-
I live in a locally listed property or historic district and I’m planning on some alterations and renovations. What should I do?All locally individually designated properties or properties within local historic districts fall under the purview of the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission and the City of Ithaca. You will need a Certificate of Appropriateness BEFORE you start work. There is also a guidebook online with photographs that offers some design guidelines. For information about the guidelines, the Certificate of Appropriateness process, locally listed properties and historic districts see the City of Ithaca’s website: http://www.cityofithaca.org/346/Ithaca-Landmarks-Preservation-Commission
-
I have questions about nominating my property or neighborhood to the State and National Register of Historic Places.Start with this webpage on the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to learn more: https://parks.ny.gov/shpo/national-register/
-
I’m looking for old hardware, windows, doors and other items for my house. Where can I find them?"We have a great selection at our Significant Elements architectural salvage and reuse store! Visit our website: www.significantlelements.org or facebook page: @SignificantElements.org or call us at 607-277-3450.
-
I’m looking for some contractors to work on my house. Where do I start?We can help! Please email us (christine@historicithaca.org) or call us for some suggestions: 607-273-6633.
-
Can you visit my property so I can get some advice on where to start?We can help! Please email us (christine@historicithaca.org) or call us for some suggestions: 607-273-6633.
-
I’m interested in energy retrofitting information for my old house. Where do I start?Start with this tip sheet: http://www.cityofithaca.org/DocumentCenter/View/1602/Weatherization-for-Old-Houses-Toolkit?bidId= and check out the Get Your GreenBack Tompkins and the Energy Navigators program from Cornell Cooperative Extension: https://www.getyourgreenbacktompkins.org/ and find information about heat pumps with HeatSmart Tompkins: https://www.solartompkins.org/
-
Where can I find information about old windows and how to fix them?Start with this tip sheet before you work on your windows: http://www.cityofithaca.org/DocumentCenter/View/1603/Repair-Preservation-of-Original-and-Historic-Wood-Windows?bidId= See also Preservation Brief 9: The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows: https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/9-wooden-windows.htm
-
To research pre-1964 architectural trade catalogs, house plan books and technical building guides for materials, fixtures or finishes in your home."Explore the Building Technology Heritage Library online: https://archive.org/details/buildingtechnologyheritagelibrary
-
I hear there are tax credit programs for proposed work on properties listed on the National Register. Where can I learn about these and find out if our property is eligible?Start here with this webpage on the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to learn more https://parks.ny.gov/shpo/tax-credit-programs/ There is also a local tax incentive program that you might be eligible for: http://www.cityofithaca.org/DocumentCenter/View/1576/Local-Property-Tax-Incentives-for-Historic-Preservation?bidId=
-
I would like to research my house in Ithaca. Where can I find Sanborn maps?You can find color Sanborn maps online by searching in the “maps” section and “Ithaca” on the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/ You can consult Sanborn maps in person in the archives of the History Center in Tompkins County: https://thehistorycenter.net/
-
I don’t want to research my property myself but I would like someone to do it for me. Do you do that? And can you see if it’s eligible to be nominated locally or to the State and National Registers?Yes, we can research and write house histories for a fee. Contact christine@historicithaca.org for more information.
-
Where can I find other maps of Ithaca?Some maps of Ithaca that are part of the History Center in Tompkins County collection have been digitized and can be found here: https://nyheritage.org/collections/historical-maps-ithaca-and-tompkins-county
-
I have questions about genealogy and local history. Where can I start?Reach out to the History Center in Tompkins County: https://thehistorycenter.net/
-
Locate Ithaca city directories onlineTo locate Ithaca city directories online, please go to this link of digitized directories in the Tompkins County Public Library: https://www.tcpl.org/archives?field_ar_categories_target_id_op=or&field_ar_categories_target_id=149
-
Research the National Register StatusTo research the National Register status of a property within New York State, visit CRIS: https://cris.parks.ny.gov/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f
-
Tompkins County InformationInterested in a particular town, village or hamlet in Tompkins County? Check out the Tompkins County Historian’s website: https://www2.tompkinscountyny.gov/historian
-
Cornell University InformationI have questions about the history of Cornell University. Where can I start? Try the Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection at Cornell: https://rare.library.cornell.edu/
-
Ithaca College InformationI have questions about the history of Ithaca College. Where can I start? Try the Ithaca College Archives: https://library.ithaca.edu/archives/
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Historic Ithaca is sharing this information, however, we encourage you to get proposals from several companies so that their scope of work and fees can be compared and request references for similar work projects. Historic Ithaca is NOT liable in any manner whatsoever for any losses, claims, damages, expenses or other liabilities resulting from or arising out of any work performed by any contractor on this list, nor for the negligence or failure to act on the part of any contractor on this list. Under no circumstances shall it be construed that this list creates a relationship of employer and employee, principal and agent, or partners or co-venturer among and between Historic Ithaca, Inc. and each contractor. Each contractor shall be solely responsible for the means and methods that it employs in performing any work.
To research pre-1964 architectural trade catalogs, house plan books and technical building guides for materials, fixtures or finishes in your home:
The Building Technology Heritage Library
To locate Ithaca city directories online:
Tompkins County Public Library
To research the National Register status of a property within New York State:
Cultural Resource Information System
To research a particular town, village or hamlet in Tompkins County:
The Tompkins Country Historian
To research the history of Cornell University:
Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection at Cornell
To research the history of Ithaca College: