BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
While a graduate student in Cornell University’s program in Historic
Preservation Planning, Nancy Jo Goblet prepared this thesis as partial fulfillment of
the Master of Arts degree. It is expected that her degree will be conferred by the
College of Art, Architecture and Planning in May 2006.
Previously, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Records
Administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1975, and was employed for many
years in that career field. She is the eldest daughter of Edwin and Perthenia
(Northcraft) Marrs, and was graduated from Taylor-Allderdice High School in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She and her husband, David, have four children: Christine,
Catherine, Thomas and Andrew.
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With love to my family.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work is but the final step in the pursuit of my master’s degree in historic
preservation planning. I am grateful for the opportunities and challenges that were
placed in my path, and for the tuition assistance that made the journey possible. The
faculty, staff and research facilities at Cornell University are wonderful assets for all
who undertake graduate studies. My special thanks are extended to Michael Tomlan
for enthusiastically promoting the goals of historic preservation and for spurring
aspiring preservationists to think critically. His input, and that of Daniel Krall, were
valuable during the preparation of this thesis.
Many people provided assistance in their professional capacities, and to them I
also am indebted. Several staff at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation made case studies available and were willing to be interviewed:
Greg Donofrio, Kathleen LaFrank, Tony Opalka, Andrea Rebeck, and others. Nancy
Schamu of the National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers arranged for
the distribution of a survey form via that organization’s electronic network. Dr.
Gilbert Vincent graciously introduced me to the Farmers’ Museum, and Joseph
Siracusa provided access to that organization’s archives. At The Henry Ford,
reference staff and Christian Overland were very helpful in gathering information
about Greenfield Village. Rick Lohr and Mark Prible of International Chimney
Corporation, Bill Matthews of Matthews Building Movers, Inc., John Dexheimer of
L.D. Dexheimer and Sons, and Carl Tuxill and N. Eugene Brymer of the International
Association of Structural Movers all shared their expertise regarding the building
moving industry. I appreciate the assistance of several individuals who provided
information about their particular experiences: Page Ayres Cowley of Cowley and
Pradon Architects, Cynthia Howk of the Landmarks Preservation Society, Janet Shure
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of Historic Ithaca, Elise Johnson-Schmidt of Johnson-Schmidt and Associates
Architects, and many others.
My research was motivated, in part, by the Middletown Historical Society of
Steuben County. I thank them for their dedication to their community, and for our
friendship. I hope that this work will be of benefit to them, and also to the Sterling
Historical Society, as they consider relocating buildings of local interest.
Most of all, I wish to acknowledge my family. Without their encouragement
and cooperation, this endeavor could not have been realized. They truly are blessings!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Biographical sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
iii
Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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List of illustrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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List of abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Chapter 1: History of Building Relocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
Chapter 2: Perspectives on Building Relocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Chapter 3: Planning and Building Preparations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Chapter 4: Museums as Historic Districts
..........................
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Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Appendix A: Survey of State Historic Preservation Officers . . . . . . . . . . . .
136
Appendix B: Temporary Protection of the Atlantic Avenue Control House .
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Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
140
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Illustration
Page
Introduction
Williams School, Tuscarora District No. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Chapter 1
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hydraulics pioneer Peter Friesen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Support system for a building moved on dollies . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Capstan and horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rigging with cables and pulleys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Examples of Hillman rollers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Typical dollie assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
27
28
29
30
31
32
Chapter 2
Pope-Leighey House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pope-Leighey House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
John W. Jones House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Brome-Howard Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Holden Observatory at Syracuse University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Atlantic Avenue Control House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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43
50
53
57
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Chapter 3
Unified streetscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Streetscapes with gradual development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Problematic streetscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Edgar Laing Stores and surrounding buildings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Edgar Laing Stores alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Edgar Laing Stores dismantled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Edgar Laing Stores preparation for storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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74
75
86
87
88
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Chapter 4
Greenfield Village: Henry Ford’s childhood home . . . . . . . . . . .
