HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistory of Town of Ithaca done in 1974 Various AuthorsSeptember 9,1974
Mrs.James Carey
610 Coddinqton flcad
Ithaca,New York 14850
Dear Mrs.Carey:
:‘:r.OelPoseo has informed us that you need some
information about the Town of Ithaca for your talk.I
hope this information will he helpful.
The Town of Ithaca is a 30 square mile horseshoe
snrrounCinr;th2 City off Ithaca.—Cayuga Lake forms the
open end of the horseshoe.The Town occupies the high
ground and the City is largely in a howl bordering the
Lake.In 1370 the City cf Ithaca hal a population of
roughly 26,000,an 3%decrease from 1950 while the Town of
Ithaca was about 16,000,a 72%increase over 1960.3,000
of the Town’s population js located in the Village of
Cayuga Heights,a village totally within t1e Town.It
nust be noted that of the conbinec-l Cit’—Town population
(42,000)2fl,000 are students at Cornell University or
Ithaca CDlloge.The ponulation pr’’ectjons for tha
area,however,Inuicate that our anticinated continued
arowth will he in the industrial and,commercial sectors
rather than in the euincation area of our econonv.
The lanc1.area of the To.in is varied,primarily
hilly and with oni”a limited amoufit of good soil.We
do hav sone active farminc which wear e endeavoring to
maintain through protective zoning.A large Dercent of
the area of the Town.i;presently ur.de’reioned.Apnroximate—
lv 25%of our total land area is no4:open to nrivate
development ——land of Cornell tNivrsitv and Ithaca College;
two New York State Parks;the City of Ithaca watershed and
the Tompkins County Health YDepartment and Eospital complex.
Present land use in the Town is largely residential.
Most of the res&dtthtial areas are in single and two family
residences.There are a few “multiple residence”or apart—
neni:comp±exes in the Town,namely,Candlewyck off Trumans—
burg Road,Lansing East off Warren Road,Maple Avenue
UDC project,Ellis Hollow Road Elderly Housing,Mr.Schickel’s
development on Honness Lane,and a small apartment complex
being built by Mr.Monkemeyer on East King Road.
‘!rs.James Carey —2—September 9,1974
We do havd three commercial areas in various
stages of development ——at Judd Falls Road,at Danby
and King Roads,and along the Elmira Road.We also
have three light industrial districts,one on the Elmira
fload,the Therm property on South Hill,and,of cc.ursD
the NCR conplex also on South Hill.
ater and sewer services cover most of East Hill
nd lar’;‘ortions ot South Hill.There is no municipal
water an.:sewn on West Hill exceot alona mrjmanchura
Road on a line serving tne r:osnital.As you Know,we
contract with the City of Ithaca for water,sewer,and
fire protection and with the Village of Cayuga Heights
for sewer service and fire protection.The water contract
situation :.,ill change when the proposed o1ton Point
Intermunicipal Water Project is completed.
Although there are nany miles of roads in the
Town of Ithaca,most of these are either State or County
roads,There is a total of about 30 miles of Town toad in
the Town.We,therefore,have a smaller highway department
than do many of our neighboring towns who must maintain
nany more miles of Town roacis.than we possess.
If I can be of an”further hel,tlease let me
knows
Sincerely yours
3er’ar P,iclconb
Chair’.qcm’r.,P lanninc Board
B?H/n f
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PPD
Town of Ithaca
The Town of Ithaca was formed from the original Town of
Ulysses as one of thejfirst towns of Onondaga County izfrIarch 1794.
The Town has been a unit of Montgomery,OnonMga,Cayuga-and Seneca )Counties and,since 1821,part of Towpkins County.r0>sb error U’c4e5
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—acrc5 ckeck”,oers6c4Jwe’The town is a deep central valley banked by high hills which
are marked with wildly picturesque gorges and cascades.The town
has been known for grain afld livestock production and for the
fruits of its hillsides:grapes,peaches and apples.
The town was settled by Native Americans who relinquished
their land to white settlers in the late 18th century.The
“Indians”understood and used the land well,seeking the shelter
of the gorges in the winter and enjoying hillside and lakeside
camps in the warmer months.
The earliest white settlers,in the late 1780’s,were the
Woodworths,Durnonds,Hi?ePaws and Yaples.The Woodworths settled
near the site of today’3County Courthouse;the Hinepaws near
the mouth of Cascadilla gorge;and the
Yavletand Dumonds,somewhat
south,near East State Street.
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The pioneers literally took great obstacles in stride,initially *
travelling considerable distances to purcha%e seed (‘1...John Yaple
travelled on foot one hundred and sixty miles to a point on the
Delaware River,where he obtained three pecks of the precious seed
Lpotato eyejj and carried them in a sack all the way back to the
settlement”).
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PPD ‘if own of Ithaca continued
standing 19th century
The chief concentration ofuildings kflkxkznxkmxnnnyaE
is at Forest Home,treated separately.Other buildings that are
worthy of mention are distributed throughout theTown,primarily
along Routes 13 and 96.On the’lmira Road,Route 13,there is
a characteristically simple,handsome structure at Number 611,(photo 37.23)
Another Federal style residence is just off Elmira Road inside the
gate to Robe”t H.Treran State Park (photo 37.27).The gem of the
road is,of course,the Gothic Revival structure known as “Sunny
Gables”.(photo 37.28)
Route 96,the Trumansburg Road,has several fine structures
including the “Old Stone Heap”(Davenport Tavern)(photo
Anong the buildings in the Greek Revival style are those buildings
Trumansburg Road’satNumbers1212’(photo ),1290 (photo 37.9),at Ew intersectionwiththeAA
±yt)rtywmnflixgxn±Dubois Roads (photo ),xx±across from
that intersection at Indian Creek ruit Farms (photo 37.3),and
at Number V+52 (photo 37.2’).A fine Federal building is at Number 1÷96’
(photo 37.1).
Old Hundred (photo 37.20)is on the Five Mile Drive (Route 13 A)ariot herand,fl above it on the Coy Glen Road,EkE fine Greek Revival
(photo 37.21 reshoot).
In the northern part of the Town,brick,Federal—style resi
dences are at Tripharnrner anc4Hanshaw Roads (photo 38.33)and at
2I+Triphammer (photo 38,31).A handsome Greek Revival is between
the two at 112 Triphammer (photo 38.32).
To date,the historic preservation activities in the Town
of Ithaca have been privately undertaken aid funded.
