Opinion
Anybody Home?
September 6, 2007 - 11:00pm
Ah, Collegetown housing. My mom thinks the whole place is a firetrap. My dad sees it all as a big rip-off. You’ve probably searched high and low trying to find a residence that meets everyone’s standards. No dishwasher? A deal breaker. A 10-month lease? Sign now. And now that we’ve finally unpacked, house-hunting season is already upon us.
The houses in C-town have certainly taken a beating over the years. My Collegetown apartment greeted my housemates and I with a trickle of water that completed ceased if someone was doing laundry. Great, no water! A friend lived in a room with a temperature that hovered around 60 degrees the entire winter. Once, when trying to leave a Collegetown house, I got shocked as I pushed open the metal screen door; an electric current had surrounded the entire house. And yet, we pay anywhere from $400 to $1,000 a month to live in these giant houses that have been chopped into the apartments we call home. So who lived here when these houses belonged to one family and the floors weren’t sticky from decades of spilled beer?
Perhaps Collegetown’s most famous resident is Lolita author Vladimir Nabokov. He came to Ithaca in 1948 to teach Russian at Cornell; while in Ithaca, he and his family lived in 10 different homes in the area. Cornell historian Morris Bishop helped Nabokov rent his first home at 957 E. State St. A few months later, Nabokov and his family moved into 802 E. Seneca St. However, the Nabokovs left this home three years after moving in because the rent was too high. It was primarily at these two homes where Nabokov wrote Lolita. In fact, in 1950 while living at his Seneca Street residence, Nabokov tried to burn his rough draft of the literary masterpiece in the house’s incinerator. Fortunately, his wife intruded and convinced him not to burn the novel read in so many Cornell classes today.
The Sages are another notable Collegetown family. Henry Sage, who donated the Sage College for Women (presently the Johnson School of Management), built a home for him and his son between East State and East Seneca Streets. Today, most Cornellians know this house as Sage Place. Many member of the Glee Club live here, so the house frequently plays host to a capella after-parties.
Since Cornell’s founding, many University officials and trustees have chosen to live close to campus, including Ezra Cornell’s nephew. In the early 1920s, Charles Ezra Cornell moved to Ithaca to represent the Cornell family on the Board of Trustees. He resided just up the street from Chapter House at 508 Stewart Ave.
The co-ops and fraternities have also had quite a few famed occupants. Ever been to hear one of the bands at a themed party at 660 Stewart co-op? Elizabeth Treman and her husband, Mynderse Van Cleef built this house in 1902 between the homes of Elizabeth’s brothers, Robert H. Treman and Charles E. Treman. The couple lived here with their two daughters, but they also had some help from their cook, chauffeur, maid and gardener. Now home to 20-plus Cornellians, these students get along just fine without the extra services.
Close to 660 co-op is the Llenroc fraternity; yes, that’s Cornell spelled backwards. As its name suggests, this large stone house was built for the Cornell family. (Cornell’s carriage house, built just above Llenroc, is now Cayuga Lodge co-op.) Although Cornell was there to see construction begin on his home in 1867, he passed away before it was completed. His wife, Mary Ann, lived there after his death and decades later, in 1911, Delta Phi moved into the house. What would ol’ Ezra think if he knew people were breaking it down to “This Is Why I’m Hot” on his hardwood floors?
Traveling up the road into Cayuga Heights, you’ll find Sigma Chi fraternity, formally known as Greystone. Its most famous resident, actress Irene Castle, came to Ithaca in 1916 to continue her career as both a silent-film star and ballroom dancer. After her first husband died, Castle married a Treman (Robert E.) and the couple lived in Greystone from 1919 to 1923 — until she left both Ithaca and Treman for another man. Apparently, drama showed up at this house long before the freshmen girls arrived.
So whether you’re going to live in house formally rented by a movie star, a world renowned author or just your older sibling, still make sure to check the water pressure before you sign the lease. And best of luck with your search!
Sarah Olesiuk is a senior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She can be contacted at solesiuk@cornellsun.com. Archive This! appears alternate Fridays.
