Suburban Spotlight: 'Historic' label isn't automatic protection Jeffrey Blackwell <mailto:jblackwell@democratandchronicle.com> Staff writer (October 1, 2006) — A widely held misconception is that designation on the federal or state registries of historic places is equal to an impenetrable fortress guarding local historic landmarks. But as the residents of Fairport recently found out, the ramparts protecting historic structures such as the 130-year-old First Baptist Church of Fairport are local historic preservation laws. Historic landmark designation brings prestige and opens access to preservation grants, but it does not protect a building from alteration or demolition. Cynthia Howk, who has worked for the Landmark Society of Western New York for 30 years, said most people do not understand what historic preservation is and what it means to have a building or property listed on the national or state registry. "Here's the kicker: It's principally an honorary program. Here is the key phrase: It does not regulate what private property owners do in terms of selling, altering, using, disposing, demolishing," she said. "Private property owners go on as if life hadn't changed. They are still only beholden to the zoning law in the village, town or city in which they are located." Fairport residents were shocked to hear this summer that the prominent red brick church with the familiar steeple at the corner of South Main and Church streets was in the crosshairs of a developer looking to build a store at the village intersection and that there was little they could do about it. Church officials were approached in July by a local real estate broker about the possibility of selling the church to an unnamed company he represents. The church recently received a formal offer of $2 million from the broker, Ron Rothfuss. The church, however, is still exploring its options and has not given the broker an answer. The First Baptist Church is in the state Register of Historic Places, and church leaders have also applied to have the building listed in the federal registry. The designation makes the church eligible for public and private preservation grants, which could help the congregation pay for much-needed repairs. But the designation does not prevent the demolition or alteration of the landmark because Fairport does not have a preservation ordinance in place. "I was surprised to learn how many pieces had to be put in place," said Craig DeLancey of Fairport, who is working to save the church. "You have to get a historical registration. You have to have an ordinance for historical preservation. And that ordinance needs to determine what will then be considered historic." *Different ordinances* The city of Rochester and many towns and villages within Monroe County have preservation ordinances on the books. Each is different. Most require approval from a municipal preservation board to demolish or substantially alter a structure listed in the state or federal registry or one identified as a local landmark by the municipality. Howk said the laws are divided by how properties are brought under the umbrella of the regulations. In stronger ordinances, participation is mandatory. Other ordinances allow property owners to decide. "If you have a voluntary ordinance that says the municipality can only designate a landmark if the owner gives their permission, that is highly problematic if you have a threatened building and the owner will not let you designate it," she said. Residents in Chili ran into this problem trying to save the Stagecoach Inn, a 192-year-old Federal-style building at Buffalo Road and Union Street, from being demolished as part of the development of a new 14,820-square-foot Walgreens. The building is eligible for local landmark status. But Chili's preservation ordinance is voluntary and the inn's owner has not applied for landmark designation, which has forced preservationists to negotiate with the developer in hopes of saving the historic building. "Someone says, 'I heard that a government-designated landmark status protects your building.' The rest of that phrase should be, 'Yes, if you're talking about a local landmark program,'" Howk said. Walgreens has offered to donate the Stagecoach Inn and the land. *Saving homes* Perinton's ordinance is mandatory. Town historian Jean Keplinger said the town surveyed potential historic properties and designated 26 homes and five districts as historic landmarks. The ordinance went into effect in 1987. Districts include properties in Bushnell's Basin, areas of Baird Road, South Perinton Church and Cemetery and a farm in the hamlet of Egypt. She said the law is responsible for saving one of the town's oldest homes, the Federal-style farmhouse in Egypt on Route 31. "I think if we didn't have a preservation ordinance, it would have been gone," Keplinger said. "But (the house) is currently being rehabbed to look like it ought to look. It's probably the largest framed structure in the town of Perinton or certainly one of the oldest." The village of Fairport is not covered by the town ordinance. But officials are working on one in hopes of preventing situations like the First Baptist Church. The committee, led by deputy mayor and trustee Frederick "Fritz" May, is looking at Perinton's ordinance and several others. May said writing the ordinance will be tricky because it will need to strike a balance that will preserve historic buildings without being too strict on property owners. He said the issue of mandatory or voluntary participation will be up for debate. "I don't know where we are going to go with that," he said. "What I hope is that we can be realistic enough and appropriate enough that when we present this, nobody's going to get really nervous." The committee hopes to present an ordinance to the Village Board by January. It is unclear if that will be in time to affect the future of the church. "I think the church brought it all to the surface," May said. "And I think everybody realized what can happen if you don't have something to protect yourself. "Now it's the right time." JBLACKWELL@DemocratandChronicle.com <mailto:JBLACKWELL@DemocratandChronicle.com> Other communities According to the Landmark Society, 14 local municipalities have preservation laws on the books including Rochester, the towns of Greece, Perinton, Penfield, Henrietta, Brighton, Chili, Gates, Irondequoit, Mendon and Sweden and the villages of Webster, Scottsville and Brockport.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Johnson Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/2138.1.1 Message Board Post: Lynne, it has been awhile since I have worked on this family and right now I cannot lay my hands on the source, but I do have a son of Arthur S. Johnson named William, b. 02 Nov 1827; married Harriet Van Wyck of New York City. I don't have any other information on William at this time, and I haven't yet tried finding him in any of the census. If I come across more information, I'll let you know.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Johnson Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/2138.1 Message Board Post: I'm wondering if Arthur S. Johnson is the father of my William H. Johnson b. 1825 and married Martha Robinson. I noted that the census doesn't mention William in 1850 but he may have had his own family by then. Do you have any additional information on the family?

