Nestled on a gentle rise just east of downtown Ithaca, East Hill is a neighborhood where the echoes of history mix with the lively rhythms of modern college town life. Whether you’re wandering along the tree-canopied streets of Cornell Heights or admiring the stately architecture lining East Buffalo Street, you’ll find every corner of East Hill rich with stories from generations past. As someone who’s called Ithaca home for decades, let me share with you the enduring charm and heritage of East Hill—a place where academic brilliance, architectural beauty, and a strong sense of community come together.
The Origins of East Hill: A Natural Rise and a Name
East Hill takes its name from the geographic feature that defines it: the steep, wooded bluff climbing eastward out of Ithaca’s valley. As Ithaca’s earliest settlers spread out from the banks of Cascadilla Creek in the early 19th century, the rise to the east quickly became known as “East Hill.” The area’s lush forests and panoramic views of Cayuga Lake attracted both developers and scholars seeking fresh air, tranquility, and a close-knit neighborhood feel.
During the mid-1800s, as the city grew beyond its original borders, East Hill began to develop its own distinct identity. Its location—between the bustling commercial core of downtown and the newly founded Cornell University—meant it would become both a quiet residential quarter and a pathway for generations of students and educators.
Key Historical Milestones
- 1865: Founding of Cornell University
The most significant event in East Hill’s history is undoubtedly the founding of Cornell University. Ezra Cornell’s vision of a university “where any person can find instruction in any study” forever shaped East Hill’s destiny. The majority of Cornell’s campus rises right on East Hill; its presence would draw faculty, staff, and students to the neighborhood and spur the construction of boarding houses, fraternities, and elegant homes.
- Turn of the 20th Century: Establishment of Cornell Heights
As the university flourished, the demand for faculty housing grew. Real estate developers began laying out the Cornell Heights subdivision—a residential enclave north of Fall Creek on Highland Avenue, East Upland Road, and others. Notable architects, including William Henry Miller, designed stately homes, many of which still stand today as part of the Cornell Heights Historic District.
- 1930s-1950s: Growth of Belle Sherman
South of Cornell, the Belle Sherman neighborhood emerged to house new families and Cornell staff. Named after local educator Belle Sherman, this patch of East Hill soon became known for its welcoming atmosphere, thriving elementary school, and leafy parks.
- 1960s-Present: Student Life and Urban Evolution
With Cornell’s enrollment booming in the postwar years, East Hill adapted. Older mansions became fraternity houses and student apartments, while new apartment complexes like Collegetown Terrace sprang up to serve a growing student population. Yet, through all this, beautiful pockets of East Hill—such as Cornell Plantations (now Cornell Botanic Gardens) and Cascadilla Gorge—remained preserved for all to enjoy.
Notable Landmarks and Institutions
East Hill is peppered with remarkable places that tell the story of its past, including:
- Morris Heights and Cornell Heights
These adjacent neighborhoods, on streets like Highland Avenue and Triphammer Road, boast homes built at the turn of the century, many in styles ranging from Tudor Revival to Arts & Crafts. The stone arch bridge on Triphammer Road is itself a historic structure, offering a dramatic crossing over Fall Creek Gorge.
- Cascadilla Gorge Trail
One of the most beloved green spaces in Ithaca, the Cascadilla Gorge Trail connects downtown to the heart of Cornell’s campus. Historic stone stairways and scenic waterfalls make this a favorite local escape.
- Sage Chapel and The Arts Quad
As you climb East Avenue, you pass Cornell’s Sage Chapel—resting place of Ezra Cornell himself—and the original campus quads lined with ivy-draped halls like Uris and Goldwin Smith.
- Collegetown
Collegetown, bordering Cornell’s southern edge, has long been East Hill’s commercial heart—a vibrant hub of cafés, shops, and international eateries on College Avenue and Dryden Road. The original wooden boarding houses and early 20th-century brick storefronts provide a window into Collegetown’s evolution.
- Belle Sherman Elementary and Park
This cornerstone of the Belle Sherman area on Mitchell Street has anchored family life for generations, surrounded by playgrounds and quiet residential blocks.
- Cornell Botanic Gardens
With miles of walking trails, themed gardens, and towering old-growth trees, the gardens and arboretum at the eastern edge of East Hill are a living testament to conservation and campus beauty.
Evolution Over the Decades
East Hill’s history is one of adaptation and resilience—a place that grows but never forgets its roots. Across 150 years, the neighborhood has transitioned gracefully from rural hinterland to grand residential quadrant, and ultimately into a lively nexus for students, academics, and local families alike.
- Many of the grand homes of early faculty remain—some subdivided into apartments for graduate students, others lovingly preserved by local families.
- The streets around Cornell Heights retain their historic fabric, with lamp-lit sidewalks and picturesque stone retaining walls.
- Belle Sherman remains a neighborhood of young families and professors, where children play in leafy yards and classes spill out for nature walks in adjacent gardens.
- Collegetown, always bustling, has modernized with new high-rise apartment buildings. Yet, historic storefronts still serve up bagels, Greek food, and espresso to generations of students.
Even as East Hill welcomes newcomers yearly, it keeps its deep sense of place. Residents, whether undergraduates in a creaky Victorian or longtime homeowners tending flowerbeds, feel a shared bond with the history that surrounds them.
Why East Hill Still Feels Special
Ask any resident of East Hill, and they’ll tell you it’s more than the architecture or the university that makes this neighborhood home. It’s the sound of bells from McGraw Tower drifting through the fog. It’s the flash of autumn leaves cascading over Cascadilla Gorge. It’s the quiet pride in living among stone bridges, grand maples, and century-old homes.
Above all, East Hill is a neighborhood where the past is honored, even as each new day brings change. The stories embedded in every street—from the stately blocks of Highland Avenue to the lively footpaths of Collegetown—make East Hill a place where history isn’t just remembered, but lived.