Landmarks
WINTER 2014: VOLUME LII, NUMBER IV
THE LANDMARK SOCIETY OF WESTERN NEW YORK
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Preservation Awards
DISCOVER, PROTECT AND REVITALIZE
Landmarks WINTER 2014
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NEWS
SCORECARD
COVER: ST. JANUARIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH
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DIAMOND JUBILEE
PRESERVATION AWARDS
5 TO REVIVE
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TOP LEFT: “OVERFLOW” PAINTING. TOP MIDDLE: MEMORIAL ART GALLERY ATRIUM. TOP RIGHT: FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK. BOTTOM LEFT: N. WAYNEPORT RD. BRIDGE. BOTTOM RIGHT: HILLSIDE CHAPEL (COURTESY OF RICHARD MARGOLIS).
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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LEGACY AND RENEWAL Polio vaccine pioneer, Dr. Jonas Salk, might have given us the best advice possible through posing a question. Dr. Salk asked, “Are we being good ancestors?” I presume that most of us, in some way or another, ponder this question at some point. We naturally wonder how future generations will judge our actions, or how they will build on our actions. On a smaller scale, I consider how this philosophy applies to The Landmark Society of Western New York. We owe so much gratitude to our current and past supporters for our long and storied tradition of excellence. But, it is crucial to plan forward, to be proactive, if we are to secure a solid and vibrant future. Do we have an eye on tomorrow’s needs and aspirations? Recent experiences lead me to think that our future, and our legacy, will be embraced and carried forward with confidence and strength.
The Landmark Society saved the remains of the iconic St. Joseph Church after a devastating fire in 1974. Now, we are embarking on a multi-phased plan to rehabilitate and reuse the site.
One recent example of interest and vigor took place in downtown Rochester. After investing this year in a multi-phase maintenance plan for St. Joseph’s Park, The Landmark Society recently re-opened the venue after years of decline due to a lack of adequate funding. Taking a leadership role in celebrating our work was The Landmark Society’s new group of young professionals. These individuals, dubbed the Young Urban Preservationists (or as they like to be referred—the YUPs) led the charge to invigorate this historic space. The celebration to re-open the gates at St. Joseph’s Park was symbolic of our organization’s work. Preservation renews our past – it uses our past to help define our futures. The YUPs energy and commitment to preservation dramatically assists in our advocacy efforts. It is gratifying to see preservation’s vision strongly embraced by the next generation of civic leaders.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Executive Committee
The Young Urban Preservationists represent both youth and legacy. One fact is undeniable—the strength of our organization was clearly visible at St. Joseph Park when we reopened the gates. People from all ages and walks of life attended the celebration to see a re-born historic church that rose from the ashes decades ago, only to once again need our help to serve the community.
President Mary Znidarsic-Nicosia Vice Presidents Preservation
Thomas Castelein Properties
As we prepare for our Annual Fund later this year, please make a point to include The Landmark Society in your giving. Annual Fund giving is the most direct way to support preservation activities like the YUPs and St. Joseph’s Park. A successful Annual Fund is critical this year, as we strive to continue the strong community-based programs and services that have elevated our impact across western New York. Your financial support enables our work in the region. Let’s support a growing enthusiasm for what we all cherish—our collective heritage. I thank you in advance for your loyal and generous support.
Mimi Freund Tilton Development
Beth Teall
Finance & Treasurer
Jeffrey J. Pollock Secretary Hugh A. Hamlin
At Large JoAnn Beck Andrew A. Costanza Andy Germanow
Wayne Goodman Executive Director
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Anthony Bellomo Bleu Cease Scott Forsyth Jean R. France Sandra Frankel Katherine H. Karl Glenn Kellogg Jerry Ludwig Lee Lundback James I. Marasco Michael Mincher Bill Moehle Carol S. Mullin Louis P. Nau Edward J. Olinger Richard Sarkis William F. Sullivan Stacey VanDenburgh David Whitaker
All the best,
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 Carol McAlister Sally McGucken Paul Nunes Andy Olenick Sherri Olenick Ann B. Parks
Richard Reisem Jon Schumacher Madeline Short Marion Simon John Thoman Joanne VanZandt Sterling Weaver Houghton D. Wetherald Henry W. Williams Jr. Arlene Wright Vanderlinde Mr. James Yarrington Mr. Craig Zicari WINTER 2014
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NEWS
2015 NY Statewide Preservation Conference Preview
The Art of Preservation: Painting Your Community’s Future April 16-18 Mark your calendars now! The New York Statewide Preservation Conference is set for April 1618, 2015 in the lakeside city of Geneva. As we’ve been making plans and selecting sites for next year’s Conference, we’ve been impressed again and again with the character, the architecture and all that’s going on in this community. And we can’t wait to share it with you! 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. Be prepared to be dazzled by impressive projects, one-of-a-kind buildings and structures (our Preservation Partners Party venue is not to be missed!) and inspiring stories. We’ll see you in the Finger Lakes next April! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (search #NYPresConf) and check out landmarksociety.org/conference for the latest Conference news.
FALL PARTNERS ROUNDUP This fall, the Partners Roundup (formerly the Preservation Boards/ Commissions Workshop) will take place as part of a larger workshop, held in collaboration with our friends at the Western Erie Canal Alliance. The Partners Roundup is a gathering of community advocates and preservation partners where you can share your community’s or organization’s challenges and successes. Bring home ideas to make your community’s historic assets work for you in your future economic development strategies. Western Erie Canal Alliance in partnership with The Landmark Society of WNY proudly presents the marriage of your community’s past and future.
Something Old.... Something New Celebrate your historic Main Street’s past and understand how it can be the real gold ring to your community’s future economic success. Join us to hear from experts in the fields of: Historic Tax Credits, Second Floor Development, Design Strategies, Current Economic Development Trends. The Partners Roundup will take place from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. and will feature Joni Monroe from the Community Design Center of Rochester. Visit landmarksociety.org to register. 2
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Thursday, November 6, 2014 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Fairport Electric 43 Liftbridge Lane Fairport, NY 14450
Have you “liked” us?
NEWS Have you “liked” The Landmark Society on Facebook yet? It’s a fun and easy way to keep up to date with everything going on with us both in the office and what we’re up to in your community. We also love to share posts from our colleagues throughout the country and local happenings. “Like” our page at www.facebook.com/TheLandmarkSociety and share with your friends—can you help us reach 2,000 likes? Landmark staff are out in the field quite a bit–visiting properties, attending meetings & events, or just exploring the historic resources and communities throughout western New York. Instagram is the perfect platform to share those photo updates with you, so follow us at @landmarksociety to see what we’re up to! Across all three platforms, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram you can search hashtags as well to stay updated. Check out #yuproc for photos from Young Urban Preservationists events, look at #NYPresConf for speaker content and event photos from the Statewide Preservation Conference this past April, or Landmark Society events like #rochousetour or #insidedowntown.
NEED A GIFT FOR THE PERSON THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BUY FOR? We all have at least one person in our lives who is impossible to shop for. Whether it’s because they are always on top of everything, have everything or because they are extremely picky, these people are always the hardest to cross off our shopping lists. The struggling stops here! Consider a gift membership or one of the unique gifts pictured below. Give a gift membership at the individual $45 level and receive a free complimentary gift of the Rochester Routes, Tours of Monroe County Historic Places soft cover book and the accompanying Rochester Routes audio CD. During our Diamond Jubilee we had quite a unique experience…local artists painted throughout the party creating one of kind pieces for our shop! These paintings, valued at $700 are now on sale for just $350! Tax and shipping charges apply. It’s also your last chance to purchase the beautiful and comprehensive 200 Years of Rochester Architecture and Gardens. We recently discovered a few copies of this vibrantly photographed, hardcover coffee table book hiding in the vault and we’re offering them to you for only $39.95 plus tax and applicable shipping charges. Only 100 copies available! Last but not least, The Hojack Swing Bridge, Its History–and Its Future, a soft cover book is available again for a limited time for only $34.95 plus tax and applicable shipping charges. Compiled and edited by Richard Margolis, this book documents the history of the bridge, the region, and the railroads that used the bridge. TO PURCHASE ANY OF THE ITEMS LISTED ABOVE:
Email: nhildreth@landmarksociety.org for gift membership and chaygood@landmarksociety.org for merchandise. Visit our website at www.landmarksociety.org and click on the Landmark Store icon in the top right hand corner of the home page. WINTER 2014
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The Art of Preservation An Evening of Celebration Presented by G-S Plastic Optics, Tel-Tru Manufacturing Company and First Niagara
Sunday, November 23rd, 2014 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. What exactly does art have to do with historic preservation? Consider a quote by Frank Lloyd Wright, “Art is a discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into beautiful forms suitable for human use.” And what does this have to do with historic preservation? Historic preservation is more than saving old buildings! Historic preservation promotes and protects “the art of the city” – its designed environment. Places that tell the stories of our past; that enhance a sense of community and bring us closer together. The art of architecture plays a large part in making our lives infinitely rich by the functional design, creative adaptive reuse and lasting legacies that can be shared today, tomorrow and in the years to come. It is a life- size exhibition whose artistic, cultural and historic brush strokes are framed in such a way that it allows a community to celebrate our legacies. We all learn and grow from this heritage while creating, reinforcing and enhancing a sense of place. Without the art of architecture we stand to lose some of the greatest cultural and artistic treasures and achievements of civilization. What better place to have our annual Jubilee “The Art of Preservation” than at the Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester, Rochester’s civic art museum at 500 University Avenue. This Italian Renaissance style building was founded in 1913 by Emily Sibley Watson, daughter of industrialist Hiram Sibley, who donated the
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building in memory of her architect son, James G. Averell. In 1986, the Gallery broke ground for a third addition which included a 12,000 square-foot entrance pavilion and enclosed, skylit sculpture garden designed by Rochester’s own architect Frank S. Grosso. The evening will commence at 4:15 p.m. with an abbreviated formal meeting for members then continue with fun and celebration Jon Seiger from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with live creative expression in art, music, dancing, silent auction and special award presentations. Make sure you wear your dancing shoes and come prepared to bid on an assortment of irresistible auction items! The evening’s entertainment will feature local musicians Jon Seiger and the All-Stars, fine art artist Jacquie Germanow, and a few special guest appearances. Sure to be a highlight at the event will be a special exhibition held in the Gallery Pavilion of a select number of the Landmark Society’s John Wenrich Collection of paintings that haven’t been shown Jacquie Germanow in more than 25 years! One piece will be available for purchase in the silent auction. Delicious hors d’ oeuvres, fabulous sweet treats, complimentary wine and beer sponsored by Constellation Brands Inc. and North American Breweries, and a cash bar will be provided.
Invitations will be mailed to all Landmark Society members, who may attend the formal meeting from 4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. free of charge. We hope you’ll choose to purchase a ticket to attend the Jubilee as well. This event is open to the general public, so please invite your friends!
Tickets go on sale online October 1st. $30 for members, $40 for non-members to the most exciting social event on the fall calendar! Advance ticket sales only; tickets will not be sold at the door. Don’t miss this special event to celebrate The Landmark Society’s past and future success!
Jubilee Sponsors:
Craig J. Zicari & Anne C. Coon
Lee and Staffan Lundback
The Nominating Committee, chaired by Trustee Hugh Hamlin, recommends the following individuals for election: New Trustees: (To serve for three years) Jeffrey Skuse, Jason Roberts, Delores Jackson Radney, Burt Speer Renewing Trustees: (To serve for three years) Jim Marasco Retiring Trustees: Many thanks for your years of dedicated service. Scott Forsyth, Joanne DeMarle, David Whitaker
Cannot attend? Please mail Proxy form to: The Landmark Society of Western New York 133 South Fitzhugh Street Rochester, New York 14608
Proxy
The undersigned member of The Landmark Society of Western New York, Inc., does hereby make, constitute, and appoint Board President Mary Z. Nicosia, the true and lawful attorney or attorneys, proxy or proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution for and on behalf of the undersigned to vote at the Annual Meeting of said Society to be held at Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester, 500 University Ave. in Rochester, New York on November 23, 2014.
Date ___________________, 2013
Signature _______________________________________ WINTER 2014
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Preservation
SCORECARD
Keeping score? We are—here’s the latest on several preservation issues around the region:
SAFE
BEVIER BUILDING, 42 S. WASHINGTON, ROCHESTER: Built in 1910 and designed by noted Rochester architect, Claude Bragdon, the Bevier Building has sat vacant and deteriorating since at least 1999. This summer, Syracuse-based developer Franklin Properties began a $3.85 million rehab project to adapt the building for mixed use office and residential space.
SAFE:
SAFE: FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK, 26 LINDEN ST.,
GENEVA: Formerly the Farmers and Merchants Bank (as well as the Geneva Savings Bank), this Neoclassical bank building was recently adapted into an event venue and art gallery known as The Left Bank. The building’s interior had been heavily altered over the years but what remained has been carefully adapted into a clean and strikingly modern 2-story space, lit by the front display windows and a skylight.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
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TOO CLOSE TO CALL: WOMEN’S INTERFAITH INSTITUTE/WESLEYAN CHURCH, 140 FALL STREET, SENECA FALLS: The Wesleyan Church was built in 1871 by the congregation that was worshipping in the smaller Wesleyan Chapel, site of the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention. The Women’s Interfaith Institute in the Finger Lakes, Inc. purchased the building in 2003. In March 2009, just as renovations The 2013fire in the Great of the Great Hall were completed, an electrical Five to was able to Hall caused extensive damage. Although the Institute restore some of the rooms, theRevive expense to restore are the Great Hall has proven too costly. The Institute’s board of directors is now trying to determine how to proceed.
2014
The
Preservation Awards
A Special Event November 16 By Cynthia Howk, Architectural Research Coordinator Join us on Sunday, November 16 at 3:00 p.m. for one of the most anticipated events of the year: The Landmark Society’s 2014 Annual Awards. This special ceremony will take place in Rochester’s historic City Hall, the handsomely restored Richardsonian Romanesque landmark located downtown at 30 Church Street. Built between 1885 and 1889 as the Federal Court House and Post Office, this iconic building was rehabilitated in the late 1970s after many years of neglect and re-opened in 1978 as the new City Hall. The effort to revitalize this once-vacant building received major support and guidance
Barber Conable Award The Academy Building
PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD MARGOLIS
13 South Fitzhugh Street, City of Rochester
from The Landmark Society and has been honored with several major awards over the years. A highlight of the calendar year, the Awards Ceremony will precede the Society’s Annual Jubilee celebration, scheduled one week later on Sunday, November 23. The Awards are given to individuals and organizations in our nine-county area that have made outstanding efforts in the preservation of their homes, public buildings, historic properties, and landscapes. To pique your curiosity and encourage your attendance at the Awards Ceremony, we are proud to announce the following winners of this year’s 2014 Preservation Awards. You can learn more about each of them on November 16, when you attend the Awards Ceremony. The Barber Conable Award recognizes a large-scale rehabilitation of a historic building in our region completed within the past two years. This includes buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places and projects utilizing the Federal Investment Tax Credit Program. This year’s recipient of our major preservation award is the Academy Building. Erected in 1873 as the city’s first public high school, this remarkable High Victorian Gothic building was designed by renowned Rochester architect Andrew Jackson Warner and is unique in the region. Its sophisticated features, polychrome building materials, and picturesque design are hallmarks of this distinctive style. Long the headquarters of the Rochester Board of Education and later rehabilitated into commercial offices in the late 1970s, this signature building has been vacant and seeking a new owner in recent years. The challenging project returned the building to a new use as 21 loft-style apartments and retail space. Listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places, the building was rehabilitated using the Federal Investment Tax Credit program and design review by the NYS Office of Historic Preservation. This $7,000,000 project was completed by owner and developer George Traikos, with project architect Blake Held and consulting services by Bero Architecture, PLLC. WINTER 2014
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The Award of Merit is for the sympathetic rehabilitation of a historic building in our 9-county region completed within the past two years.
the surrounding neighborhood, as well, creating a destination that is used and appreciated by thousands of local residents throughout the year.
