The Founders of Historic Ithaca

Historic Ithaca’s first temporary officers, and many of its first members, were members of the Ithaca Downtown Business Women association. These officers were: chairman Sylvia Reinhardt, vice-chairman Mabel DeMotte, secretary Elizabeth Simpson, and treasurer Dorothy Saperstone. In these early months, the forms were filed to establish the organization as a nonprofit organization and member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. From their first temporary office at 211 East Seneca Street, the first members of HI sent out mailings to advertise their formation, gauge interest in their purpose, and announce the date of their first meeting in January, to be chaired by Professor Stuart Stein of Cornell. By the end of 1966, these trailblazing women and their early supporters had created Historic Ithaca, Inc.