HomeMy WebLinkAboutSD-49 FOR OFFICE USE ONLY SD 49
BUILDING-STRUCTURE INVENTORY FORM RED
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« DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION UNIQUE SITE NO. 19310. on 691QUAD �.
NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND RECREATION SERIES
ALBANY,NEW YORK (518) 474-0479 NEG. NO.
YOUR NAME: Town of Southold SPL7a DATEMovember 19$6
YOUR ADDRESS: Town Mall, Main Road TELEPHONE+:516) 765-1892
Southold, L. Z. , N.Y.11971
ORGANIZATION (if any):Southold Town Community Development Office
IDENTIFICATION
1. BUILDING NAMFJS): Southold Free Library -
2, COUNTY: Sufr.folk- TOWN/CITY: Southold VILLAGE: Southold
3. STREET LOCATION: Main Road, Route 25, north side
4. OWNERSHIP: a. ublic ❑ h private .❑
S. PRISENT OWNER: Southold Free Libraryl)DRESS: same
6� USE: Original: Bank Present: Library
7. ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC: Exterior visible from public road: Yes No ❑
Interior accessible: Explain
DESCRIPTION
8. BUILDING a. clapboard ❑ b. stone ❑ c. brick d. board and batten ❑
MATERIAL: e. cobblestone ❑ f. shingles ❑ g. stucco ❑ other: granite
1). STRUCTURAL a. wood frame with interlocking joints ❑
SYSTEM: b. wood frame with light members ❑
(if kn(wn) c. masonry load bearing walls M
d. metal (explain)
e. other_ granite foundation _
10. CONDITION: a. excellent I1 b. good ❑ c. fair ❑ d. deteriorated ❑
11. INTEGRITY: a, original site k-1 b. moved ❑ if so,when?
c. list major :alterations and dates (if known):
SD RSM VI-2
12. Ptio,ro: From South east 13. MAP: N.Y.S. DOT Southold Quad
Front (south) and east elevation Enlarged
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14.*THREATS TO BUILDING: a, none known F] b.zoning ❑ c. roads ❑
d. developers ❑ e. deterioration ❑
f. Other:
150RFLATED OUTBUILDINGS AND PROPERTY:
a. barn❑ b. carriage house ❑ C. garage ❑
d. privy ❑ e. shed ❑ f. greenhouse ❑
g. shop ❑ h. gardens ❑
i. landscape features: shin led cottage in rear
j. other: WW I Monument
10, SURROUNDINGS OF THE BUILDING (check more than one if necessary):
a.open land ❑ b. woodland ❑
c. scattered buildings
d.densely built-up ❑ e. commercial 91
f. industrial ❑ g. residential ❑
h.other:
17. INTERRELATIONSHIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS:
(indicate if building or structure is in an historic district)
The library stands on an elevation above the road, in
medium density area of the historic Hamlet of Southold.
Like many other buildings, it has a front lawn. The
Main Road, once the King's Highway, is lined with trees.
18. OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING AND SITE (including interior features if known):
Interesting 1-story gable roof brick building with parapet
gable terminating in square brick posts and crowned with a
roll-shaped device. Tympanum of terra cotta Pnframed with
dPntils. High center window flanked by arched openings of
which one is the entrance. The upper half of the brick (cont. )
SIGNIFICANCE
1{1_ DATE OF INITIAL CONSTRUCTION: 1891
ARCHITECT: George H. Skidmore
BUILDER:
0. HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE:
This unusual structure was built in 1891 for the Southold
Savings Bank. Alhen they moved in 1927 to new quarters ,
Edna Cahoon Booth bought the property as a memorial to her
parents and presented it to the Southold Free Library.
The Library is noted for the famed Whitaker Historical
Collection.
21, SOURCES: Joy Bear. Historic Houses of the North Fork and
Shelter Island. Greenport. 1981
"A Reuse Proposal for the East Moriches
Schoolhouse. " Typescript by Diane L.Admas.1984
22. TrlLMr:
Form prepared by Rosemary Skye Moritt, research
assistant.
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(cant. )
18. OTHFR NOTABLF, FFATUR7S OF BUILDING AND SITE
fagadn is articulated with projecting brick headers.
Handsome iron grating on windows.
That this building was designed by Geo. H. Skidmore
of Riverhead is especially interesting.
