Building date: 1837
Original use: Schoolhouse
Corner structures:
Mortar application and content:
Types and uses of stones:
Types and choice of windows:
Structures with similar masonry details: Same mason as Ale-1 Hastings-Brown, Bet-1 Lloyd
Masons who worked on building:
Unique features:
Map views courtesy Google Maps. Street level view is not available. Address is Google Earth confirmed; 42°54'07.91"N 78°15'33.97"W. Current owner of record, Town of Alexander as of date (YMD) 190317.
Town of Alexander and Genesee County Maps
"Formation and history of the "Genesee and Wyoming Seminary", History of Genesee County, transcribed page 150 excerpt.
One of the most outstanding examples of cobblestone construction being applied to public buildings is the three-story building at 3350 Church St. in the village of Alexander in Genesee County. It is thought to be the only three-story cobblestone structure in the U.S.* It was constructed in 1837 as Genesee Classical Seminary by Hezekiah Barnard with funding from the Literary Society of the Alexandrian Library. Later it was called Free Union School. It served as a school for 101 years. It is currently the Alexander Town Hall. The local historical museum is on the third floor. It is a fine example of New England Georgian style including the "widow's walk" and Georgian lantern. Richard Palmer blog.
* Editor's Note: There is another 3 story cobblestone structure, Buena Vista House, in East Troy, WI. Status unknown since demolition was being sought and being fought by Historical Society and interested public.
National Registers of Historic Places Registration Form sections, 10/25/1973:
"7. Description"
"8. Statement of Significance"
"Landmark of Learning", submitted by Harold A. Craig, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 10/23/1949
"Cobblestone Examples Noted in Genesee Recall Construction Over Century Ago, by Charlotte M. Reed, Genesee County Historian, Batavia Daily Press, April 23, 1966
"Landmark Tour of Alexander", The Cobblestone School, 8/4/1973
"Citizens studying hall fate", by Kevin Saville, Daily News Staff Writer, The Daily News, ca. 1990 - actual date unknown.
"Town hall's friends rally", Preservationists marshal forces early, Opinion, The Daily News, 5/8/1990.
"Schmieder Letter" requesting help organizing a Citizens Group, 5/28/1990.
"Letter to Sharon Pestlin", Town of Alexander Clerk, 2/3/1992
"Alexander to renovate its historic Cobblestone", by Bruce Andriatch, Staff Writer, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 10/21/1992.
"Town pitches in for landmark", by Bruce Andriatch, Staff Writer, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 11/16/1993
"Restoration of cobblestone building complete", by Bob Buyer, News Staff Reporter, The Buffalo News, 5/28/1997. Photograph by Mike Groll, Buffalo News.
The Cobblestone Society & Museum Tours:
Alexander Town Hall 14th Annual 06/01/1974
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National Register of Historic Places Registration
- "Cobblestone Masonry", 1966, Carl Schmidt: Name reference, Genesee - Wyoming Seminary
- Page 24
- "Cobblestone Landmarks of New York State", 1978, by Olaf William Shelgren, Jr., Cary Lattin, and Robert W. Frasch, Photographs by Gerda Peterich: Name reference, Alexandre Classical School
- Page 92
- "The Era of Cobblestone Architecture", unpublished manuscript 1972. To access the manuscript content about this structure, see 7. Genesee County, Genesee-Wyoming Seminary.
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¹ Image courtesy Gerda Peterich.
² Image courtesy Cobblestone Museum.
³ Photography courtesy Martin and Sheila Wolfish.
4 Photography courtesy Richard Palmer.