North Wayneport Road, town of Macedon, Wayne County
Historic Landscape Award New York State Fish Hatchery Located on the Erie Canal in the tiny hamlet of Wayneport, just over the Monroe County line, the North Wayneport Road Bridge was built in 1912 as part of the massive Barge Canal project, which updated and expanded that historic waterway. The single-span bridge was erected by the Owego Bridge Company of Owego, New York and features a variation of the Baltimore (aka Petit) style, through-truss design. Originally used by horse-drawn vehicles and early 20th-century motorcars, the bridge now accommodates a steady volume of local traffic, in combination with the hikers, cyclists, and tourists, who travel the adjacent Erie Canal Towpath Trail. The recent rehabilitation project was completed by the New York State Department of Transportation. Replacement of major elements such as floor beams, grate decking, truss bearings and gusset plates, as well as painting the floor system and lower sections was completed. An increasingly rare example of truss bridge design, the North Wayneport Road Bridge is an important contributing element in the historic Erie Canal system, which has been listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
16 North Street, village of Caledonia, Livingston County
This year is the 150th anniversary of the New York State Fish Hatchery in Caledonia, a milestone for this remarkable property, which is the oldest fish hatchery in the Western hemisphere. Established in 1864 by Rochesterian Seth Green, the hatchery is located on Oatka Creek, renowned for its exceptional qualities and conditions that make it ideal for the propagation of trout. Known as the “father of fish culture,” Green gained a world-wide reputation as a pioneer in both aquaculture and conservation. Now operated by the New York State Department of Conservation, the hatchery features a picturesque campus that retains its historic buildings, as well as modern facilities. It is open to the public year ‘round and maintains a schedule of activities focused on the breeding of brown and rainbow trout. Soon to be listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places, the hatchery is a unique property whose historical, cultural, and scientific importance extends far beyond our region.
Historic Landscape Award The Historic Landscape Award recognizes and encourages the preservation, restoration and stewardship of historically significant landscapes in our 9-county region.
Rochester Public Market
280 North Union Street, city of Rochester Located on this site since 1905, this City-owned market continues to play a vital role in both the Marketview Heights neighborhood and the greater Rochester community, at large. One of the most popular and vital gathering places for retail shopping, the market campus and buildings have undergone a major rehabilitation over the past decade, an on-going project coordinated by the City of Rochester. While maintaining the historic buildings, structures, and brick paving, there has been building rehabilitation, expanded retail space and extensive site improvements. This revitalization has extended out into 8 WINTER 2014
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
North Wayneport Road Bridge
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
Award of Merit
The Historic Home Award is given to owners of private residences for their continued care of and commitment to the preservation of an architecturally significant house over a minimum of seven years.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
625 Mt. Hope Avenue Rochester, New York Owners: Rosemary Janofsky
Located in the city’s Mt. Hope/Highland Historic District, this handsome, 19th-century house was originally built in 1839 by James Hawks and subsequently purchased by horticultural pioneer George Ellwanger in 1867. It was enlarged at that time by architect Andrew J. Warner and, again, in the early 20th century by his son, J. Foster Warner. The Ellwanger family continued here until 1982, when George’s granddaughter, Helen, the founder of The Landmark Society of Western New York, bequeathed the property to that organization. The house was then rehabilitated as a residence and country inn. After a long period of vacancy, the property was purchased by Ms. Janofsky in 2006. An extensive and challenging rehabilitation of the house and carriage barn was completed. As part of this exceptional project, new roofs were installed, structural elements were repaired, a new and expanded front porch was constructed, and paint colors were selected to enhance the picturesque design of the historic buildings. Today, the house serves as both a private residence and the Ellwanger Estate bed-and-breakfast inn.
Special Achievement Award
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
The Special Achievement Award recognizes accomplishments that have occurred over a lengthy period of time.
architecture was not recognized and many important buildings were lost. Over the next decades, Jean’s exceptional outreach through a variety of activities would help to change those community attitudes. Her extensive knowledge of American architecture was shared through classes she taught at the University of Rochester for over three decades, as well as her long-time service as a trustee and committee member of The Landmark Society of Western New York. She has written extensively about local architecture and historic preservation for CITY newspaper and other publications. Jean’s study of the Arts-and Crafts movement, in particular architects Claude Bragdon and Harvey Ellis, has been a focus of her research and writing since the 1960s. For over a decade, Jean organized the Memorial Art Gallery’s popular “Architecture, the Art We Live In” lecture series, where noted speakers presented engaging programs about the built environment. Jean’s expertise in architecture and design has benefited communities such as Rochester, Perinton, and Pittsford, where she served as consultant to their municipal preservation boards. She was the founding chair of the Town of Perinton’s Historic Preservation Commission. Most recently, she was a principal consultant for the restoration of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Edward Boynton House on East Boulevard in Rochester. An individual with a passion for architecture and the built environment, Jean France has been a tireless advocate for this community’s historic resources for over six decades.
Special Citation A Special Citation provides recognition for projects that do not fit into other categories or recognizes outstanding individual or group accomplishments in the field of historic preservation.