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2.GEORGE H. SKIDMORE6
George H. Skidmore, the third and eldest son of Luther and Ester
Ann (Whipple) Skidmore was born in Riverhead, New York on December
26, 1841 . He received his education in public schools of his
native town and finished school at a private institution. After
leaving school he was employed by his fatherin his sash and blin d
establishment until he attained his majority in the business. He
was then engaged in the molding business with the firm of Hallett
and Fielder. 7Subsequently he entered into partnership with Fielder
under the firm name of Fielder, Skidmore and Company. This
association continued ugtil Mr. Skidmore embarked into his
architectural business ( 1874 ?) which he pursued for thirty years
with marked success and high reputation. His services were
requested throughout the eastern section of Long Island where he
ranked a foremost standing of the architectural profession.
He planned numerous residences for city patrons all over Long
Island as well as some business and public structures in Suffolk
County that are monuments to his taste and skill . In addition he
frequently had engagements in New York City and in New Jersey.
He had full charge of zhe design and erection of the Riverhead
Savings Bank Building(c. 1896) , one of the handsomest business
structures in the town of Riverhead and was the supervising
architect of the School Building on Roanoke Avenue. 8 The school
building was built in 1898 and was a "model modern structure" from .
7
"A Reuse Proposal for the Rast Moriches` Schoolhouse. "
Typescript by Diane J. Adams. 1984.
SD 49
which other Suffolk County school districts are said to have taken
their cue.9
In addition to the Riverhead and East Moriches School , Skidmore
was responsible for a number of others including ones in Bohemia,
Center Moriches, East Patchogue, Medford, Ronkonkoma, Lake
Ronkonkoma and St. James. 10
Skidmore designed the red-trick and terra-cotta building on the
north side of Main Street in Southold which today houses the
Southold Free Library. It was built in 1891 for the Southold
Savings Bank. In 1927 the bank moved to new quarters , Edna Cahoon
Booth bought the property as a memorial to her parents and
presented it to the Southoid Free Library which has since occupied
it. 11
Skidmore was also responsible for the New Congregational Church on
Main Street in Riverhead (date?). It is Gothic in style and was
built to accomodate 450 people with an amphitheatre floor with a
platform for the minister and the choir. The entrance is on the
south side while the north side housed the school room, a banquet
hall and the kitchen. The church was to be lighted with electric
lights and was very modern in this respect. The builder was
William H. Corwin of Aquebogue and the ediface cost $25,000 which
was raised by subscription. 12
8
"A Reuse Proposal for the East Moriches Schoolhouse".
Typescript by Diane L. Adams. 1984
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SD 49
Monday, July 1 (Continued)
furnished for the Celebration from the homes of the Town. The
great hearths, the huge central chimney against which the steep,
old stairs cling; the old beams, floor-boards and panelled walls,
all preserved for posterity] And on the lawn outside, tea served
by many hostesses in costume,
2 - 8 P. M.
(Opening of the Archaeological Exhibition, Cutchogue School.
Given by the Long Island Chapter of the New York State Arch-
aeologleal Association. The exhibits of Aboriginal Indian Artifacts
drawn, on this occasion, from the invaluable material found within
the limits of Southold Town, memorial of a past age and culture.
A collection which oilers a vastly interesting contribution to the
Tercentenary Celebration.
2:30 - 4:30 P. M.
Scientific Exhibition, Custer Institute, Southold.
The Institute open for display of astronomical and scientific
equipment used in its research. Results of real value have already
been produced by members of this group. A special feature dem-
onstration held by an exhibitor member as "Astronomical glass-
grinding equipment,""Photosynthesis and Sugar Extractlon," "Speo-
tmscope" and "Microscopes and Slides, Photomicrography" staged
for scheduled afternoons of the week . 9 P 31. — Telescope avail-
able for sky observation, weather permitting.
8:15 P. M.
Southold Town Choral Society Concert, Greenport High School.
First evening entertainment of the Celebration Week. The
choral group of sixty members, holding a reputation for its accom-
plishment and high musical standard, presents a superb program
of music, under the direction of Harold Niver, Chairman of the
Celebration Week's music, accompanied by Herbert Studier. Mrs.
L. Barron Hill is to be guest pianist. This group has been invited
to sing several times at important occasions at the World's Fair.
An informal reception after the concert in the gymnasium.
9 P. M.
Baseball. North Shore league. Night Exhibition Game at South-
old lllgh School Grounds. Greenport vs. Southold.
Tuesday, July 2 9 - 12 M.
Open house at the Southold Academy, Southold.
An event for students from 1867 to 1937 to call at the Academy
for reminiscent chats and recollections. "Come and live with us in
the fondly remembered Past," said they at the 275th Celebration.
Again the call goes forth! Students are urged to hunt up old photo-
graphs and bring them.
1:30 P. M.
Dedication of the Whitaker Memorial Collection at the Cahoon
Memorial Llbrary, Southold.
