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This view of Elmira Street Residences is from a postcard in the collection of Janet PETERS Ordway |
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The Holcomb House (originally a Pomeroy House) is one of the most elegant in Troy and it remains standing and in good condition. Don Stanton has sent us some terrific information and photos about that house, and it will have a page to itself ONE of these days.
See the Main Street House now used
by Vickery Funeral Home from the Mitchell Book 1924
See also More photos of that house in the History
of Vickery and other Funeral businesses in Troy
I will be adding more photos to this page, so check back occasionally. I know I have some others already that I have not been able to locate today, AND I hope that this will inspire others to send in more house photos. If you do, use HIGH resolution JPG format and identify the location of the house by street address if you can. Tell us all you know about it.
Many of you have heard people say when they came to Troy for the first time, “How beautiful the Main Streets of Troy are with the beautiful homes, large lawns, and trees lining the streets”. Being interested in architecture and history, with the help of Budd and others, I did this resume’ of some of the houses in our area.
I am beginning at the present time and going back to some of the first houses built in Troy.
Beginning in the 1950s until today, the houses built are more compact, many of them one-story ranch type like the ones in Troy Heights. They are attractive and adequate for today’s lifestyle.
Between 1900 and 1950, the houses had fancy dormer windows, bay windows and big porches, etc. Examples of this period are Dr. Aaron Wagner’s, where Dr. Couch lived many years; Dr. Clarence Scott’s, built by C.W. Mitchell; the McMahon house, now the DeHaas Studio; James VanNoy, formerly Larry Clark and F.L. Ballard; the Hubler’s on Canton Street, which is a bastard Greek Revival, because it has many features of that period, but many added Victorian features.
Between 1855 and 1900, many large houses were built in Troy. The Holcombe house on West Main St. now owned by Elizabeth Card Bowers. It was built by Eleazor Pomeroy for his daughter Annie, when she married George Holcombe; the Horace Pomeroy house, where the Martha Lloyd School’s business offices are today; the Martha Lloyd School; the N.M. Pomeroy house across the street from the Presbyterian and was used as the church until the current Church was built. Today it is a two-apartment dwelling.
The “Berri Pomeroy” across from the new Post Office was built by Samuel Pomeroy. In later year Harry Crumbling owned it and tore much of the house down, but left the lower front and stairway as it was originally built on the back. The Roy Stuckless family lived there and today it was the home of the Richard Calkins family, now Steve Brewer.
Other houses of this period are the Osmun Skinners; Dr. Fred Richards; George Morris’, which was remodeled about 1900; Jane Paines; the John Hollister atty. Off.; the Catholic Rectory; Vickery Funeral Home; and the red brick house above the funeral home was built in 1859 by E.C. Oliver. Our sons own it today and have records that he ordered 70,000 red brick to be delivered from Elmira April 1859. The windows for the house came from a glass factory in Covington, Pa. A bill from the company that we came across in old papers wasn’t marked Paid, so we never know whether he paid for them or not.
Another huge house of this era is the McGoughran house on Canton Street, where Doris Williams lived. It was built by Rev. Hiram Bennett’s uncle, Hiram Rockwell, according to the research we did. Just east of Troy on Route 6 is the John Pomeroy house, Sophia Case’s family. Burton Pomeroy built it after the original house burned and it was renovated in the 1880’s and added to. The original cupola of Burton’s first house is still inside the renovated attic.
The Redington house west of Troy on Route 6, is also an interesting edifice. It is Gothic Architecture, which is unusual in our area. Many families have lived there, but a couple years ago a family from away bought it and the outside paint job is worth driving by to appreciate the architecture.
In the 1820-1855 period, houses on Canton Street of this era was the Bette Stowell Krise house; Seymour Barrett’s; The Adams, now McBraney Apartments; these were owned by the Skinners; The Christie Smith and Sjobloms on Elmira St.; the Long House, owned by Cronks at Long’s Mills.
Another house of interest in this period is the Eleanor “Pete” Byrem house on Elmira St. the Episcopalians built the beautiful church on the hill in 1842. They sold it to the Catholics and it was dedicated as “Church of St. John Nepomucene” on Oct. 9, 1853. After the Episcopalians sold it, they built “Pete’s” house and it was their church until they built the present stone church across the street. Apparently D.F. Pomeroy bought it and used it as a gymnasium for young people until he converted it into a two-apartment dwelling.
