in Geneva, we thought it only appropriate to highlight one of Geneva’s biggest preservation promoters. Sophie been instrumental in helping us organize the Conference. She’s also a true preservationist who puts her money where her mouth is. Tell us about yourself. I was born and raised in Reims, France, in the heart of the Champagne region, where my family has been producing this wonderful bubbly libation for generations. I moved to Geneva from New York City in 1983, eager to raise my children in a green and wide-open space. Three of my four children were born in the same 1850-1900s farmhouse they still come home to for the holidays. Professionally, I specialize in the art of painted finish on walls and furniture. I am also launching a recently renovated former bank in downtown Geneva renamed “The Left Bank” as a venue for all sorts of private and public events. What do you like most about living in Geneva? Country life yet just an hour from airports and metropolitan areas. Access to our beautiful Seneca Lake. A rich architectural legacy. A booming wine industry that produces better wines every year and attracts young educated professionals back to our community. And one of the best wine bars in the state of New York. Yes, I am awfully biased! I am referring to my son’s “Microclimate Winebar” just a few feet away from “The Left Bank” on Linden Street. Tell us about the historic buildings that you own. The Left Bank, in the heart of the downtown business district. Formerly known as The Farmers and Merchants Bank, it is a striking example of early 20th century Beaux Art classicism and the only surviving bank building of the period in Geneva. Though small in size, the grandeur and majesty of its façade make it one of the most conspicuous and beloved buildings in all of Geneva. The rehabilitation started a few years ago and this architectural gem is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a candidate for LEED certification. I converted it into an elegant events venue. We are also extremely lucky to live on a beautiful farm overlooking Seneca Lake. On it still stands a majestic complex of barns and silos dated from the early 1800s to the early 1900s. Maintaining those irreplaceable structures over the past decade has certainly been a labor of love, a slow and steady process, from roof to foundations. 14 SPRING 2015
Jean France joins executive director, Wayne Goodman at the Landmark Society’s 2014 Annual Awards Program at City Hall in November. Earlier that month, she received the AIA/New York State’s “Honor Award” for her many years of service to architecture in the Empire State.
NEWS
Why do you think preservation is important and what motivates you to fix up all these old buildings? Preservation, to me, is first and foremost an environmental issue. The greenest building is an existing building. Demolition and construction waste clogs our landfills at a rate that far exceeds what our fragile ecosystem can sustain. Preservation also matters at a humanistic level. As an extension of ourselves, our buildings say a lot about who we are and what we stand for. They connect us to past generations and to each other. They carry us into the future. Oftentimes, I will walk through an old building and think—music or poetry, laughter or sorrow. Aromas of homemade feasts, candlelights, creaking wood floor, awaken my senses. Visions of games, chores, hard work, luxury or deprivation come up. I will think of sanctity, of life, or death. Of course, growing up in France with parents and relatives whose gift for bringing old, decrepit buildings back to life was much celebrated, gives me every reason to follow suit. Why do you think everyone should come to the 2015 Preservation Conference in Geneva? First, attending your Preservation Conferences always offers wonderful opportunities for networking and sharing experiences and ideas. The workshops also offer invaluable insights. Finally Geneva, this “uniquely urban” little town, is experiencing a remarkable renaissance thanks to a flourishing wine industry at its doorsteps. It now attracts investors from as far away as Texas and California. Downtown buildings are gradually being remodeled and open to new business ventures. We look forward to sharing our experience with The Landmark Society and all its members.
Long-time Landmark Society trustee and architectural historian, Jean France, was the recipient of an “Honor Award” from the New York State chapter of the American Institute of Architects this fall in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the profession of architecture in New York State. The award was announced at AIA/New York’s annual state conference in Saratoga Springs and presented to Jean at the AIA/Rochester chapter’s November meeting at Locust Hill Country Club. Over the past seven decades, Jean has provided exceptional knowledge as an architectural historian and preservation advocate on dozens of projects. A review of her resume reveals the breadth and depth of her experience with a wide range of projects and programs. With her comprehensive knowledge of our region’s architecture, Jean has shared her passion for both the history and preservation of our architectural heritage with thousands of students, residents, committees, municipal officials, real estate, design and legal professionals and her fellow
architectural historians. Her popular classes at the University of Rochester and respected lecture series, “Architecture, the Art We Live In,” at the Memorial Art Gallery introduced students and the general public to this lively subject. Jean’s scholarly pursuits include extensive research on the lives and careers of architects Claude Bragdon, Harvey Ellis and Frank Lloyd Wright. Most recently, she was a member of the design team that coordinated the two-year rehabilitation of Wright’s Boynton House in Rochester. A member of the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) since 1948, Jean was honored for her life-time achievements in that field in 2010 when designated a “Fellow” at the SAH national conference. This year’s Landmark Society “Special Achievement Award,” together with the AIA/New York State “Honor Award” capped a remarkable year for this outstanding preservation advocate.