Stantec Consulting Services
61 Commercial Street, City of Rochester This historic c. 1890 industrial building was originally designed as the power house for the Rochester Railway Company. At the facility – one of the first of its kind – electricity was generated by harnessing the power of the Genesee River as it was diverted through Brown’s Race. By the late 20th century, the building became a storage space, manufacturing facility, then two, short-lived entertainment venues. Norry Management Company acquired the building in 2006, and together with Stantec Consulting Services, rehabilitated this signature property using the Federal and State Investment Tax Credit program available for the renovation of income-producing buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Working the NYS Office of Historic Preservation
Jean France Architectural historian, preservation consultant, educator, researcher, lecturer, author, and advocate for our historic built environment, Jean France has been an enthusiastic and effective community leader for over six decades. A native of Cleveland, this Oberlin College alumna arrived in Rochester during the era of the Federal Urban Renewal programs, when the importance of our historic
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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
Historic Home Award
St. Januarius Catholic Church PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
Main St., Village of Naples, Ontario County
We honor the parish of Our Lady of the Lakes for the care of St. Januarius Catholic Church in the village of Naples. Established in 1876 by local residents of mostly German heritage, this congregation commissioned Rochester architect James Johnson to create their present house of worship in 1965-’66. One of Johnson’s earliest projects to use cast concrete panels fabricated on-site, the church features bold design and innovative construction. The signature windows are formed by dozens of round openings in the concrete panels. Each opening is set with a roundel of brightly colored glass, through which light streams into the main sanctuary to dramatic effect during daylight hours. A sensitive rehabilitation of the church was completed in 2011 by LaBella Associates, which included a newly designed altar, improved accessibility, and energy conservation features. One of the most photographed churches in the region, this remarkable building is an important example of Mid-Century Modern design in western New York.
Special Citation Portageville Chapel Organ Retreat
Route 19, hamlet of Portageville, Wyoming County Located in a magnificent setting adjacent to Letchworth State Park, the Portageville Chapel organ retreat was created to provide a place of rest and renewal for professional organists. Originally built as a Universalist church in 1841, this handsome Greek Revival building continued as a house of worship into the early 1980s. Local residents then campaigned to save the vacant building, which was converted into a retail shop. By the 1990s, 10
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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK SOCIETY
Special Citation
retail use ceased, but merchandise remained in the building through the next twenty years. In 2007, organist and Wyoming Co. native Tim Smith formed a not-for-profit organization, which purchased the property and began its restoration as an organ retreat. Overgrown trees, deteriorated structures and other debris were removed from the site. Funded, in part, by a grant from the NYS Office of Historic Preservation, the extensive rehabilitation project included structural repairs, a new roof, a modern electrical system, and restored Gothic window sash. The original pews were returned to the sanctuary and a modern pipe organ installed. An adjacent house was purchased and refurbished to provide accommodations for visiting musicians. Listed in the National and State Registers of Historic Places, the restored Portageville Chapel organ retreat is unique in the U.S. and provides a new and exciting use for an important landmark in the Genesee Valley.
Craftsman Award Michael Dube, plaster & stucco specialist Palmyra, New York
With experience extending over more than five decades, master craftsman Michael Dube is an artisan whose careful repair of historic stucco and plaster work has enhanced some of the most important buildings in our region. A native of Maine, where he received his initial training, Mr. Dube opened his local workshop in 1972. Projects have included flat plaster and stucco restoration on interiors and exteriors, as well as the casting and repair of decorative plaster details that were damaged or no longer extant. In addition to dozens of residential projects at area homes dating from the early 1800s to the mid-20th century, Mr. Dube’s work can be seen at the Susan B. Anthony House, Genesee Country Village and Museum, Penfield’s Dayton Corners School House, Corpus Christi and First Universalist churches, and the Hervey Ely House headquarters of the D.A.R. in Corn Hill.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY OLENICK
and the Rochester Preservation Board, the principles created a project that restored historic details, but also created dramatic new work spaces in the spacious interior. Window openings, long infilled with brick, were reactivated, allowing daylighting throughout the interior. The design also included sustainable technologies and practices which earned LEED Certified status.
Member Profile: NANCY ROSENBERG For forty years, Nancy Rosenberg has been planting and tending vegetables in The Landmark Society’s Stone-Tolan kitchen garden to enrich the experience of visitors. Hundreds of school children and adults have benefitted from seeing heirloom vegetables growing as they might have looked during the time of Orringh and Elizabeth Stone, who began building the house in 1792. Nancy’s first encounter with The Landmark Society was when the Rochester Museum & Science Center rented our Stone-Tolan barn to offer opportunities for children to learn pioneer crafts. She and Lea Kemp were the instructors. By the time The Landmark Society launched its own Pioneer Days Camp, Nancy had turned her attention to the kitchen garden. When asked if she had gained her gardening experience on a large property or farm, Nancy said that she had grown up in the Harvard St. area of Rochester on a small lot barely big enough for flower beds let alone a vegetable garden. When in 1974 Nancy got the opportunity to plant a few rows of vegetables in the StoneTolan kitchen garden, she and her father were there with shovels in hand. Then, after the departure of the caretaker who had shared a small part of the space with them, they had a bigger plot to fill. Nancy became interested in heirloom vegetables after she read a history of farming in the Genesee Valley. And although she likes to use seeds, she finds that in order to have a garden with enough growth to
engage school children in the spring, she buys some vegetable plants. When asked what her greatest challenge has been over the years Nancy said, “Animals and insects. Rabbits, deer and woodchucks, squash borers and tomato hornworms.” What has gardening taught her? “Patience!” She also said, “Things change from year to year. Last year squash were abundant. This year there are very few.” What is her greatest reward? “Just watching everything grow.” Her hope for the future of the garden is that more people will step forward to build on her many years of effort and that the garden will continue to be a source of knowledge and adventure for visitors of all ages.
