Excavations at the E Cornell Site: 19th Century Farmstead of the Carney family

Prior to the development of Cornell University, the site was included in a large farm situated on the hills above Ithaca, NY. The farm was owned by Ezra Cornell, a prosperous man who engaged in politics, business, philanthropy, and “gentleman” farming. In addition to his own home, Forest Park, his land also included a number of small houses which may have been tenanted by farm laborers or other area workers. One such house was built between 1853 and 1866 on the east side of the Dryden Road, not too far from Forest Park. While this house is labeled “E.C.” on the 1866 map, an examination of Ithaca City Directories indicates that the house was actually occupied by Christopher Carney, an Irish-Catholic laborer.

Christopher Carney was born in Ireland in 1832, and immigrated to America sometime before 1855. He lived in Ithaca with his wife, Catherine McGuire Carney, his mother-in-law (also named Catherine), and his nine children: Ann, James (I), Michael, Catherine, James (II), Mary, Francis, Thomas, and Anna. The children were all born in Ithaca, and many were baptized at the Immaculate Conception Church. The eldest Ann, the two James, and little Catherine all died in childhood.