Confessions of a Preservationist

Preservation & Sustainability--Resources You Can Use

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:10:00 +0000

High Falls, Rochester NY

This weekend, The Landmark Society will be joining over 40 other organizations, businesses, and agencies as a vendor at the Greentopia Festival in High Falls. You might wonder, what is the purpose of this Greentopia and how does it possibly relate to The Landmark Society and historic preservation? First, the event itself is designed to celebrate the green movement, showcase what the region is doing to contribute to the movement, and open up a discussion about what sustainability and "green" really mean.

Genesee Valley Park, Rochester NY

That's where we come in. Although preservation isn't usually the first thing that leaps to most peoples minds' when they hear the words "green" or "sustainable," reusing our existing building stock, preserving our historic landscapes and rural spaces, and reinvesting in our urban centers and rural villages are all examples of recycling on a large scale. And, of course, there are added environmental benefits to preservation--most historic neighborhoods are walkable, older buildings were built to last with high quality materials, and most older buildings incorporate green features such as double-hung windows with operable upper and lower sash that allow you to maximize passive ventilation rather than blast the A/C.

Erie Canal & converted grain tower,
Pittsford NY

So come visit me this weekend at The Landmark Society's table at Greentopia--I and other friendly Landmark Society staff will be there all weekend. I'll be more than happy to share with you why preservation is a necessary part of ensuring the health and sustainability of our communities. Or, if you're reading this post after Greentopia, explore some of the links below to learn more about preservation and sustainability and, more importantly, how you can help save our planet by saving our historic resources.

If you only read one thing, take a look at this article from the National Trust's Preservation Magazine:
A Cautionary Tale--Amid our green-building boom, why neglecting the old in favor of the new just might cost us dearly. By Wayne Curtis.

From us, The Landmark Society:
8 reasons why preservation is an environmentally friendly activity
The Greenest Building - display board from Greentopia
Embodied Energy - display board from Greentopia
Preservation Tips - display board from Greentopia

From CITY Newspaper:
Closing the door on vinyl windows

From the National Trust for Historic Preservation:
Sustainability & Historic Preservation
Weatherization Guide
Window Know-How: A Guide to Going Green
Historic Wood Windows Tip Sheet
Energy Efficient Strategies - Cold Climates
Energy Efficient Strategies - Main Street

From the NY State Historic Preservation Office:
Weatherization Toolkit

From Old House Journal:
Weatherstripping 101 (the print version of this article has more helpful photos and inserts)

The Greenest Building - This website calculates the amount of embodied energy contained in an existing building and the amount of energy required to demolish a building. You can even convert those numbers into gallons of gasoline.

Caitlin Meives is Preservation Planner with The Landmark Society. She'll be spending this weekend celebrating her two favorite things--the natural and the historic built environments.

Flashback or Fast Forward--Rochester's Highland Park

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:43:00 +0000

Last summer, my husband and I took our four children to Rochester’s Highland Bowl, or should I say the John Dunbar Memorial Pavilion, ca. 1937, for the Monroe County Parks’ program "Free Movies in the Parks." On one particular evening, the title was Back to the Future, originally released in 1985 when I was a sophomore in college. Fast forward 25 years and here I am procuring my own version of Back to the Future by taking my kids to the same spot where I first heard, saw, and fell in love with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel during the then popular “Opera under the Stars” series, probably around 1972.

We sat on the lawn in the beautifully landscaped park, enjoying the harmonious relationship of the amphitheater, a product of human hands, with the sloping hillside, carved from glaciers, a natural acoustic partner for the "Bowl." The ampitheater or the "Bowl" as it is now widely referred to, was originally dedicated in 1937 to the late John Dunbar who is credited with the early establishment of the world class Lilac collection in Highland Park.

Many of our friends and neighbors who reside in the City of Rochester also attend these firefly-lit summer events. On this night, the crowd was surprisingly small for a gorgeous August evening. The potential crowd, I surmised, whittled down by the competing outdoor movie series screened on the same night in the nearby Towns of Brighton and Pittsford. My observation made me pause and consider the impact that sprawl and decentralization has had, and will continue to have, upon the oeuvre of childhood, and adult experiences alike which, only a generation ago could be shared with someone from 3 doors to more than 30 miles away. The collective memory and the vocabulary that comes from common experience, can be crucial as a launching point for discourse and understanding.

In the early days of the Bowl, the Rochester Philharmonic and other symphonic programs performed frequently during the spring and summer performance season. Today, a smattering of events are on the program annually, including Shakespeare in the Park, concerts, the movie series I attend with my family, and other community activities.

My suggestion: do your best to attend an event in the Highland Bowl, and if you have children, bring them. Look around and enjoy the legacy of Ellwanger, Barry, Olmsted, and Dunbar, while Frederick Douglass and Goethe look on. The first 20 acres of Highland Park was gifted by George Ellwanger & Patrick Barry in 1887. Their gift served as a catalyst for the establishment of the City’s Department of Parks, the hiring of internationally recognized landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the establishment of an Olmsted designed park system in Rochester--one of four in the nation--and the cultivation of a world class botanical collection that draws millions annually. We are fortunate to be the recipients of decades of vision, philanthropy, and planning. The Highland Bowl site’s naturally occurring landscape was appropriately retained and maximized by people like Ellwanger, Barry, Olmsted, and Dunbar. It is an incomparable venue and should be part of every greater Rochesterian’s vocabulary.

Today, Thursday, August 18^this the last program of the summer for the “Free Movies in the Parks” series at the Highland Park Bowl. Adults can enjoy The King’s Speech, a quintessentially English film amongst a uniquely American cultural landscape.

Posted by Maranne McDade Clay, Grants Administrator

Ms. Fix It

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:56:00 +0000

There is a remarkable woman living in Rochester who just can’t stand to see things fall apart. She rescues old furniture, useful household items, and even buildings that are in need of repair or rehabilitation and transforms them from trash to treasure. She worked magic at the Ellwanger Estate on Mt. Hope Avenue when she commissioned architects, builders, interior designers, landscapers, and artists to turn it into the Symphony Show House for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in the summer of 2008. She has continued to improve the house and landscape since that successful project.

The Ellwanger Estate, adjacent to the Landmark Society’s historic Ellwanger Garden, now serves as a private residence during the week and a seasonal bed- and -breakfast on the weekends.

It is no surprise then that Rosemary Janofsky, owner of the Ellwanger Estate, decided that the classically inspired garden wall designed by landscape architect Fletcher Steele for Helen Ellwanger in the 1930’s needed her help. She had already spent several thousand dollars on a total repair of the wall’s stucco and tile elements. However, one of the cast- stone coping bands supporting the distinctive masonry urns had since crumbled badly. She called Stoyan Passero, the mason who completed the initial repair, to assess the damage and learned that something had to be done before winter to prevent further damage and to preserve the urn. It should be no surprise that she hired Mr. Passero immediately.

Within days there was a new cast-stone coping band in place with the urn affixed securely to the top of the wall. Considering that this part of the wall is a prominent architectural element at the edge of the Ellwanger Garden, we are grateful that Ms. Janofsky could not bear to see it crumble.

Thank you Rosemary!

Deteriorated coping band that was replaced.

Posted by Beverly Gibson, Horticulturist

Forget Black Friday--it's Small Business Saturday!