Greenfield Village: Eagle Tavern and Chapel of Martha-Mary . .
“The Pied Piper” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greenfield Village: Logan County Courthousee . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greenfield Village: Sir John Bennett Jewelry Shop and carousel .
Greenfield Village: Homes of Robert Frost and Noah Webster . .
The Farmers’ Museum: Bump Tavern, church, Lippitt farmhouse,
law office, druggist’s shop, doctor’s office, printer . . . . . . . . . .
The Farmers’ Museum: carriage house, Bump Tavern . . . . . . . . .
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99
101
103
108
109
The Farmers’ Museum: Lippitt farmstead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
The Farmers’ Museum: dairy barn / exhibition hall . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Hopewell Furnace: barn, ironmaster’s mansion, furnace,
charcoal house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Hopewell Furnace: cast house and furnace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Hopewell Furnace: cast house/furnace, wheel house, bridge,
charcoal house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Hopewell Furnace: central hearth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Hopewell Furnace: clerk’s office/company store, ironmaster’s
mansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Hopewell Furnace: boarding house, tenant houses (3),
blacksmith’s shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
ACHP
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
CCC
Civilian Conservation Corps
FPO
Federal Preservation Officer
HABS
Historic American Building Survey
IASM
International Association of Structural Movers
ICC
International Chimney Corporation
MHS
Middletown Historical Society of Steuben County
MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
NHL
National Historic Landmark
NHPA
National Historic Preservation Act
NPS
National Park Service
NR
National Register of Historic Places
NTHP
National Trust for Historic Preservation
NYSHA
New York State Historical Association
NYSOPRHP New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
PennDOT
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
SFAH
San Francisco Architectural Heritage
SHPO
State Historic Preservation Officer
THPO
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
WHALE
Waterfront Historic Area League
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PREFACE
Open your wallet, then remove your driver’s license. Examine the back of
your license, noting the section identified as “organ donation information.” Have you
filled in the blanks, or even given the idea any thought? “I hereby make an anatomical
gift, to be effective upon my death, of:
A.  any needed organs or parts
B.  the following body part(s): __________________________________
C.  limitations: ______________________________________________.”
A kidney, no longer needed, can help filter the toxins for a patient with chronic renal
disease. A healthy lung can enable someone who is no longer capable of doing so to
breathe deeply. Corneal transplantation can restore sight, providing the recipient with
yet a different gift – the ability to witness events that otherwise could not be
experienced in the same way. In each case, there are critical elements: the donor was
in relatively good health at the time of death; permission (if not already expressed by
the decedent) must be granted by the surviving family; there is a potential recipient
with compatible needs; a skilled surgical team must be assembled; and there must be
adequate resources, both to perform the operations and provide follow-up care. While
the moral debate rages on about end-of-life issues and genetic research, each licensed
driver is given this option to consider: at the time of my demise, do I wish to donate
my organs? Is it possible, through my death, to extend and enhance the quality of life
for another human? What is meaningful in life?
This thesis raises parallel questions for historic preservationists, city planners,
architects, and community members. Each year, buildings are demolished (how
many?). Some of those are beyond repair, perhaps containing only salvageable parts.
But many could still be serviceable – could fill a void in a deteriorating neighborhood,
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could provide a home and promote a sense of community, could foster appreciation
for craftsmanship and offer insight into history. Consider, as well, the familiar adage,
“Waste not, want not.” For the environmentalist, as well as the aesthetic, those
buildings are a wellspring of materials that have been depleted, diminished, or made
cost-prohibitive. The reuse of that fabric provides an alternative to landfill, may be
more cost-effective than new construction, and can provide amenities that are not
available in many modern buildings. As in organ donation, the potential benefits are
great. The comparison, likewise, continues: approvals are required; compatible site
selection reduces the possibility of rejection; a skilled team of professionals must be
assembled; adequate resources must be available for preparing, executing the
procedure, and maintaining the property. Given those optimal conditions, the duration
of a building’s life can be extended, and the quality of the community enhanced.
What is significant?
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