Wilgus Block

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Details
Name
Wilgus Block
Address
157 E State St Ithaca (as of 1899)
57 E State St Ithaca
Year Built
1868
Demolished
1975
Building Type
Commercial
Construction
4 story Brick structure
Block Number
45
Annotations
1910 Sanborn Fire Insurance Atlas of Ithaca

Dep't S (department store)
Wall 1st only
Bank

Description
The Wilgus Block built in 1868, encompassed buildings at 155 E State St, 157 E State St, and 159 E State St. It was home to Marsh & Hall Dry Goods (dry goods, groceries, crockery, and carpets) and GW Melotte Dentist circa 1878, and Rothschild's Department Store 1889-1975. The 3rd and 4th floors housed the Wilgus Opera House and Ithaca Conservatory of Music (later Ithaca College) from 1894-1911. The Wilgus Block was demolished in 1975 and replaced by Center Ithaca in 1980.
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Media (Photos, Videos, Audio Recordings)
Marsh & Hall Dry Goods Co and GW Melotte Dentist 57-59 E State St. Later Rothschild Bros Department Store.

Marsh & Hall Dry Goods Co and GW Melotte Dentist 57-59 E State St. Later Rothschild Bros Department Store. 1879

Rothschild Bros Department Store, Ithaca Conservatory of Music (2nd floor)

Rothschild Bros Department Store, Ithaca Conservatory of Music (2nd floor)

Tax assessment photograph taken in 1954 for the purposes of government appraisal by Roy Wenzlick & Co.

Tax assessment photograph taken in 1954 for the purposes of government appraisal by Roy Wenzlick & Co. 1954

Add Source/NarrativeSources & Narratives
Rothschild Bros, Department Store-155-159 E State St

Ithaca, NY

Rothschild Building-155-159 E State St 
Rothschild Bros (Jacob, Isaac and Daniel), Department Store
Business Men's Association, Henry A Winton Agent
Christian Science Reading Room
Ithaca Conservatory of Music
Dr Martin B Tinker, Surgeon
John M Wilgus, Architect

Norton Printing Co, Ithaca, NY

Multi-Family Construction: ; 
Roof of Main Structure: Non-combustible; 
Additional Sections: Section 1, back (S), 1 story, non-combustible roof / 4 skylights / "Bank" / Section 2, inset back left of Section 1, (SE), no story detail, non-combustible roof, completely enclosed space / "T.CL." tin clad door access from Section 1 to #106, #108, #110 S Tioga St; 
Porches: ; 
Outbuildings: ; 
Other: Wall on 1st floor separating Main Structure from #155 E State St / Mansard roof front and left sides (NE);

Rothschild Building-155-159 E State St 
Rothschild Bros, Department Store

Norton Printing Co, Ithaca, NY

Rothschild Building-155-159 E State St  
Rothschild Bros., Department Store

H. A. Manning Co, Schenectady, NY

Rothschild Building-155-159 E State St 
Rothschild Bros', Dept Store

H. A. Manning Co, Schenectady, NY