The 1820-1840 Federal architecture is evident in the houses of former Rena Crumbling, Marshall and Jean Case and Robert and Ina Schucker. The cornices, corner panels and front door entrances are beautiful to study. The Schucker house originally faced Canton Street when it was built, later it was turned a quarter around and the front now faces the Krise Garage and shingles cover the paneling on the corners, so you can miss the Federal architecture from the street.
The Case’s house was built in the early 1820’s. One of the early Case settlers had a log cabin across the road. They then built the Federal house and the main road to Sylvania went by the front door. Marshall related that several families lived there through the years, the last one was Fowler Hoyles, the garbage man, and it was in shambles. The place came up at a tax sale and Marshall’s uncle, Henry Case, bought it for $300.00 and gave it to Marshall and Jean for a wedding present. They restored it and it is a beautiful house that was salvaged because of its history and Marshall and Jean, who appreciated its possibilities.
The Greek Revival architecture was the Old Academy on Paines Hill, the Boro Hall and the Budd Mitchells. The Old Academy was used from 1842 until the graded school began in the village. It was used as a dwelling for many years until the C.D. Averys bought it and tore it down and built a new modern house there. The Boro Hall is a beautiful edifice. Marshall and Budd’s generation think of it as the Fannie Long house. Fannie never married and eventually committed suicide in the house. Henry P. Davison bought it and the Green that is still called “Davison Green”. He gave it to the school for a principal’s home. The W.R. Cromans and the Harry Crumblings lived there, when they were principals. The school could not support it so they gave it to the town. Today we have the Troy Boro Hall, Police Office in the front and added on the back is a replica of the original building and is the Allen F. Pierce Free Library.
Our house, Alparon Farm, we know more about. It was originally 39 acres bought from the Drinker Estates in Philadelphia by Daniel and Darius Gregory. They built the house in 1822 for an inn, apparently it failed and went back to the Drinkers. Dr. Alfred Parsons bought it in 1839 from the Drinkers and lived there until the railroad went through in the 1850’s. After that several families owned it, the Gernerts, Nearings, Cases and finally the Mitchells. We moved there in 1936 and it had been a tenant house for over 75 years.
The back end of the house was ugly when we moved there and was not in
keeping with the Greek Revival architecture. We borrowed an old oil painting
from Jack Parsons, a great-grandson of Alfred and had its woodshed restored
by F.P. Case and Sons.
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180 Elmira Street - From Don Stanton - This old photo is of my Grandparents home (Charles E. and Blanche Rockwell Stanton, Sr.) at 180 Elmira Street, Troy, PA. It was formerly known as the "Grant Mansion." Mr. Grant was a jeweler and watch maker in Troy. It was sold to the Troy Community Hospital in 1972 and was torn down for a parking lot. |
| Elmira Street - From Don Stanton: The Newell house is located on the north side of Elmira St. in Troy, PA. I believe it still stands. My Aunt Ella Stanton was born here. She is sitting on the front stoop. |  |
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This very elegant residence is presently the main building of the Martha
Lloyd School. It is on Route 6 (Main Street) at the far western part of
Troy. I do not know its history prior to its role in the school. In the
postcard at left, I would guess the date in the 1930s. The building in
the background has been replaced by a newer one used for occupational therapy
or at least that was its function when I (Joyce M. Tice) worked there in
the mid 1960s.
If anyone can fill us in on the history of the building we will be grateful. The photo below is one I took in October 2000.The postcard is from my own collection. |
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Note from Don Stanton: The Martha Lloyd house was originally the farm
house. At one time my Aunt Mary Orcutt Jones Stanton's family (Frederick
and Elizabeth Sullivan Orcutt) lived there. Not sure if they owned
it or were tenants.
Don Subj: Martha Lloyd School Date: 05/25/2004 6:56:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: frbobchristchurc@ameritech.net (Robert Van Deusen) To: JoyceTice@aol.com Joyce,
Bob
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| Sarah B Willet House, then Jack Parsons. Now part of Martha Lloyd School.
