Members of the Public Archeology Facility (PAF) of Binghamton University discovered local history last week underneath the future construction site of a student housing complex.

The projected apartment building will be built by the Newman Development Group, the owners of University Plaza, and is slated to hold 600 to 800 beds at the Downtown site between Washington and Susquehanna Streets.

According to Maria O’Donovan, director of Downtown excavations for PAF, the team discovered the foundations of two 19th century houses, along with a wooden floor and stone ramp that appear to be associated with a storage building for Weed Tannery.

“Weed Tannery was located in the area east of Washington Street during the 19th century,” O’Donovan said, explaining that it was a large leather production facility.

O’Donovan said Downtown research by PAF is a preliminary stage aimed to discover the research potential of the area. Though the excavation has ended, O’Donovan said results are still being analyzed.

Construction on the housing complex is reported to begin this spring.

Look in Friday’s issue of Pipe Dream for more information on the projected housing complex.