E. B. Morgan House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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E. B. Morgan House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | Aurora, New York |
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| Built | 1793 |
| Part of | Aurora Village–Wells College Historic District (ID80002595) |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1980 |
The E. B. Morgan House is a beautiful old mansion located at 431 Main Street in Aurora, New York. It was designed in the Italianate style by architect Joseph C. Wells. This grand home was built between 1857 and 1858 for Edwin Barber Morgan. He was a very rich businessman and even a U.S. Congressman. The house showed off the success of businessmen in Central New York during that time. Today, the E. B. Morgan House is part of the Aurora Village–Wells College Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, which means it's a very important historic site.
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Who Was E. B. Morgan?
Edwin Barber Morgan was born in Aurora in 1806. He lived there his whole life. From a young age, Morgan was very good at business. He worked with his father at the family store. As an adult, he made money in the trade business on Cayuga Lake.
With his earnings, Morgan built the Aurora Inn in 1833. This inn helped people who were busy shipping goods on the lake.
Morgan's Business Ventures
Morgan became a lifelong friend and business partner with Henry Wells. E. B. Morgan was one of the first people to invest in Wells's companies. These included the famous American Express Company and the Wells Fargo Company. Morgan also invested in many local businesses. He was even a founding investor in The New York Times newspaper.
Another important business partner was Ezra Cornell from Ithaca. In the 1870s, Morgan and Cornell invested in the Cayuga Lake Railroad Company. This train ran along Cayuga Lake, right behind Morgan's home. Morgan loved the train. He would often stand with his watch to make sure it was on time as it passed by his yard!
The House Becomes "French House"
After Edwin B. Morgan passed away, his daughter and her husband, Nicholas Zabriskie, lived in the E. B. Morgan House. The mansion stayed in the Morgan-Zabriskie family until 1961.
Then, it was given to Wells College. The college used the house as a dormitory for students who were studying French. Only French was allowed to be spoken there! Because of this, the E. B. Morgan House was called "French House." Many local people still use this name today.
What Does the E. B. Morgan House Look Like?
In 2005, the Aurora Foundation and the Pleasant Rowland Foundation worked together to renovate the house. They spent millions of dollars to restore it. The team wanted to keep the house's original look and history. They also wanted to make it a comfortable place to stay by the lake.
Modern Upgrades and Features
During the renovation, old architectural details were carefully kept. But new heating and cooling systems were added. The plumbing was also updated. Gas fireplaces were put into four of the guest rooms.
Today, the E. B. Morgan House operates as an inn, like a bed and breakfast. It has seven guest rooms and comfortable living areas. There's also a shaded porch that looks out over Cayuga Lake. Guests can enjoy views of either the lake or the village. The house also has modern technology for guests to use.
The Morgan House can be rented by the room. You can also rent the entire house for special events. It can host up to 14 people for a seated dinner. For a cocktail party, it can hold up to 48 guests.
