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 special old house in Henrietta, New York. It was built a long time ago, between 1828 and 1830. This house is unique because it's made from smooth, round stones called cobblestones. Today, it's a museum where you can learn about life in the past.
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A Home Built from Stones
The Tinker Homestead is a great example of a Federal style house. This was a popular building style in the United States from about 1780 to 1830. It looks very balanced and often has simple, elegant designs.
What makes this house really stand out is its cobblestone architecture. This means it's built using medium-sized field cobblestones. These are round, smooth stones found in fields. The Tinker Farmstead is one of only 13 cobblestone buildings still standing in Henrietta.
Who Were the Tinkers?
The Tinker family came to Henrietta, New York, in 1812. James and Rebecca Tinker moved here from Connecticut with their six children. They later had two more children.
At first, they lived in log cabins that were already on the land. But they soon started planning their own home.
Building a Cobblestone House
Building the Tinker house began in 1828. The family collected cobblestones from their fields as they cleared the land for farming. This was a common way to get building materials back then.
Many cobblestone buildings in New York were built by skilled masons. These masons had often worked on the Erie Canal, which was a huge construction project. After the canal was finished, they needed new jobs. Building homes like the Tinker Farmstead gave them work. It took two years to finish the house.
From Farm to Museum
The Tinker family farm started small. Over time, it grew to more than 200 acres. Five generations of the Tinker family lived in the house. They stayed there until 1991.
Even after donating the house, some family members continued to live in a wooden part added to the back. They lived there until 2010.
In 1991, the house and about 68 acres of land were given to the Town of Henrietta. Much of the land around the house is now the Tinker Nature Park. The town takes care of this park. It has hiking trails and a nature center for everyone to enjoy. The old Tinker house is now a museum.
Visiting the Tinker Homestead
The Tinker Cobblestone Farmstead was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This is a list of places important to American history.
When you visit the house, you can see some cool features. It has two parlors, which are like living rooms. There is also a beautiful spiral staircase inside. It's a great place to learn about how people lived almost 200 years ago.