Ah, Collegetown housing. My mom thinks the whole place is a firetrap. My dad sees it all as a big rip-off. You’ve probably searched high and low trying to find a residence that meets everyone’s standards. No dishwasher? A deal breaker. A 10-month lease? Sign now. And now that we’ve finally unpacked, house-hunting season is already upon us.
The houses in C-town have certainly taken a beating over the years. My Collegetown apartment greeted my housemates and I with a trickle of water that completed ceased if someone was doing laundry. Great, no water! A friend lived in a room with a temperature that hovered around 60 degrees the entire winter. Once, when trying to leave a Collegetown house, I got shocked as I pushed open the metal screen door; an electric current had surrounded the entire house. And yet, we pay anywhere from $400 to $1,000 a month to live in these giant houses that have been chopped into the apartments we call home. So who lived here when these houses belonged to one family and the floors weren’t sticky from decades of spilled beer?
Perhaps Collegetown’s most famous resident is Lolita author Vladimir Nabokov. He came to Ithaca in 1948 to teach Russian at Cornell; while in Ithaca, he and his family lived in 10 different homes in the area. Cornell historian Morris Bishop helped Nabokov rent his first home at 957 E. State St. A few months later, Nabokov and his family moved into 802 E. Seneca St. However, the Nabokovs left this home three years after moving in because the rent was too high. It was primarily at these two homes where Nabokov wrote Lolita. In fact, in 1950 while living at his Seneca Street residence, Nabokov tried to burn his rough draft of the literary masterpiece in the house’s incinerator. Fortunately, his wife intruded and convinced him not to burn the novel read in so many Cornell classes today.
The Sages are another notable Collegetown family. Henry Sage, who donated the Sage College for Women (presently the Johnson School of Management), built a home for him and his son between East State and East Seneca Streets. Today, most Cornellians know this house as Sage Place. Many member of the Glee Club live here, so the house frequently plays host to a capella after-parties.
Since Cornell’s founding, many University officials and trustees have chosen to live close to campus, including Ezra Cornell’s nephew. In the early 1920s, Charles Ezra Cornell moved to Ithaca to represent the Cornell family on the Board of Trustees. He resided just up the street from Chapter House at 508 Stewart Ave.
The co-ops and fraternities have also had quite a few famed occupants. Ever been to hear one of the bands at a themed party at 660 Stewart co-op? Elizabeth Treman and her husband, Mynderse Van Cleef built this house in 1902 between the homes of Elizabeth’s brothers, Robert H. Treman and Charles E. Treman. The couple lived here with their two daughters, but they also had some help from their cook, chauffeur, maid and gardener. Now home to 20-plus Cornellians, these students get along just fine without the extra services.
Close to 660 co-op is the Llenroc fraternity; yes, that’s Cornell spelled backwards. As its name suggests, this large stone house was built for the Cornell family. (Cornell’s carriage house, built just above Llenroc, is now Cayuga Lodge co-op.) Although Cornell was there to see construction begin on his home in 1867, he passed away before it was completed. His wife, Mary Ann, lived there after his death and decades later, in 1911, Delta Phi moved into the house. What would ol’ Ezra think if he knew people were breaking it down to “This Is Why I’m Hot” on his hardwood floors?
Traveling up the road into Cayuga Heights, you’ll find Sigma Chi fraternity, formally known as Greystone. Its most famous resident, actress Irene Castle, came to Ithaca in 1916 to continue her career as both a silent-film star and ballroom dancer. After her first husband died, Castle married a Treman (Robert E.) and the couple lived in Greystone from 1919 to 1923 — until she left both Ithaca and Treman for another man. Apparently, drama showed up at this house long before the freshmen girls arrived.
So whether you’re going to live in house formally rented by a movie star, a world renowned author or just your older sibling, still make sure to check the water pressure before you sign the lease. And best of luck with your search!
Sarah Olesiuk is a senior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She can be contacted at solesiuk@cornellsun.com. Archive This! appears alternate Fridays.