905 Triphammer Rd Ithaca

Chronology of conveyance transactions and directory entries confirming the address and location  of this property from the time of the 1940 census through 2025

Deeds and maps referred to are all available from the online database service of the Tompkins County Clerk by clicking the link below, logging in as Guest, and searching by Instrument (Document) Number, for example: BF100567-001

Summary
The house at 905 Triphammer Rd was built by Erma Cicchetti in 1941/42 on a vacant lot acquired from Emily Evans Sheldon in October 1941. The Cicchettis bought many vacant properties in this neighborhood, often from Emily Sheldon. Erma designed homes, often for particular customers. She acted as building contractor. See Erma Cicchetti (1903-1961) from Village of Cayuga Heights History website.

BF100567-001 DEED, dated 2/14/1942, recorded 02/14/1943. Albert and Erma Cicchetti sold property known as 905 Triphammer Road to C. Chaddock Head and Harriett Johnson Head.

BF133338-001 DEED, dated and recorded 12/3/1947. C. Chaddock Head and Harriett Johnson Head sold  property known as 905 Triphammer Road to E. John Austin, Ruth D. Austin, and Phyllis D. Austin.

BF113752-001 DEED, dated and recorded 5/31/1962. From estate of Elam John Austin to Ruth D. Austin.

Note: The Tompkins County Department of Assessment report for 905 Triphammer Rd identifies the property as having Tax ID 10.-3-16, with a house built in 1940[sic], having 1.5 stories. The Deed History begins with Ruth D. Austin acquiring the building in 1962.  

Erma Cicchetti (1903-1961)
Village of Cayuga Heights History. 
By Patricia Longoria
Incorporates pictures of individual buildings.

"Like other American suburbs, Cayuga Heights experienced a housing boom in the years following World War II. Builder Erma Cicchetti (1903-1961) designed and supervised the construction of an estimated 35 homes in the Cayuga Heights area between 1940 and 1960, in partnership with her husband Albert Cicchetti (c. 1897-1982), who worked as a machinist for the Morse Chain Factory. Albert emigrated to the United States in 1913. Erma’s father Salvatore emigrated from Terracina, Latina, Italy to the United States in 1905. He worked at the Ithaca Gun Company. Erma and her mother Amelia and several siblings arrived in the United States from Italy in 1907, when Erma was four years old.
 
Although she was not trained as an architect, Cicchetti had a natural eye for design. The Cicchetti-designed homes are elegant and solidly constructed, commonly faced with brick or stucco. No two are exactly alike. Cicchetti recruited and supervised experienced contractors for plumbing and other specialty work, including Italian American masons and framers who moonlighted after their day jobs at Cornell. Cicchetti was known as an exacting taskmaster but was also generous, reportedly feeding her crews homemade Italian dinners."