From F. Marshall Case collection |
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| .This building still stands on Elmira Street across from the VanDyne Building. Originally the Davison Home, it was presented to the borough for use as a home for the school Principal. Presently it houses the borough office, police, and library. It is right next to the Troy Community Hospital. Janet PETERS Ordway submitted this postcard to us |  |
| This postcard view of the same building in roughly the same period is from the collection of Joan NASH O'Dell |  |
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This postcard of a house in Troy from the collection of Janet PETERS
Ordway is unidentified. Can you help identify the house and the street?
Subj: Troy Houses
The house that is unidentified was located at the end of Weigester St near the Bowling Alley. I do not know who owned it. Janet December 2006 Joyce, In the 40's we lived on Fallbrook Road and this property was known as the Elliott place. Judd Elliott lived there at one time. Eleanor LENT Wolfe |
| Subj: Homes in Troy, Josephine Nash Brown's
grandmother's house.
Date: 05/23/2004 12:12:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: smwoody@stny.rr.com (Shawn Woodard) To: JoyceTice@aol.com Hi Joyce,
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This house photo from the Photos of the late Josephine
NASH Brown was labeled "Grandmother's House in Troy." Can anyone tell me
where it was/is or anything else about it?  |
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This photo of the Mitchell House on Canton Street is from Fran AVERY
Bolt. I believe this no longer exists, but please, if you know better,
tell me. Where on Canton Street was it located?
Note from Don Stanton: . I think this may have been the house that was on Canton Street and torn down for the W. R. Croman Elementary School. Don
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The Mitchell House is on the corner of Canton & Chestnut Street. This would be across Canton St. from the Post Office. Still there as far as I know but will look to be sure. It is quite far back from the street.
Joyce M. Tice to Eleanor Wolfe
Hi Eleanor, Thanks a lot. I drove by there today to check it out. It
does not look like the same building, but I will take a photo some time
and compare them to see for sure. Maybe a lot of renovation has been done
and removal of the towers. Joyce M. Tice
Eleanor Wolfe to Joyce M. Tice
Hi Joyce,
I e-mailed Carlton and he says thats the B.B. Mitchell House. Carlton lived on Chestnut Street in the 1930's and his brother use to play with one of the Mitchell boys. Walter, Carlton's older brother says that Harry Crumbling torn off sections of the house and moved them up Chestnut Street where they became small houses. Dr. Kirkowski lives in the Mitchell House on Canton Street. There is another Mitchell House on Prospect Street. I have an e-mail to Carlton concerning this one. This is a very large house on the West side of the street. When you come up Chestnut Street it is across the street and a dark color. On one of the Bradsby pages you have the same picture.
Eleanor
From Eleanor LENT Wolfe Aug. 2008
Hi Joyce,
Mr. Mark Zuber is talking about another Mitchell house entirely.
The one that was torn down was the Henry Mitchell house next to the Baptist
Church.
| This photo and caption appeared in this week's Troy Gazette Register
March 18, 2004:
"We're not sure just what the project of replacing the bridge on Rte. 14 is all about, but it involves razing this house on the south corner of Redington Avenue and Canton Street. We'll let you know when we find out. "Meanwhile you have seen the last of this house. It was leveled soon after this photo was taken. You already know that it takes a much longer time to build than to tear down." |
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| House located off Railroad Ave in Troy just behind the current post office. Current post office would be to the left of this house. House is still standing. No date on photo. From Marshall Case Estate |  |
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Backer Residence
Joyce M. Tice Collection |
| Dr. Phillips House, Canton Street. Built by Charles J. Case
Photo from F. Marshall Case Collection |
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Joyce - These pictures are from a newspaper article entitled "Plan
Registration of Century Old Homes in County", probably in the Towanda Daily
Review.
The caption at the bottom reads: " The Bradford County Historical Society is undertaking the registration of century-old homes in the county, an honor previously confined to farms. Troy has at least three such homes that could qualify. Top photo shows the residence of Miss Mildred Mahood, built around 1835; middle photo is that of the residence of D. F. Pomeroy, having fanlights and entrance on each side, erected over 115 years ago as the first Church of Christ in Troy, bottom photo shows residence of Mrs. Miriam McClure, believed to have been erected in the early 1800's." N.B. All of these homes are (or were) on Elmira Street.
The Mahood house was next to my grandparents home on the west side and
was also torn down for the hospital parking lot. The Pomeroy house
was next to my former office (also a Pomeroy home, now the office of Dr.
