Sage Block

A R Sawyer, Millinery and Fancy Goods
Moore & Johnson (Charles H Moore and Clarence H Johnson), Barbers

Ithaca, NY

Sage Building-139-141 E State St
A R Sawyer & Co (A R Sawyer and Ella M Brown), Millinery, Furs, Ladies' and Children's Furnishings
Frank A Bardwell, Barber  
Dr John R Crawford, Dentist
William H Miller, Architect 
Edward J Mone, Lawyer and Real Estate
Isadore Rocker, Ladies’ Tailor

Norton Printing Co, Ithaca, NY

Multi-Family Construction: ; 
Roof of Main Structure: Non-combustible; 
Additional Sections: Section 1, back right (S), 1 story, non-combustible roof, wood frame, iron clad / Section 2, back left (S), 1 story, shingle roof / Section 3, back of Section 2 (S), 1 story, non-combustible roof; 
Porches: ; 
Outbuildings: ; 
Other: Skylight lighting 2 stories;

Sage Building-139-141 E State St
A R Sawyer & Co (A R Sawyer) Millinery, Furs, Ladies' and Children's Furnishing
Dr John R Crawford, Dentist
Dr Leland R Crawford, Dentist 
Miller & Mallory (William H Miller and Phillips Mallory), Architects 
Robert V Morse, Inventor 
Isador Rocker, Ladies' Tailor
Mrs Elizabeth Royee, Sculptor 
Akenstine & Jones (Frederick C Akenstine and John W Jones), Barbers

Norton Printing Co, Ithaca, NY

Sage Block-139-141 E State St
J. J. Newberry Co., J. Grover Eichorm Manager, Five and Ten Cent Store-139-141 E State St
Alison Kingsbury Bishop, Painter139-141 E State St
John R. Crawford, Dentist 
Leland R. Crawford, Dentist 
J. F. & E. D. Daley, real estate 
Henry Calder Thorne, Architect and Landscape Architect  

H. A. Manning Co, Schenectady, NY

J J Newberry Co, 5 cent to $1.00 Store, Virgil K Burke Manager-135-137 E State St 
Dorman S Purdy, Insurance
Henry Calder Thorne, City Building Commissioner, Architect, and Landscape Architect
Mrs Emma L Swope, Arts and Crafts Teacher

H. A. Manning Co, Schenectady, NY

137-139 East State St. Historic name: Sage Block 

"Three story, four-bay, brick commercial building; street-level facade has altered storefront (1977) with large display windows, center entrance, and eight square transom lights; second and third stories retain rectangular windows with historic one-over-one sash, Queen Anne lights in the upper sash, continuous stone lintels and sills; decorative floral terra cotta bands decorate the piers between the windows; entablature consists of terra cotta floral relief frieze and stamped metal cornice. Built 1884; storefront alterations 1933, 1967, 1977. 

Architect: William H. Miller 

Historical note: Built for businessman and Cornell trustee and benefactor Henry W. Sage. William H. Miller designed this building in 1884 and had his own offices in the upper stories. J.J. Newberry’s discount store occupied the storefront, as well as the adjacent street-level facade at 135 E. State Street from the 1920s until the 1970s. In 1977, the street-level facade was altered for a McDonald’s fast food restaurant."

National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Ithaca Downtown Historic District, December 18, 2004

"The Sage Block was designed by William H. Miller in 1884. Though the design draws on the Queen Anne style, it reflects Miller’s personal vision or interpretation of that style. Parallels have been drawn between this building and the Wainwright Building in St. Louis (1891) designed by Miller's contemporary, Chicago architect Louis Sullivan. Both use terra-cotta relief with elaborate organic motifs as decoration on a vertically oriented brick building. Miller maintained his office in this building for most of his career. When McDonald’s located here in 1977, they removed a one-story false front, cleaned the brick, and designed a storefront that fits the character of the Commons."

Historic Ithaca, DeWitt Park Historic District and Downtown Ithaca: An Architectural Walking Tour, 32.