Tania Werbizky Retires from Preservation League of New York State by Cynthia Howk Tania Werbizky, the League’s longstanding Regional Director for Preservation and Grant Programs, announced her retirement at the end of 2014. A graduate of Cornell University’s historic preservation planning program, Tania was a valued staff member of the League for over 25 years. She joined the organization in February, 1989 as the first full-time employee of the newly created Technical Services Program. During her time at the League, she helped countless New Yorkers to save the meaningful places in their communities by providing first-rate preservation expertise, one-on-one outreach and consultation, thoughtful preservation strategies and boundless enthusiasm for New York’s historic places. Through her early partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts, Tania initiated some of the League’s most successful programs, including the Preserve New York Grant Program and the Preservation Colleagues Program. Tania also helped establish the successful Rural New York Grant Program and the League’s Upper Floors Workshop Program. In central New York, she partnered with Otsego 2000 and others to spearhead the designation of U.S. Route 20 as a State Scenic Byway linking 7 counties as a cultural trail. Tania also coordinated nominations and provided
excellent guidance for the League’s “Seven To Save” program, which included western New York sites such as the former Jackson Sanatorium in Dansville, the former Eastman Dental Dispensary in Rochester and, most recently, the Olmsted Bridges over the Erie Canal in Genesee Valley Park. A friend and colleague of many Landmark Society staff and volunteers, Tania has left a legacy of service and dedication to our region’s historic resources that will benefit these communities for many years to come.
The Preservation League’s Tania Werbizky joins Landmark Society executive director Wayne Goodman at the 2013 press conference in Genesee Valley Park announcing that the Olmsted bridges over the Erie Canal, nearby, were selected for the League’s 2013 “Seven To Save” list of endangered historic sites in New York State.
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What’s it like to travel on a Landmark Society tour? We include pretty much all expenses for the tour in one lump sum. We don’t fill every seat on the motorcoach— we want your ride to be comfortable, with a bit of room to stretch out (and to make sure nobody has to ride next to the restroom!) We don’t squeeze lots of sites into an afternoon or morning—we’d rather have quality time than a quantity of stops. We travel with two staff members, including our executive director Wayne Goodman. This gives us the opportunity to get to know you, and assist in any way we can to make it the best travel experience ever.
Preservation Grant Fund continues to provide vital support across the region by Caitlin Meives, Preservation Planner
• A $3,200 grant to the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Foundation on behalf of Seneca Falls Historic Preservation Association for conditions assessment & architectural drawings. • A $2,000 grant for a condition report for Macedon Academy, 1185 Macedon Center Road, Macedon, NY—home of the Macedon Historical Society and Museum.
Trinity Church
Macedon Academy
• A $2,000 grant to assist in funding a condition report on the roof of the Grace United Methodist Church, 121 Driving Park Avenue in Rochester. • A $2,000 grant for condition report of the Salem United Church of Christ, 60 Bittner St. in Rochester. • A $1,800 grant for condition report of the Wiley Schoolhouse, 893 Wiley Rd., Savannah, NY. The Preservation Grant Fund provides funds for preliminary design and planning studies to help make positive improvements to at-risk buildings. Often these grants can jump-start revitalization efforts as in the Seneca Falls site. “The former Trinity Church has sat unused for years. With this grant from The Landmark Society, we can explore realistic options for reuse and begin to move this important building forward to a brighter future,” said Allison Stokes, Founding Director of the Women’s Interfaith Institute, who is a member of the committee that has been working to save the historic Trinity Church from demolition. Initial funding for the Preservation Grant Fund was made possible by a generous bequest from Elizabeth (Libby) Stewart. Stewart was a longtime Landmark Society staff member who was dedicated to the revitalization of neighborhoods and historic structures. Generous donations to The Landmark Society provide ongoing funding. Visit our website or contact Caitlin Meives at cmeives@landmarksociety.org to learn more about this program. 4
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Grace United Methodist Church
Salem United Church of Christ
Wiley Schoolhouse
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY, TRINITY CHURCH PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD MARGOLIS
In late 2014, the Preservation Grant Fund committee considered its first round of funding for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. This was the most competitive round to date, with over $23,000 in requests. The grant committee awarded $11,000 to five worthy projects in western New York, including the Former Trinity Episcopal Church in Seneca Falls, one of our 2014 Five to Revive. The full list of grant recipients includes:
Last year’s travel tour sold out, so don’t wait too long to register. Registration fee includes three nights at the Sheraton Station Square, comfortable motor coach transportation, 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, all admissions, tours, and gratuities. Get the registration forms on our website at www.landmarksociety.org or call (585) 546-7029 x11 for information or to register over the phone.
