Former Cooperative Grange League Federation Headquarters

GLF Agencies, Staff Occupy New Building, Atop Terrace Hill
The Ithaca Journal, May 5 1936, P. 1, Cols 1-3. With photo of building and portraits of top executives.

Caption for group of photographs
"The changed aspect of South Hill is revealed in this airphoto of the new home of the Grange League Federation Exchange on Terrace Hill. Below are pictured officers of the organization (from left): Fred L. Porter of Crown Point, president, Co-operative GLF Exchange Inc.; E. Victor Underwood, president, Co-operative GLF Holding Corporation; and H. E. Babcock, general manager, Co-operative GLF Exchange Inc."

Extracts from article
"The entire staff of the Co-operative GLF Exchange, Inc., and its affiliated agencies, was established today in the new GLF office building on Terrace Hill.
  Officers of this leading agricultural co-operative have invited the Ithaca public to an 'open house' Wednesday night from 7 to 10 p.m., to acquaint them with the new building.
  The construction, begun in August, 1935, was completed on schedule, that is by May 1, and E. Victor Underwood, president of the GLF Holding Corporation, today gave tribute to the contractors for having done the job on time. The general building contract was held by J. Dall Jr. Inc., of Ithaca, and the architect was Arthur N. Gibb."

"The Terrace Hill site, overlooking the business district and commanding a panoramic view of Cayuga Lake, was purchased from Louis P. Smith, former mayor and vice president of the Ithaca Gun Company. His picturesque old home was torn down to make way for the new structure."

  "The cornerstone ceremony was held last November, the stone being laid by Mr. Underwood, who as president of the Holding Corporation which owns all GLF properties had chief supervision of the building plans. The contract was let to the Dall construction company on a bid of $120,162.
  The building, of simple modern architectural type, consists of a ive-story tower in the center, flanked by two one-story wings. The tower is occupied by the executive offices, and the wings contain the accounting and mailing departments. The foundations are of sufficient strength to allow for future expansion of the building.
  The structure is 145 feet in length. It is of steel frame fireproof construction, with Indiana limestone exterior. The main vestibule and corridor are finished in Vermont red oriental marble with terazza foor. The automatic elevator serving the tower offices is equipped with a photoelectric cell safety device to prevent the doors from closing while a passenger is entering."

"Subsidiary contractors were: the Norton Electric Company of Ithaca; the Jamieson-McKinney Company of Ithaca; Treman-King & Company of Ithaca; the American Warming and Ventilating Company of Elmira; and the Otis Elevator Company. A. H. Baxter was consulting engineer."