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:18:00 +0000

Where will you find me at 5 AM on Black Friday? Dragging myself out of bed, driving across town to the mall, and waiting in line for an irresistible deal on a digital camera? Nope. I will be sound asleep in my bed, probably with the dog at my feet and the cat on my head.

While I delight in spending hours poring over the Thanksgiving Day doorbuster deal ads and I love the thrill of racing hordes of desperate holiday shoppers to the hottest item in the store, this year I will be sitting out Black Friday (and its recent companion, Cyber Monday). On Saturday November 27, I will be joining almost 900,000 other folks across the nation in support of the first ever Small Business Saturday. American Express has declared the Saturday after Thanksgiving as "a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country." Visit the Small Business Saturday website or join the movement on Facebook to learn more.

Besides supporting local businesses, I'll also be avoiding the crazed mall parking lots in favor of a healthy stroll through my neighborhood. For me, shopping locally isn't just

about supporting local businesses and avoiding the stale mall air. It's about supporting the people who help keep our communities healthy and vibrant. Without local businesses, our historic buildings, commercial districts, and larger communities wouldn't survive. Small businesses often rehabilitate historic commercial spaces and adaptively reuse other types of historic buildings, helping to preserve the streetscape that makes a village or a neighborhood appealing, walkable, and attractive to locals and visitors alike.

Not to mention that when you shop at local stores, you can find unique gifts that will make you everyone's favorite gift giver. Take the gift basket I assembled last year for a White Elephant gathering--I lived in Kansas at the time so I created a distinctive package with the following: a six pack of beer from Tallgrass, the local microbrewery in Manhattan, KS; a jar of hot pickles from Topeka's famous C.W. Porubsky's Deli and Tavern; a block of cheese from the Alma Creamery; and a sampling of tasty treats from a local candy shop in downtown Topeka. Who could possibly ask for anything more delightful (or tasty)?

Granted, I haven't even begun my shopping list yet but this year I will be applying the same theme to western New York--perhaps chocolates from Stever's, a growler from Rohrbach, jam from Bauman Farms, sausage from Swan Market. For those who might not be as food oriented as I, consider spending your Small Business Saturday at Parkleigh, Craft Company No. 6, the House of Guitars, Stars & Stripes The Flag Store, or Cinema Theater. And don't forget all the villages and towns outside of the greater Rochester area that also have unique local shops! For more inspiration, check out City Newspaper's Holiday Guide 2010.

Caitlin Meives, Preservation Planner with the Landmark Society, will be spending her Small Business Saturday shopping on Park Avenue and Monroe Avenue in Rochester, NY.

Not in Kansas Anymore...

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:57:00 +0000

When you tell people you live or have lived in Kansas, they invariably respond with a line from The Wizard of Oz. They usually think this is pretty clever but I can tell you it gets old. That said, I thought I'd take advantage of the opportunity to use the line myself. After all, I truly am not in Kansas anymore...Or am I?

I've moved to Rochester after spending two and a half years in Manhattan, Kansas (also known as the "Little Apple"). Working for the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office and taking my own weekend jaunts with my boyfriend and amiable Border Collie, Heidi, I saw and experienced quite a bit of the state's natural and cultural resources. I traveled the state's scenic byways (ksbyways.org), visited natural oddities such as Mushroom Rock State Park and Rock City, experienced local traditions such as Tulip Time and the Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine, sampled food in local towns, and documented wonderful architecture--ranging from New Deal-era parks to downtown commercial buildings, barns, and early vernacular stone farmhouses.

A day trip with Heidi the border collie to Coronado Heights, a WPA constructed park in Saline County, Kansas

While doing all of these activities, I marveled to myself how different Kansas was from New York. There was no value judgment attached to this, just a simple observation. To me, somehow the culture, the people, the small towns, the way folks lived life in those towns just seemed different, perhaps even a little foreign to a northeasterner such as myself. I grew up in Syracuse, New York and experienced a fair amount of the state--from New York City to the Adirondacks and the small-medium sized towns in between. Regardless, when I moved to Kansas, I arrived with the same assumptions and stereotypes that I've encountered amongst most northeasterners since I returned to this part of the country, namely that Kansas is a flat vast wasteland filled with corn and wheat fields and not much else. Through my travels, I quickly learned that this was not the case. There were interesting things waiting around almost every corner, the places I mentioned above being just a small sampling.

"American Fork Art" in Lucas, Kansas

Now that I have returned to New York and have had a chance to travel outside of Rochester a little, I'm beginning to realize that upstate New York and Kansas have more in common than I thought. Driving into Mount Morris was oddly reminiscent of driving into many towns I documented in Kansas. (Fear not New Yorkers, this is not a bad thing!). Sure New York has a lot more trees and, of course, about the earliest building stock you'll see in Kansas dates to the early 1860s but when it comes to small town commercial and residential architecture, natural beauty, and historic preservation, they have a lot more in common than you might think. Communities in both states face similar challenges: dwindling populations, limited employment opportunities, the vinyl siding salesman. On the flip side, communities in both states are using historic preservation tools--adaptive reuse, tax credits, grants, historic resource surveys, to name a few--to combat these challenges, restore economic vitality, and preserve their communities.

Downtown streetscapes in Kansas and New York

So, what's my point? After spending just a few years there, I feel better acquainted with the Sunflower State than my home state. It's time for me to hit the road and absorb some local culture in upstate New York. While I love to dispel myths about Kansas and encourage folks to visit, I'd also like to encourage you to explore your own communities--visit a nearby town or village, sample some local food, throw back a beer (or other non-alcoholic beverage) at the local watering hole, buy a gift at a local shop, learn something new at a museum, or just marvel at the architecture and the landscape.

Once you've done that, maybe you'll think about giving Kansas a shot?

Letchworth State Park, a great place to observe scenic beauty and historic park resources

Posted by Caitlin Meives, Preservation Planner

Is it Better in the Dark?

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:15:00 +0000

Right now you are probably looking at a pretty bright, clear screen. Clean printing; an image or two; a headline and the paragraphs of content. There are pull down menus from your browser, each with a word or symbol. You might have a few additional windows open, with images peeking around the edges of this one.

If you turn away from your screen, chances are your environment is fairly well lit also. Overhead lights, desk lamp,nightstand, light from the flatscreen tv, from the streetlights outside, from the headlights of passing vehicles.
At this very moment, your eyes are bombarded with lots and lots of visual information. It's streaming in through your optical nerve, mainlining into your brain. It's all clamoring for your mental attention. There is no mystery or ambiguity in what you are seeing.It's all bright, well lit, and in your face.

Your brain is so busy processing the visual information, how can you have time to really consider what you are seeing?

Would you like to put a little mystery back into life?

Let's try a brief experiment.
After you read the next paragraph, close your eyes and think about what you've read. You can think about it for as long as you like, but try for 20-30 seconds.

Okay, here's the paragraph:

The dimming light shone through the old window, barely illuminating the glass tumblers on the small maple table. Behind the table, the entrance to the tap room had a chalk calendar written above the door: the white chalk marks glowed in the
twilight. No light came from the massive fireplace opening, as the summer heat provided enough warmth. On the long dining table, plates stacked with pancakes, a meat pie and a small wheel of cheese waited for supper guests.

(you can close your eyes now...)

Are you back yet?