Kentuck Knob—Interior
Limited Space Remaining! Members: $1,416 double occupancy
Non-member: $1,516 double occupancy Single supplement: $225
– FIRST CLASS(IC CAR) EVENT Classic car lovers and preservationists have one thing in common—they both appreciate the fine lines of great architecture and automobiles and have a desire to restore and protect them. They also have another thing in common— they love a great party! This Lunch at the Ludwig/Rockwell explains the huge success tour stop. of Cocktails & Carburetors plus Classics on the Hill: A Weekend Celebration of the Automobile. After many years of discussing the feasibility and logistics of taking on a new event of this proportion, a committee led by Jerry Ludwig decided to take a stab at planning The Landmark Society’s first classic-car event. From the moment you walked into the opening night cocktail party at Horsepower Motorworks you saw a feast for your eyes—the unbelievable collection of vintage vehicles—followed up by a feast for your palate prepared by Max Rochester. Music, a silent auction and plenty of lively conversation all helped to make this evening so enjoyable. Special thanks to Scott Riter for opening up this amazing working car restoration shop as a unique venue for the party. On Saturday, attendees drove around to five additional garages and were greeted by the owners to view their private collections. Each tour stop had its own highlights, and we can’t thank the owners enough for
sharing them with us—Mark Chaplin and John Strawway, Fran Cosentino and Jane Parker, Jerry Ludwig and Sarah Rockwell, Bob Malley and Stan Slade. Sunday, the ticket holders were invited to Classics at the Hill, an invitational car show held at Oak Hill Country Club. The event was postponed, due to weather, but everyone enjoyed it the following week. Cocktails & Carburetors couldn’t have been such a success without our sponsors—Mary Clare and Hugh Hamlin of UBS Financial Services, Jerry Ludwig and Sarah Rockwell and Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP—as well as the many volunteers, auction donors and the Tour Committee, which included all the garage and car owners as well as Marianne Benjamin, Bill Brackman, Drew Costanza, Frank Crego, Larry Francer, Wayne Goodman, Nancy Huffman, Jeff Pollock, Richard Reisem and Stacey VanDenburgh. Kudos to a first-class event!
Dr. James Farmer, (made the trip from Madison, CT!), Jerry Ludwig, Jim and Coleen Knauf.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
NEWS
A Fabulous Evening of Art & Preservation
I wish I was in Pittsburgh right now. No, I’m not a Steelers fan. But I AM a fan of “The City of Bridges”—and planning our 4-day September trip has me counting the days until September 17th. Why Pittsburgh? Of course the big attraction is visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, Fallingwater, south of the city. But Pittsburgh has more than enough attractions to warrant our visit. Here’s a peek at our itinerary (and if you’re not sure a motorcoach trip is for you, don’t miss the last two paragraphs.) We’ll depart Rochester on Thursday, September 17th, stopping in Erie, Pennsylvania for a tour and lunch in a restored 1920s train station. After checking in at the riverfront S h e r a t o n S t a t i o n Fallingwater Square, we’ll enjoy a walking tour with guides from the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, along with a ride on the Monongahela Incline railroad. We’ll conclude the evening dining at The Grand Concourse—one of the few places where “grand” may be an understatement. Friday, September 18th, we start with a tour of the Cathedral of Learning’s “Nationality Rooms”—classrooms designed in honor of many different countries. A five minute walk takes us to the Heinz Memorial Chapel—although you’ll feel as if we transported you to a Gothic chapel in Europe. Then it’s a self-guided visit to the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, including lunch. Friday evening we’ll dine in the elegant Mozart Room of Heinz Hall, prior to enjoying the opening night of the Pittsburgh Symphony season. Saturday we’ll travel south of Pittsburgh to Fallingwater. No matter how many photos you’ve seen, nothing compares to walking down the wooded path and seeing that iconic structure revealed to your eyes amidst the trees, then standing on its balcony and hearing the rush 12 SPRING 2015
