Stephens Block

John Northrup, Sewing Machines and Upholstering, 87 and 89 E State Corner Aurora

Ithaca Journal Office, Ithaca, NY

University Hotel, Henry Spahn, Proprietor

Norton & Conklin, Publishers, Ithaca, NY

City Hotel, T. F. Conley, Proprietor

E. D. Norton, Printer and Publisher, Ithaca, NY

Murray House, William C. Shepard, Proprietor

E. D. Norton, Printer and Publisher, Ithaca, NY

Clements T Stephens, Stoves, Hardware and Plumbing, Coal and Wood

Stephens & Masters (Clements T Stephens and Fred Masters), Plumbers 

Edward D Norton, Book and Commercial Job Printer 
Arminda Staley, Dressmaker 

Ithaca, NY

"The Civic Club of Ithaca which was organized and incorporated under the State laws a few months ago is now located in a handsome suite of four rooms on the third floor of the Stephens block at the corner of State and Aurora streets. This club was formed for social and political purposes and is composed of young colored men of this city. At present the roll of membership bears 43 names."
-article mentions a parlor, game room, billiard and music rooms and "bath facilities."
President M[oses].H. Spencer
Vice president John C. Wye
Treasurer William J.P. Cannon
Secretary Frank A. Spencer
Assistant Secretary Napoleon Jackson
Sergeant at Arms John Mason

"Civic Club: The New Organization Located in Attractive Quarters," Ithaca Delay Journal, October 27, 1902, 3.

Isaac H Merrill, Druggist 
Civic Club (Secretary and Manager Napoleon Jackson)

Norton Printing Co, Ithaca, NY

New York Telephone Co, William F. McMahon Local Commercial Manager 
Morgan & Owen, (Harry G Morgan and James B Owen) General Agents Home Life Insurance Co 

Dr Martin B Tinker, Surgeon

Norton Printing Co, Ithaca, NY

“In 1927 this building was purchased by Ithaca Savings and Loan Association. Initially located on the second floor, with retail stores below, the Association remodeled the building in 1931 to utilize the first and second floors. "In making the extensive alterations to the building, the association incidentally has dressed up the corner and made it more of an asset to the prosperous appearance of the business district. The sharp corner of the building was sliced off and an entrance facing the angle of the corner was constructed." 17

Article contains additional description of the building's interior and exterior changes and before and after photos of the exterior. 

"Savings and Loan Moves Downstairs: Quarters Altered," Ithaca Journal, December 17, 1931, 17-18.

Richards Clothes Shop, Maynard C. Merrick Manager 
Ithaca Savings & Loan Association, Bank, 

Home Life Insurance Co., William B. Stark Manager

Harry C. Baldwin, Lawyer 

H. A. Manning Co, Schenectady, NY

Gabriel N Meckenberg, Lawyer

H. A. Manning Co, Schenectady, NY

Ithaca Savings and Loan Association

H. A. Manning Co, Schenectady, NY

Ithaca Savings and Loan Association

H. A. Manning Co, Schenectady, NY

“Through it all Urban Renewal led the way with detail work, like…demolishing the old Central Fire Station at 208 E Seneca St. and the old Savings and Loan Assn. building on the south side of the Tuning Fork.”

Judith Horstman, “Hotel Block: Construction Start in ’72?,” Ithaca Journal, January 1, 1972, 6.

“New York Telephone would be the major tenant in the office building proposed by Colbert developers at the corner of State and Aurora streets, the corporation and the developers confirmed today.

The telephone company plans to use 8,000 square feet of space for business offices, now located in smaller quarters at 208 E. Buffalo St., two blocks away. A new ‘PhoneCenter’ where customers can shop for telephones and arrange service is on the drawing boards.

The site represents the final parcel of the city’s Urban Renewal property. Sale of the lot to the Colberts must be approved by Common Council….

Robert Colbert Jr., developing the project in partnership with his father, Robert Reed Colbert, said today he has several prospective tenants for the remaining 4,500 square feet of space in the one-story building.

State and Aurora, one of the city’s busiest corners, is a popular spot for cars to leave pedestrians planning to shop at the Ithaca Commons, Colbert said, and a small plaza area with benches would be provided.

‘In effect, it would be a continuation of the mall,’ he said.

The tentative design has walls of dark brown brick, with sandstone panels and small display windows. Parking would be available for some 40 cars.

The Colbert partnership, called the Trebloc Development Co., expects to hire a local architect.”

Jane Marcham, "N.Y. Telephone Is Colbert Tenant," Ithaca Journal, March 17, 1975, 3.