08/31/2026
Main Street Monday
95-101 Main Street
As covered in the previous Main Street Monday post, the lot on which the buildings making up 95-101 Main Street contained in early years “the cherished home of the Hon. William Mallery." The property exchanged hands three or four times until it came under the ownership of Joseph Reynolds in 1853.
It is probably at this time that a new block, called the “Reynolds Block,” was erected on the lot, likely initially neighboring the Mallery residence. Smith’s “History of Cortland County” explains that “the first public hall in Cortland village that was prepared expressly for amusements, public meetings, dancing parties, etc., was what was known as Reynolds’s Hall, and later as Squires’s Hall, after the building passed into possession of James S. Squires.”
Also in the Reynolds Block was the Empire Saloon located in the basement, accessed by a stair on the left side of the building. “R. Newton and N. Sannick respectfully announce that they have leased the above establishment (Empire Saloon) and have fitted it up as a first-class Saloon, where all the delicacies, as well as substantials, will be served in the most superior style. During the summer season they will be constantly prepared to serve excellent ICE CREAM AND CONFECTIONARY, with ample conveniences, and skill in its manufacture, their Cream cannot be excelled by any other establishment. Parties of Ladies and Gentlemen will be accommodated,” (Cortland NY Whig, May 1854). There was steady turnover in ownership of the saloon over the years; in 1858 the Republican Banner reported that “We called into the Empire Saloon a day or two since, and was very agreeably surprised to find it kept in much better order than we had imagined. Instead of the manner in which such Saloons are usually kept, this is kept neatly and quietly. Mr. Meadon the Proprietor, has the appearance of a gentleman, and will do all in his power to accommodate his customers.” It was said of another proprietor, Johnny Hunter, that “in order to avoid the ‘bar’ law, kept his whiskey in a pail with a dipper and these in an old stove.”
The other storefronts of the Reynolds Block in the 1850s were used by Lyman Reynolds, lawyer; Benton & Woodruff, clothes; William E. Lewis, boots and shoes. In 1857, Lyman Reynolds went out to Minnesota with his brother-in-law, Augustus Ballard, to start up a lumber mill. The Reynolds Block, under the ownership of Lyman’s father, Joseph Reynolds, was sold off to James S. Squires in 1861.
Throughout the following decades, while the names associated with the businesses changed constantly, they mostly kept to the same types- boots & shoes, barbers, hardware/carriage goods, clothing & accessories, furniture & undertaking, along with offices upstairs that at one time housed the Cortland Democrat printing offices, and an assembly hall on the third floor. The assembly hall played host to countless clubs and organizations, and would be known at various times as Temperence Hall & Odd Fellows Hall, and accommodated the meetings of the Lincoln Lodge (I.O.G.T.); Bryan & Sewall bi-metallic league (Free Silverites); the Knights of Pythias, and many others.
Sometime before 1895, William Martin purchased the building which became known as the Martin block. In 1900, it was announced that “W.A. Wallace & Co have opened the only saloon in the city of Cortland. The interior of the Martin block has been fitted up in elegant shape, several very pretty lunch rooms being nicely furnished,” (Cortland Democrat, July 13, 1900). This saloon was named the Oak Café, located in the northernmost (left) storefront. After twenty years, Wallace sold the business to Earl A. Fish who still operated the café in 1930 when the block (sold in 1910 to Charles F. Sarson & J. Melvin Samson) underwent renovations at which time the entire first floor of the building was lowered to street level, new store fronts put in and tapestry brick used for the front with stucco for the upper floors, giving the old frame structure with brown wooden siding a fresh look. At the same time, the bottom floor would be taken over by the Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P) store and the Circle Supply Corp. which dealt in radios, automobile tires and accessories, and small appliances.
While up until now my focus has been on the Reynolds block, I would be remiss to forget to mention that the alleyway between the block and its neighbor (Dowd building) to the left, long the access point to the saloons and barber shops that occupied the downstairs, was by the 1880s taken over by a narrow addition housing at different points a jeweler, a fruit stand, and various to***conists (James Kelley & Co, Sebastian Lohr & Son, James Porter, John Scollins). The longest running of the to***co shops was the Umpire Cigar Store started up by Ira A. Dexter in the first part of the twentieth century, and carried on by his son, Thomas Arthur “Art” Dexter.
In October of 1959, the over one-hundred-year-old block was demolished to make way for a new J.C. Penney. The Cortland Standard reported that it was the “oldest business block on Main Street, in which Fabrizio’s Men’s Shop and Alita’s Vogue now occupy the ground level stores. Penney’s new store is designed to provide 14,000 square feet of floor space. The landlord will be Harry Fabrizio…Fabrizio’s Men’s Shop and the business known as Alita’s New Dress Shop will be relocated two doors down in the former Mathews store building, now being completely renovated. Also relocating will be a barber shop, sign painting studio and tailor shop now in upper floors of the building to be demolished. The demolition of the Fabrizio building, which is about 130 years old, will also include Dexter’s Cigar Store…Harry Fabrizio purchased the former Reynolds Block in 1929 from the Samson estate, the block at one time owned by the firm Samson and Sarson. The block is believed to have been erected in 1829 [unconfirmed] and was known as the Martin Block (this is a later name for it)…The building formerly had a balcony across the front...The new Penney’s will be completely modern and will feature the latest developments in store design, fixtures, lighting, and equipment. Illumination throughout will be provided by the new fluorescent lighting. Color will be engineered to play a functional as well as decorative role in each department.”
In 1991, J.C. Penney moved into a new location in Cortlandville. The front of the Main Street block was remodeled in the 2000s, and in 2013 was occupied by the Armed Forces Career Center; Cortland Works Career Center; and The Bling Store. These remain unchanged except for the last unit (101), now Gorgers restaurant.
~Sophie, Collections & Research Assistant