of water underneath. After lunch at the Fallingwater Cafe, we’ll travel a short distance to another Frank Lloyd Wri g h t h o u s e, Ken t u ck Kn o b . B ui l t i n t o t h e side of the hill, it is a privately owned vacation home for a British family, who open the house for public tours. On our return to Pittsburgh we will enjoy dinner in another example of adaptive reuse: the Church Brew Works. Where else can you enjoy fine dining and house brewed beer, with the brewing vats situated in the altar space of this former Episcopal Church? On Sunday we’ll take a walking tour of downtown Pittsburgh t h at s h o w c a s e s 1 9 t h through 21 st century architecture. Market Square has 19th century 2-story buildings surrounded by soaring skyscrapers. We’ll end at one of the more unusual restaurants we’ve had on our itineraries: The Original Oyster House. First opened in 1870 and having been owned by only 3 families, this casual tavern is cherished by generations of Pittsburgh residents for its fish and fried oysters. We will enjoy a buffet lunch before heading home. Be sure to discover why the walls are covered by group photos from every Miss America pageant for decades!
Kentuck Knob—Exterior
PHOTOS COURTESY OF: FALLINGWATER, PHOTO BY ROBERT P RUSCHAK COURTESY OF THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY; KENTUCK KNOB, THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
by Cindy Boyer, Director of Public Programs
What, you missed it?! We don’t want you to feel totally left out, so here are a few highlights of a beautiful evening filled with fun, art, preservation and celebration. . . • Mary Nicosia’s well deserved presentation of the President’s Award to Esther Krakower • The Executive Director’s Award given to architect Frank Grosso for his excellent preservation work throughout Rochester, NY
• The great location of Rochester’s civic art museum, the Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester • Special John Wenrich Exhibition of select pieces from The Landmark Society collection
• Fabulous antipasto display, heavenly hors d’oeuvres and sinfully delicious desserts by Max’s of Rochester
• Over 75 silent auction items, including a John Wenrich collection piece, Mexican Villa Getaway and a private catered dinner by Tanglevine Crossing at the Frank • Lloyd Wright Boynton House
Cordaro World: A Call to Adventure—a dance performance presented by Catalyst Dance Works illustrating the journey of well known local artist Cordell Cordaro
• The look on Mary Z. Nicosia’s face as she is presented with a self portrait painting by David Haygood Jr. and other gifts as she is acknowledged for her stellar leadership as Board President for the past few years. She passes this baton onto Jeffrey Pollock. • Landmark’s Dancing with the Stars contenders Richard Sarkis and Diane Chevron “cut the rug” dancing to Jon Seiger and the All Stars Band
The Landmark Society would like to thank our sponsors without whom this event would not have been a huge success: Our title sponsors—First Niagara, G-S Plastic Optics and Tel-Tru Manufacturing Company, as well as the following businesses—Bergmann Associates, Cannon Heyman & Weiss, LLP, Connolly Printing, Constellation Brands Inc., and Craig J. Zicari & Anne C. Coon, Edgemere Development, Inc., EFP Rotenberg, LLP, Feldman Heating & Cooling, Home Leasing, Lee and Staffan Lundback, Mark IV Enterprises, North American Breweries, Pike Stained Glass Studios, Rochester Colonial Manufacturing, R. Jon Schick Architect, Toshiba Business Solutions, UBS and Wigwell Wine Cellar. We would also like to thank Amber Brescia and Catalyst Dance Wo r k s , C o r d e l l Cordaro, Jon Seiger and The All Stars, Jacquie Germanow, David Jones, Diane Chevron, MAG, Marianne Benjamin, Max’s, Premier Parking, Shawn Dunwoody, silent auction sponsors (too many to name) and our dedicated trustees and volunteers that gave generously of their time and services to help make this event happen. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob and the Treasures of Pittsburgh
Don’t miss it next year! Save the Date… • For the first time, Scholastic Awards were presented to three “Rising Stars” students: Brandon Collazo, Jacqueline Houston and Parker Story for their excellent achievements in art and preservation. Scholarships made possible by sponsors R. Jon Schick Architect and UBS. LANDMARKSOCIETY.ORG
Sunday, December 6th.
