This long-lost pantry cupboard was preservation-worthy.  Is it truly gone, or was it salvaged?

The Kingsley-Cole house of Rome, New York, was built in the 1840’s and torn down in 1971. This pantry cupboard or cabinet was a built-in feature at the house. We would like to think this pantry cupboard is still out there somewhere, but chances are it’s long gone.

A historic building survey in 1970 documented the features of this house, along with five other nearby 19th century buildings built on the remains of an 18th century fort.   They were all demolished a year later to make way for a National Park Service monument: a reconstruction of historic 18th century Fort Stanwix.

Thank goodness for photographs. The building survey simply describes this wonderful pantry cupboard as “built-in cupboard in northeast corner of room.”  The photograph shows four rows of drawers, topped with an enclosed cabinet, and two shelves above.  There are some enclosed cabinet shelves below the drawers just visible at the bottom of the picture.

What would you store in all those small drawers?  We are guessing different types of sugar and grains, some beans, as well as dried herbs and spices.

Ownership of the Cole-Kingsley house

Alfred W. Cole emigrated to America from England and built the house circa 1846. He worked as a painter and glazier (a glazier installs glass to doors and windows).

Alfred and his wife Emma Cole sold the house in 1861 to Dr. Willey J. P. Kingsley and Georganna Kingsley.  The Kingsley’s extensively remodeled and updated the house.

In 1920, Dr. Kingsley’s son, Willey Kingsley, and Willey’s wife Lucy Kingsley, donated the building to Rome’s “Woman’s General Study Club.”  The club used the Cole-Kingsley house as their headquarters until 1970. The National Park Service demolished the house in 1971.

Do you have a pantry cabinet similar to the one pictured?  We want to see a picture! Let us know in the comments below!