High Victorian Homes & Guided Tours Finger Lakes Region

304-306 West First Street  Neo-Classic Greek Revival Duplex circa 1917

1917      The original house on this site was built about 1871 and was owned and occupied by Stephen McDonald, of McDonald and Palmer, tanners, Lake Street, across the bridge. This structure was demolished in 1912, and the present house erected five years later. Built as a double house, it reflected the need for more housing in Elmira. One early occupant was George Young of Young Electric Co., one of Elmira's first electrical contracting firms, The Elmira Electric Works. Another prominent occupant was Mildred Shoemaker a well know piano teacher in this area. This house is still owned by the Young family as of 1/1/07.

307 West First Street Bellcast Gambrel circa 1924

     In 1866 the house on this site was the property of Stephen McDonald, McDonald and Palmer, Tanner, Lake Street. Later Mr. McDonald went into real estate. In 1892the property was owned by Gordon Baldwin, real estate. The house that occupied this site was razed and the present structure was built. The first occupant was Mrs. Helen Gilbert, widow of Henry. In 1937, Albert Wright, assistant manager of Gosper Kelly, shoes, owned and occupied the house. From 1940-1970 the house was owned and occupied by Leonard Allen, Of Allen and Horigan, restaurant 365 Davis Street Horigan's restaurant is still in operation. The present owner bought the house in 1974.

Rent this little GEM from Royal Viking Property Management 505 South Main Street Horseheads 607-796-2616. You will get the ROYAL treatment. This was turned into this "Management" company on 8/23/07 we were told this would be taken care of. Well on 8/24/07 we had a walking tour with tourist from Oregon. How proud. This is still like this 8/26/07. Located two houses from Barb's Soup's ON a popular eatery here in Elmira. Please call Royal Viking Property Management at 607-796-2616. This house has gone down since it was recently sold.

Circa 1857

This house was owned and occupied by the Gibbs family from 1857-1903. Levi Gibbs was a lawyer and after his death the house was occupied by his widow, Mary. The James Moxley family and his three brothers lived here from 1904-1919. James Moxley ws a gardener, Mary Mosley, a domestic and dressmaker, Richard Mosley, a cable splicer, and William Moxley, an electical engineer. In 1962, the hous was converted ino a beauty shop and an apartment.

320 West First Street circa 1852

January 7th 2007 This was the carriage house.

Carriage house with cupola, wide doors and batten boards. Was used as stables.

June 2007

ARSON!

402 West First Street

circa 1870

In 1876m /arbikd kewusm gricerm kuved at 353 Davis St.. By 1880, business was better and his grocery store was still at the same address, but he had moved to 402 W. first St.. Lewis continued to live at thes address until 1903. At this time, this grocer business became Barry and Berry, 353 Davis St., grocers, provisions and coal. clinton D. Berry lived at 351 Davis St., and Ezra D. Barry lived at 402 W. First St.. until the 1930's. Other occupants of 351 included: Morris Van Brunt, chauffeur, 1911, who became Maurice D. Van Brunt by 1917; Fred Cleveland, of F. Nelson Wirth Cigar Co.; Hector Miller, employee of the Empire Produce Co.; and Louis J. Lodico.

459-461 West First Street circa 1937

     In 1852 this property was owned by J. D. Baldwin, a coal dealer and speculator. By 1865, the parcel was part of the Fassett Estate, owned by Newton P. Fassett, a prominent Elmira lawyer. The Fassett house is in the background to the South side of this house. This house was built by Jennie Crocker Fassett, widow of the Honorable J. Sloat Fassett. J. Sloat Fassett was a lawyer, Congressman, industrialist and Republican politician of national stature. Jennie Fassett was a prominent woman leader in civic affairs in Elmira. She helped in the construction of the Elmira Federation for Social Services. The Federation building, built in 1907, sheltered civic clubs, provided a small dance hall, swimming pool, day care services and housing for single women. Also Elmira College received the Fassett Commons and the Hamilton Library from Mrs. Fassett during the late 1920's. Mrs. Fassett and her secretary, Arthur Sliter, lived in the house until her death in 1939. In 1939 the house was purchased by William Baker, a part owner of the Owen Card Co. and the Contract Purchase Co. He lived in Mrs. Fassett's quarters, while Arthur Sliter continued to live in the adjacent apartment. In 1969, John S. Booth bought the house. John Booth, president of I. D. Booth Co. The firm is a wholesale plumbing and industrial supply company in operation for over 100 years. The other occupant of this house is Charles A. Winding, began as a lawyer, served as the President/Chairman of the Board of the Marine Midland Bank, inc. Researched by: Martha Fassett Iszard

First St 421

circa 1900

The house is an example of a vernacular stucco house that was popular and fassionable in the neighborhood from 1900-1910. It has a three bay facade, a low hipped roof, a two-tiered veranda on the east side, a wide overhang and an offset chimney. Of note are the semental arches on the rar porch, which are characteristic of the stucco style houses of this period. Between 1918-1931, the front portico was added, porch on the east side added, a second story entrance was added and a one story garage built. In 1977, a small rear porch was enclosed with aluminum siding.

There have been three buildins on this corner lot. The original frame dwelling was built betwwen 1865-1870. The second structure was erected before 1896. In 1901 the present stucco building was owned by Benjamin Rosenfield, who was associated with the National Cigar leaf Co.. Tobaco. In 1908 Daiel Davenport, the City's chif assessor lived there to be later joined by Harry Poole, engineer for the state highway department. In 1917, the house was converted into apartments.

426 West First Street Greek Revival w/neo classical inflounces circa 1888

     The original structure on this site was a carpenter shop that was owned by Hiram Plum, 418 West First Street. (1874-84). Occupants of the present structure have included: burr C. Hoagland, carpenter and builder (1889-1901), Anna F. Hoagland, widow of Burr (1901-1919), Reverend Albert Cornwell and his wife Mable W., minister of Park Church (1919-1944), Robert and Emily Bender, Management consultant for the railroad (1946), Aaron and Adele Stein, Vice-president of E. Stein and Sons, later William Spiegel and Sons, Incorporated (1949), and the present owner, Dr. Grant Houghton, dentist and his wife, Patricia.