Forest Home
Earijer Imown as “Sydney’s Mill”and “Free Hollow”;Forest
Home was onee an active mill town..The first complete grist mill
1794
in town was built by Joseph S.Sydney prior to 17°6.By the early
1820’s,Free Hollow had grist,fulling and sawmills,a woolen
factory,cooper shop and school house,as well as a complement
of barns and dwellings.There were at least 24 mills and business
establishments in Forest Home before manufacturers turned to
steam power .Thec3ommunity became prbmarily residential in
character shortly after 1900.The four remaining mill buildings’a
are now used as resdences:12 The Byway (photo 38.7),300 Forest
“ome Drive (photo ),and 228 and 229 Forest Rome 0rive (photos P
•Li
Among the tin residences in the Greek Revival style are
Numbers 2 and 16 The Byway (photos 38.3 and 38.5 reshoot)and
Numbers i4o and.214 Forest Home Drive (photos 38.19 and 38.13).
The Italian influence is evident in the bracketed structures at
200 and 208 Forest Home Drive (photos 38.11 and 38.16).
The small,Greek %vival structure in a park—like setting
should not be overlooked (photo 38.17).
Town of Ithaca
Sources of Information
Individuals
Larry Fabbroni,Town Engineer
Liege (Mrs Urje)Bronfenbrenner
Books
Local Review
Liege Bronfenbrenrier
Larry Fabbroni.
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4&A.t;‘t•.i-;.
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Bronfenbrenner,
Se]Jcreg,
Liege.Free Hollow to Forest Home.
Norris,W.Glenn.Origin Place Names in Tonrokins County.
John.Landmarks of Tompkins ouny.
SOME REFERENCES
(Tompkins County Public Library)
Norris,W.Glenn The Origin of Place Names in Tompkins County
LH CASE This reference contains names of areas in the
974 771 Town of Ithaca once existing or still existing
under those names,as follows:
N Booltown:small area on Dryden Rd.east of &ad—
jaëent to Cornell orchards;—continued below*_,
Cayuga Heights Village:open land in 1901 with
scattered farm houses.1903 first residence
built;by 1915 a community of village size,
incorporated 1915.Still remains.
Cayuga Heights Region:early l920’s+,subdivision
names—“Sunset Park”;“Remington”;“Berkshire”;
“Highgate”;“Midwau”;“Klinewood”;“Hampton
Terrace”;“White Park”—sonn after lost
individual names as growth spread in area.
Glenside:first house built 1928,90 acre tract
opened for development.Located adjacent
to Coy (Coys’)Glen and so named.
Klondike:on east slope of South Hill east of
Coddington Rd.near city boundary.around
1900 numerous shacks which resembled Alaskan
gold mining towns and so named,now only
folklore.
Lake View:once a flagstop on Cayuga Lake Rail
road line (now Lehigh Valley RR);located
at southeast corner of lake adjacent to
Stewart (Renwick)Park.Often a train stop
in the height of the excursion train era.
Pewtown:at the Pine Tree Rd.junction of Sny
der Hill Rd.Wm.Pew from Jersey,with a
number of other settlers,formed a small
community in 1801 which was a landmark and
comon meeting place for the local people,
and so named “Pewtown”.Soon faded into
folklore as original settlers died or left
the area.
Remington Point:once “Elm Tree Point”with a few
cottages.Early salt manufacturing site,
named after Remington Salt Co.which was
part of the Remington Typewriter Co.,from
which the Wyckoffs gained fortune.Earlier
in 1750,missionaries passing through were
met by a local native American who told them
of the natural watercourses in the localty
which if followed by canoe would lead to
Lake Ontario and Canada.The name “Land’s
End”was then attached to the area by the
missionaries.No longer exists.
Renwick’s Landing:a 600 acre tract bought by
Major James Renwick in 1790,then in the Town
of Ulysses.Also knmwn by the names of
“Port Renwick”;“Renwick’5”;“Port deL ‘Orient”;
“The Corner of the Lake”,was a small port
for lake shipping activities.Early news
papers and records made mention of this area.
No physical trace of the landing remains to
date.
Willow Point;once known as “Drydock”where
early steamboats were docked for winter stor
age and repairs.
Porest Home:already documented in this file.
*Booltown(cont.)built by Henry Bool,local
greenhouse owner—operator.The houses remain
(at the time of the date of Norris’writing)
but the localism Booltown disappeared almost
completely.
History of Tioga,Chemung,Tompkins,and Schuyler Counties,New
York,with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some
of its Prominent Men and Pioneers,The.Publ:Lippincott 1879.
LH CASE Some information which may be of some help in
974 77 preparing the historical sketch of the Town of
Ithaca follows from this reference.
Several hundred barrels of tar were produced
from the abundance of Pitch Pines growing around
and in the Ithaca area at the time of the writing
of this reference.
In 1657 the earliest mission located at Cayuga
which long after 1779 (in 1821 as noted else
where)became the political subdivision know as
the Town of Ithaca.
The first frame house was built in this area
in 1800.In 1879 this same house stood as the
third house north of Cascadilla Creek on the west
side of Linn Street.It was also the first
“regular store”(meaning unknown to this author)
It became the DeWitt “farm house”after its pur
chase by Simeon DeWitt and was the initial point
of surveys for principal turnpikes afterwards
constructed through the town.
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Time:min.
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I.Historic Records of Ithaca
2.Helen Blauvelt,Town of Ithaca Historian
3.This is how Henry Walton saw the town of Ithaca when he drew it in 1839.
We are on West Hill looking across the highway toward Mr.Davenport’s Inn,
and beyond the Inn to the Town of Ithaca.\d
4.What do we see from this spot today?Many of us have seen this Historic
Marker on Route 96 which we often call the Trurcansburg Road.
5.Near the Marker is this beautiful old stone house which was once Mr.
Davenport’s Inn..-
c.-&--an *.ea /.?j3
6 .‘A cl’oser look at the lake shows a steamboat and a canal boat alongside
the dock near the Inlet.The Erie Canal was finished in 1825.Ithaca
was the Port of Ithaca in the Canal System.We used water for trans
P211
7.A ëlosér view of Fall Creek and Ithaca Falls on East Hill shows many nulls
which were driven by water pper.Water helped make the beautiful
scener that brought some of our settlers here and held settlers here
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as it does today.C6t -‘J j cj-z
8.The Village of Ithaca can be seen in Walton’s View of Ithaca from East
Hill.We are looking down Seneca Street and
9.can see the Clinton House in the distance.
10.Thisis the Village of Ithaca from Walton’s View of Ithaca from South Hill.
On the lake in the distance is a large square rigged sailboat.Below this
view,Walton says
11.‘Vessels are introduced upon the Cayuga Lake,to show the result of the
Sodus Canal being completed according to plan)’It was a deam and a
plan of many of our leading citizens tha Ithaca would become a great
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float
11.(cont’d)lpt,making us a prosperous city.The Sodus Canal was never
comple ted.
12.This is a modern government record.It was made by the U.S.Geological
Survey to show the surface water in our area.Water is everywhere.
