Thomas N. Wheeler Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas N. Wheeler Farm
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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South elevation and east profile
of main house, 2008 |
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| Location | North East, New York |
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| Nearest city | Hudson |
| Area | 18 acres (7.3 ha) |
| Built | ca. 1800 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Coleman Station Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001417 |
| Added to NRHP | November 22, 2000 |
The Thomas N. Wheeler Farm is a historic farm located in North East, New York. It sits on Indian Lake Road, south of the village of Millerton. The main house is a frame building. It was built around 1800. The house shows the Federal of architecture.
This farm is one of the oldest and most complete farms. It is part of the Coleman Station Historic District. In 1993, the farm was recognized as important. It helped show the history of the area. Seven years later, in 2000, the farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places on its own. This means it is a very special historical place.
Contents
Exploring the Farm's Land and Buildings
The Thomas N. Wheeler Farm covers about 18 acres. This land is on both sides of Indian Lake Road. The area is mostly flat. A small stream flows through the northern part of the property. This stream eventually joins Webutuck Creek.
Most of the farm buildings are north of the road. On the south side, there is a tennis court. This area used to be a cornfield. Behind the main house, you can find other farm buildings. These include a granary (for storing grain), stables (for horses), and a carriage house (for carriages). There are six important historical buildings on the property.
The Main House: A Closer Look
The main part of the house has two stories. It is made from strong, hand-cut timbers. The house sits on a stone foundation. Its outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. The roof has a gable shape and is covered with wood shingles. Two brick chimneys rise from the roof.
On the east side, there is a smaller wing. This wing has one and a half stories. It also has two large gabled dormer windows. These windows stick out from the roof. A one-story kitchen wing is attached to the northeast. It has a flat, shed-style roof.
House Entrances and Windows
The main entrance has a small porch. This porch has railings and square pillars. Windows on the front of the house have decorative panels below them. All the windows on the main part of the house have two panes of glass on top and two on the bottom. The windows on the wing have 12 panes on top and 12 on the bottom. The kitchen wing has a side entrance and porch. Above this entrance, there is a small Palladian window. This is a special window with three parts. The back of the house has windows placed in different spots.
Inside the Farmhouse
When you enter the main door, you step into a wide hallway. This door is made of oak with raised panels. It has windows on the sides and above it. The hallway still has its original wide oak floors. The walls are made of plaster.
On the east side of the hall are two living rooms. They are about the same size. Some of their original walls are still there. They also have wide pine floors. Both rooms have fireplaces. These fireplaces have pine mantels and marble hearths. One room even has a built-in cupboard. The large chimneys are angled to be in the center of the roof. The kitchen area was updated in the early to mid-1900s.
The stairs are on the east side of the main hall. Most of the stairs are original. They have square newel posts (the main posts at the top and bottom of the stairs). The handrail is simple and molded. The balusters (the small posts holding up the handrail) are square. The original pine steps were protected by carpet for many years.
The second floor has a similar layout. The bedroom in the northeast has original wood paneling. It also has a chair rail, which is a decorative strip of wood. All the woodwork in this room and the southeast room is original. The wide pine floors are also original. The basement runs under the entire house. You can see the stone and wood bases of the chimneys there.
A Look at the Farm's Past
The Wheeler family came to America in 1635. Thomas Wheeler moved from England to Concord, Massachusetts. Much later, in 1749, his great-great-grandson, also named Thomas, bought land in New York. He settled in what is now Amenia. He also ran a mill near where the house is today.
When Was the House Built?
We don't know the exact date the house was built. But experts believe it was around 1800. This is based on its Federal style of architecture. At that time, Thomas Newcomb Wheeler was 26 years old. He was the grandson of the first Thomas. He was old enough to have his own house. In 1818, his father, Noah, divided his land among his children. Noah kept another farm for himself.
A smaller house for a tenant farmer was built nearby in the early 1820s. In 1824, Noah Wheeler's children, including Thomas, bought more land from their cousins. Years later, in 1841, Thomas sold his land to his sons, Henry and Lawrence. He sold it for $9,000. But he had a condition: he could live in the house for the rest of his life. Also, his unmarried sister, Selina, could use a bedroom and both living rooms for her whole life. Thomas's will confirmed these terms the next year.
Changes and Challenges
Thomas N. Wheeler passed away two years later. Lawrence bought Henry's share of the farm. Then, Lawrence sold it to their younger brother, Stephen D. Wheeler, for $4,000. The two brothers soon had a legal disagreement. It was with the New York and Harlem Railroad. The railroad wanted to buy some of their land. They needed it to finish their train route from New York City to Albany. The railroad eventually won the case. The Wheelers received less money for their land than their neighbors. However, they did win the right to have a bridge built over a rock cut near their house. The railroad had to maintain this bridge forever.
Stephen Wheeler moved back into the house in 1859. He traded land with his brother. This trade made the farm smaller. It went from about 600 acres to its current 18 acres. When Stephen died, his daughter sold her rights to the house to her brother, Burnett. In 1876, they took out a loan on the house from Hiram and Mary Clark.
After the Blizzard of 1888, a big snowstorm, the rock cut filled with snow. This caused a train accident. Five people died, and it took a week to clear. Part of a train engine was even used as an animal shelter nearby. The houses in the area were used to help the injured people. In 1897, Mary Wheeler could not pay her loan. She lost the house. This meant the farm was no longer owned by the Wheeler family after almost 100 years.
