Aerial view of Manning and Kline farmhouses, 1954. From Cornell University Digital Library New York Aerial Photographs, https://digital.library.cornell.edu/collection/aerialny.
Isaac and Mary Owen Manning Farm
Northeast Ithaca, centered on 105 Warwick Pl
In the early 1800s, Isaac and Mary Owen Manning cleared the land for a farm that would much later become much of the "Northeast" neighborhood of Ithaca.
Isaac and Mary's son, Thompson Manning (1822-1903), spent 80 years of a long life on the farm. His first wife was Caroline Drake Manning (1821-1881). In 1869, their daughter Carrie (1856-1875) kept a diary in which she described daily life in great detail, including staying home from school to "drop corn," ironing calico, gathering nuts, making "Delicate Cake," playing dominoes, and chewing "pitch gum."
She tells of her father going to the mill where his grains were ground into flour or meal for the livestock and of holding candles for light while he butchered a hog. Snow was cleared by oxen; sick folk were cured by boneset, catnip, pennyroyal, and other herbs. She mentions families whose names you'll recognize--Kline, Hanshaw, Cornell--among them. Carrie died in 1875, at just nineteen, and is buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
Professor T. Hewitt's Landmarks of Tompkins County (1894) describes Thompson Manning's successful sheep farm:
Northeast Ithaca, centered on 105 Warwick Pl
In the early 1800s, Isaac and Mary Owen Manning cleared the land for a farm that would much later become much of the "Northeast" neighborhood of Ithaca.
Isaac and Mary's son, Thompson Manning (1822-1903), spent 80 years of a long life on the farm. His first wife was Caroline Drake Manning (1821-1881). In 1869, their daughter Carrie (1856-1875) kept a diary in which she described daily life in great detail, including staying home from school to "drop corn," ironing calico, gathering nuts, making "Delicate Cake," playing dominoes, and chewing "pitch gum."
She tells of her father going to the mill where his grains were ground into flour or meal for the livestock and of holding candles for light while he butchered a hog. Snow was cleared by oxen; sick folk were cured by boneset, catnip, pennyroyal, and other herbs. She mentions families whose names you'll recognize--Kline, Hanshaw, Cornell--among them. Carrie died in 1875, at just nineteen, and is buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
Professor T. Hewitt's Landmarks of Tompkins County (1894) describes Thompson Manning's successful sheep farm:
"Manning, Thompson, was born on the farm which he now owns, January 12, 1822. His father was one of the early settlers of the county and cleared up the farm on which his son now resides. He received his education in the district schools, after leaving which, he devoted himself to farming, at the same time taking an active interest in the events of the day, both political and educational. He was trustee of the school in the district in which he lives for eight or more years, finally declined the office. Our subject is a prosperous farmer in his neighborhood, and raises large amounts of hay, grain and stock, and makes a specialty of sheep." Professor T. Hewitt, Landmarks of Tompkins County (Syracuse, New York: D. Mason, 1894), Part III, 177.
As for the farm, Thompson Manning sold it to Ezra Cornell's grandson, Franklin C. Cornell, in 1902. The farm was used as grazing land for the horses that pulled the wagons for Franklin Cornell's East Hill Coal Company. When the automobile made the labor of horses redundant, Franklin sold the land to his sister, Eunice Cornell Taylor, and her husband Charles. Franklin Cornell III and his wife Emily later purchased the dairy farm that Eunice and Charles had established. After Franklin's death, Emily sold the land to developer Otto Schoenfeld.
In the 1960s Schoenfeld subdivided the land and developed Texas Lane and Williamsburg Park on the east side of North Triphammer Road. Tom and Patty Davis, who moved into 2211 North Triphammer Road, a modern split-level home on what was still a country road with nary a shop beyond in Lansing, were instrumental in organizing the petition that resulted in the extension of a sidewalk from North Triphammer on to Winthrop Drive up to the Village line. This made it safe for the increasing number of schoolchildren to walk to Northeast Elementary School.
In the 1960s Schoenfeld subdivided the land and developed Texas Lane and Williamsburg Park on the east side of North Triphammer Road. Tom and Patty Davis, who moved into 2211 North Triphammer Road, a modern split-level home on what was still a country road with nary a shop beyond in Lansing, were instrumental in organizing the petition that resulted in the extension of a sidewalk from North Triphammer on to Winthrop Drive up to the Village line. This made it safe for the increasing number of schoolchildren to walk to Northeast Elementary School.
Patricia Longoria
Village of Cayuga Heights Deputy Historian
Village of Cayuga Heights Deputy Historian
