History Le Roy House and Union Free School

1 history

1.1 1793–1817:settlement of le roy
1.2 1818–47: initial construction , residence
1.3 1848–91: ingham seminary
1.4 1890–1941: school , factory
1.5 1941–present: museum

history

the house originated land office earliest days of le roy s settlement, building still structurally part of house. after jacob le roy expanded considerably, use single-family house lasted until civil war, when subdivided become boarding house. since 1941 has been historical society s property.

the school original west wing of earlier frame structure, demolished in 20th century. after being closed down, used factory several decades.

1793–1817:settlement of le roy

after revolutionary war, robert morris bought land west of genesee river makes western new york state of massachusetts. of later sold holland land company, in 1793 new york firm of leroy & bayard acquired 87,000 acres (35,000 ha) him. because of shape, stretching current village of le roy shores of lake ontario , widening north, called triangle tract.

the intersection of oatka creek popular iroquois trail obvious place establish settlement, , 4 years after triangle tract purchased man named charles arthur built log cabin on north side of main street, east of future village s municipal boundary. sold year later capt. john ganson, expanded tavern. other settlers came, attracted fertile soils of oatka valley, , 3 years later, in 1802, first bridge built on creek.

in 1813 community named after herman le roy, senior partner in landowning firm , former director of bank of united states. bought more land south of triangle tract s tip, purchase known 5 hundred acre tract, attract more settlers. when land surveyed in 1817, sent nephew egbert benson jr. le roy serve company s agent.

jacob le roy


1818–47: initial construction , residence

the two-story brick building benson had constructed on site of current house earliest section. @ time had entrance on west (now window) , narrow circular stair garret. adjoining room north had vaulted ceiling. basement had extant cistern , cold storage.

four years later, in 1821, community had been subdivided lots , thriving, mills , other industries being established. jacob le roy, son of herman s had traveled abroad learning family business after studies @ yale, replaced cousin company agent. 2 years later bought land office building , began expanding house himself , family.

by 1823 had reached current size. le roy had added two-story addition rear, doubling interior, , attic story. new section reportedly modeled after new york city townhouses of era. fruit trees , flowering shrubs planted around house @ time. 6 years later, in 1829, le roy hosted reception after daniel webster s wedding 1 of sisters.

the last of triangle tract lots sold 1837, , land office formally closed. in 1840s front portico added, giving house strong greek revival character. stucco facing, added time after rear built, further unified house s appearance. after company s decision raise prices on former holland properties had acquired met widespread local resistance in areas , violence against 1 of company s other offices, jacob sold house alfred bartow , returned new york city. died there in 1847.

1848–91: ingham seminary

bartow built rear veranda. replaced original interior doors decorative glass-paneled ones in use sometime during 1840s , 50s. oversaw extensive additions grounds, such large barns, expanded gardens, , replacement of stone wall iron filigreed gate posts. 2 drives on either side made circle around veranda. in 1856 moved out.

in 1837 mariette , emily ingham had established leroy female seminary in nearby house. first chancellor, dr. samuel hanson cox, lived in le roy house during tenure. development of school s curriculum led become ingham collegiate institute , ingham university in 1857. during 1860s pipelines laid house provide gas heating , lighting.

citizens of village, including bartow, established non-sectarian leroy academic institute in 1864 in small building on main street. within year had outgrown space, , institute s trustees bought le roy house cox. built two-story wood frame school on site of present school, enough space 250 students.

the house used board faculty , students. interior altered extensively during period. signs of former partitions remain on floors of large bedrooms upstairs, , irregular fenestration of side elevations reflects subdivision of interior space. during 1880s basement kitchen remodeled, shiplap ceiling added , original fireplace , bake oven bricked shut.

1890–1941: school , factory

in 1890, 4 small rural school districts in area consolidated le roy union free school district, precursor of today s le roy central school district. following year new district s trustees voted acquire house , school institute $10,000 ($267,000 in contemporary dollars). institute s trustees in turn voted dissolve it. 7 years later, in 1898, school district built stone addition, extant building, onto frame building.

by 1904 had been renamed le roy union high school. student population outgrew space, , 7 years later current le roy junior/senior high school built across main street , trigon park. old school s last year 1911; has not been used educational purposes since.

the house , school bought allen olmsted, owner of local company manufactured patent medicines, allen s foot-ease powder. allowed school district use house residence administrator until local historical society organized. school building converted factory , offices. basement used grinding , mixing; first story offices. freight lift installed, , second-story passage built between stone , wood buildings.

1941–present: museum

in 1941 local historical society established , took title house, restoring bake oven , brick hearth in basement kitchen afterwards. olmsted s company bought buffalo-based foster-milburn 2 years later. continued manufacturing operations in le roy 2 years, moved them buffalo. when did, transferred remainder of property historical society.

the last change house made in 1958. rear porch reconstructed since original stone wall had deteriorated. replaced concrete wall. windows removed , space beneath porch entirely enclosed.

the wooden west wing had served original school in 1860s demolished in 1962. new roof , gutter installed in 1985, , lexan , wire cloth added basement windows protect against damage stray balls on nearby softball field, used little league. further renovations made in 1996 in anticipation of exhibit on centenary of jell-o. included installation of electricity, security system , refinishings of exhibit rooms on first floor, including installation of modern track lighting.