How was that for you? Did you manage to make it at least 20 seconds? It can be difficult to do that. I don't know about you, but I'm addicted to visual information. Right now I have 6 windows open on my computer, and I like it that way.

But I do find it refreshing to take a break from the visual overload.

About now you are probably wondering "Why is she writing about this in a Landmark Society blog?" We work in a visual medium - the architectural heritage of our community. We work to help people enjoy the visual medium, but also to "read" the historic stories the architecture embodies in its visual content. That takes practice and focus, to "weed out" the visual distractions.

Fortunately, practicing those visual skills can be lots of fun - especially when it involves popcorn and marshmallows.

On the evenings of July 27 (and again August 24) you can come to the Stone-Tolan House Museum to experience the site in a lesser light.

"Full Moon Flashlight Tours" will feature tours in the oldest remaining house and tavern in Monroe County, some lawn game activities, and then a gathering around the campfire for complimentary popcorn, and sharing of games and stories. You may also purchase a s'mores kit for that ultimate retro campfire experience. Bring your own folding chair, or sit on the ground or our wooden benches. .More details are here .

You'll enjoy the chance to "rest" yourself from the visual bombardment of modern life, slow down, and really see what is in front of you.

And who knows what you will discover? Nothing makes the past seem more real than the lengthening shadows in a dimly lit 200 year old tavern room.

posted by Cindy Boyer, Director of Museums and Education

More than a surprise visual treat…

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 23:14:00 +0000

LSWNY’s summer day tour to FLW’s legacy in Buffalo

Life is a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get! This is one of my favorite quotes and recently I got my almond chocolate, my favorite kind at Wright’s Fontana Boat house. Almost two weeks ago, I was a part of FLW’s legacy tour in Buffalo with a group of 40 people. We were supposed to make a short photo stop at this Boathouse, but to our surprise we were able to get an inside- out tour of this place. It was one of those lucky days!

It’s hard to express how this building was and how much more I am a fan of FLW. I would like to say that I am not only his fan but also an air- conditioner (Please it’s a joke, Don’t take it seriously and think what an immigrant would know of the nuances of English language). A building, which was conceived over 100 years ago in 1905, is still applicable in today’s context. It’s hard to imagine how much forward looking he was, to design a building, which is timeless and is still integrated in this millennium. FLW considered this building to be one of his best designs, which he originally designed for University of Wisconsin’s rowing club. Almost after 95 years later, the rights of FLW’s design were bought and now this boathouse is home to West Side Rowing Club. To get more details you can visit http://www.wrightsboathouse.org/
This boathouse sat like a jewel on the river with its long free flowing cantilevered slab roof, leaded glass ribbon windows (FLW’s trade mark) and straight lines. The interiors too were also very typical of Wright with wooden floors, intricate details and geometrically designed light fixtures. What a treat this surprise stop was!

The other stops on the tour included Darwin Martin complex, Roycroft inn in East Aurora and Graycliff. I am unstoppable when I start writing about Wright, but I was a part of this tour last year as well, so if you are interested to learn more about these places, you can see my thoughts in our blog archives of June 2009.
Overall it was a great tour and on behalf of Landmark Society, I would like to thank all or tourgoers! We look forward to having you on some more of our tours. To learn more about our tours, you can visit www.landmarksociety.org.

Posted by Nimisha Thakur, ex- preservation associate

All Good Things...

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:27:00 +0000

Is it really true, that "All good things must come to an end?"

You might think that being in the historic preservation field means that we want all good things - especially architectural and historic good things - to last forever.

Perhaps you wonder how an organization that supports "preservation" would be closing one of its finest architectural structures.

On July 1, 2010, the Campbell-Whittlesey House will cease operations as a museum. A month after that, it's anticipated that the property will be placed on the market.

Campbell-Whittlesey was the impetus for the start of The Landmark Society. It was purchased in 1937 by Helen Ellwanger to save it from destruction. Miss Ellwanger and others formed "The Society for the Preservation of Landmarks in Western New York

How can we sell what so many have put their hearts and souls and pocketbooks into? Are we betraying the trust of the past 73 years?

I don't think we are.

Their goal was to see an architecturally significant structure saved from demolition. At that time, the accepted procedure was to make such a structure into a house museum. But even at the start, their intention to form a historic preservation group, not a museum organization, was clear. They didn't name the group "The C-W House" - the used the term "Landmarks" - plural.

But what about over 60 years of operation as a museum?

Yes - that is a good thing that is coming to an end. There is some sadness attached to this for many of us - myself included.

Why wouldn't there be? It's only natural when a good thing comes to an end. When a vacation is over. When a child leaves home. When a life well-lived ends. When the cherry blossoms fall.

The Japanese celebrate that moment of inevitable change by holding "hanami" - flower viewing parties under the cherry blossoms. They enjoy their beauty, but also acknowledge a belief called "mono no aware." Literally translated this means "sensitivity to things" - an awareness of the ephemeral nature of all things in life. The Japanese believe the cherry blossoms are more beautiful because they last such a very short time.

Of course - you must first recognize the beauty or goodness of something, if you are to celebrate with a gentle sadness its passing.

Please join us on Saturday, June 19th th celebrate the "good thing" of Campbell-Whittlesey serving as a museum for many generations; at 123 South Fitzhugh in historic Corn Hill. We'll be offering complimentary visits between 1 and 3 pm, refreshments, and a chance to share a memory about Campbell-Whittlesey to be saved in our archives. Click here for more details.

Yes - all good things must come to an end.

But it's what comes next that helps us face the changes in our lives.

The end of vacation leads to refreshed body and spirit. The child leaves home to become an adult member of society. The life well-lived leaves a legacy through family and friends. The blossoms yield to the cherries.

Campbell-Whittlesey will continue beyond its function as a museum, its architectural integrity protected by legal covenants. We don't know yet exactly what its new life will be - but our on-going watch will insure that it is cared for, so it may survive to be a part of our cityscape for many years - and generations - to come.

Posted by Director of Museums and Education Cindy Boyer

Better than 3-D: Taste History - Literally!

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:32:00 +0000

Take that, Avatar! Stand back, Clash of the Titans! We have something way better than 3-D!

Savor the flavors of the past at Tastings Through Time - this Friday night at the Stone-Tolan House Museum. You don't have to be content with merely seeing an adventure in 3-D. You can enjoy it in 5-S - all of your senses! See the historic house. Hear the stories of time past. Touch the smooth glass holding your wine. Smell the fragrant spices in the stuffed mushrooms. Taste the decadent chocolate and wine pairing.

On Friday night, June 4th, we'll be serving up "tastings" of delightful fare from across 200 years of Rochester's history. The decades of dishes reflect the decades of the houses on this year's House and Garden Tour (June 5& 6) from the earliest house in the county to a 1990's "landmark in the making."

I'm really looking forward to the Friday night event. As Director of Museums and Education, it's my professional duty to taste each and every dish, in the drive to understand more about our past.

I will have to investigate our earliest ancestor's tastebuds by trying the cheese chowder and crusty bread - perhaps accompanied by an historic ale from Custom BrewcCrafters. It's what original residents Orringh and Elizabeth Stone would want me to do.

While I am still studying the early 19th century, I'll try the "little cabbages" - the nickname for an 1836 creampuff. I understand they are far superior to what we consider a creampuff today.

