Historic Ithaca & Significant Elements

We’re #hiring a new Work Preserve Job Skills Trainer in Ithaca, New York. Are you a retired shop teacher, all around handy person, or skilled trades person looking to make a difference with local young adults and share the knowledge and experience of the highly rewarding trades career path? Apply today!

It’s Deaf History Month! Did you know that Rockefeller Hall is where Dr. Frederick Bedell developed his revolutionary Mechanical Ear device? This device paved the way for modern hearing aids by allowing individuals with hearing loss to experience sound vibrations directly through their teeth or skin. Let's take a moment to appreciate the architectural marvel that is Rockefeller Hall at Cornell University. Constructed in 1903 and designed by Carrère and Hastings, it was named after John D. Rockefeller. Rumor has it, upon seeing the finished building John D. Rockefeller thought it was so ugly he declared he would never donate any more money to Cornell. Despite its initial reception, its Colonial Revival style, red-brick facade, carved wood interior staircase, and more highlights the grandeur of its era. As we celebrate Deaf History Month, let's honor the legacy of Dr. Bedell and the groundbreaking advancements made within the walls of Rockefeller Hall. Alt Text: Image 1: Exterior view of Rockefeller Hall, located at 231 Feeney Way, with the web address tompkins.historyforge.net visit to learn more. Image 2: Vintage tax assessment photograph of Rockefeller Hall, taken in 1954 by Roy Wenzlick & Co., for government appraisal purposes. Image 3: Dr. Frederick Bedell demonstrating his invention, "the deaf speaker" hearing aid, in 1931.

March is Women's History Month and this week we explore the fascinating history of "The Home" at 514 South Aurora St. Built in 1876 by William Henry Miller, ”The Home”: was a generous gift from Jane P. McGraw to the Ladies' Union Benevolent Society, serving as a residence for elderly and indigent women. This brick building with a slate roof, stone lintels, and foundation, features distinctive Ruskinian polychrome banding at window levels and trim.  The Ladies' Union Benevolent Society (LUBS), founded in 1869, was a secular agency dedicated to caring for Ithaca's less fortunate. The house initially began its mission by providing for 4-5 genteel but impoverished ladies. The building stands as a testament to Ithaca's architectural heritage, showcasing remarkable details that capture William Henry Miller’s design skills. It also stands as an example of the late nineteenth-century charitable ethic of care for elderly women in the community. Jane P. Turner McGraw, renowned for her charitable endeavors, including "The Home," is laid to rest in a prominent vault near the entrance of the Ithaca City Cemetery. Today, "The Home" is a privately owned apartment building located at the corner of S. Aurora and Hillview Terrace in Ithaca, NY. In 1971, the LUBS continued their efforts to provide housing by opening McGraw House on S. Geneva Street as a modern Senior Citizens apartment building.  Special thanks to South Central Regional Library Council for their grant funding enabling the digitization of Historic Ithaca's tax photograph index cards (image 2.) Explore more at tompkins.historyforge.net  #HistoryForge #HistoricIthaca #ArchitecturalHeritage #IthacaHistory #TheHome1876