Dr, Charles E. Craven, D.D., author of "Whltaker's Southold,"
former Mattituck Pastor, dedicatory speaker. William Wells, of
New York, Memorial Committee Chairman, presiding. Rev. E. Hoyt
Palmer, George C. Terry, Lewis A. Blodgett, Mrs, Elsie Hilliard,
taking part in the ceremony. A dedication especially fitting to
take place during this celebration, as Dr. Epher Whitaker's In11u-
ence and work riot only played a major part in the 250th Celebra-
Tprcentenary Celebration of Southold
Town, 1640-1940
days as Feather Hill_Upon it once stood
the home of Puritan Captain John Under-
hill,renowned for savage fighting which
helped to secure Long Island - and
indeed the area between the Hudson Each subscriber
`- River and Narragansett Bay - for
European settlers,but which decimated was pcm-tatted
the Indians and wiped them off their
lands.Underhill inherited the mantle of
the aging Miles Standish,and fought as a one solid
_ cohort with Lion Gardiner. „
and one fiction book
The Southold Free Library received its
impetus in 1904 when Miss Lucy Hallock
got on her bicycle and rode through the
eastern end of town circulating petitions
r�4.r,- in behalf of a library and collecting fl for The librarian's bicycle had a carrier on
'? - a year's membershipThe Rev.William the handlebars m deliver hooka to the
.Q` +.. .
H. Murray walked through the western sick in their homes. At the and of each
section of town on the same mission.Miss day, Mrs. Heubel served the librarian
Hallock later became not only Mrs. coffee in her kitchen."
Albert A. Folk, but also the Free
Library's first librarian.She wrote:
hThe library moved to its second leca-
lion in 1912, into the H. M. Hawkins
"our ancestors were brought up to building on Beckwith Avenue where the
improve their minds by serious reading Souny LaRosa Music Studio is today.The
only. To read just for pastime was rent at this second location, . at the
1 thought of as slothful and lazy." Her first,was$loo a year.
ped
Southold Free Library to change
that.Each
personality was
p change that. Each subscriber was The Southold Savings Bank moved into
permitted to borrow"ode salad and one �
fiction"book at a time. new quarters in 1927•leaving this build-
lany people passing along Main RoadThe Southold Savings bank moved into ing vacant. Edna Cahoon Booth bought
the property as a memorial to her
aoulhold have been more than casually this building in 1891. Its safe, which rents,Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cahoon.
•rested m the ornate building,sketch- weighed 7,300 pounds,was delivered on a In 1904 the Southold Free Library pa
which houses the Southold Free truck weighing 4,8W pounds. This con- moved into its first location,in the parlor and presented it to the library, which
-rary. This red brick and terra cotta siderable load was drawn by two teams of Valentine Heubel's home and barber opened there December 15,1928.
fice was designed by Riverhead archi- oC horses,and the newspaper of the day shop, on the site now occupied by
I G. H. Skidmore for the Southold reported with some satisfaction that it Southold Pharmacy,Samuel Sander, in
inga Bank. 5kidmare's goal was to arrived"without accident." writing for this first library,says: A complete and fascinating account of
.leve a look of solidarity and security the library's history is given in a booklet
h massive doors, iron grating ands A marker in front of the buildi points "The Story of Southold's Libraries,1797
ivy w�with glaoat+o coping out that this site was known dingin Joints "Peconic folk came by horse and 1975' by Samuel Sander.. This book
wagon,or by the first"gasolinewagons." available at the library.
Joy Bear. Historic Hausf?s of the North
and Shelter Island. 1981 49
d
Preservation Notes•Society Cor the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities*Spring/Summer 1982 Preservation Notes•Society for the Preservation of Lom_Island Antiquities•Sprim,'Summer T982
-
147
#_': ! AVAILABLE-
,,,/// 11c-Sn1i11�, Before;1A1wr. iiorcester Ileri- into life in the third quarter of the loth
Ecce Prescralion Society, 71 Pleasant century. Price 510.00 plus tax and
Street, ii'orcester, Mass.. 111609. Tel: postage.
617-754-8760. Bnn•hure designed to
hell, }ou sort out \sisal is III Illund wltd't Thomerv,ilore m, 0t3 IV'6.Ph%Ili%Brat),
is lu•I about :1luminuna arts) virtyl siding. pest CUTatur. Guild Hall 4luseum, Fast
Prel,aresl under sponsorship of Worcester Iiamp(on. L.J. 1 1937. 1980- The cata-
Hislorical C'onnrtission. American Inst\- to ur for the e\hibilion of %%orks of
lute +>t Arehilcrts ('cntral Massa- Thumas Moran Mitt lived in East ]tamp-
. chusetts Chapter, and 1lorcestcr General ton, includes:I ,eclion on loran's Lung
Building, Contractors Assoc. Single cup- island subjects and a piece about his
ies are available without charge,
t studio by N_ Sherrill 1 oster. Price 57,50
LollG Island as America: ,l t)(00I mc•111• tncludina pasta;c.
ars, 1 wor'I, 10 1NVO,ctlited by James I•.
