Boardman House, Ithaca

The Boardman House is a distinguished example of Italianate architecture built in 1866. Designed by architect A.B. Dale, the three-story red-brick structure features a hipped roof, a central cupola, and intricate cast-iron window caps. The house was originally constructed for George McChain on land purchased from Ezra Cornell. In 1886, it became the home of Judge Douglass Boardman, the first dean of Cornell University Law School, whose name the house retains. This historic property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and is a significant landmark in Ithaca’s DeWitt Park Historic District.

Over its storied history, the Boardman House has served multiple purposes. After Judge Boardman’s death in 1891 and his wife’s passing in 1910, the house was purchased by the Ithaca Conservatory of Music, which later became Ithaca College. The building served as a core facility for the college until the campus relocated to South Hill in the 1960s. Following this transition, Tompkins County acquired the property, initially planning to demolish it. However, efforts by Historic Ithaca, spearheaded by Constance Saltonstall and Victoria Romanoff, successfully prevented its destruction. Through widespread advocacy and community support, the building was saved and later sold for adaptive reuse.

Today, the Boardman House remains a testament to Ithaca’s commitment to preserving its historic architecture. The building, now owned by Boardman House LLC, is an integral part of the DeWitt Park Historic District and a reminder of the city’s rich cultural and architectural legacy.