Location

Artist - Howard Van Buren Original watercolor on display in the Visitor's Parlor

May 30, 2003 was a significant day in A Finger Lakes Visitors Connection history. This was the day that FLVC bought its building at 25 Gorham Street, Canandaigua, NY.

The building has a long and varied history, since its completion in 1884.

From May 30, 2003 to August 20, 2003, the staff and many volunteers worked to improve the building to its status as a showcase for this type of building and the endeavors of the tourism industry. Local businesses contributed to this effort.

The volunteers gave many hours and special skills. View the contributors to our renovation project below.

There is more work to be done to ensure that this facility remain an important showcase for tourism. Enjoy these before and after pictures by clicking here.

To contribute to the future improvement of 25 Gorham Street, view our wish list for the building.

The House At 25 Gorham Street
House history by Marjory Perez

The House at 25 Gorham Street in the village of Canandaigua, New York was built in 1884 by Willet M. and Anna (Godfrey) Spangle. Mr. Spangle, a prominent and enterprising clothing merchant, and his wife had purchased a small lot at the corner of Gorham and Court Street from the heirs of James McEnnally. The property had once been part of the large holdings of Nathaniel Gorham.

The Spangles chose the popular Queen Anne style of architecture for their two-story brick home. Queen Anne buildings, which became an architectural fashion in the 1880s and 1890s, are distinctive for asymmetrical construction, two-story bays, large panes of window glass surrounded by smaller panes of colored glass, steeply pitched hipped roofs using shingles to create unique designs and wrap around porches. Features of particular note are the intricately carved fireplace with ceramic tiles, the well preserved woodwork, brass hardware and arched windows, and the handcrafted newel post at the base of the gently curved stairway. The House is typical of the more restrained versions of Queen Anne found in the villages and cities of the northeast.

The House at 25 Gorham Street has only had six owners in its 119 year history. The Spangle family lived in this home until 1936. Upon the death of Willet Spangle the home was sold at public auction to Spencer Sutherland, who in turn sold it in 1947 to Guy and Minnie Baldwin. Lucile Lake, daughter of Guy and Minnie Baldwin who inherited the property in 1957, sold the house to a law firm in 1991. The downstairs has been used as law offices since that time. The upstairs was used as a residence.

On May 30, 2003 the tourism promotion agency, Finger Lakes Visitors Connection became the sixth owners of the house at 25 Gorham Street.

Our special thanks to these people and businesses who contributed their talents and resources to our new home at 25 Gorham Street:

Kelley's Custom Carpentry – Jim Kelley
Summer Helpers and Interns – Josh Boggan, Ryan Knoblauch, Mark Christopher, Eric Enni, Shreya Kadu, Erin Calkins and Joey Ruscio
Finger Lakes Board of Directors
Finger Lakes Visitors Connection Staff – Susan Gelder, Peggy Boggan, Valerie Knoblauch, Pat Charland

Antiques purchased at:
Jan's Early Attic, Antique Emporium, Nino's Antiques, Ontario Mall Antiques, Cuddeback Antique Center, the Cobblestone Antique Shop, Antiques Unlimited

Acorn Inn – Louis Clark and Joan Clark
Back to Nature Landscaping – David Barclay
Barb and Ed Gifford
Bright Ideas – Canandaigua
Bristol Mountain – Frank Riccio and Dan Fuller
Canandaigua Carpets
Canandaigua Inn on the Lake – Barb Natale
Carolyn Eckert
Catskill Bagel and Deli
City of Canandaigua
Dave and Gene Charland
Eastview Mall – Mike Kauffman
Finger Lakes Technology Group
First Priority Computers
Floorstore 2000
Flowers by Stella – Russ and Stella Pennise
Frames by VanBuren – Sue VanBuren
George Perez and Marj Perez
HEP – Canandaigua
John Cuddeback – Cuddeback Antiques
Ken and Sylvia Runner
Kenyon and Kenyon – Russ Kenyon
Kohlstadt and Frederickson – Marty Frederickson
Kris Monzel
Kurt, Andrew and Brent Knoblauch
Ontario County Maintenance Staff
Old Country Picture Framers
Potter HVAC and Metal Fab, Inc.
Rebecca Campbell
Sherwin Williams
VanHouten Brothers
Watercolors by VanBuren – Howard VanBuren
Wilcox Lumber
Wizard of Clay – Lois Kozlowski
Julie Sherwood – Daily Messenger
Andrea Deckert – Finger Lakes Times