As I continue my studies, I'll move into the refreshments from the mid to late 19th century. Mushrooms a la' Provencale awaits, as does potted cheese - a savory cheese spread. Of special interest will be the tiny pickled onions, from the 1881 cookbook "What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking" - the first cookbook by an African-American published in the U.S. I hear the onions are quite spicy - and addictive.

My research Friday night will not be limited to the 19th century. The early 20th century will be well represented, with an homage to the first cocktail party menus, with "russian sandwiches" - colorful hors'dourves with olives, butter and other savory ingredients, celery canapes and other nibbles of the 1920's and 30's.

Even though at this point I will have already worked my way through several decades, there is always room for - you guessed it. Jello. But not just any Jello - one of the favorite flavors of the past century: coffee Jello. Accented with a pouf of whipped cream of course. Just think of it as an espresso shooter.

I might be tempted to take a break at this point - perhaps visit the Stone-Tolan House Museum which will be open in the twilight's glow that evening.

After that refreshing visit, history - and the menu marches on! Try not to have too much pity for me, as I approach the delights of the 1950's. In a melding of sock hop days and today, burgers will be presented in "slider" size.

Accompanying the burgers - mini root beer floats, of course. Did I mention the root beer (like the ales) will come from Custom Brewcrafter's historic and delicious recipes?

Research is never really finished - and when you are studying the past, you must understand it in the context of today. I won't shirk my duty. I will visit the last decade of our delights - the contemporary tastes offered by Chocolate and Vines. Pairings of wine and cheese or wine and chocolate will educate our 21st century palates. I will probably have to try both.

All of these dishes - and more - will surely give a well-rounded understanding of the times and tastes of those who lived in our area over the past 200 years.

If you join me in this research undertaking - you'll also enjoy the scent of plants and flowers (available for purchase) courtesy of our friends at Allyn's Creek Garden Club and the hospitality of our hosts, Historic Brighton.

If that was not enough, your ticket to Tastings Through Time also includes a ticket to our annual House and Garden Tour, on Saturday and Sunday. A self guided tour, you may visit the homes in any order on either day. A good thing, because after all the fun on Friday night, you may wish to sleep in a bit on Saturday morning.

Visit here to get tickets for Friday evening - as well as a description of the houses on the weekend tour. The "Tastings Through Time" tickets must be purchased in advance!

I hope you'll join me at this tasty tribute to times past. It will be a lot of fun - and you won't have to duck any fake 3-D arrows.

A trio of chocolate delights!

Posted by Cindy Boyer, Director of Museums and Education

Architecture and Music - It's Personal

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:51:00 +0000

Architecture is Frozen Music...

Perhaps you've heard about that quote, from late 18th century writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Goethe elaborated, by suggesting that architecture produces the same "tone" or effect in your mind as music.

But what about the reverse? If architecture is frozen music, does that mean music is liquid architecture? Are there connections between architecture and music - or more specifically, historic preservation?

Folks at The National Trust for Historic Preservation have given this some thought. Their forum list discussion resulted in contributors building a playlist of songs that refer to the designed environment. Called "Songs of the Preservationist,"
it's a fun read, and amazingly varied - everything from traditional songs (Little Old Sod Shanty on the claim or Stephen Foster's My Old Kentucky Home) to popular 20th century pieces (Rosemary Clooney's Come On - My House or The Beatles In My Life) to contemporary pieces (Vampire Weekend's Mansard Roof or rapper Eminem's "Beautiful.")

You can see the entire playlist here.

They've even put a video playlist on Youtube, where you can enjoy several of the songs and their videos (just be aware that there is a bit of "adult" language in some of the songs. Did I mention Eminem?)

The playlist on Youtube can be enjoyed here:

Goethe was certainly a deep thinker, comparing the effect of architecture to the effect of music on our minds - That it gives you a sense of the art, of what is greater or bigger than ourselves, what transcends our lives. While I appreciate that philosophical perspective, I prefer the way music - and architecture - connects intimately with the personal level in my life.

We've all experienced hearing a song from a past period in our lives - maybe when you were in college, when you were 10 years old, when you were first married - and felt that pull to your earlier time. For a moment it's as if the intervening years have disappeared.

Don't you think the physical environment of the architecture around us has the same effect?

This thought crossed my mind when I heard Miranda Lambert's new song, "The House That Built Me." It's a touching tribute to the memory and meaning of our childhood home. The singer visits the house where she grew up, hoping the new owners will let her in, as she promises to "take nothing but a memory." She hopes the visit will help her recapture her authentic sense of self.

Think about your childhood home. What can you recall about living in that home? Think about how it felt, as a kid, to live there. Remember the feeling of the banister - or the doorknob - or the way the windows opened?

In the historic preservation field, we get accustomed to thinking on a larger scale - the house's architecture, the streetscape, the preservation district, the city. It's enlightening to bring it back to a personal level - and what could be more personal than the spaces you inhabited as a child?

I didn't know that I was growing up in a classic American Foursquare house. I remember the feeling of perching at the top of the staircase when I was supposed to be in bed. I'd peer through the balusters of the handrail at the adults watching TV in the living room.

Those balusters were my "bird blind" - where I got to observe the adult world in secret (at least until the night I fell asleep and got caught.) Is it any wonder I grew up to be someone who liked the secret spaces and staircases of older homes?

I bet you know a bunch of people living in their childhood homes today. I mean the children you know! They are building their memories and future attitudes about the "frozen music" of architecture now. They know their own personal spaces. It's our job as adults to help them see the bigger picture. If the kids you know are in elementary school, check out our summer program "Arch-KID-Tecture" where they will have lots of fun getting a wider perspective. Just visit our website for all the details .

I'm grateful that singer Miranda Lambert's song helped me make this connection between my past and present experiences in architecture.

It's a good thing that her house was still standing.

Posted by Director of Museums and Education Cindy Boyer

How are you celebrating Earth Day?

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:30:00 +0000

This year is the 40th anniversary of Earth day on April 22. Have you decided what will you be doing to celebrate this memorable day. Are you going to Wegmans to grab your free reusable bag this Saturday or sewing your own bag with your kids? Planting more trees, recycling your garbage or using bio-degradable, natural cleaning supplies. Apparently all these activities seem to be such a natural way of spending your Earth Day.

Have you ever wondered how sustainable it is for our mother earth to re-use historic buildings. Save millions of kilowatts of energy by not dumping the landfill with bulldozed building wastes. This thought for some reason does not seem to be very natural, Isn't it! Trust me! Reusing a historic building is the most sustainable act for our planet earth.

This Saturday on April 24, we at Landmark Society are celebrating the earth day by organizing its 24th annual regional preservation conference. At this conference you will learn all that is to know about reusing a historic building-- enhancing main streets, how do you green your historic building, preservation case studies and strategies from your very own Wayne County, new historic tax credits and design review process.

You still have time to make your Earth Day special by attending our conference! A wonderful way to commemorate this day! We are still open for registrations! Hurry and make earth day a special day!

For more details on registration please visit
http://www.landmarksociety.org/section.html?id=1&uid=23&pageId=295

Image Source: www.earthday.org

Posted by Nimisha Thakur, preservation associate

What is really Sustainability???