THE INSIDE DOWNTOWN TOUR A Celebration and Commemoration It was billed as “A View from the Top” and that was certainly the case! From the incredible attendance to the incredible views, the 14th annual Inside Downtown Tour was up there with the best of them. Attendees enjoyed an inside look at loft apartments and other great spaces in the Main and East area, not to mention a sneak peak of the great rehabilitation taking place in the Sibley building. But the success of the tour was bittersweet. Just a week before the tour, our community lost Larry and Jane Glazer, champions of downtown and great friends to The Landmark Society. Larry’s company, Buckingham Properties, was a sponsor of the Inside Downtown Tour, and a strong supporter of The Landmark Society’s advocacy for downtown development. In honor of their passion for downtown Rochester, we dedicated the 2014 Inside Downtown tour to their memory. With our members’ help, we stand steadfast in our commitment to carry on Larry’s vision of making Rochester an exciting and vibrant city, with a strong urban core anchoring a premier community with a top-notch quality of life. We extend our appreciation to all the sponsors that joined Buckingham Properties in supporting the tour, especially title sponsor Winn Development.
It’s not too early to think about next year – if you’d like to get information on sponsorship of this or other Landmark events, contact Director of Public Programs Cindy Boyer at cboyer@ landmarksociety.org or (585) 546-7029 x 12.
Thank you to all our sponsors • • • • • • • • • • • •
Winn Development Bergmann Associates Buckingham Properties Morgan Management DHD Ventures Underberg & Kessler LLP Rochester Colonial Pike Stained Glass Studios The Penthouse at One East Avenue SWBR Architects Craft Café Parkleigh WINTER 2014
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2014 FIVE to REVIVE The heart of preservation is community revitalization. Last year, we launched the Five to Revive program, a list that calls attention to five properties in Western New York that are in need of investment. Whether buildings, landscapes, or structures, they are significant historic properties whose rehabilitations can become catalytic projects for the neighborhoods and communities that surround them. Each year, these five properties become priority projects for Landmark Society staff and programs as we work collaboratively with owners, municipal officials, and developers to facilitate investment and foster rehabilitation. The ultimate goal is to return these important historic resources to a place of prominence in their respective communities, as economic and social assets that spark even more investment and revitalization. Our inaugural 2013 Five to Revive properties have moved closer to that goal: The Olmsted Pedestrian Bridges in Genesee Valley Park were included in the Preservation League of New York State’s statewide endangered properties list and a statewide network of stakeholders are working towards developing a plan to fund rehabilitation. Home Properties LLC and Edgemere Development announced plans to rehabilitate the Eastman Dental Dispensary into affordable senior housing. Despite a major setback from the flooding in Penn Yan this summer, the Pennsylvania Yankee Theater Company has been completing a Master Plan for the building. Finally, Landmark Society staff have been working closely with officials in the Village of Holley to market the High School to developers. We are also assisting the Village as they seek to list the High School in the National Register of Historic Places as part of a downtown historic district. These properties, and all future Five to Revive, will remain on the list until their future is secure. The 2014 Five to Revive represents a diverse selection—industrial and religious buildings, small and large, vernacular and high style, buildings and designed landscapes. Readers may note, however, that three of the properties (660 West Main as the poster child for Rochester’s Designated Buildings of Historic Value, the Holley Cemetery and Chapel, and the Former Trinity Church in Seneca Falls) originally functioned as places of worship. The inclusion of three religious properties underscores the extreme threat that historic places of worship face. The Five to Revive are
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Designated Buildings of Historic Value
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Auditorium Theater
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Erie Canal Warehouse
PHOTOS COURTESY OF RICHARD MARGOLIS
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Hillside Cemetery & Chapel
City of Rochester, Monroe County In 2003, the City of Rochester created a list of Designated Buildings of Historic Value (DBHV) as part of the Zoning Code to protect the character and economic value of Rochester’s many historic buildings. In recent years, however, the Zoning Board of Appeals has issued variances allowing the demolition of protected DBHV’s, including the highly publicized Cataract Brewery building and the former church at 660 West Main Street. The Landmark Society hopes to work collaboratively with the City of Rochester and other stakeholders to update and refine the DBHV list and to reexamine the evaluation criteria when it comes to erasing Rochester’s important historic resources. 875 East Main Street, City of Rochester, Monroe County Built in 1928-29, the Auditorium Center is architecturally and historically significant as one of the region’s finest examples of Art Deco design. Originally the headquarters of Rochester’s Masonic lodges, this remarkable building is a designated City of Rochester landmark and is eligible for individual listing in the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The Landmark Society hopes to work proactively with the Rochester Broadway Theatre League and City officials to plan for the long term use and care of this important Main Street gem. 60 Clinton Street, Village of Brockport, Monroe County
Built between 1850 and 1852, this former Erie Canal Warehouse is architecturally and historically significant as a rare surviving example of the brownstone industrial buildings that once lined the banks of the Erie Canal at Brockport. Listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places, this unique building was originally associated with the local reaper manufacturing industry and is a prime candidate for rehabilitation. Its renovation could serve as an important catalyst for further revitalization in this historic canal-side neighborhood.
