Home of Zachariah Tyler

(ORIGINAL TOUR TEXT)

This house at 109 Cleveland Avenue (formerly 1 Wheat Street) was the home of Reverend Zachariah Tyler's (1819-1896) son John Henry Tyler. Tyler's son, John Henry Tyler (1845-1909), became known as the "ice cream man." In December 1863 John enlisted in the U.S. Colored Troop's 26th Regiment, and in January Zachariah, joined him. They served together throughout the war, along with others from the neighborhood, and returned to Ithaca in August 1865. After the war Zachariah worked as a whitewasher and was pastor at the Wesleyan Methodist (Colored) Church, which was later renamed Calvary Baptist Church.

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New research in 2024 has determined that 109 Cleveland Avenue (Formerly 1 Wheat St) was likely the home of Reverend Zachariah Tyler's son John Henry Tyler who enlisted with his father in the Civil War. Julia Ann and Zachariah Tyler's original house was demolished by 1904, and at the time of Reverend Zachariah Tyler's death in 1896 his address was listed as 38 S. Plain St (later renumbered at 302 S. Plain St). There are no known surviving photographs of the Tylers original home.