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:56:00 +0000

Perceptions of Preservation

I was recently a part of Sustainability Symposium at Penn State University. It was a 3 hour long session where we had talks by the Director of Center of Sustainability at Penn, outstanding students who undertook sustainability efforts on campus and a question hour session. You can check them out at http://www.cfs.psu.edu/

We had long discussions about recycling paper, plastic, cans etc.. on campus, composting, using energy efficient devices, doing little things like switching off lights when going out of the building. It was an interesting session overall.

I was most appalled by the fact that in this long session, there was no mention of preservation at all. It was nowhere on their radar screens. This made me realize that how much work we have to do in this direction. When such significant issue is not a part of a leading research university's agenda, then how can we even take it to local public and create awareness about it.

This makes me ponder what can preservationists do to tell the world that adaptively reusing a historic building is the most sustainable effort. This is sustainability! Does anyone know that just a single family home with an area of 1500 sqft has around 1050000 MBTUs of embodied energy in it? To find more such facts go to http://www.thegreenestbuilding.org/

With our 24th Annual Regional Preservation Conference at Palmyra, we are trying to unravel the myths about sustainability. To tell you exactly how reusing an old building is most sustainable. To learn more about it visit us at http://www.landmarksociety.org/section.html?id=1&uid=23&pageId=295

We look forward to having you with us on April 24' 2010 in Palmyra. Do join us if you really want to know what is sustainability?

Image Source: www.ew.govt.nz

Posted by Nimisha Thakur, Preservation Associate

The glowing green eyes of history

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:45:00 +0000

Yesterday, an article "Something Strange in Herald Square" (linked below) was tweeted by someone I follow on my personal Twitter account. I found it very interesting. First, it tells a fun story, in an interesting visual manner, of something I bet many people walk past every day in New York City without noticing. It also made my nerd-self emit a little "squee!" as my imagination ran wild with images of glowy-eyed creatures observing NYC from above. (Apparently I've watched Ghostbusters a few too many times...)

Read the article: Something Strange in Herald Square

Photo: Scouting NY

I love not only that these owls exist (over a century old!) but also how they were re-purposed. (And, of course, my inner Fox Mulder adores the conspiracy theory portion of the article...) This story is a perfect example of how personal stories involving fantastical history can be found in the most unexpected places. It's quite likely that many of the buildings, bridges, parks and other items from our shared built environment have similar stories to share. I think it's also crucial to recognize how often we pass by things everyday that we take for granted.

As preservationists, we need to remember that these stories are oftentimes a common thread with which people can identify. Some who think they don't care about "old buildings" might be fascinated by a company founder's story...or, in this case, they might just find glowy-eyed owls to be pretty cool. Each of these "ins" is a way to engage people in the important work we do.

Do you have a favorite oddball landmark where you live? Do you know its story? Share it with us. We'd love to hear (and see!)

p.s. If it weren't for Twitter, we'd miss out on some really cool stuff. Do you follow us? Please join us: @landmarksociety

posted by Laura Keeney Zavala, director of marketing

Legendary Lockport

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Landmark Society's day tour

Working in the field of preservation makes it obvious that I am fascinated by history and historic architecture, but more than that I am fascinated by the feats of victory and vision our ancestors had. With limited resources and exceptional hard- work, they accomplished results that sometimes it is hard to imagine in today’s age of technological advancement. We have gotten so used to our I- phones and laptops that we can’t imagine how life was before this! I felt this way when I went on a Landmark Society’s day tour to Lockport, the home of the “Flight of Five” Erie Canal locks. It was a feast to see such an example of architectural and engineering finesse built in a time and age when canal boats were pulled by horses and mules on the towpath. There were no cranes and lifts to do any work.

We started our day with a wonderful cruise of the Canal. On this two hour long tour we were able to go under the upside down bridge, experience “Locking through” by watching the lowering and raising by 49’ on Locks 34 & 35, observe the barge repair Dry Dock and see a combination of past and present with Flight of Five right next to the two modern locks built in early 20^th century.

After this enjoyable cruise we had canal side lunch buffet in an 1840 renovated warehouse resembled to look like a 1800s canal town with its interesting art and architecture. From here we went on a tour of Niagara County Historical Society with a Victorian parlor, historic pantry and old toy room.

We also saw some other buildings on their premises. The most interesting being the Pioneer and transportation building. It was great education for me especially because I am an immigrant! There was an exhibit of Native American Iroquois and Tuscarora clan. I learnt that LaCrosse was invented by them. The second floor of the building was recreated as a Pioneer cabin with interesting artifacts like candle molds, a knitty-knotty and trundle beds.

Wait ! I am not done yet! After all this we had the funnest part of the day. I know funnest is not a word, but I felt like a kid when we went to the Erie Canal Discovery Center. This is a new multi- media interactive museum which transports visitors back to the opening of the Erie Canal. So now, we are putting technology to some good use. Here you can meet with the characters involved in the building of Erie Canal. Our narrator was Nathan Roberts- Chief engineer for the canal. A simulated night excursion in a packet boat lets visitors explore how canals work. In addition to this, there are beautiful exhibits talking about the history and making of the canal. My most favorite part was a miniature model of the canal locks that helps explain the concept. I felt like a kid doing my science experiment, it brought back memories of my childhood and made me realize how we are touched by the past in so many different ways!

It was a tour filled with fun and education about our history and engineering. It is a perfect tour to take with your kids and spend a wonderful family time together. We would like to thank all the people who took the tour with us and we hope to see you again this year too! Don’t forget to check out our website for 2010 tours at

http://www.landmarksociety.org/events/events.html?CA=15&EID=538

We have lots of exciting and eventful locations planned for this year! Book your spot, they fill up soon......................

Posted by Nimisha Thakur, preservation associate

Are you looking for a house in the City? Don’t know where to start?

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000

See what our past tour goers have to say about Rochester City Living Saturday tours…..

With spring in its splendor Landmark Society is offering you all these wonderful opportunities to enjoy the glorious sunshine and learn new things about your city that you live and breathe every single day of your life. This coming Saturday (March 20) Landmark Society in collaboration with City of Rochester is offering FREE bus tours of your city followed a City living expo on Sunday for two consecutive weeks.

This program is specifically focused on people who are interested in buying a house in the City. The bus tour begins at 2 pm on this Saturday and will leave from Landmark Society’s headquarters. It is approximately a 3 hour tour. This weekend’s tour will focus on east side neighborhoods. We will go through the curving streets of Cobbs Hill, stunning avenues of East Avenue, explore the funky architecture of Upper Monroe, Park Ave, Neighborhood of the Arts and lots more……

It is our promise, whether you are brand new to the City or have been living here for years; you will discover new things about your city that you never knew before. If you don’t believe us, see what our past tour goers have to say about the tour:

“On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give it 100”—Carrie Peterson

“Our tour guide was fascinating! In all my life I have never come across a guide who is so passionate and knows everything”— Cathryn Callahan

“I have been living in the City for more than 30 years but never knew about so many places that we saw today” – Pamela Higginson

Now, the choice is yours! Make the most of this opportunity. For more details on the event, you can visit

http://www.landmarksociety.org/events/events.html?CA=16&EID=424

http://cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?id=8589941433

Posted by Nimisha Thakur, Preservation Associate

What to do if your Contractor died 100 years ago?