NYS Route 237 and South Holley Road, Town of Clarendon, Orleans County Located just outside the village of Holley, Hillside Cemetery is an active town cemetery established in 1866 and developed between 1866 and 1938. Encompassing approximately 30 acres, the Cemetery is a significant example of two periods of cemetery design. Built in 1894, the elegant Gothic Revival Chapel is prominently located near the entrance to the cemetery on the west side of South Holley Road and is a primary feature of the cemetery. The Chapel has been vacant and largely unused since the 1960s. Both the designed landscape of the Cemetery and the Chapel suffer from deferred maintenance and lack of funds. 10-14 Bayard Street, Village of Seneca Falls, Seneca County
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Former Trinity Episcopal Church
Built in 1833, the former Trinity Episcopal Church is a rare and important early example of Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture in central/ western New York. It is a major contributing resource in the village of Seneca Falls and reflects the architectural, religious, and industrial history of the community, as well as the region. It has exceptional connections with the nationally important social justice movements of the 19th century. In 2002, State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio secured $150,000 in state funding to provide for the acquisition and preservation of the building. The building has remained vacant and unused since that time. A highly visible landmark for over 180 years, the former church has excellent potential for rehabilitation and re-use as a community resource in the 21st century. WINTER 2014
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he Landmark Society bus is on the go once again! This time we head to historic Pittsburgh and Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Fallingwater” and “Kentuck Knob” – all in one magnificent tour. Join executive director Wayne Goodman, as we travel to western Pennsylvania from September 17 through 20, 2015. Pittsburgh, the nation’s largest inland port, is a city of pleasant surprises. Mostly hidden by hills that surround it, its grandeur stuns visitors who arrive through tunnels, across bridges or along scenic hillside roadways. Famous for its Three Rivers – the Allegheny and the Monongahela meet at the Point to form the Ohio. Pittsburgh’s history dates from the 18th century dispute between the French and English over claims to the Ohio Valley. After the Revolution, the city’s position on the three rivers enhanced its commercial value and Pittsburgh grew rapidly. Coal was dug from the hills, the first glassworks was opened, and Anschulz’s blast furnace, built in 1792, became the precursor of the iron and steel industry. During the 19th century, Pittsburg plunged headlong into the American industrial age; its iron and steel plants soon won it the nickname Iron City. The resulting wealth and institutions created by business moguls such as Carnegie and Frick remain today as vital component of the city’s cultural heritage. Our tour will include the Cathedral of Learning – Nationality Rooms, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and Heinz Concert Hall, a restored 1920s movie palace, were we’ll attend the opening concert of the Pittsburgh Symphony and dine in the elegant Mozart Room restaurant. We’ll spend an entire day in the countryside touring Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob properties, 14
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located in the picturesque Allegheny Mountains south of the city. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, these are among the most famous private residences ever built. In 2000, the American Institute of Architects named Fallingwater the “Building of the Century.” We will be staying at the Sheraton Station Square in the heart of a 524 acre riverfront complex and within walking distance of the famous Monongahela Incline railroad. There will be time to ride the incline and enjoy the incredible views of the rivers and the Pittsburgh skyline. We’ll also walk to a sumptuous dinner at Grand Concourse Hotel, a magnificent 1898 railroad station that has been lavishly renovated as an elegant restaurant. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT P. RUSCHAK, THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY
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Fabulous Fall Tour Planned for Pittsburgh, “Fallingwater” and “Kentuck Knob” in 2015
Please note: this tour will include navigating stairs
(including 100 steps in the course of touring the multi-level Fallingwater,) walking and standing for tours which may be an hour in length, and touring outside in variable weather conditions. Registration fee includes the company of our executive director Wayne Goodman and Landmark Society staff escort, three nights at the Sheraton Station Square, comfortable motor coach transportation, 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, all admissions, tours, and gratuities. $1,416 Landmark member double occupancy $1,516 Nonmember double occupancy $225 Single supplement To register for this trip, please visit landmarksociety.org. If you do not have internet access, call us at (585) 5467029 ext. 11 and we will be happy to assist you.
Writers & Landmarks: Personal and Pithy. A TALE OF THREE TOWNS
DRAWING COURTESY OF MARK PAYTON
By Joanna Gardner
I grew up in Medina, New York, a town on the Erie Canal.
Every winter the canal drained, and the fields around the town turned into snow-covered tundra. People said that when Medina was built, everyone was sure it would grow into a city. The local sandstone promised fabulous wealth, not to mention the agricultural riches from the fertile land, but those dreams never quite came true. No one sang in the opera house, the massive sandstone City Hall dozed over a sleepy Main Street, and the canal that had once promised glory no longer carried the flow of commerce. In fact it had become an object of dreadful fascination. Hadn’t we all heard about the deadly undertow? Hadn’t we all shuddered with horrified delight over the story of Jimmy Mendez, who one summer day jumped from a bridge into that murky green water and plunged through the carcass of a rotting cow? My grandmother, however, lived in Naples, New York, a town even smaller than Medina. We visited frequently. Naples was nestled in a valley, embraced between the forested slopes of the Bristol Hills. Only one road let cars into and out of the town, and instead of fields, Naples had vineyards. The tall brick walls of the Naples Hotel watched over Main Street with half-lidded windows,
the way City Hall drowsed over Medina. The Hotel had witnessed history I could only imagine. It had been there when my mother was born. It had seen my Great-Aunt Dagmar run down the street wearing no clothes. It had watched my uncles Glen and Bud leave for war and then come back changed. I spent my childhood in Medina and Naples, so it makes sense that when I wrote my first novel, the setting for the story was a town surrounded by hills on a seasonal canal which is the only “road” into and out of the place. There is a big brick hotel, a feeling of personal and collective ghosts, and a long winter when snow piles up, the canal empties, and life becomes a dance between the darkness and cold outdoors, and the light and warmth inside. The town’s name is Crescent Springs. It isn’t Medina or Naples, not exactly, and yet it draws from both, the way a child inherits traits from her parents and is her own new being as well. I feel an attachment to Crescent Springs like a third parent, or maybe like a midwife, whose job is to catch the baby on the page, coo at her, and clean her up so she can get on with her story. It was only after I saw this child’s face that I realized just how much both her parents mean to me. WINTER 2014
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CALENDAR 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.