Before the Cayuga Lake level was controled at the north end of the Lake,
we expected high water every spring.It made a marsh of the valley of
Ithaca and malaria was common.
13.This is the Ithaca Fairgrounds after the 1901 flood.
14.Our steep gorges bring the water of sudden heavy storms rushing down on
Ithaca.When the lake was high,the water ran off very slowly and it used
to stand in the streets for weeks.This is North Aurora Street.Our
plumbing was the family well and privy in the back yard.Epidemics were
always possible.
jq.Jo -“t(U?1C2C)1 A’;tC
15.The force of Cascadilla Creek at the Aurora Street bridge in the 1935
flood.The little bridges of early Ithaca were destroyed by such force.
16.The bill for the repair and rebuilding 0f bridges after the great flood of
1857.Each bridge was considered a part of a road.Towns were given the
task of building and repairing public roads so this bill was presented to
the Town of Ithaca Board of Audit in 1858.Notice how many bridges are
near a mill.Mills were the industry of the town and transportation to
them had to be kept open.This is a very large bill.The bill is in the
Town of Ithaca Archives.
17.The town assessment roll for taxes in l854 shows how hard it was for the
town to pay this bill.Benjamin A.Atwater owned a house on Cayuga Street
on Lot 99 which was 3D’acres,and he owned stores on Owego Street (States-c
Street)on lot 24 which was ‘40 acres.The last colwnn shows us that he
paid a tax of $17.44 for all this property.Towns assessed and collected
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17.(cont’d)taxes so this record is in the Town Hall.The income of the Town
was modest.
18.How did settlers acquire a deed to their land in Ithaca?New York soldiers
were promised free land in return for their services in the Revolution.
After New York State was satisfied that the Indians of our area had deeded
their lands to the state,this part of the state was divided into Town—
ships and each Township was surveyed into military lots to be given the
soldiers.This 1790 map by Noses DeWitt shows the military lot.;of our
Township of Ulysses.
The soldLers might settle on their land or ll it to settlers or
speculators.
19.Ithaca was ready for settlement.Settlers began to come in in ‘all boats
or overland by Tndian trails -ethers passed through hut stopped awhile.
This is Julia Ludlow’s diary.The three Ludlow families are on their way
from Long Island to settle in the place where Ludlowville will be.She
wrote:
‘February 20,1792.Left standing stone arrive at the Head of the
Lake the 28.Staid till March 16.Come to Samon Creek.”
Standing stone is Tioga Point,Pennsylvania where many travelers from
the east left the Susquahanna River and came the rest of the way to the
Finger Lakes by Indian trails.
Head of the Lake is where Ithaca will be.
Samon Creek is Salmon Creek,Town oi Lansing,where they plan to
settle.Their settlement will be called Lndlowville.
20.On the next and last page of this diary,Julia Ludlow wrote:“June 19
Began to weave.”In the new settlement,the i:portant industry of making
cloth was a home industry and women’s work.
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21.A little later,settlers came to Ithaca by ITbughed out”roads.The bushes
and underbrush had been cleared out and the road just went to one side of
big trees.Later came the bridle paths which were wide enough for a horse.
Early travelers night come in a boat much like these early boats on
the Mohawk River.They could be rowed or sailed or poled through the
scYamps and were pointed at each end.
Only a few brave,adventurous people would endure the hardships and
dangers of such travel.
If our land was to be settled and its wealth developed,and if our
crops and manufactures were to get to eastern markets better transporta
tion was necessary.
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22.Tradition tells us that the first little cc:tnunity in Ithaca was by this
waterfall at the base of Cascadilla Gorge.Here Mr.Yaple is supposed to
have had a mill.Mr.Ninepaugh and his family had their log cabin and
Mr.Quigg had a store.
23.The next fifty years are snetimes called the Transportation Revolution
Firsteame the roads.Towns were given the task of building roads.
Today we have water districts and lighting districts.Our first dis
tricts were Road Districts.The system worked so well that we have kept
it.These roads enabled anyone to get to a stagecoach stop.
The great turnpi1ce were usually built and managed by private enter
prise.By 1810 there was a network of turnpikes connecting the eastern
part of the state with the western frontier.Turnpikes ran north and
south from Ithaca and east and west.
We are near the corner of State and Aurora looking up State Street.
An 1851 map calls State Street here the Catskill Road.It jas part of
the Catskill Turnpike.
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24.A stagecoach stops at the Ithaca Hotel.This hotel was built by Luther
Cere and completed in 1811.
25.An enlargement of the coach shows a stagecoach office.
26.old Cay-uga House,a Catskill Turnpike tavern at the corner of State and
Corn Streets.It was taken down in the 1960s.
27.Au advertisement from the Ithaca Journal and General Advertiser,December
31,1828.havana is Hontour Falls today.
28.List of Sges that leave 3.Grant and Son’s Coffee Noose.Grant’s
Coffee ]ouse was an important public meeting place in early Ithaca.It
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was situated across from the Colonial Building on Owego (State Street)
1r.Grant’s stables stood on the site of the colonial building.
29.The next step in the Transportation Revolution was the development of
Erie Canal traffic and the steamboat as the major carriers of goods and
U.7ctric.
peop1e2\Captain James Quick owned and operated the Busy Bee.She sailed
and carried a horse to operate a treadle that would drive the boat if the
wind died down.But her real claim to efficiency depended on her little
steam engine.You can see the engine’s stack and the little wheel she
turned.She operated between Kidder’s on the West Shore and King Ferry
on the East shore of Cayuga Lake.There were many other ferries.
30.Cayuga Bridge .An early picture of the famous bridge.That was a part
of the Great Western Turnpike,crossing the north end of the lake.
31.With the building of our first steamboat,the EnteEse,passengers and
goods could meet the coach for Buffalo or Albany at the Cayuga Bridge.
V.
The Enterprise made her first )5oyage on June 1,1820.
32.The Erie Canal was finished in 1825 and we were part of it,The Port of
Ithaca.Jerome Norton and his Canaler,3.C.Heath in Gayuga Inlet.
33.Of course.we built boats.The Tabor Boatyard at the west end of State
Street was on the Inlet.
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34.The launching of the J.L.MoLt,Jr.in the Tabor Boatyard in ‘thaca on
the Cayuga Inlet.
35.Every week to ten days there would be Port of Ithaca information in the
Ithaca Journal and General Adveftiser.This is 1828 --Port of Ithaca --
arrived.
36.And Port of Ithaca --cleared.
37.The next stage in the Transportation Revolution was the Railroad.The
Ithaca and Owego was the second railroad centered in New York State,and
the fourth to be opened to the Public.The train was at first pulled by
horses.The official opening was April 2,1834.The train was greeted
jp Owego by “cheers ...by the ringing of bells and the discharge of
art illary.”
