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My Family Once Owned Ezra’s ‘Nook,’ His First Marital Home

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I visited the Ithaca house as a boy—and recently, I was inspired to trace its provenance from when the Founder left to its demolition

“Chime In” comprises brief first-person essays by Cornellians. Do you have a topic in mind? Email us at cornellians@cornell.edu!

By Stephen Ferris ’73

An abandoned house once stood alone in a ravine just north of the intersection of Kline Road and Lake Street in Ithaca’s Fall Creek neighborhood.

In 1960, when I was nine years old, I rode my bicycle to it many times with friends. We wandered through the boarded-up house, marveling at antique furniture, silver objects, and a chandelier, all covered with cobwebs.

Only years later, after it was torn down in 1961, did I learn that it was Ezra Cornell’s first marital home, the Nook.

provided

He and his family lived there from 1831–52, later moving to Forest Park, the farm that would become the University campus.

The story of Ezra at the Nook is well known—but what happened to the property in the more than 100 years after he left are more shrouded in mystery.

The story of Ezra at the Nook is well known—but what happened to the property in the more than 100 years after he left are more shrouded in mystery.

I have long wondered what became of those antiques, and whether they once belonged to Ezra. I also wondered who lived in the Nook between 1853 and its demolition in 1961.

In 2026, I made several trips to the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County clerks’ offices to examine deeds for 509 Lake Street, the Nook’s former address. The site is now occupied by Fall Haven Apartments just east of the Ithaca High School. Key pieces of information were the deed histories of 1919 and 1920.

"The Nook," the cottage where Ezra and his family lived — rare and manuscript collections

An artist's rendering of the Nook — rare and manuscript collections

The first deed I obtained (1919) appeared when city clerks typed in 509 Lake Street—but in retrospect appears to primarily involve the adjacent parcel, now 208 Kline Road. After a visit to the History Center in Tompkins County, I was able to partially reconstruct the Nook’s and Kline Road’s post-Cornell history.

It became evident that the original parcel was divided several times over the years and later reassembled by a woman named Ella Wood. One parcel was clearly retained for a time by the Cornell family, namely Ezra’s son Franklin; an 1889 map shows he owned land just to the south of Kline Road.

In 2026, I made several trips to the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County clerks’ offices to examine deeds for 509 Lake Street, the Nook’s former address.

A surprise was that Cornell professor Arthur “Doc” Allen 1907, PhD 1911, owned part of the former Nook property in 1919. Not only was Allen a nationally recognized ornithologist, he was the founder of what became the Lab of Ornithology, and was prominent in the Cayuga Bird Club.

The 1920 census shows that he resided on the adjacent parcel at the top of the ravine. It was called “Glenside” and was later given the address 208 Kline Road. This is also Allen’s official address in the 1920 Cornell directory.

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A vintage map showing the location of the Nook near Lake Street and Kline Road — history center in tompkins county

A vintage aerial photo showing Kline Road, Lake Street, and some buildings — history center in tompkins county

The first house at Glenside was built circa 1870 and is shown on an 1872 map as belonging to S. Earle, which aligns with the deed. An 1889 map shows it belonging to A.B. Wood. Wood then sold it to Allen. The current structure dates to 1899.

Did Allen own the Nook, or just Glenside? The 1919 deed is unclear.

Cornell professor Arthur 'Doc' Allen 1907, PhD 1911, owned part of the former Nook property in 1919. Not only was Allen a nationally recognized ornithologist, he was the founder of what became the Lab of Ornithology.

The Ithaca directory identifies A.B. Wood as Alvah Bugbee Wood, a famous local architect and member of Cornell’s Class of 1875. He designed Fall Creek School (which I attended), the train station, Immaculate Conception Church, and several houses on State Street.

The biggest surprise in my journey was learning that my grandfather Howard Ferris and great-grandfather David Addison Ferris lived in the Nook! This was revealed by the 1910 census. The Ithaca directory places David there from 1909–18.

A vintage black and white photo of (left to right) Ralph Ferris, David Addison Ferris, and Howard Ferris — provided

I knew he was a carpenter, because I inherited his commercial-grade tool box from his son. Perhaps David moved in with the intention of making much-needed repairs after 80 years in exchange for a rent deal. A check of my family genealogy confirmed that names and ages matched.

The biggest surprise in my journey was learning that my grandfather and great-grandfather lived in the Nook!

Another revelation was that David owned the Nook between 1914–20. He is recorded on a deed transferring the property to Charles and Emma Krancz in 1920. Since he bought it in 1914, it is very likely he was renting the house between 1909–14.

Further sleuthing revealed that my great uncle Ralph Ferris 1907 (Howard’s brother) also lived in the Nook around 1915. Could he have known Arthur Allen, who graduated the same year and may have briefly been his neighbor?

A weathered plaque that says "In memory of Ezra Cornell -- Here in 1831 Ezra Cornell built for his bride 'The Nook' -- Here their eight children were born -- Here they lived until 1852" — corey ryan earle ’07

When I revisited the property in 1962, I was saddened to find the Nook was gone. The site is now marked by a small, weathered plaque mounted on a fence behind some trash bins near the Fall Haven Apartments.

It seems unbelievable that the site of such a fabled house, so integral to Cornell’s history, has been reduced to relative obscurity.

Many at Cornell that I contacted seemed unaware of the Nook’s later history. I hope that fellow Cornellians who read this article will “chime in” with additional information that may help fill in the remaining gaps.

So who owned the antiques I saw more than 65 years ago? They may have belonged to the last known occupant listed in the Ithaca directory, Susan Krancz; the second wife of Charles Krancz, she lived there from 1922–53.

Here, the story comes full circle—as my great-grandfather sold the Nook to the Krancz family in 1920.

A former biology major in CALS, Stephen Ferris ’73 holds a doctorate from the University of Illinois. He has published on biochemical evolution and held marketing and technology licensing positions. Most recently, he has turned to writing satire, which has appeared in NewsBiscuit and Humor Times. A longtime Ithaca resident, he finds all things Ithaca fascinating.

Published September 10, 2026

My Family Once Owned Ezra’s ‘Nook,’ His First Marital Home

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