Look Up, Cortland: Samson Block

Hello there, reader! Welcome to Look up, Cortland!: The series where we dive deep into the history behind the buildings that once were home to businesses and more that helped evolve the City of Cortland into what we know today and encourage those who walk into these buildings to first look up to see the pieces of history left behind at the places they usually visit.

Today, we’ll be looking at the Samson Block, which is located at 2-8 Main St. right next to the Community Restaurant. Would you believe that this four floor high building was once called the Lyman Block long ago and was a lot smaller? Let’s look up!

Before we get into the article, I would like to give a special thanks to the Cortland Historical Society for supplying photos and help provide sources for this article.

Samson Block. (Photo provided by Kaitlyn Hession/Cortland Voice).

This eye-catching yellow and brown building has been sitting at the corner of Main St. and Groton Ave for over 120 years. As many businesses came and gone from this building, it remains in its original spot with space to occupy 4 shops, apartments for rent, and offices. At the top of the building, you’ll see the name “Samson Block”, which references the original owner of the building: J. Melvin Samson.

During the earlier days of this block, many businesses took place in the building including Shepard’s dry goods store, Wiltsie’s Department Store, Mrs. J.T. Davern & Co.’s, and Fanny Farmer’s Chocolates. While this building was built in 1896, we would need to go back 80 years earlier to find more about not only the Samson family, but also when the Lyman Block became the Samson Block.

In 1816, the Lyman Block was built by Asahel P. Lyman and was later owned by J. Melvin Samson’s father (name of father is unknown). While the history behind Mr. Lyman and Samson’s father remains a mystery, the Lyman Block stood on the corner until 1893 when the building was eventually replaced by the new Samson Block.

Lyman Block. (Pictured: Lyman Block, circa 1816-1893).

This new building, built by capitalist J. Melvin Samson, took place of the original block and held many businesses (like the ones I mentioned earlier) for several years.

The first store to inhabit the newly built block was Shepard’s Dry Goods Store, which was founded by D.E. Shepard and held the spot at the corner until 1903 when G.H. Wiltsie (businessman from Burlington, VT.) bought out the store and turned the space into the family owned Wiltsie’s Department Store. Wiltsie’s occupied the space until around the 1920’s when they moved into their own building within town.

Around this time, J.T. Davern would be opening her exclusive millinery (hat) store in the block. Being regarded as a practical milliner and ladies’ furnisher, Davern would soon open her business, J.T. Davern & Co.’s Store, on the first floor of the building. Before this time, woman-owned businesses wouldn’t be located on the first floor and would always be on one of the higher floors due to their practice not being as important to the public as other businesses. The building also housed a Fanny Farmer’s Chocolate store as well.

One notable feature of the building is the backside drop, which is viewable on Groton Ave. next to the Cortland Elks Club 748 building. This part once housed Drexler & Tifft’s Barber shop and by the looks of the leftover decals on the glass windows, it wasn’t the only barber shop that occupied that space.

Samson Block. (Pictured: Samson Block, circa 1896).

In the summer of 1976, the storefronts of the Samson Block were modernized, and the upper floors were renovated for apartment and office space. While it’s unknown who owns the property and what businesses will occupy the building in the future, we can always recognize the block from its yellow and brown eye-catching design that stands out from the other buildings on Main St.

If you’re ever walking by the Community Restaurant and are going to turn the corner onto Groton Ave., remember to look up for the name of the block on the right top part of the building!