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HISTORIAN’S CORNER
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PHELPS HISTORY
History of the Howe House
The Phelps Community Historical Society Museum includes more than 2000 items, mostly those that have a connection with Phelps such as being made here, store items, household items, pictures, scrapbooks and maps, clothing, Phelps postcards, farm equipment, etc. There are over 90 scrapbooks containing births, marriages, deaths, of the people of Phelps, as well as happenings that occurred in Phelps. We have the Phelps Cemetery Records of 26 cemeteries, plus 10 cemeteries near the Town of Phelps. Some vital statistics are housed on micro film that date back to 1871.
Doris Spink is the director of the Phelps Community Historical Society. Don Tiffany - Town Historian - has an office at the museum. Please contact Doris or Don to discuss Phelps history and to do a search for you. Kindly be as specific as possible in your description to the staff of what you are looking for. Donations are appreciated.
Memorial Gifts
Memorial gift donations may be made in the name of a loved one or friend. If you wish to honor someone close to you, please contact us for further details.
The Howe residence was built in 1869 in the distinctive Second Empire Style. Elements of this style on this house are the slate mansard roof, dormers with elaborate surrounds, and symmetrical facade.
The most interesting feature of the house is the unusual two story privy with its flared slate hipped roof and finial. This is one of very few examples of a a two story privy that still exists in the United States. The house is constructed of local brick with limestone lintels, water table, and foundation.
In 1899, Dr. Howe added a tasteful office addition to the west side of the house, faithfully maintaining the three decades old style in design and materials.
In comparing the house's current appearance with historic views, it appears that a canted one story bay on the west side was removed, probably at the time of the office addition.
At the same time, the front porch to the residence was modernized in the popular Colonial Revival style with a heavy ashlar granite foundation, deep porch, and short round columns. The ghost marks of the original porch pilasters are still evident on the brick wall.
The interior of the house reveals a combination of 1869 and 1899 decorative elements. Most of the trim and doors and the stair railing are from the earlier period but the parlor on the west side is lavishly trimmed in quartered oak paneling, trim and mantle. As was custom, the upstairs personal family spaces are simply detailed.
The Howe House was purchased in February 1999 and donated to the Phelps Community Historical Society by an
anonymous donor. Since the structure was in very poor state of repair it was decided to
engage an expert to guide them though the renovation process.
Bero Associates, in Rochester, was hired to inspect the property and give recommendations for renovation, keeping the age of this 1869 Victorian building in mind. A very comprehensive report was issued and the community was approached to aid in funding the costs.
Over the two year period of this project the membership and community raised over $100,000 to do the work. Not only were the contractors involved but hundreds of hours of volunteers were used on this project
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