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Preservation
SCORECARD
Keeping score? We are—here’s the latest on several preservation issues around the region:
THE
-DATE
SAFE SAFE: SHANTZ BUTTON FACTORY BUTTON
LOFTS, 340 RUTGERS, ROCHESTER: Developer DHD Ventures marked the completion of this rehab project with a ribbon-cutting in December. This $6.5 million project converted a largely underutilized warehouse (originally the home of the Shantz Button Factory) into breathtaking loft apartments. State and federal historic rehab tax credits made this project possible.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
300 ALEXANDER, ROCHESTER: Another fantastic tax credit rehab project for downtown Rochester! Completed by developer Mark IV Enterprises, this $9 million adaptive use project created 58 luxury apartments in Rochester’s East End neighborhood.
SAFE:
BEFORE
T h e Yo u n g U r b a n Preservationists (YUPs) continued our debut year with more fun events this summer and fall. After our first annual bike scavenger hunt, Bikes, Beers & Buildings, we hosted an Open the Gates party at The Landmark Society’s very own St. Joseph’s Park, complete with St. Joe’s Mo’s (our own spin on mojitos), live music and lawn games. The event was a great way to introduce the community to the newly revitalized space and hopefully will inspire local residents to use the space when it re-opens this spring. YUPs continued our love of St. Joseph’s Park by hosting the site and providing s’mores fixings and fire pits for roasting marshmallows during the Inside Downtown Tour. We also tested Rochester’s knowledge of local architectural landmarks and city neighborhoods (as well as its love of 90s hip hop) with a Trivia Night at Roc Brewing in October, and sported some truly glorious (and well preserved) outfits at an Ugly Sweater Party in December.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
SAFE: CUNNINGHAM CARRIAGE FACTORY,
BEFORE
33 LITCHFIELD ST., ROCHESTER: DePaul recently completed the rehabilitation of this former factory in the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood. Vacant for 25 years, this industrial building now houses 71 mid-market loft apartments.
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The UGLIEST ugly sweater award is presented at the YUP’s Ugly Sweater Holiday Party at The Daily Refresher.
We are already gearing up for some great events in 2015, including a workshop series for first-time historic homeowners (veteran historic homeowners will be welcome too!) and a Small Town Field Trip to one of the many historic towns in the surrounding area. Still in its planning stages, the daylong trip will focus on the preservation work in a community outside of the greater Rochester area and feature a behind-the-scenes tour of a historic space. If you’re under the age of, say, 45 and you fancy yourself a YUP, we hope you’ll join us for some of these events. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in planning events and putting together projects. Email Caitlin Meives at cmeives@landmarksociety.org for more info. Or just show up to an event to show your support for the YUPs!
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
TOO CLOSE TO CALL: SWAN LIBRARY, 4 N. MAIN ST., ALBION: This 8,118 square foot Italianate style mansion in the heart of the village of Albion has been vacant since 2012 The when the Library relocated to 2013 a new building. The Library Association began marketing Five toin the Orleans the property for sale in late 2014. Located Revive are rehabilitation County Courthouse Historic District, a major of the property could qualify for state and federal rehab tax credits.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
by Laura Moore Smith, YUP co-founder
Check us out at www.landmarksociety.org/yup or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/YoungUrbanPreservationists) and Instagram (@YoungUrbanPres). facebook.com/YoungUrbanPreservationists
YUP Steering Committee members, Matthew Simonis and Gregory Waldron, show off their ugly holiday garb. PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM RIVERS ORLEANSHUB.COM
@YoungUrbanPres
LANDMARKSOCIETY.ORG
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APRIL FOOLS TOUR
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID BOYER
AT THE STONE-TOLAN HOUSE HISTORIC SITE
SAVE THE DATE!