Bunce and Richard P. llarmand, 1977. 1981 Animal Report, Srrll)lk Corms
(Port Washinrion, N.Y. Kennikat Press, Historic Tnrst, J. Lance Mallamo, 1982.
5� lnc.t Consists of 84 documenls that per- Oescrihes Suffolk Count\'s involvement
1 lain to Lone Island, including a contem- in protector_, maimainim, and utilirin;r
I porary account of Modern Thiles, the the historic buildings which are County
Ad Utopian community established at Brent- owned. Available from Suffolk County
wood in 1850. Available 1'rom publisher Department of Parks. Recreation and
at 90 South Bayles Aventic, Port Wash- Cultural Affairs, P.O. Box 144, West �
ington, L.L.N,Y. 11050. Price S 17.95, Sayville. L.E., N.Y. l 1 796. No charge
Cahoon Libyan,Southold d for single copies.
llarve.r�.•I tt c hcr,phwo Lorre Island Painters and Portraits,Anne �
Cohen Dc Pictro and David Slesrhutl. Sleimrdship, Responsible Care rkj'Reli-
SOUTHOLD lleckscltcr Museum, Huntington, L.I., Maus I3uddin s. a nem. slideitape pru-
N.Y.- 1988 This is the illustrated caia- gram is available from Preservation
TESD HONORED The red-brick and terra-cotta build-
lowur „f the exhibition of this title that LeaLMe ul \e++ 1",,rk State. 307 Eiamit-
ing on the north side of Main Road in %%a% held in 1981. Calaloltie is availabie ton '.Street Alban+, N.Y. 12210. This
SHOREHA-M Southold which today hooses the front Publications Departmem. fled,- 30-minute stidcjtape program describes
I
An energetic citizen Ut• Niagara Southold Free Library was built in sehcr Muscum, Prime Avenue, Elttntirn_- repair. maintenance, and use of historic
Falls has succeeded in getting the 1891 for the Southold Savings Bank. l,rn 11743. Price 54.00 plus tax and rcli ious buildin:--, Available svtthoul
Postmaster General to add Nikola Tesla The architect was G.II. Skidmoref Lc
o $1.511 ltostayc. charge to mcmbcns of the Preservation
a,'ue. Nun-ntcmbcrs Ice is S_s !Il).
io the "'American Inventors'* series of Riverhead whose office did Itltlih 1 Primer on Prescrralion Law in llrr I of further infortnation call Frederick
commemorative postage stamps. It Work oil Lcng Island - including Stale rtl :Vety York, Nalional Center for Cawley 518-426-5658.
still remains to he seen .what the design manPreservation Last Inc'., 45 Rockefellery public schools circa 1907. The plaza. Neu York, N.Y. 111111, 19111.
of this I Q8 "Tesla' stamp will be, endangered East Moriches schoolhouse Desiuned to assist public a-.cnries, cote- Tat Incentives for Preservation and
Perhaps Washington can be persuaded was probably designed in this office. nimlih coups, and concerned ciiizenN Reuse rij CJlder Bmrldrirr;s: ,-1 Conprenee
to use the Lang Island landmark. When in 1927 lite bank moved into in [[sine. the lcl�al tools available to pre- on lhe.,Vviv 1:'conrimric Recove°ry Tax Act
Long Island has the finest Tesla build serve the built environment in Ness York and Irn or•ative and Traditional Finalle-
b new quarters. Edna Galloon Booth State. Includes discussion of building-, ing Techniques, March, April, and slay,
Ing in existence. Designed by Stanford bought the property as a memorial codes amendment. Price 55.04. 1982, New York Land Institute, NYS
White. it would be appropriate if this to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
structure were selected. It no\rr houses Cahoon. and presented it to the The Diary of Alar\ Cooper, Life on a Preservation, SPLIA, and others. The
Peerless Products on ldoute 25A in Southold Free Library which until Lon}; Island Farrar 1768.1773,edited by conference materials are now available �
Shoreham. Field Home. Oyster Bay Historical in book form while the supply lasts ty
then had been operating from rented Society,20 Summit Avenue,Oyster Bay, Write SPLIA, 93 North Country R.3a,l,
quarters.* L.I- 11771. 1983. An iniereslin,,insirltl Sctaukct, LA. 11733, Price S20,00. 4`
110
'111swric• 11r211ses til til• :Porti 1•iir1. amdl
Sieller Island!,Jos Bear. 198(1.
10 1I