Tinker Cobblestone Farmstead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tinker Cobblestone Farmstead
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The Tinker Homestead in May 2010
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1585 Calkins Rd., Henrietta, New York |
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| Area | 63 acres (25 ha) |
| Built | 1828–1830 |
| Architect | McCarty, Michael |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| MPS | Cobblestone Architecture of New York State MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000502 |
| Added to NRHP | April 27, 1995 |
The Tinker Cobblestone Farmstead, also known as the Tinker Homestead and Farm Museum, is a really old and special house in Henrietta, New York. It's famous because it's built from cobblestones, which are smooth, rounded stones. This unique house was built a long time ago, between 1828 and 1830. It shows a style called Federal architecture, which was popular back then. It's one of only 13 cobblestone buildings still standing in Henrietta today!
Contents
The Tinker Cobblestone Farmstead
A Home Built from Stones
The Tinker family, James and Rebecca, came to Henrietta from Connecticut in 1812. They had six children, and two more were born later. At first, they lived in simple log cabins on their land.
Starting in 1828, the Tinkers began building their own home. They used cobblestones they collected while clearing their fields. Many cobblestone buildings in New York were built by masons. These skilled workers had just finished building the Erie Canal and needed new jobs. It took two years to finish the Tinker family's unique cobblestone house.
From Farm to Park and Museum
The farm around the Tinker home started small. Over time, it grew to more than 200 acres. Five generations of the Tinker family lived in the house. They lived there until 1991. Even after donating the main house, some family members continued to live in a wooden addition at the back until 2010.
In 1991, the house and about 68 acres of land were given to the Town of Henrietta. Much of this land is now the Tinker Nature Park. The town takes care of the park, which has hiking trails and a nature center. The old cobblestone house now serves as a museum.
A Special Place in History
The Tinker Cobblestone Farmstead was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. The house has some cool features inside. These include two main sitting rooms, called twin parlors, and a beautiful spiral staircase.