Later a locomotive,known as “old Puff”,was purchased.
This railroad joined the Erie Canal and the Suscjuahanna River.
38.With active commerce the businesses of Ithaca grew.3.M.McCormick at
his Hardware Store in Ithaca showed the sign of the Padlock.Many people
could not read in this period and needed “signs”like this.
39.Forty-seven years after Julia Ludlow’s diary,the Cloth Dressing mill
provided custom service to home spinners and weavers.This might include
“dyeing”:and finishing.
40.Archibald Davidson Of Ithaca is a famous weaver.
41.Here is his signiture in one of his beautiful coverlets.
42.The:shelves of Mr.Schuyler’s drug store on N.Aurora Street were well
stocled in this section of the Street Scene in Ithaca drawn by Henry
Walton in 1838.
43.Ackley and Hibbard made and sold waterproof hats that served as umbrellas
in a cold wet climate.
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44.This is the rest of the advertisement.The store will sell for cash or
the barter of a long list of goods.Business in young frontier communities
was often done this way.As banks became established in the village
barter became less necessary.-:
45.Mi.Seely could advertise in 1828,that he had just received imported
Dry Goods,Hardware,Groceries.He is also willing to settle the debts
of his customers by barter.
46.This is a Republican election advertisement for the Republican nominee
for President of the United States.Politics were exciting in 1828.
Our kind of a democracy was new.We were proving its worth,while
our political parties developad.One of the tasks given towns was the
holding of elections.Therefore the recordsof this election for Ithaca
are in the Town of Ithaca Archives in the Ithaca Town Hall.
47.Important services,now taken over by government,were perfoimed by
volunteers.These were “elite”groups who could finance their tinder-
takings.These groups had an active social life related to their
public service.The firemen,in Henry Walton’s painting of the 1840
fire on Owego Street,were such a group.
The Town of Ithaca constables were supposed to maintain order.But
during our early history,Town Constables resigned almost as soon as they
were elec:d or appointed.Since Town Constables were a part of town
government,these records are in the Town Archive fri the Ithaca Town
Hall.
A secret vigilance committee,The Moral Society,threatened to keep
order.Information about the Moral Society and copies of their newspaper
The çji ator are in the DeWitt historical Museum.
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48.In 1828,Samuel 11111,a Nurseryman,rented his Pavillion Garden to Mr.
Eldon for the season.This garden on the corner of Cayuga and Green
Streets (in tile same block as Ramada Inn)x•zas open to the public for a
modest fee and took the place of public parks.His advertisements
described the garden.The grounds were ornamented with beautiful plants
and ornamental shrubs.There were tables and little summer houses and
refreshment at the bar.It was a fine way to keep cool on a hot spring
or summer evening.There was excellent music and,on occasion,fire
works,rockets and illuminated balloons.
49.Our architecture is a part of our social history.The pillars and
pediment of Roman Classicism and Greek Revival styles were imitations
of ancient democracies.Thomas Jefferson had made them popular.The
Clinton House was the biggest hotel west of the Hudson when it was new.
50.In 1817 Ithaca was made the county seat of Tompkins County.Tn 1818
this modest Court House was finished.Tt was on the northeast corner
of DeWitt Park.Public buildings in Ithaca commonly had a cupula.
51.The furnishing and decoration of homes is a part of our social heritage.
So are our clothes.This is Mrs.Elsy Nonell,age 48 years,of Ithaca,
painted by Henry Walton in 1849.Elsie NcNurry,a specialist in ths
History of Clothing,tells us that these lrge sleeves and the bonnet
are characteristic of a lady in Nrs.Nonell’s time.
Walton’s portraits often include a hook.
52.Henry Walton’s portrait of Hezekiah Woodruff (1763-1833)was printed in
1841.Elsie NcNurry informs us that Mr.Woodniff ‘s high collar and neck
band,and the shawl collar of his coat,are characteri.’tic of a gentle
man’s wardrobe of this period.
53.The records you have seen are in the Archives of the DeWitt Historical
Musenm in the Clinton IlousO.
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55.Or in the Archives of the Town of Ithaca in the Ithaca Town Hall,126 E.
56.Seneca Street,Ithaca,New York.
57.Of course,there are many important events in our history which could
not leave a written record.An example is the history of the Underground
Railroad which helped black slaves to escape to freedom.Much of our
information of these events comes to us through the memory of people who
could not write or speak freely at the time.This is Ben Johnson who
was a well-known Ithaca lawyer.In Initial Ithaca by Thomas W.Buri.
we read on page 14:
George A.Johnson “relates’father barbershop adj oined the building
on North Aurora Street in which Ben Johnson had his law office.Occa
sionally I visited Mr.Johnson in his office and infermed him that several
runaway slaves had arrived during the previous night by way of the under
ground “route”and that they must have shoes and clothing and money [or
their passage toward Canada.Ec answered that he was a Christian,and a
member of the church and a lawyer and a Democrat and therefore a law-
abiding citizen;that he could not consistently assist in depriving men
of their property.But he would hand me a five or ten dollar note,and
tell me to take it and buy ekets and send the run away slaves back to
their masters.Hew knew that the terror stricken runaways would be
aided on their way by being secreted during the night in the steamhoat
6 7,‘Simeon DeWitt’and taken to Cayuga Bridge and on toward the North Star.
59.The End.
60.Logo.
61.Blank.
COPY /-/zetcf
7&VA-cp/rq9c/QW/s7c,?j,.y
The Statutory History of the land Area of the Village of Ithaca
from its incorporation,and of the City of Ithaca,to January 1,1940.
The Village of Ithaca was incorporated by Chapter 229 of the laws
of 1821 (April 2),In which the Village area was described as follows:=ydc.,,
BeginnIng at a point sixty rods east of the intersection of the south
side of Owego Street with the west side of Aurora Street;thence running
south fifty rods;thence west one mile;thence north two hundred rods;,
thence east one mile;thence south(one hundred fifty rods to the place •‘‘
of beginning,a -
The town of Ithaca previously,March 6,by Chapter 166 the same
sear had been formed from the town of Ulysses,so that the Villake was
part of the town of Ithaca.
By Chapter 132,laws of 1826,the charter was amended by enlarging
the area by the following description:
“Beginning at the northeast corner of lot 94 in the township of
Ulysses,in the now town of Ithaca;thence west to the northwest corner
of said lot;thence south to the northeast corner of Dewitt’s Location;
Thence west to the west line of said Location;thence south along the
west line of said Location to the southwest corner of the same;thence
due east to the east line of a lot No.94;thence north along the
east line of said lot No.94 to the place of beginning.”