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:09:00 +0000

This past Monday (March 15th) we had our Spring gathering of Preservation boards and Commissions. It was an extremely successful event with attendance of over 70 people. We had people from six counties in Western New York. The participants list not only represented people from local preservation boards and commissions but also from Canandaigua's Planning board and a rural community Town of Bethany, south of Batavia. In addition to all the participants we were fortunate enough to have our colleagues from New York State Historic Preservation Office in Albany, Bob Englert and Chris Capella Peters.

Before the formal presentation, we had a mix and mingle hour, where attendees were presented with the opportunity to discuss the initiatives and activities of their boards and commissions with others. Followed by this was our formal presentation by Jerry Ludwig, architect, columnist, and our key speaker. He started his talk with a metal piece - a construction part with pipes and asked "what is it?" We got some interesting responses; it was basically a plumbing pipe for a house with a cistern from the late 19^th century. He told the audience: don’t believe Lowe’s or Home Depot if they tell you that we don’t have this part. You won’t believe that even in today’s day and age we have specialized artists who use the right techniques and building parts to best suit your historic house. Jerry, along with input from architect Virginia Searl, talked about appropriate building materials and approaches, how preservation is most sustainable, and how you should never believe the myth behind the energy savings from vinyl windows.

Along with Jerry, we had six other craftspeople, including Steve Jordan- window repair specialist and contributing editor to Old House Journal, Kurt Catalano- slate roof and copper flashing specialist, Jim Turner- mill working specialist, Patt Clancy from Morse Sash and Door, Ken Wilson from Rochester Colonial, David Keefe from Green Mountain Window and Door Co. from Vermont. All these craftspeople bought wonderful samples of their works and products. In addition to all this, all the attendees received wealth of information in their packages focusing on the U.S. Secretary of Interior Guidelines and Preservation Briefs.

Overall it was a great evening with lots of information and new friends. We would like to thank the Town of Irondequoit for our wonderful venue, with special thanks to their newly appointed Town Supervisor Mary Joyce D’Aurrizio, who shared the significance of historic preservation, her passion for historic architecture and how she enjoys living in her family home from mid-19^th century. Last but not the least, we would like to thank all our attendees for their time and making this evening a success.

We hope to see you again in our Fall gathering.

Posted by Nimisha Thakur, Preservation Associate

Can historic preservation lead us out of the recession?

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:53:00 +0000

I came across a story in my morning reading that I felt was important enough to share. It's a well-written piece from a SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) blogger, referencing an article published last year in Contract Magazine.

The SCAD blog author states the Contract mag piece is worthy of a re-read, and I could not agree more. Budget cuts in NY State threaten to close state parks and historic sites and the proposed Obama administration 2011 budget eliminates funding for Save America's Treasures, a federal preservation grant program responsible for, among other things, restoring both the original star-spangled banner and the bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. Important stuff.

Simply put, America needs to understand the role preservation plays in our daily lives, in our country's recovery, and in our collective future.

Some staggering statistics from the Contract piece:

In Michigan, $1 million in building rehabilitation creates 12 more jobs than does manufacturing $1 million worth of cars;
In West Virginia, $1 million of rehabilitation creates 20 more jobs than mining $1 million worth of coal;
In Oklahoma, $1 million of rehabilitation creates 29 more jobs than pumping $1 million worth of oil;
In Oregon, $1 million of rehabilitation creates 22 more jobs than cutting $1 million worth of timber;
In Pennsylvania, $1 million of rehabilitation creates 12 more jobs than processing $1 million worth of steel;
In California, $1 million of rehabilitation creates five more jobs than manufacturing $1 million worth of electronic equipment;
...and the list goes on.

Read for yourself:

Here's the blog.
Here's the original Contract Magazine piece.

What do you think?

p.s. If this fires you up, please don't let it end here. Forward the information to your friends and colleagues. Call your state and federal elected officials. Or, better yet, join us and add your voice and support to our collective membership as we work diligently to ensure preservation stays a top priority our region, and in this country.

(image by Alisdair McDiarmid, licensed under CC 2.0)

posted by Laura Keeney Zavala, Director of Marketing

Welcome aboard!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:13:00 +0000

Spring Gathering and Networking event for Preservation boards and commissions

As we enter the beautiful season of Spring, Landmark Society welcomes you at its Spring gathering of Preservation boards and commissions. If you were at the earlier gatherings, you know how enthused and energizing they are are, if not you have your chance again!!!!

People from various towns and villages present the innovative techniques and strategies they

have employed to promote preservation and strengthen their economy. Whether it is heritage tourism of Brockport or middle school history lessons of Palmyra, you will hear it all.

This spring once again Landmark Society has tried to provide you with useful knowledge and an opportunity to meet with your peers in other towns and villages through our Spring gathering. Here are the details of the program:

What: "How not to ruin a building" - Everything you want to know about building materials and methods

Speakers- Jerry Ludwig and guest contractors

Where: Irondequoit Town Hall

When: March 15' 2010, 6:00 p.m.

We look forward to having you tonight!

Posted by Nimisha Thakur, Preservation Associate

These should be places where we use and live and enjoy. These are living spaces...

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Hi. My name is Laura, and I suffer from Marketing Brain. This means that no matter what I do, read, see, think about or experience, I always seem to find myself conducting a logical (read: Spock-headed) examination of the concepts of communication and perception. It's maddening sometimes (both to me as well as to anyone around me I'm sure!) but I think it's important to do...especially in preservation.

See, in preservation, what we know we do is much different than what people think they know we do. I could wax poetic about this for days, but that would likely bore you right out of your skulls. So instead, I'll post a quote from a recently-published article from the Buffalo-based magazine/blog Block Club, which sums it up nicely:

"Historic preservation is a very high hurdle for people to get past. They don’t see it as a green movement. They don’t see it as a neighborhood movement. They don’t see it as a keeping-a-sense-of-place movement. They see it as a set of rules and regulations that ordinary people cannot achieve. And that’s the dilemma…"

So how do we get the average person to understand this concept - that preservation isn't about being wed to a property, or about rules, regulations and putting old things under glass as specimens - but instead, that preservation is a movement about sustainability, smart planning, active use and keeping a sense of place for future generations to enjoy? That's my primary challenge as The Landmark Society's marketing communications "army of one," and the challenge we all share throughout this field of preservation.

I spend a lot of time thinking about this one. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

And, here is a link to the full Block Club piece. A great read.

(I should note the Block Club article isn't only about perception. It highlights the amazing grassroots preservation efforts taking place in Buffalo and speaks to our field as a whole. It also features Henry McCartney, our former executive director who now directs Preservation Buffalo Niagara.)

-Laura

p.s. Our Annual Preservation Conference on April 24th addresses how preservation and sustainability intersect. I hope you'll join us: Saving the Past, Sustaining the Future: Preservation Strategies for Challenging Times

posted by Laura Keeney Zavala, director of marketing

Reuse or Remove?

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:22:00 +0000

It is often said that one of the greatest challenges to the preservation of our modern buildings is that they are not old enough to be considered historic and are not worthy of the same regard given to such beloved buildings as the Powers Block or the former Genesee Valley Trust Building. Along with the issue of age is the relative ambivalence and sometimes flat out antagonism to these buildings’ existence and designs by the general public. The modern buildings often displaced whole sections of downtown neighborhoods and businesses replacing dense 19^th century-era streets lined with low rise mixed use structures with “superblocks” on which one or many buildings of a scale never before seen would be built, the street grid erased and replaced by what were often barren and uninviting plazas.