OCTOBER
OCTOBER 24 & 25 Ghost Walk 21st Anniversary Tour Call 546-7029 x11 to see if tickets are still available! OCTOBER 27 Discover Perry & Silver Lake: 200 Years of Historic Architecture Free Slide talk by Cynthia Howk Library Centennial “Book of the Evening” series 7 p.m. Perry Public Library, 70 North Main St., Perry, NY
NOVEMBER
2014
NOVEMBER 16 The Landmark Society’s Historic Preservation Awards Ceremony and Reception TIME: 3:00 p.m. LOCATION: Rochester City Hall, 30 Church Street All are welcome. Free of charge. See the story on pg. 7! NOVEMBER 23 “The Art of Preservation” Jubilee TIME: 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. LOCATION: Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave. Tickets are $40.00 ($30.00/members) See page 4 for all the details on this brilliant party!
DECEMBER DECEMBER 6 Corn Hill Holiday Tour of Homes Presented by The Corn Hill Neighbors Association Three tour times: 10 a.m., 12 noon and 4 p.m.
FEBRUARY
FIRST WEEK IN FEBRUARY Walk the Walk: Encounters with Rochester’s AfricanAmerican Ancestors Experience this unique theatrical performance, offered for schools and for the general public. Check landmarksociety.org for more information in 2015.
PRESERVATION STUDIOS A full-service historic preservation firm
+ Rehabilitation Tax Credit Services
+ Historic Resource Surveying
Historic Districting
Offices in Buffalo and Rochester, NY www.preservationstudios.com | 716.725.6410
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Corn Hill Holiday Tour of Homes
Dec
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Tickets $25. Call (585) 262-3142 or visit www.cornhillholidaytourofhomes.com Walk the Walk—You can make a difference. Walk the Walk: Encounters with Rochester’s African-American Ancestors, has reached hundreds and hundreds of Rochester school children over the years. Those children met Rochester’s ancestors and learned why violence is not the answer to problems, how getting an education can give you a better life, that working together as family and community can make the future better for all – and more. All from the experiences of people just like them, who stepped out from the history books to share their experiences. BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH. Even though we reach well over 1,000 students each year, we need to reach more. It’s only limited by the cost of transportation, a luxury that many schools can no longer afford. We’re fortunate that many community entities have supported Walk the Walk, and we are grateful. But 2015 marks the first year that one of our long-time supporters has to step down from this specific program. We are looking for sponsors and supporters to enable us to extend this program in 2015, so that even more students and the general public can be inspired by this meaningful and enjoyable program. To learn more about the program and how you can make a difference please contact Director of Public Programs Cindy Boyer at cboyer@landmarksociety.org or at (585) 546-7029 x12. Help us reach more students – we will be so pleased to recognize you as an organization, business or individual who wants to make a difference.
Preservation. An investment that benefits us all. We salute the work of The Landmark Society of Western New York.
Hugh Hamlin Senior Vice President– Wealth Management 585-218-4500 hugh.a.hamlin@ubs.com 400 Linden Oaks Rochester, NY 14625
We will not rest
As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, we offer both investment advisory and brokerage services. These services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate contracts. For more information on the distinctions between our brokerage and investment advisory services, please speak with your Financial Advisor or visit our website at ubs.com/workingwithus. ©UBS 2014. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. 7.11_Ad_BW_3.75x4.75_RA0312_HamH
Gallina Development
is proud to participate in the
Inside Downtown Tour
Visit: www.oneeastavenue.com /thepenthouse to learn about holding your next event in The Penthouse at One East Avenue
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Non-Profit Organization PAID Rochester, NY Permit No. 1759
133 South Fitzhugh Street Rochester, New York 14608-2204 Executive Director Wayne Goodman Director of Public Programs Cindy Boyer 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 Landmarks Editor & Designer The Verdi Group, Inc.
A Special Offering Bucolic Historic Site in Bethany The former Bethany Town Hall is located in a bucolic rural setting in Genesee County. This location offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle with easy access to urban centers. It’s just 15 minutes to Batavia or LeRoy and 45 minutes from Rochester or Buffalo. This 1832 Greek Revival is solidly built and features loads of historic details and charm. Approximately 5,000 square feet on two floors. The Old Bethany Town Hall has been the center of community life for generations. It has functioned as a church, an academy, the Town Hall, and a grange hall. The history and character of this building can be yours! Visit landmarksociety.org for more photos and complete details. Contact Caitlin at cmeives@landmarksociety.org or 585.546.7029 x 27.