BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Crews were set to begin work on Aug. 18 on Temple Concord’s “long planned and eagerly anticipated” project to restore “stunning but critically deteriorated” features of the Kilmer Mansion. Temple Concord is the Reform synagogue of New York’s Southern Tier, located at 9 Riverside Drive in Binghamton. The 122-year-old building is home […]
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Crews were set to begin work on Aug. 18 on Temple Concord’s “long planned and eagerly anticipated” project to restore “stunning but critically deteriorated” features of the Kilmer Mansion.
Temple Concord is the Reform synagogue of New York’s Southern Tier, located at 9 Riverside Drive in Binghamton.
The 122-year-old building is home to one of the last grand parlors of the Parlor City.
The project is a multi-year, multi-phase endeavor to rebuild portions of the stone building that have deteriorated over time, “some to the point of collapse.”
The first phase focuses on rebuilding the three prominent stone chimneys well above the third-floor level. Crews will remove and replace stones using a crane and multiple boom lifts.
Temple Concord is working with Chianis + Anderson Architects, PLLC and the Binghamton office of CTM Construction to complete the project, per a news release from Chianis + Anderson Architects.
The Kilmer Mansion is a locally, state, and nationally registered historic landmark. Located at 9 Riverside Drive, the residence is associated with Jonas M. Kilmer, one of the city’s “most prominent, colorful and wealthy” businessmen.
With its “eclectic” Victorian-era architectural style, the Kilmer Mansion was designed by architect C. Edward Vosbury.
“We are beyond excited to see the restoration of this spectacular historic treasure begin,” Lisa Blackwell, president of Temple Concord, said in a statement. “The Temple Concord congregation has been steward to the Kilmer Mansion for 70 years. We are determined to preserve it for generations to come for the entire Binghamton community to enjoy. We are deeply grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from numerous foundations and many generous individuals, both from our own congregation and from the community at large. Without these generous donors, this work would not be possible. We also could not be more pleased to be working with Jeffery Smith of Chianis + Anderson Architects and Christopher Tracy of CTM Construction, both of whom bring unsurpassed knowledge and professionalism to the project, along with a love of the Mansion itself.”
Future phases will rebuild and restore the structures “endangered” porches and terraces.
The Kilmer Mansion Masonry Restoration Project has been funded in part by grants from the Community Foundation for South Central New York — David and Virginia Eisenberg Fund and Sam and Julia Selkowitz Fund; John E. Streb Fund for New York of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; The New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Program; Stewart W. and Wilma C. Hoyt Foundation; Harvey & Elizabeth Prior Shriber Foundation; Jacob and Rose Olum Foundation; Temple Concord Foundation.