That remained the area without change until The City of Ithaca was
ohargered by Chapter 212 of the laws of 1888 (May 2),in and by which
the area was extended to the east to a parallel line 3452 feet east
of the east line of lot No.94.(See description,next sheet.)
/
In 1888,by Chapter 212 of the Laws of that year,passed May 2,
effective thirty days thereafter (which would be June 1)The City
of Ithaca”was chartered,and by section 1 Its land boundaries were
described as follows:
“Gonuuenoing at the south—west corner of Dewitt’s location in the
town of Ithaca;thence due east along the south line of said location
and the south line produced,to a point three thousand tour hundred
and fifty—two feet east of the east line of 1t ninety—four;
thence due north parallel with said east line of 1t ninety—four to
the north line of lot ninety—two;
thence west along the north lines of lots ninety—two andi ninety—four
and these lines produced,to the west line of lot eighty—seven;
thence south along the west line of said lot eighty—seven and the west
line of Dewitt’s location to the place of beginning.”
NOTE.Lot 94 92,and 8?above mentioned are lots in the Township of
Ulysses h790)part of the Military Tract,and the lots would be
more specifically called Military lots.
A photostat print of the original map of the Township of’Ulysses,
the East part thereof,is referred to.
“Zeiler’s Lotation”,so called on the map,is a square of 1400
acre,and is identical with Dewitt1s Location above mentioned.
The figures on the map are chains (four rods),other than the lot
numbers.
Attention is called to the underscored words and to the faot
that the map shows that the north lines of lots 92 and 94 are
not co—incident,but the line of lot 92 scales about 30 rods
further north than lot 94.
The probability is the framers of the charter relied on the
map of the town of Ithaca,in the Tompkins County Atlas of 1866
as accurate,and never intended to have an offset in the north
city line.It is to be noted that the Ithaca map (1866)referred
to shows no offset.I understand that the east and north city
lines,at least the ends and corner,were monumented in 1888.
However,I think any Court would hold that the above descrip
tion of the north city line is controlled by the real north lines
of lots 92 and 94 respectively;that is to say,the north line of
lot 92 not extended,but the north line of lot 94 only extended
to the west ].35i’of lot 8’?.W.H.S.
There was no amendment in the city area or description until May 23,
1908,by Chapter 503,a new and amended charter was passed,effective
January 1,1909,and by section 2 of said Act the boundaries are des
cribed as follows:
(See next sheet.Changes or insertions are indicated by
underscored words.This practice will be followed as to
all subsequent amendments.W.H.S.)
(Chapter 503 L.of 1908)
“Commencing at the southwest corner of Dewitt’s location so—called
being the fourteen hundred acres conveyed to him by Abraham Bloodgood
deed dated December first,seventeen hundred and ninety-two;
THENCE DUE EAST ALONG THE south line of said location and the south
line produced,to a point three thousand four hundred fifty—two feet
east of the east line of military lot ninety—four;
thence due north parallel with said east line of lot ninety—four to the
north line of military lot ninety—two;
thence west along the north lines of lots ninety—two and ninety—four and
these lines produced,to the west line of military lot eighty—seven;
thence south along the west line of said lot eighty—seven and the west
line of said Dewitt’s location to the place of beginning.”
No change or addition in description or area was made until 1914,by
Chapter 294,passed April 11,effective immediately,when some area was
added on the north and the boundaries amended to read as follows:
‘Commencing at the southwest corner of Dewitt’s location so—called,
being the fourteen hundred acres conveyed to him by Abraham Bloodgood by
deed dated December first,seventeen hundred and ninety—two;
thence due east along the south line of aaid location and the south line
produced,to a point three thousand four hundred and fifty—two feet east
of the east line of military lot ninety—four;
thence due north parallel with said east line of lot ninety—four to the
north line of military lot ninetytwo;
thence west along the north lines of lots ninety—two and ninety—four,and
theEe-lines produced,to the west line of the right of way of the Auburn
Branch of Lehigh Vali railroa;
thence northerly flng the west line of said Lehigh Valley right of waz
to a point nine hundred and ninety feet north of the north line o!lots
ninety—two and ninety—four produced;
thence westerly twelve hundred eighteen and two—tenths feet to a point
nine hundred seventy—three and three—tenTE feet north of the north line
of lots ninety—two and ninety—four produced;thenc northwesterly twenty—
TIve hundred twentytiven and seven—tenths feerto a in the State
pier;thence west rallel with the north line of lots nine4—two 4
ninety—fotzr produced to a point on the east line of the right .2!
the Ithaca and Geneva Railroad,now Lhhigh Valley Railroad,said point
‘EIng twentyttwo hundred and ninety—nine and knfly twoinths feet north
of the north ne of said lots ninetI-two and ninety—four produoed
thence southerly athg along the east line of the right of way aforesaid
to the north line of said loTrnThifl-two iHdiTnitj-fo’F6duced;
thence west along the north line of said lots ninety-two and ninety—four
produced to the west line of military lot eighty—seven;thence south along
the west line of said lot eighty seven and the west line of said Dewitt’s
location to the place of beginning.”
No further change in area or description was made untIl 1921,when on
May 6 Chapter 594 WaS passed,effective immediately amending the bcundartes
and city area to rend as follows:
“All that part of the county of Tompkins comprised within the following
boundaries,namely:
“Commencing at the southwest corner of DeWittt g location go—called,
being the fourteen hundred acres conveyed to him by Abraham Bloodgood
by deed dated December first,seventeen hundred and ninety—two;
thence due east along the south line of said location and the south
line produced,to a point three thousand four hundred and fifty—two feet
east of the east line of military lot ninety—four;
thence due north parallel with said east line of lot ninety—four to the
north line of military lot ninety-two;
thence west along the north lines of lots ninety—two and ninety—four and
these lines produced,to the east boundary 0±’North Cayuga Street;
thence northerly along the east line of said North Cayuga Street g—
duced,iToo nt on the east line 2!right of y ci’the Auburn
Branch of the Lehigh Valley raidroad;thence northeriy along said east
line of said Lehigh Valley right of way to a point in the north line
of Cayqga Heights village asduced;thence west along said north line
I?Cayuga Heights village produced,across Cayuga La&e to the east line
of the right of way of the Ithaca and Geneva line of the Lehigh Valley
FEITF3aZ;theeuTEe along tHe east line of Th€id Ithaca &nd
Gtneva Division of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company to the north line
of sold lots nlnytflo and ninetypf our produced;
thence west along the north line of said.lots ninety—two and ninety—four
produced to the west lIne of military lot eighty—seven;
thence south along the we;t line of said lot eighty—seven and the west
line of sald DeWitt’s location to the place of beginnIng.”
NOTE.