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: John J. Williams Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/742.1328.1.1 Message Board Post: Thanks Kathleen, I've ordered an 1875 census thru the FHC.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/3218 Message Board Post: not a very clear stereo view http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures171/17135crop.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures171/17135small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures171/17135.jpg

not a very clear stereo view http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures171/17135crop.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures171/17135small.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~springport/pictures171/17135.jpg

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/1175.2 Message Board Post: Hi Richard, Jonathan & Elizabeth Bird Briggs are in the line of the "John Briggs of Taunton" as researched by E A Hannibal in the New England Historical & Genealogical Record, vols 125-7. The pedigree is Jonathan (b Norton, MA), Timothy, Deacon Richard, Richard, John Briggs of Taunton. Hannibal says Division township is now Groton, & she quotes a gravestone for Jonathan saying it has "John" on it, but she doesn't give the cemetery. An abstract of Jonathan's will is on the USGenWeb.com website for Tomkins Co, NY Hannibal lists his children: Anna (oldest, b 1786), Betsey, Rachel, James, Warren, Noah, & Mary Bird. Right now I'm trying to track the 3 boys. What is your tie to them? Can you tell me about the descendants of these boys? Walter Sadler (related by DNA testing to John Briggs of Taunton, but no known connection)

Thank you GLS1943@aol.com wrote: The Tompkins County GenWeb site is one of the best. It has great content including many, many cemetery transcriptions. The following is the web address for the Gibbs Cemetery. I hope it is of use to you. Georgia Whitson --------------------------------- Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Yahoo! Small Business.

The Tompkins County GenWeb site is one of the best. It has great content including many, many cemetery transcriptions. The following is the web address for the Gibbs Cemetery. I hope it is of use to you. Georgia Whitson _http://www.rootsweb.com/~nytompki/cemeteries/tcem019.htm_ (http://www.rootsweb.com/~nytompki/cemeteries/tcem019.htm)

I have a particular interest in the Randall (sic) family. I have John Randall b. ca 1777 NJ marrying the widow Agnes (Banfield) Wilson. I have five children for them. Is this a family of interest to you? Georgia Whitson

I would like to hear from anyone who has or iis researcing people buried in Gibbs cemetery. Does any one know is any records still exist and if so where they would be located. Thank you Marilyn

I am working on Randalls in several counties and want like to hear from others working on Randall or Rundall. Thank you --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Lovell/McLallen Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/3213.1.1 Message Board Post: Thanks so much for the info. I'm just starting research on this line. I just inherited alot of info from my older sister, but it is all in a jumble with no sources, so it may take a while to get through it all. Do you have sources? I'd love to look at your info. Email me privately at margee12@verizon.net. Thanks, Marge

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/3213.2.1 Message Board Post: Thanks for the info. Do you have a source for this info. I'm just starting research on this line. Thanks again.

I have a Euphias McDowell marrying Joseph McCormick in Ireland and showing up in the Chester County area of PA @ 1750. Any help? >>> <kajh76@yahoo.com> 9/23/2006 6:46 AM >>> This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McDOWELL, WILLIAMS Classification: Census Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/742.1328.1 Message Board Post: Hello Jane, If you haven't done so already, you may want to check for the John and Eliza Williams family in the NY State Census as an alternative. Here is the information of what is available: NY Counties & New York State Census, complied by Dick Hillenbrand http://www.ny-genes.com/ny_counties/ & Historian for Town of Caroline, Tompkins, NY http://users.tellurian.com/freddie/helplist/ny.htm Both web sites are up-to-date. I hope you find them! Kathleen ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NYTOMPKI-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McDOWELL, WILLIAMS Classification: Census Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/742.1328.1 Message Board Post: Hello Jane, If you haven't done so already, you may want to check for the John and Eliza Williams family in the NY State Census as an alternative. Here is the information of what is available: NY Counties & New York State Census, complied by Dick Hillenbrand http://www.ny-genes.com/ny_counties/ & Historian for Town of Caroline, Tompkins, NY http://users.tellurian.com/freddie/helplist/ny.htm Both web sites are up-to-date. I hope you find them! Kathleen

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Boyd, Carlisle, Olmstead Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/3217 Message Board Post: Listers, Could anyone advise on how to obtain an obit from Ithaca, NY for: WILLIAM M. BOYD, who was taken to Minneapolis, MN for burial. He was buried there May 25, 1950. Also , where would I write for a death certificate? Thanks to all for reading this & any help offered. Judy Gappa in CA

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: WILLIAMS/MCDOWELL Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/742.1328 Message Board Post: I'm tracking a MINNIE WILLIAMS (married name McDowell), born about 1869, NY. She is a brother of my G-Grandfather, ADREN WILLIAMS (born in Caroline, NY; parents where stated as JOHN & ELIZA WILLIAMS on his death cert from 1922.) I can't find him as a child anywhere, or his parents. Adren's obit (1922) stated that he was survived by a brother HENRY WILLIAMS (of MI) & Minnie McDowell of Owego. Anyone know of these folks?

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/3215.1.1 Message Board Post: Christine, thank you so much for your help! I will respond directly to your email address. It looks like my grandmother Barbara Kastenhuber's mother was originally named Mary Ballman before she married William Kastenhuber and that Mary's sister was Melissa Ballman. Meanwhile, Barbara (1906-1930) was the oldest of 8 - including siblings Henry, Charles, Edna, Albert, James and Lena. My mother was in touch with Louise Kastenhuber Carpenter ("Aunt Louise") before she died. I imagine that Barbara's siblings have descendants, possibly in the Ithaca area? I welcome further information. The plot thickens...

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4RB.2ACE/3215.1 Message Board Post: Hello Deborah ~ I am sending census info to your email. Louise by the way was Barbara's cousin although your grandma was 1 of 8 children and the oldest of them too. Barbara's maiden name was Ballman. Chistine