Notable Places Residents of Note n Wharton Studios n Elizabeth Beebe (1830s-1905) City of Ithaca From about 1914 to 1920 the flm studio operated in today’s was appointed the city missionary in 1890. She cared for the commu- Stewart Park. Brothers Theodore and Leopold Wharton pro- nity’s poor and orphans until her death. Her work was supported by duced silent flm serials and short features in Ithaca including the Ladies Union Benevolent Society. Beebe lived in the Children’s The Mysteries of Myra (1916) and Patria (1917). Financial troubles Home on West Seneca Street, and ran the Inlet Mission, later called the ended the Wharton operation in 1920. Beebe Chapel, which provided both religious services and education n Clinton House for women and children. 116 N. Cayuga St. Opened in 1830, the Greek Revival-style hotel refected Ithaca’s early n Juanita Breckenridge Bates (1860-1946) prosperity. It was remodeled twice, frst in came to Tompkins County to become minister of the 1872 altering the appearance of the upper Brookton Congregational Church. She married the foors and again following a 1901 fre. Plans in 1973 to demolish Caroline Town Supervisor, and led the suffrage effort the building prompted a successful community effort resulting in Ithaca. She held positions in the New York State in an active preservation movement. Today, offces and the New Suffrage Association. Roots Charter School are located in the building. n James L. Gibbs (1905-1981) n DeWitt Park in 1937 became the frst director of the Southside Buffalo and Cayuga Streets. The park is the core of an historic Community Center, an outgrowth of the Frances W. district of 45 buildings included in 1971 on the National Register Harper Club, a woman’s organization that promoted of Historic Places. The park was known as Town Square until entertainment and education for residents of the area, 1867 and was named for Simeon DeWitt who developed the land and the Servus League. In 1987 a street where the that became the Village (1821) and then City (1888) of Ithaca. Ithaca Youth Bureau is located near Stewart Park was named to honor Gibbs. Cemeteries n Martha Van Rensselaer (1864-1932) came to in 1900 to organize a reading course for n Ithaca City Cemetery - access from University Avenue. farmers’ wives. She and Flora Rose became founding co-directors of the Burials began about 1790 in this 16-acre cemetery. College of Home Economics, the predecessor of the New York State College of Human Ecology. n Mount Olivet Cemetery - East State Street. Originally named Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Active 1860-1940s. n Edward J. Conley (1933-2009) Ithaca was established by New York Surveyor More information on Tompkins County cemeteries: served as city alderman from 1968, he was elected General Simeon DeWitt who owned the land at the www.nytompki.org/tcem.htm mayor in 1971 and served until 1979. He proposed converting parts of State and Tioga streets into a head of Cayuga Lake. In 1817, when the state of New York Census pedestrian mall to counter years of Ithaca’s down- created Tompkins County, Ithaca was named the county town decline. He overcame many concerns about Ithaca has been the population center of the county since it seat and in 1821 formed its village government. the Commons plan and construction began in 1974. became a village in 1821. It had 611 residents in 1818. Five Water power and railroads contributed to its growing years later in 1823, its population boomed to 1,268 residents. He served on the Tompkins County Board of Representatives from population and economy. In 1864 Ezra Cornell funded 1980-1981 and the Town of Ithaca Board from 1994-2001. In 2006, a public library for the village and in 1865 he sited the City of Ithaca Tompkins County Conley Park near the was named in his honor. state’s Morrill Land Grant university in Ithaca. 1840: 5,650* 32,296 For more local history: W. Grant Egbert founded the Ithaca Conservatory in 1920: 17,004 35,285 1892 that grew into in 1931. Ithaca suffered n http://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/historian 1960: 28,732 66,097 several devastating fres and a major food in 1935 that n http://www.thehistorycenter.net 2010: 30,014 101,624 led to food control improvements in the 1950s. State Text by Mary Tomlan, City of Ithaca Historian, Carol Kammen, Tompkins County Street was turned into a pedestrian mall in the 1970s. * The 1840 population total includes both the Village and the Historian. Design/production: Allison Kaiser. Cover photo: Adam Baker. Editing: Town of Ithaca, even though they were separate municipalities. After Ithaca became a city in 1888, its population was recorded Bruce Estes, Carol Kammen. The Tompkins separately from the town’s residents. County Bicentennial Commission sponsored city and town history brochures to commemorate the county’s 200th anniversary in 2017.

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n Cayuga Waterfront Trail n Ithaca Farmers’ Market The six-mile-long trail along Cayuga The market opened in 1973 as a venue Lake was completed in 2015, linking the for local growers, craftspeople and food. Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, The market moved several times before Stewart Park, Newman Golf Course, settling at Steamboat Landing, 545 Third St. Ithaca Farmers’ Market, Ithaca College and Cornell University boathouses, Cass Park, and Treman Marina.

Photo courtesy Cornell University Photography n n Cornell University The walkable scale model of the Established 1865 by Andrew Dickson White consists of 11 obelisks and Ezra Cornell and opened in 1868. situated along a three-quarter mile Cornell was among the frst universities route through Ithaca that ends with at in the United States to admit women and the Ithaca Sciencenter, 601 First Street. African Americans. Today, Cornell has about In 2012 the route was extended to 21,000 students and has campuses in Geneva, Hawaii to represent the sun’s closest N.Y., New York City, Quatar, and partner- neighboring star. The exhibit honors the ships with countries, major universities and memory of Ithaca resident and Cornell Map provided by research groups around the world. Professor . the City of Ithaca

A July storm dropped eight inch- es of rain on Tompkins County, 1864 Ezra Cornell endowed fooding Ithaca and nearby com- the Cornell Library that munities. Areas along Rte. 13 in became Tompkins County the city were under about three 1956 Public Library. feet of water. 42 suburban and rural 1871 A fre started on 1935 school districts con- solidated into the Ithaca 1798 Aurora St. and spread quickly 2003 to destroy downtown homes City School District. 2013 Simeon DeWitt Carolyn Peterson be- and commercial buildings. arrived in area 1892 1968 Ithaca College came the frst woman renovation began that he would 1888 New York Ithaca Conservatory moved from downtown elected Ithaca mayor. in April. The commercial district name Ithaca designated Ithaca of Music, later Ithaca to its present location She served two terms, re-opened in August 2015, giving in 1804. a city. College, founded. on South Hill. 2004 - 2011. the pedestrian space a fresh look.

1938 2011 1817 New York 1903 Typhoid fever out- Southside 1969 African-American students at Svante Myrick named Ithaca break linked to city’s private Community Cornell University began a 36-hour won election the county seat water system resulted in Center armed occupation on Willard Straight at age 24 to when it formed about 80 deaths. opened on Hall April 19 to protest racial issues become the Tompkins Plain Street on campus. city’s youngest 1921 City purchased County. with First 1974 Ithaca Commons and frst 1833 Renwick Park and renamed Lady construction begun. African-Amer- 1821 Ithaca First called the African Church, it in honor of Mayor Edwin Eleanor ican mayor. He incorporated St. James A.M.E. Zion Church C. Stewart who died in offce American Goldfnch Roosevelt at was re-elected as a village. founded on Wheat Street, now and left $150,000 for the is a frequently sighted in Ithaca. its dedication. Photo by Priscilla Morris/ in 2015. 116 Cleveland Ave. park’s development. Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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