Cayuga Heights Village was incorporated June 12,1915,
Bounded south b’the City of Ithaca;west by a line 775 east of
the east line of the Lake Road,at right angles withSe city
line and extending north 4000 feet;then east parallel with City
line to center of Triphammer Road,and southerly along Triphammer
Road to City line.
No other amendments in area or description until 1930 by Chapter 74,
passed March 10.(see next sheet.)
V
Chapter ‘74,Laws of 1930,effective March 10.
Section 2.
A11 that part of the county of Tompkins comprised within the follow—
ing boundaries,namely
“Commencing at the southwest corner of Dewitt’s location so—called,
being the fourteen hundred acres conveyed to him by Abraham Bléodgood
by deed dated December first,seventeen hundred and ninety—two;thence
due east along the south line of said location and the south line pro—
duced,to a point three thousand four hundred arid fifty—two feet east of
the east line of military lot ninety—four;thence due north parallel with
said east line of lot ninety—four to the north line of military lot
ninety—two;thence rest along the north lines of lots ninety—two and
ninety—four and these lines produced,to the east boundary of’North
Cayuga Street;thence northerly along the east line of said North
Caga Street produced,to a point on the east line of the right of way
of the Auburn Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad;
thence northerly along said east line of said Lehigh Valley right of
way to a point in the north line of Cayuga Heights village produced;
thence west along said north line of Cayuga Hdights village produced,
across Caga Lake to the west shore of Cayuga Lake;
thence southerly a distance of seventeen hundred and ten feet,mare or
less,to the moutH of the br66k which divides the property now owned
Harr1 and Helen D.Johnson on the north !!s.±the property of Candaoe
L Williams on the souE;—
____________________
thence westerly one hundred and forty feet more or less upon the aenter
of the Brook to the east boury ot the ri’Eroraay of the
known as Taughannock boulevard;thence southerly along the east line
rme flt of way 9hannooR Boulevard &F it Yjow Wstn my
hereafter be located a distance of fifteen hundred and twenty—three
feet to the center OCWTflIRmB B’F5ok;—
thence westerly sixty—six feet more or less to the east line of the
right of -of the Itheos end Geneva :divigion of the Lehigh Velifl
rail road;thence southej eleven hundred feet more less .112!
north IThe of saidlotp ninety—two snd ninety—four produced;
thence west along the north line of said lots ninety—two and ninety—
four produced to the west line of military lot eighty—seven;
thence south along the west line of said lot eighty—seven and the west
line of said D&fltt1s location to the place of beginning,shall
C
constitute the city of Ithaca.”
“The boundaries of the town of Ithaca shall be as at pt consti
tuted,exoent that hereifler they si-jail inMude tile territDry herecy
excluded from the i31 of Ithca.”—
tfl 1PT
1 •1
No changes in area or description have since been made.
March 15,1940.
Wm.Hazlitt Smith.
The Title origin of the present (1940)lAND AREA of the City of
Ithao is entIrely PATENTS from the State of NEX YORK as follows
1.The southwest 1400 acres thereof,a square,
to Abraham Bloodgood,Nov.17,17a9;Bk 21 of
Patents,404
2.Military lot 94 lying between the extended center line of
Eddy Street and the west line of Tioga Street,measur—
ing one—half mile (160 rods)east and west;Patent
to Hendrick Loux July 8,1790.
3.Military lot 95.Patent to WillIam Orr July 8,1700.
4.Military lot 92.Patent to Benjamin Gilbert July 6,1790.
5.Military lot 88.Patent to Andrew Moc..iie July 9,1790.
6.MIlitary lot 87.Patent to Bennet Dayton August 24,1790.
LI 1.L.
The south city line cuts off aporoximately the south 32
rods of uiilitary lot $4 and anuroxlrn&tely the
south 25 rods of military lot 95 as far east
as the east city line,Much is 3452 feet east
of the center-line of Eddy Street (the east
line of military lot 94 and the west line of 95.)
The east city line puts into the city the west 3452 feet
of lOt 95,except as above,and the whole west
3452 feet of 1t 92.
The north city line puts into the city an irregular part
of military lot 88 and the south frnd of the lake;
and an irreular part of military lot 87.
The west city line is coincident with the west line of lot
8?and the west line of Dewitt’s Location,the
latter being Zeiler’s Location on the Ulysses
Township map.
March,1940.W.H.B.
C
L.BRONFENERENNER
lie MC INTYRE PLACE
ITHACA.NEW YORK 14850
March 22,1977
Larry Fabroni RECEIVED
Town of Ithaca
126 East Seneca St.MM 2 1977Ithaca,NY 14850 -
tear Larry:
TOWN OF ITHACA
I have gone over the Town of Ithaca and Forest
Home historic reports you sent me.I have some material in my file
that states that the Town of Ulysses...compromising what is now
the Town of Ithaca...was part of Herkimer County.I do not have a
great deal of additional information on the Town of Ithaca.A
possible quick reference is Landmarks of Tompkins County by John
Selkreg,1894.(Copies at public library).The revised subject
index (1974)gives the following references for early Tompkins
County and the Town of Ithaca:
Town of Ithaca..p.6,94—105
Early Tompkins County:pages 5,16,and 62.
The other areas to be”sewered”,besides Forest Home,are not mentioned
in the index.Forest Home and Renwick Heights (Selkreg p.35)are
really the only historic ,or remaining historic areas in the Town,
except for a few old farms and mill sites.Q
The historic report seems to indicate that Forest
Home is situated on Cascadilla Creek.This is,of course,not so.
The confusion apparently arose becay,s1e Joseph S.Sydney built a
mill in Forest home in 1794tt?i”T?Ts mill burned in 1799 he
built another mill on Dwyers Dam_jp Cascadilla Creek.The Forest
Home mill was located on ttDtattc next to the Judd Falls Road bridge.
At that time the hamlet was called Sydney’s Mills.Later this name
was changed to Free Hollow,and then when the post office came to
the village the name became Forest T-iome.(Partly because of the nick
name “Fled.doller”)
Settlers arrived in our hollow at the turn of the
last century.Mills and shops were built along the banks of the
creek,and near them the small Greek Revival style houses of the
mill workers.There were at least 24 mills and business establish=
ments in Forest Home before manufacturers turned to steam power and
the village became a residential community shortly after 1900.
The four remaining mill buildings are now used as residences:12
The Byway,300 Forest Home Drive,229 Forest Home Drive,and 228
Forest Home Drive,the latter was remodeled into a fine Victorian
style home by Mr.Hazen,who operated the knitting mill there.An
old concrete wall with a hitching ring,surrounds the road edge
of the property.Will the sewer line damage this,as well as the
remaining evidence of the mill race on Mr.Palmer’s property,229
Forest Home Drive2 The old foundation of the Empire Grist Mill,
which was destroyed by fire about 1890,is located at the end of
2
The Byway on the west side of the Judd Pails Road bridge.The
foundation is “desecrated”by the ugly gas company building(built
before there were impact statements required for construction).
Sydney’s Mill was located either here or across the road near the
dam.
Many of the Greek Revival style houses are still standing
in the village.Some have been remodeled beyond recognition,but
many fine examples remain:137 Judd Fails Road,2 The Byway,8 The
Byway,16 The Byway,120 The Byway,140 Forest Home Drive,145
Forest Home Drive,206 Forest Home Drive,214 Forest Home Drive,
216 Forest Home Drive,and 300 Forest Home Drive.Many of the older
homes still carry the name of the builder,who often made an impor=
tant contribution to Ithaca and Cornell history..e.g.the McIntyre
—van Natta house—112 Judd Falls Road,the McCurdy house—117 Judd
Falls Road,the Ha’brouk house—200 Forest Home Drive,the Warren
farm—127 Warren Road and many others.An old school house,built
before 1850,is still standing.It is now the garage for 131 Judd
Falls Road.Among the many professor’s homes built in the early
part of this century,one stands out as a fine example of an early
Sears Roebuck design.This house is located at 117 McIntyre Place.
Forest Home is closely tied to the history and development
of the area...first as an important manufacturing center of the
County,then as a viable village,and later with the development
of Cornell University,particularly the College of Agriculture.
A few years ago the Forest Home Improvement Association applied
for historic landmark designation for the whole village.This request
was turned down because the village had such a variety of archi=
tecture and many of the older buildings had been remodeled.A number
of homes would probably qualify for individual historic registry
designation.Some owners have made an effort to preserve or even
bring back the original style of their houses,at the same time
making them viable for 20 century living.e.g.Svensson house,Konvita
house,the Bates house,the Peard house,the Bayer house,the
Fletcher house etc.
Let me know if you need any additional information.
Sincere 1y,
Liese Bron rennet
P.S.Nancy says you have the only copy of the Town’s comprehensive
master plan.Can I come down to the office some time to read
it?
1)I understand Harry and Barbara Cornwall have researched the history
of the old stone house they occupy at the Corners.The last time
I talked to them they had found nothing that would indicate it was
a”historic house”.I believe it is located on part of the same
military (Revolutionary War)plot as Forest Home(parts of).
TOMPKINS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
March 10,1977
Mr.Lawrence Fabbroni
Engineer and Planner
Town of Ithaca
126 East Seneca St.
Ithaca,NY 14850
Frank R.Liguori PE Commissioner of Planning
Dear Larry:
Per our conversation of the 9th,please find the beginnings
of the written text for the Town of’Ithaca and hamlet of
Forest Home enclosed.Cayuga Heights is much more recently
developed and you may contribute a section thereon,if you
wish.
Please review and comment freely,and circulate to others
for their revisions,comments and additions,as you see
fit.Please remember that we are trying to answer the
question,“What makes
_______unique?”
Please also remember
to include a separate statement of historic preservation
activities,both public and self-help.
Will you be kind enough to return the materials to me on or
before April 1?
Sincerely,
-ft.Joe Gentili
JO:ys
Encs.
—4
RECEiVED
4I&R14 97
30Y414 OF ITHACA
128 East Buffalo Street,Ithaca,New’vbrk,14850 ***Telephone 6O7tJ&1OIOcExt*ian28çS9
TOWN OF ITHACA F tI1P#11
Formed from the original Town of Ulysses 44 one of the first
towns of Onondaga County in March,1794.Variously a part of
Montgomery,Onondaga,Cayuga,Seneca and Tompkins Counties,Ithaca
has been part of Tompkins County since March,1821.
The town is a deep central valley banked by high hills which are
marked with wildly picturesque gorges and cascades.The town has
been known for grain and livestock production and for the fruits
of its hillsides:grapes,peaches,and apples.
The town was settled by Indians who relinquished their land to
white settlers in the late 18th century.As mentioned in an earlier
section,they understood and used the land well,seeking the
shelter of the gorges in the winter and enjoying hillside and
lakeside camps in the warmer months.
The earliest white settlers,in the late 1780’s,were the
Woodworths,Dumonds,Himepaws and Yaples.The Woodworths settled
near the site of today’s Old County Court House,the Himepaws near
the mouth of Cascadilla Gorge,and the Yaples and Dumonds,somewhat
south,near East State Street.
The pioneers literally took great obstacles in stride,initially
travelling considerable distances to purchase seed (ohn Yaple
travelled on foot one h$ndred and sixty miles to a point on the
ccDelawareRiver,where he obtained three pecks of the precious Wedpotatoeye]and carried them in a sack all the way back to the
settlement..?!)or grind grain (Wilkes Barre was the nearest mill
until Jacob Yaple built his,in the second year of settlement,on
the ‘6ascadilla).
TOWN OF ITHACA
Formed from the original Town of Ulysses as one of the first
towns of Onondaga County in March,1794.Variously a part of
Nontgomery,Onondaga,Cay-uga,Seneca and Tompkins Counties,Ithaca
has been part of Tompkins County since March,1821.
The town is a deep central valley banked by high hills which are
marked with wildly picturesque gorges and cascades.The town has
been known for grain and livestock production and for the fruits
of its hillsides:grapes,peaches3 and apples.
The town was settled by Indians who relinquished their land to
white settlers in the late 18th century.As mentioned in an earlier
section,they understood and used the land well,seeking the
shelter of the gorges in the winter and enjoying hillside and
lakeside camps in the warmer months.
The earliest white settlers,in the late 1780’s,were the
Woodworths,Dumonds,Himepaws and Yaples.The Woodworths settled
near the site of today’s Old County Court House,the Himepaws near
the mouth of Cascadilla Gorge,and the Yaples and Dumonds,somewhat
south,near East State Street.
The pioneers literally took great obstacles in stride,initially
travelling considerable distances to purchase seed (cohn Yaple
travelled on foot one hflndred and sixty miles to a point on the
ccDelawareRiver,where he obtained three pecks of the precious Wedpotatoeye7andcarriedtheminasackallthewaybacktothe
settlement.”)or grind grain (Wilkes Barre was the nearest mill
until Jacob Yaple built his1 in the second year of settlement,on
the Cascadilla).
4
FOREST HOME
Earlier known as TTSydneyt s Mill”and “Free Hollow”,
Home was once an active mill town.
Forest
The first complete grist mill in town was built by Joseph S.
Sidney prior to 1796.Yaple’s earlier mill1 downstream,did not
have bolting cloth.Sidney gave his name to the embryonic
settlement two miles upstream from the nuclear settlement at
the mouth of Cascadilla Gorge.
By the early 1820’s,
saw mills,a woolen factory,
Free Hollow had grist,fZ’tLI#t1 and
cooper shop and school house,as
well as a complement of barns and dwellings.
U’
-F..4
4.-‘
VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS
936 HANSHAW ROAD
ITHACA,N.Y.14850
OFFICE HOURS TELEPHONE
9 A.M..4 P.M.607-257-1238
January 4,1985
,&s.Helen Blauvelt
Town Historian
Town of Ithaca
126 E.Seneca St.
Ithaca,N.Y.14850
Dear Ms.Blauvelt:
I understand that as Town Historian you are doing some research on
the roads in the Village of Cayuga Heights.
The Village has some questions about siie roads and pieces of prop
erty that were originally in the Town of Ithaca and were annexed
into the Village in 1954.On our map these roads are shown as:
(1)“The Trail”(off North Sunset Road)
(2)Highland Park Lane (off Highland Road)
(3)33 lane between 104 and 106 Berkshire Road
(4)Strawberry Lane (off Devon Road)
(5)20’lane between 1009 and 1001 Triphammer Road (also known as
Triphammer Lane)
(6)30’lane between 709 and 717 Triphammer Road —north boundary
of Pine Hill Apartments
(7)25’strip of property about 800’long between Forest Drive and
The Parkway
(8)30’lane between 125 and 131 North Sunset Drive.
If you have any information,or run across any information,as to the
ownership,dedication to the Town,or anything that would establish
the legal status of these pieces of property,I would greatly appreci
ate getting it from you.Thanks.
Sincerely yours,
J hn B.Rcqers
Village Engineer
JBR:ak
Answers for Noel Desch
l.a.When was the village of Cayuga Heights created and from what?
The Village of Cayuga Heights was incorporated April 12,1915.(see note follow
ing the Ithaca Town Board Minutes for April 7,l915,p.649)
b.Why was it created?
It was created from a farming area by real estate development.
“Early in this century (about 1901 )Jared T.Newman and Charles H.Blood,
began buying parcels of land east of Cayuga Lake and north of Cornell
University with the idea of developing a tract for restricted residential use
near the University”.(W.Glenn Norris.Origin of Place Names ln Tompkins
County 1951.Mr.Norris was the County Clerk and the County Historian of
Tompkins County at this time.)This area continued to be developed until
it had grown to need the services of a village in 1915.(Fred Marcham,long
time mayor of Cayuga Heights
2.a.When was the Village of Cayuga Heights extended to the east?
The first reference to this extension in the Ithaca Town Board Minutes is in
a resolution in the April 2,1953 (p.194 )meeting.It begins”Whereas the territe
territory comprising the Cayuga Heights Water District has been &e-45—alettt—
-te e.”“or about to be”is crossed off.I believe the extension came in
1953.ranTjxed to the Village of Cayuga Heights.)
b.Why was it extended?
Fred Marchani described this to me over the phone.As the population north
east of the Village of Cayuga Heights grew ,they petitioned the City for
sewage service.This yjibved very expensive.Mayor Marcham described himself
as the revol utionary leader who suggested that these people could less
expensively solve their own sewage problem by becoming an ex
tension of the Village of Cayuga Heights.This was successfully
accomplished.
3.When did the Town of Ithaca agree to stop charging for Town High
way maintenance as a town wide charge?
The Town of Ithaca stopped charging for Town Highway maintenance
as a Town wide charge in 1964.
Bound in with the Ithaca Town Board Minutes of Nov.?,1963
p.276 )is the 1964 Annual Budget of the Town of Ithaca.High
way Appropriations are shown as Part—Town Funds.
Bound in with the Ithaca Town Board Minutes of Nov.8,1962
p.234 ),is the 1963 Annual Budget of the Town of Ithaca.
Highway appropriations are shown under General Funds.
•flNAL.
—31--
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ITHACA
The Town of Ithaca lies in the Finger Lakes region of contra].::
New York.The Town originally inclaled the valley at the southern
end of Lake Cayuga,and the three hills whose naites give their
location,East Hill,South Hill and West Hill.Cayuga Inlet and
three large creeks flow through the Town.Cayuga Inlet provided a
safe harbor after dredging machinery was available.As the creeks *
descended into the valley,they provided water power for early
zulUs.lake Cayuga was declared a pthlic highway.Indian trails
and Lake Cayuga were available for transportation.
Ithaca land had been a part of Township XflI,the Township of
Ulysses of the Military Tract.It was surveyed for the “troops of
this state an the late Army of the United States”by Smeon Dewitt,
Surveyor General of the State of New York,in 1790.
Records of the early white population of this area should be
in the Archives âf Ulysses,Seneca,Cayuga,Oneida,Oirndaga,and
Ztntgoirery (Tryon)counties.
rtwpkins County was formed in 1817 with Ithaca as the county
seat.The Tocm of Ithaca was formed March 16,1821,when 7th Act to
Divide the Town of Ulysses in the County of Taripkins was passed by
the New York State legislatura.On April 2,1821,the Village of
Ithaca in the Town of Ithaca was incorporated..The Village of
Ithaca becaire the City of Ithaca —in 1888.The Village of Cayuga
Heights in the Town of Ithaca ws incorporated June 1,1915.(See
Town of Ithaca Board Minutes,volume 3,page 649).
The govenirrent of the new town undertook five services for its
citizens,and for the State of New York.It surveyed and built
road and bridges.Bridges were considered a part of the road they
carried.It assessed and collected taxes,it held elections,and
maintained a Town Court and Town Constables.Justices of the Peace
might sit on the Town Board.
In 1984,the Town of Ithaca stun maintains and builds roads
and bridges,collects taxes,and holds elections.Our tax
assessnt is handled by corrputer and is a county facility.In
1957,the Town Law was an-ended to make it illegal,for a Justice of
the Peace to sit on the Itjwn Board.The Tacn Court is a part of a
unified State Judiciary system.The Town provides services of a
Tow Engineer and Assistant Engineer,A Town Planner and ItcQn
Planning Board,a House Inspector to insure cxnpliance with the
standards set;a landscape gardener to plan and manage open spaces,
parks and recreational areas;and a Town Historian.The Town has
cooperated with other municipalities to fill its needs.The ‘lbwn
of Ithaca,with the Towns of Lansing and Dryden and the Villages of
Caynga Heights and Lansing,owns and manages the Southern Cayuga
•-•..•-.A?—t.-’fln.øW .•••
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Lake Intermunicipal Water Comission which provides our water
supply;the records of this facility are at the Southern Cayuga
Lake Intermunicipal Water Connission,1402 East Shore Drive,
Ithaca,New York 14850.
Dr.Helen Blauvelt
Ta&n Historian