People still fondly remember the shops, restaurants and bars of downtown areas like the Third Ward and the neighborhood centered on Front Street. Many blame the projects that were built in their place for destroying the flavor of boomtown Rochester while helping to cause the ills that would plague downtown for decades to come.

With the ongoing redevelopment of the Midtown Plaza complex we are seeing firsthand the challenges

of reusing or preserving modern structures on a large scale and at the center of downtown. Midtown Plaza was one of the few modern projects to live up to its billing and is highly regarded by a community that feels nostalgia for times spent shopping and socializing there in its heyday. Yet, little is said about preserving the original look of the Victor Gruen-designed atrium and hotel/office tower. Most people just do not see it as a beautiful building or one of historic significance. Fittingly, when it came time to consider reusing parts of the mall and tower structure it was required that the original facade of the tower not be retained.

Some may see this as a defeat of preservation. However, it is at the very least environmentally responsible and may prove to be the rule instead of the exception when it comes to renovating modern buildings, as it already is in larger cities like New York. There, many buildings designed in the 1950’ and 1960’s by New York firms Emery Roth and Sons and Kahn and Jacobs have had their facades replaced with contemporary materials and styles while their internal utilities were updated with the latest in telecommunications and electronics systems. Although the more famous examples of modernism will likely be protected as landmarks - many modern buildings in Chicago already are considered historic and are protected –for many modern buildings that are reused their rigid frame steel skeletons will be all that is preserved.

In some cases even a perfectly good steel-framed modern building can be too innovative to reuse…

In January of 1970 the Central Trust Company broke ground on their $2 million bank, office and parking garage complex at the corner of East Avenue and Winton Road. Designed by distinguished local architect Myron E. Starks the complex would consist of a 41,000 square foot bank and office building fronting East Avenue and a 157 spot parking garage to the rear of the office building. The office and banking buildings were of steel frame construction faced with pre-cast concrete.

In line with the design philosophy of the great modern architect Louis I. Kahn, whose famous First Unitarian Church stands just south of Central Trust on Winton Road, the design of the office building would clearly express the transition from the concrete-clad “served” areas of the building’s offices to the sloped roof, brick-clad “servant” areas of the stair and elevator towers at the perimeter. At the University Avenue side of the site would be built the reinforced concrete parking ramp. Central Trust Company would move their computer center from the main office to an area on the first floor of the parking structure.

In the 1990’s M&T bought out Central Trust and took possession of the complex at Winton and East. In the years that followed it was determined that the parking structure was unsafe and it was closed to the public. The office and bank branch continued to be used by M&T until the opening of a new building a block away on East Avenue in 2008 caused them to vacate the older structure.

Wegmans, in a bid to buy enough of the adjacent properties to replace their small store on the western end of the block with a supercenter, purchased the former Central Trust Company’s complex, which stood at the eastern end of the same block. Although they planned to use the site of the banking complex as a separate commercial development it was found to be unfeasible to reuse the 1970’s structure.

Instead of placing the HVAC mechanicals in the basement or penthouse of the office tower, as was common practice in office buildings for decades, they were built into the parking ramp and computer center behind the tower. It was decided that it would be too complex and costly to retrofit the tower with the required HVAC infrastructure and in early 2010 the former Central Trust Company’s East Avenue branch was demolished, a case of modern design innovation falling victim to its own engineering complexity and the financial uncertainty of the post-millennial economy.

Posted by Dan Palmer, Landmark Society Volunteer

Survey Says...

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:39:00 +0000

How many of us remember that line from the old TV show "Family Feud?"

Here at The Landmark Society we are hoping to echo that line frequently in the next few weeks. And frankly, the answers will be up to you.

We're sending out a survey on family programming through our Landmark Alerts e-newsletter, on our website, and through this blog! We don't bug people often with a survey (I actually can't remember the last time) but we are really interested in getting feedback on what is important to our community members in family programming. We're searching for fun, enticing, convenient, affordable program ideas!

So here is our special request to take part in a brief survey on family programming at The Landmark Society.

If you have children, grandchildren or other young relatives under the age of 18 in the Rochester area, please participate! If you don't - please consider sharing the survey link with friends who might.

The survey is mostly multiple choice, and will take less than 10 minutes to complete. There are some optional comment sections, if you'd like to share more. All of the responses are confidential.

Here is the link to the survey: 2010 Family Survey

If you choose, you may opt to be entered in a drawing for some nice thank you gifts, including a Landmark Society family membership, free family admission to Full Moon Flashlight Tours, and other prizes.

We want really good representation from across the community, and we really need your help to spread this opportunity beyond our usual list of Landmark supporters. It's important that we hear from folks who may not know about our programs, not just those who have already attended.

Thank you so much for helping us "shine a light" on what is important in our family programming!

Submitted by Cindy Boyer, Director of Museums and Education

Campbell-Whittlesey to close, public meeting scheduled

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:24:00 +0000

On February 8, 2010, The Landmark Society Board of Trustees approved a motion to cease museum operations at the Campbell-Whittlesey house as of July 1, 2010, and to, in August 2010, begin actively marketing the property for sale.

The decision to close the house museum at Campbell-Whittlesey is the end result of over five years of strategic planning and in-depth studies of opportunities for the property's use. Last summer, we continued this process with the issuance of a press statement informing the public of our progress and inviting community participation in the dialogue about options for the property.

We have now scheduled a public meeting to hear your ideas that might assist us as we market Campbell-Whittlesey and seek its adaptive reuse. Our staff and trustees remain committed to the exploration of viable options that support the proper stewardship and the maintenance of the integrity of this historic treasure.

On behalf of the staff and board of trustees of The Landmark Society of Western New York, all are cordially invited to attend our public meeting on March 4, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting will be held in the Powers Building, 8th Floor, 16 West Main Street in downtown Rochester. The Powers Building is located at the corner of Main and State Streets, and parking is available at the Sister Cities garage. Meeting attendees may only enter and exit the building from the 3rd floor skyway leading directly from the garage into the building. You may enter Sister Cities Garage from North Fitzhugh Street.

Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by calling Carolyn at 546-7029 x 10 or emailing chaygood@landmarksociety.org.

About Campbell-Whittlesey: The Campbell-Whittlesey House is located at 123 South Fitzhugh Street in the Corn Hill Neighborhood. The 1836 house, one of the nation’s finest examples of Greek Revival architecture, has functioned since 1939 as a museum run by The Landmark Society. Options for the adaptive reuse of this remarkable Rochester historic site will help to re-imagine the building’s purpose as the Society seeks to reinsert it into active life.

posted by Laura Keeney Zavala, director of marketing

Frank Lloyd Wright gas station?

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:13:00 +0000

I learn something new in this job every day. FLW houses, yes. Even Lego sets. But gas stations? Who knew. Certainly not I. That is, until I saw this article from the Buffalo News:

Property transfer paves the way for Wright gas station
Helps plan to expand Pierce-Arrow Museum
By Jonathan D. Epstein
NEWS BUSINESS REPORTER
Updated: February 05, 2010

Businessman James T. Sandoro has transferred a pair of downtown properties to his transportation museum, paving the way for construction later this year of a re-creation of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed filling station and an expansion of the museum.