One of these things is not like the others…
Poor Stone-Tolan. Those April Fools have been at it again. The oldest site in the county has been littered with things that do not belong. We’ve got to get it set right before all the 4th grade students arrive for their field studies—we don’t want the kids to think that Mrs. Stone did her hearth cooking by the light of a lava lamp! Help us unravel the mess they have left behind at the April Fools Tour on Saturday, April 4th. Identify the things that do not belong in the 1815 tavern, kitchen and parlor bedroom. Some will be easy (the lava lamp, perhaps?). Some will be a bit of a challenge (what’s the date on that coin?). But it will all be fun—and there will be prizes! Adult admission is $5 and we’re offering a special rate for children under 18—free admission (no fooling!).
Saturday, April 4th 12 noon to 4 p.m.
THE 45TH ANNUAL HOUSE and GARDEN TOUR Saturday and Sunday, June 6th and 7th Complete details in the Summer Landmarks magazine, arriving the beginning of May Or—sign up for our eNewsletter at www.landmarksociety.org and be the first to know all the details! Last year’s tour was a sellout—watch for information as it becomes available!
Stone-Tolan House Historic Site, 2370 East Avenue.
SAVE
TIME, TROUBLE & THOUSANDS
See how easy a new kitchen can be
232-1750
www.nu-look.info 10 SPRING 2015
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REGISTRATION:
Downside UP: How art can change the spirit of a place A Documentary by Nancy Kelly
What happens when an impoverished, workingclass town decides that its only hope for survival lies within the world of contemporary art? Can these two disparate worlds possibly benefit each other? And why would they even try? Meet North Adams, the smallest, poorest city in Massachusetts and MASS MoCA, America’s largest contemporary art museum. What happened when these two came together is the focus of “Downside UP,” a first person documentary about people reaching across hard class divisions in hope for a brighter future.
Opens March 2nd. Register online at www.landmarksociety.org/conference or at (585) 546-7029 x11. $75 Early Bird registration open until April 1st. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (search #NYPresConf) and check out landmarksociety.org/conference for the latest Conference news.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
PHOTO COURTESY OF NICHOLAS WHITMAN
CONFERENCE FILM:
SCHEDULE: Thursday, 4/16
• Afternoon orientation walking tour
• Film Screening followed by panel discussion at the Smith Opera House
PARTNERS:
• Geneva Pub Crawl
The bigger and better Statewide Preservation Conference is back for a second year! This time in the beautiful Finger Lakes city of Geneva. Not only will we be surrounded by fabulous architecture but we’ll also have the scenic beauty of Seneca Lake at our doorstep. What better setting in which to explore the power of preservation and the arts to transform communities?
This year’s theme, The Art of Preservation, is partially inspired by our Conference headquarters and keynote site—the restored Smith Opera House. A resplendent example of Romanesque architecture on the outside and Art Deco on the inside, this rehab project highlights the important role that the arts (performing, visual, media and culinary) play in rehabbing our historic buildings and fostering revitalization in our communities. But this year’s theme goes beyond the arts—historic preservation is an art form unto itself. Each building, each landscape, each community that we seek to revive requires a unique approach involving partnerships, funding sources and creative problem-solving. And, of course, the buildings, structures and landscapes that we seek to preserve are all works of art in and of themselves. 8
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ANNOUNCING KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Cynthia Nikitin Project for Public Spaces (PPS) Senior Vice President, Public Art Program Director Cynthia Nikitin has earned a reputation as a persuasive advocate for “Placemaking” as an approach to city planning and urban design. With a portfolio of more than 300 projects during her time at PPS, Cynthia’s technical expertise stretches from the development of main street master plans and corridor enhancement projects to the creation of transit station area plans and public art master plans for major cities. This includes facilitating approximately 40 public workshops, visioning sessions and public meetings annually. Cynthia is currently directing the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design, a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, focused on providing technical design assistance to rural communities and small towns across the United States. She also heads the “Heart of the Community” program, providing Placemaking grants to cities through PPS’s partnership with Southwest Airlines.
Friday, 4/17
• Conference Sessions • Keynote
• Preservation Partners Party (just wait until you see the location!)
TITLE SPONSOR:
Saturday, 4/18
• Morning sessions in Smith Opera House • Afternoon field sessions
ART SPONSOR:
MAJOR SPONSORS:
WHO IS THE CONFERENCE FOR? Grassroots preservationists, community advocates, neighborhood leaders, architects (CES credits will be available), landscape architects, planners, mayors, municipal board members, historic property owners, students and more!
MEDIA SPONSOR: LOCAL PARTNERS:
Come to learn new strategies and make new connections that you can take back to your community to help paint its future. LANDMARKSOCIETY.ORG
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