The Howe residence was built in 1869 in the distinctive Second Empire Style. Elements of this style on this house are the slate mansard roof, dormers with elaborate surrounds, and symmetrical facade. The most interesting feature of the house is the unusual Two story privy with its flared slate hipped roof and finial. This is one of very few examples of a a two story privy that still exists in the United States. The house is constructed of local brick with limestone lintels, water table, and foundation.

In 1899, Dr. Howe added a tasteful office addition to the west side of the house, faithfully maintaining the three decades old style in design and materials. In comparing the house's current appearance with historic views, it appears that a canted one story bay on the west side was removed, probably at the time of the office addition. At the same time, the front porch to the residence was modernized in the popular Colonial Revival style with a heavy ashlar granite foundation, deep porch, and short round columns. The ghost marks of the original porch pilasters are still evident on the brick wall.

The interior of the house reveals a combination of 1869 and 1899 decorative elements. Most of the trim and doors and the stair railing are from the earlier period but the parlor on the west side is lavishly trimmed in quartered oak paneling, trim and mantle. As was custom, the upstairs personal family spaces are simply detailed.

The Howe House was purchased in February 1999 and donated to the Phelps Community Historical Society by an anonymous donor. Since the structure was in very poor state of repair it was decided to engage an expert to guide them though the renovation process. Bero Associates, in Rochester, was hired to inspect the property and give recommendations for renovation, keeping the age of this 1869 Victorian building in mind. A very comprehensive report was issued and the community was approached to aid in funding the costs. Over the two year period of this project the membership and community raised over $100,000 to do the work. Not only were the contractors involved but hundreds of hours of volunteers were used on this project.

The major work performed is as follows: Complete reconstruction of the front porch. Complete replacement of all roofs on the structure. Complete removal of rotted out northeast porch and reconstruction as per original details. Complete zoning of heating system. Pointing of two exterior walls with four more major surfaces to be done over the next four years. Rebuilding of west back porch. Refurbishing of all window shutters and installation of same. These had been stored in the attic and two story outhouse for over 75 years. Installed all new wooden soffits on the house. Painted exterior woodwork and shutters with recommended original colors. Replaced all sidewalks on the property. Installed an historic finial on the 2-story outhouse (the original was not found). Replaced the chimney that had deteriorated to the roof line. Repapered and painted throughout the house as needed. Rebuilt driveway with crushed stone. Installed fire and burglar alarm throughout the house. Rebuilt two parapets on the north roof and copper coated same. Rebuilt all porch brick piers in original fashion.

By Brian P. Heffron
Finger Lakes Times
4/12/1999

PHELPS -- Even before there was indoor plumbing, the Howe house had a bathroom upstairs.

Its two-story, six hole (three up, three down)outhouse was conveniently accessible from both the first and second floors of the house after a brief walk outside.

"There are nice, high ceilings in the outhouse," said Ted Mullen, society president, "so it wouldn't get too hot in there."

Recently, the Phelps Historical bought the house at 66 Main St. with money donated for that purpose. Purchase negotiations began in December and the society took possession on Feb. 25.

"I think the donor didn't want to see one of the last old houses go," Mullen said. "The donor wanted to preserve some of the village's heritage as it was."

After a tavern burned in 1868, Dr. John Q. Howe purchased and cleared the site. The next year, he hired Moses Barlow, who had just completed the Gibson Block, to build the house.

Along with its unusual outhouse, which town historian John M. Parmelee has been told is one of only three in the state, the house has several other interesting features.

Over the kitchen, the roof served as a summer sleeping porch. It was open above and screened in on the sides, said Parmelee's brother Herb, who used to sleep up there as a boy. Lattice lined the path to the second story of the outhouse.

An addition was built in 1899 so the doctor could move his medical practice home. A narrow space separates house and addition, which was connected only by doorways and a brick facade.

Upstairs, a short bridge connects, the two structures, its stained wood emphasizing the difference between it and the painted rooms it connects.

All of the rooms are connected by wide pocket doors, which slide into walls. Mullen said it was possible to move throughout nearly the entire house without using the main hallway.

The attic, large and high enough for half-court basketball games, is covered by a Mansard roof with diamond-shaped slate shingles. The brick walls of the house rise about five feet from the attic's floor, at which height the roof slopes steeply for the height of the attic windows. The roof above is nearly flat.

The roof also has a Yankee gutter, a three-foot projection that comes straight out from the base of the attic windows. A trough in the projection collects water from the roof and takes it to a downspout.

In a basement, one corner of the mostly-dirt floor is blackened, a reminder of the coal bin that once supplied the house with heat. An exterior cellar stairway opens onto the back porch, the door blending in with the porch's floor so evenly that Mullen did not notice its location until Thursday.

A dumb waiter was installed at some point and later removed, perhaps as a safety measure. Mullen's wife, Jane, said dumb waiters often act as chimneys in house fires, helping them spread between floors quickly.

There was also at one time a picket fence around the property, which the society hopes to replicate.

Three generations of the Howe family lived in the house: Dr. John Q. Howe; his son William, also a doctor; and William's son, John Q. Howe II, an insurance salesman. All three had offices, in turn, in the addition.

Mullen said he remembered buying insurance from Howe in the addition.

In 1985, Alice Howe, John Q. Howe II's widow, died and the house was purchased by Bob and Beth Burns, now of Stanley and Florida. Burns had offices for their business, Burns Electric, in the addition.

The couple sold the house in 1991 to Alan F. and Patricia Taylor, who planned to use it as a bed and breakfast, and began renovating it to that end. Mullen and society curator Doris Spink said the costs of renovations probably became prohibitive, and the family moved to Rochester.

Soon, the house will be a home again; the first home the society has owned in its 30-year history. Since being founded in 1969, the historical society has operated out of the basement of the American Legion post home, where more than 1,600 items are cataloged and displayed -- among them Dr. William Howe's medical bag. Additional items are scattered throughout the area in members' barns.

Mullen said the society hopes to open its office sometime in May, occupying the front room of the addition. The room behind it will be available for public use in genealogical research, which John M. Parmelee said is a popular hobby.

Other rooms in the addition will be used as work areas and storage. One particularly dark room will be used for storing light-sensitive items. Parmelee will also have an office in the addition.

Society members have not yet decided how to use the house itself. There may be period rooms and display rooms. Rochester architectural firm John Bero Associates, which specializes in old building restorations, is evaluating the structure and will make recommendations. Mullen said he hopes the evaluation will be completed by the end of May.

The house is in quite good condition inside, Mullen, being firm, dry and well-kept. Outside, the roof and porches need some work.

Luckily for the society, the damaged porches were never removed. That fact gives them a perfect basis for authentic restoration. Even if every board has to be replaced, the society will know exactly what those boards should look like.

Among the first things that should be preserved, some say, is that unusual outhouse. Mullen said many have recommended getting a grant to fix it because of its rarity.

The society will hold drives later to raise the funds for the renovation. Currently, the society has a rough estimate that restorations will cost about $100,000, one-quarter of which it already has.

Those interested in helping the Phelps Community Historical Society with its efforts may leave a message at the Howe House at (315) 548-4940.