by Kristina Gabalski
Former Holley High School, built in 1931, is located at the intersection of Routes 31 and 237. The former Holley High School is part of the first “Five to Revive” preservation priorities list determined by the Landmark Society of Western New York.
Landmark Society officials say the list, which was announced during a news conference May 16, will call attention to five properties in Western New York which are all in need of targeted revitalization.
In addition to Holley High School, the list includes the Pulaski Library on Hudson Avenue, the Eastman Dental Dispensary, the Pedestrian Bridges in Genesee Valley Park – all three in Rochester – and the Sampson Theatre in Penn Yan.
“The heart of the Landmark Society’s preservation efforts is community revitalization,” says Executive Director Wayne Goodman. “Beginning this year, we will annually publish Five to Revive – whether buildings, landscapes, or structures, they are significant historic properties whose rehabilitations can become catalytic projects for the neighborhoods and communities that surround them.”
The former Holley High School was built in 1931 and occupies a prominent site in the village at the central intersection of Routes 31 and 237. It served as the community’s high school into the mid-1970s and there has been only intermittent use of limited sections of the school in the intervening years. The Neo-Classical Revival building is located within the Holley Village Historic District, which has been declared officially eligible for listing in the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
Landmark officials say the former Holley High School is a highly visible anchor in the village business district. The structure was selected because it is one of the most important civic buildings in Orleans County.
“It’s notable historic and architectural significance, combined with its prominent location and scale of design, make it an important candidate for rehabilitation and re-use after nearly 30 years of vacancy,” Landmark Society officials said.
“Historic preservation isn’t just about the past,” Wayne Goodman explained. “Preservation is revitalization Preservation creates local jobs, stimulates investment, increases tax revenues and builds sustainable communities.”
The Five to Revive initiative was launched as part of the Landmark Society’s 75th Anniversary and will enhance the organization’s ongoing efforts to support revitalization in Western New York, Landmark officials said.
The “irreplaceable” historic resources listed in Five to Revive will become priority projects for Landmark Society staff and programs. The Landmark Society will work collaboratively with owners, municipal officials, and developers to facilitate investment and foster rehabilitation so that these structures can again play an active role in their communities, Landmark officials said.
