Dakin-Coleman Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Dakin-Coleman Farm
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
South elevation and west profile, 2008
|
|
 Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | North East, New York |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Hudson |
| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1773 |
| Part of | Coleman Station Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001421 |
| Added to NRHP | November 22, 2000 |
The Dakin-Coleman Farm is a historic property located in North East, New York. You can find it on Coleman Station Road in Dutchess County. The main farmhouse is a large wooden building. It was built a long time ago, just before the American Revolution.
This farm has an interesting past. At one point, it was even divided between two family members. Later, in the late 1800s, the inside of the house was updated. It got some new features that were popular in the Victorian style. The house is still mostly the same today. It is the oldest house in the small community called Coleman Station. The farm is part of the Coleman Station Historic District. It was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 22, 2000.
Contents
The Dakin-Coleman Farm: A Historic Home
What Does the Farm Look Like?
The Dakin-Coleman Farm sits on about 3 acres of land. It is on the north side of Coleman Station Road. A small stream flows through the property. It forms the eastern edge of the farm. The land gently slopes down towards the west. Most of the land around the farm is used for farming.
There are three buildings on the property. These include the main farmhouse, a barn, and a garage. Each building was built at a different time. The house and the barn are considered important parts of the historic listing. The garage is newer and not part of the historic listing.
The Main Farmhouse
The main house has two stories. It is built with a strong timber frame. The house has a stone foundation. Its outside walls are covered with wooden clapboard siding. The roof has a gentle slope and is covered with asphalt shingles. A brick chimney is on the east side of the house. Large, old trees surround the home. A smaller, one-story section sticks out from the west side. There are also larger sections at the back.
The main front door is in the middle of the house. It has a small porch with round columns. All the windows have wooden shutters. Above the main entrance, there is a special window called a Palladian window. This type of window has three parts. The windows on the back of the house are not perfectly even. This is because changes were made inside the house over time.
Inside, the front door opens into a wide hallway. The original staircase and doors are still on the west side. The floors in the western rooms are made of wide oak planks. These rooms have fireplaces that share a chimney. One fireplace is completely original. The other has new bricks. It even has its original crane and a special beehive oven.
On the east side, there is a large open living room. This room was made by taking down a wall. Some of the original wide floorboards are still in a corner. These boards have old, hand-forged nails. A fireplace with a fancy mantel is on the end wall. French doors open from the back of this room to the outside. A chair rail runs along the wall.
The staircase has original square posts and railings. It leads to the second floor, which has a similar layout. On the east side of the hall, there are two large, old doors. Two new bathrooms have been added at the back. They use the original wide pine floorboards. One room on the second floor has its original marble fireplace. A doorway connects it to the kitchen area. The house also has a full basement underneath.
Other Buildings on the Farm
Besides the main house, there is also a barn. The barn is an important part of the farm's history. It was built a long time ago, like the house. The garage is a more modern building. It was built in 1920.
A Look Back in Time: The Farm's History
The Dakin Family's Start
The land where the Dakin-Coleman Farm stands was first owned by Simon Dakin. He was a Baptist minister from Massachusetts. In 1773, he bought about 107 acres for his son, Caleb. Caleb was going to start a farm there. People believe Caleb built the house soon after. This makes it the oldest house in the Coleman Station area.
Caleb Dakin died when he was still young. In his will, he divided his land among his wife and daughters. He had increased his land to about 275 acres. The land was split into strips. One of these divisions went right through the middle of the house. It was shared by two of his daughters. Caleb's widow and unmarried daughter also had rights to live there.
Changes Over the Years
The property changed hands again when Caleb Jr. died a year later. His nephew, Amasa Dakin Coleman, got the property in 1834. Around that time, the inside of the house was changed a little. A new wooden mantelpiece was added. The floor in the east living room was also replaced.
By 1850, Amasa Coleman had made the farm even bigger. It was about 150 acres. Amasa was an abolitionist. This means he was against slavery. He was also one of the first members of the local Republican Party. He strongly supported local improvements. For example, he helped with the New York and Harlem Railroad. He even went to court to support the railroad. He wanted a train station opened near his farm. This station would help the local farms. Many farms in the area were starting to produce milk. The station and the area eventually got their name from him.
The Farm Today
Amasa's daughter, Elizabeth, inherited the farm when he died in 1876. The farm was not as successful under her. Around that time, the inside of the house was updated again. More Victorian-style features were added. The French doors on the outside were also added then.
In 1912, after Elizabeth died, the house was sold outside the family. The land around it was also sold off over time. This left the current three acres. The garage was built in 1920. In 1992, the house's inside was changed again. This was to update the plumbing, including the new bathrooms. Since then, there haven't been any other big changes to the property.