Sandoro this week shifted the properties at 211 Seneca St. and 268 Michigan Ave. to the Buffalo Transportation/ Pierce-Arrow Museum. The transaction was valued at $1.25 million, according to records in the Erie County clerk’s office, although Sandoro said it was just part of a “paper” transfer of all of his properties to the museum for estate planning purposes.

The move also was necessary as part of his plans to enlarge the transportation museum and build the gas station originally designed by the famous architect. He said he hopes that will draw about 50,000 people a year, up from about 10,000 now.

The entire project will ultimately cost $10 million to $12 million. Sandoro has already raised $6.3 million in state funds, with the rest to come from the state and private sources. He is contributing the real estate and his collection of about 250,000 pieces of transportation-related memorabilia, which are now housed in 13 buildings. The collection includes six Pierce-Arrow automobiles, thousands of car parts and other vehicles.

The 20,000-square-foot museum recently underwent a face-lift, with a new brick facade.

Sandoro, who owns several downtown parking lots and is executive director of the nonprofit museum, said he wants to break ground on the gas station in the spring with Gov. David A. Paterson.

He said he hopes to have the steel up by August and to finish the station by fall 2011, when the National Trust for Historic Preservation holds its annual convention here for the first time.

Plans call for a 60-foot-high glass-and-steel atrium that will enclose the gas station. Part of the gas domes and a 37-foot copper spire are already built and on display in the museum at Michigan and Seneca.

The next phase will be a 60,000-square-foot addition to the museum building, to house the rest of the collection and a minitheater that will show films on transportation and Pierce-Arrow history.

(Image: Artist’s rendering shows the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed gas station that will be built at the Buffalo Transportation / Pierce-Arrow Museum at Michigan Avenue and Seneca Street by fall 2011.)

posted by Laura Keeney Zavala, director of marketing

More than just a history program: come "Walk the Walk" with us on Friday

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:52:00 +0000

The Landmark Society is proud to present Walk the Walk: Encounters with Rochester's African-American Ancestors, especially at a time when our city needs as many strong role models as it can get. Please join us for a free performance this Friday.

This moving and entertaining performance features five "ancestors" from Rochester's past, each who illustrates a character lesson. Learn from from Austin Steward (David Dwayne Clark), a successful business leader in the 1830s, that one has to work for what is important in their life. The Dorsey orphan (Keyana Coley) shares how one should be friends with those who feel like they don't fit in. Anna Murray Douglass (Jacquelyn Dobson) and her husband, Frederick Douglass (K-Lon) emphasize that violence is never the answer, no matter how difficult the problem. All the vignettes are tied together by the often-hilarious, always poignant words of the narrator, Captain Sunfish (Shawn Dunwoody).

As you might guess, we strongly encourage families and youth to attend this program!

This unique event takes place at 7 p.m., Friday, February 12th at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams Street (directions). The performance will be followed with a cookie and coffee reception where you can chat with the actors and director.

Please help us spread the word by sending this information to your friends and colleagues - they will thank you for it! You may also read more about Walk the Walk, including our program for schoolchildren on our website.

Hope to see you there!

Major support for Walk the Walk comes from:

The Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation
M & T Bank
Bergmann Associates, Inc.
City Blue Imaging Services
The Links, Inc., Rochester Chapter

posted by Laura Keeney Zavala, director of marketing

If you walk the Walk, Talk the Talk, you can be anything!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Landmark Society of Western New York) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:17:00 +0000

Even the President of the United States……

Have you ever imagined if your ancestors came down back to life and told you about the struggles they went through to create a world that you enjoy today? How wonderful would that be? You can re-live the world that they lived and learn from their lives, experiences and will not repeat the mistakes they did…

Well over 1,000 school children had that chance today right here in your city at the Hochstein School of Music. What could be a better place to experience this magical moment of your history in such a pristine location? With its hardwood floors, plastered filigree detailed ceiling, curved balconies, stained glass windows and wood panels behind the stage— a perfect backdrop for such a performance. Yesterday and today, was the 14th annual presentation of Landmark Society’s premier program Walk the Walk, celebrating the Black history month. The program was an interactive illustration of significant snippets picked from Rochester’s history as told in a live theatre setting. Six eminent Black men and women from Rochester’s history came to life and spoke to the elementary and middle school kids and gave them lessons learnt from their lives.

The theatre was bustling with students all over and you could hear their chatter. From the back came a man in his frontier clothing with a stick made to resemble the antlers. He mentioned how different this place was now from the time he was here with wilderness and rattlesnakes everywhere. This was Captain Sunfish, our ancestor who introduces us to all the other ancestors.

Our first ancestor was Austin Steward, a very gritty slave brought into New York, who always had the dream of starting his own business. He talked to kids about bullying and how to never give up your dreams, even if there are hurdles on the way.

Following him, came our famed Frederick Douglass one of the most celebrated citizens of Rochester. He told kids the story of his life and how he traced his path from slavery to freedom. The most interesting part of his story was that he asked kids philosophical questions and helped them think for themselves. The first question was, do any of you want to be a slave? We get an automatic loud response NO. Then comes the tricky question, do any of you want to be a master? We get an instinctive response of YES, followed by an emphatic NO. To me, the most interesting aspect of this performance was the interactive element, where kids were questioned to think for themselves. I must applaud Mr. Douglass for resolving kid’s dilemma about being a master. He said that you can be a master of words. It is wisely said, a pen is mightier than a sword. So if you master your words, you can be an orator like me.

Mr. Douglass was followed by his wife Anna Murray Douglass, a deeply touching act, where she talked about the struggles of her day to day life. Although she was the wife of a world famous man, but at home she had to fight for equal treatment from people at home. After her came Mary Jackson, an orphan whose mom died of influenza and she was moved into an orphanage. She talked about her struggles being a colored orphan and how she was ill treated by other people in the community. She emphasized the importance of praying and working hard in life. She reminded the kids of the feeling of not belonging to a place. She said, “If you ever felt like this even once, promise to yourself, you will never make anyone else feel like this”.

With her emotional lesson, came our last ancestor for the day George Brown—a soldier, the last surviving Civil War veteran member of his church over on Favor Street. Mr. Brown used to be an enslaved person and was sold for $ 1450 in 1862. Mr. Brown told his fascinating stories of escape, struggle and hope. He emphasized the significance of hope to the kids and mentioned that hope can bring the change.

It was a wonderful presentation and a must-see for everybody in the community. This presentation did not only give you a peek in the African- American history of Rochester but taught you lessons from the past and emphasized not to repeat the same mistakes in the present. It was a wonderful learning tool for the kids to acquaint themselves to their past and if they believe and work hard, they can be anything, even the president of the United States.

For me, it was a great learning experience, especially because I am an immigrant. My only disappointment was that I did not see any kids from various suburban districts. There were kids primarily from the City School district. It is my kind request to all the schools to make this program a part of their curriculum. It is a unique way to engage the students in an intelligent interaction with their history which they will never experience elsewhere.

It’s not too late for you to have this experience also! We also have a public performance free of charge on February 12, 7 p.m. at Mount Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams Street, Rochester followed by coffee and snacks. So don’t miss it!!

Posted by Nimisha Thakur, Preservation Associate