Wagner). The McClure house is near the Ford Agency and was occupied
by the late Al McClure who also owned the Agency. - DFS (Don Stanton)
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| This bedraggled postcard has been in my personal
(JMT) collection for some time. I had not added it here because I did not
know quite where it belonged. The article on the Vickery Funeral Home sent
in by Don today (19 Apr 2006) told me that this is the house. So here it
is - now the Vickery Funeral Home.
The same article also includes a full history of this house and its owners. In 1925 it was part of the Harry Mitchell sale of properties. |
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From the Bud Mitchell Collection - Rescued form his Cabin on Armenia
earlier this year just the day before it was burned down.
Caption on back: Edwin Pomeroy House. Cronk House today (no date).On road up East Main Street over the hill - last house on the left before you get to Route 6. |
| Also rescued from Bud Mitchell's photos; Label on back: THe tenement
on East Main street. Dad sold to George Case for $100.
Dad was Harry Mitchell who sold a whole catalog of properties in 1925. |
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Another rescued treasure from the Bud Mitchell photos.
Caption on back: The Captain Ayers house on West Main. Originally a Redington house. The J. C. Penney Store (Now a video store) was built in front of it and it was torn down in 1972. |
Middle: "This tiger maple desk is late 18th century Chippendale brought from New England. The picture above is a charcoal and ink drawing of the great Troy fire of about 1870 in the O. P. Ballard Exchange block. Budd Mitchell's great-grandfather and grandfather bought the burned-out property and built the Oliver Block where the old Acme store used to stand."
Right: "This walnut Chippendale corner cupboard came from Mitchell's great-grandfather's house in Muncy. Family legend says it was brought from Philadelphia on a canal boat. It is filled with part of the Mitchell's collection of antique glass and china."
Picture Captions -
Top: "The mantel over the fireplace is short on the cupboard side to
allow room for its door to open. The cupboard was originally made for the
parlor. Floorboards in front of the footstool cover the hidden passage
that may have hidden a runaway slave in the 1860's. Behind it are
a copper warming pan and a handmade iron rotating broiler."
Middle: "The handsome Hepplewhite chest was bought locally; the 18th century coffee pot is English Lowestoft porcelain. Mitchell's Grandmother Oliver did the painting from a steel engraving."
Bottom: "The four-poster walnut bed also came from the family home in Muncy and probably from Philadelphia by canal boat. The tulip quilt and the sampler over the telephone table were made by ancestor's of Mitchell's, the sampler in 1827. This bedroom was once part of the original ballroom."
| * The old residence on Elmira Street is
believed to be the first frame dwelling in Troy, erected in 1832.
Oldest Frame House in Troy Has Survived 138 Year History Tennyson once wrote "The old order changeth, yielding place to new", which is singularly apropos of the expansions, demolitions, building and renovating going on in Troy during the past decade. One of the most recent properties to change ownership is the land and home of the late Miss F. Mildred Mahood located on Elmira St. adjacent to the Troy Community Hospital and acquired by Dr. L W Brown.
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Although the precise historical record of the house is, from 1932 to 1850, pretty nebulous the architecture and condition of the structure indicate a very long span of years. The first settlers began filtering into this area around 1798 and it would seem that things moved rapidly considering what tools, equipment and other requisities of building were available at that time. By 1827, the village of Troy, then known as Lansingburg, had two stores, two hotels, a tannery, grist mill and saw mill, a blacksmith shop, a school house and several dwellings.
The original home were, of necessity, log cabins but by May 11, 1845 when the village was incorporated as "Troy", the log cabins were fast disappearing--practically extinct, due in part at least, to the facilities of the saw mill which, in operation in 1827, could well have supplied the siding for the so-called "first frame dwelling in Troy".
The disposition of the vintage 1832 residence is undecided as yet. Due to the increasing need for parking space near the hospital, a structure used as a garage at the rear fo the old house, has been demolished, the ground leveled and graveled to provide space for approximatley 20 cars, conveniently adjacent to the hospital.
(From a newspaper article in 1970-Troy Gazette)
From Edward P Ballard Collection JPO
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Harry & Jennie Parke Ballard Home in
Troy (across from Civic Building, now a parking lot)
I am sending information on oldest frame house in Troy. This one was similiar to that one on Elmira St Troy. From Edward P Ballard Collection JPO
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| N. F. Gustin Home - 230 Elmira Street, ca 1910 | Same house 2009 - photo from Joy Laue |
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