Van Horn Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Van Horn Mansion
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The Van Horn Mansion located on Lockport Olcott Road
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 Location in New York
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| Nearest city | Newfane, New York |
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| Built | 1823 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001149 |
| Added to NRHP | September 9, 1991 |
The Van Horn Mansion is a historic house built in 1823 by Judge James Van Horn. It is famous for being the place where the very first town meeting for Newfane was held on April 6, 1824. People believe the town's name was chosen by the local Postmaster. This large mansion has 16 rooms and five bathrooms. You can find it on Lockport-Olcott Road in Niagara County, New York, right on Route 78. Many people also think the mansion is haunted! It is one of many important buildings in Niagara County listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Meet Judge James Van Horn
James Van Horn was born in New Jersey. He moved north to Newfane in 1817 with his nine children. This was happening while the famous Erie Canal was being built. Judge Van Horn was a very busy person. He built a gristmill, which grinds grain into flour. He also built the first wool mill in Niagara County in 1842.
In 1821, James Van Horn became one of the first four judges in Niagara County. Two years later, in 1823, he built the Van Horn Mansion. It was the first brick home ever built in Newfane. The house was designed in the Georgian-style. From 1829 to 1831, James Van Horn also served as the leader of the Town of Newfane.
The Mansion's Journey Through Time
After the Van Horn family, the mansion had many different owners. The last person from the Van Horn family sold the mansion in 1910 to W.H. Davis. In 1922, Herbert Pease owned it. Then, after a short time with the Cramer Brothers, Douglas Patterson from Canada bought the mansion in 1929.
From 1929 until 1938, Mr. Patterson opened a community skating rink for everyone in Newfane to enjoy. Sadly, in 1939, the mansion was damaged by a fire. In 1949, Mary Wagner took over the mansion. She helped fix it up and turned it into a fancy restaurant called Green Acres.
Later, in 1959, John Strickland changed the building into apartments. Over time, the mansion was left empty and became a target for vandals. In 1987, the Noury Chemical Company bought the mansion. They then gave it to the Newfane Historical Society. The Historical Society has worked hard to keep the mansion beautiful and important. They have hosted special events like Victorian teas and tours. Many volunteers have also helped with renovation projects over the years.
Mysteries and Ghost Stories
The Van Horn Mansion is known for its spooky stories. In 1996, a student from Niagara County Community College even created a haunted house inside the mansion. People who study ghosts, called Psychics, have said for a long time that the building is haunted. The Van Horn Mansion is one of several places in Niagara County and Western New York that people believe are haunted.
During renovations, roofers working on the mansion saw faces in the windows when no one was inside. They also saw lights flicker on and off for no reason. Carpenters working there reported seeing spirits appear to them. Many people believe the main ghost is a woman named Malinda, along with a few others. Malinda was the wife of James Van Horn Jr. Her grave used to be in the rose garden on the south side of the mansion grounds.
There are stories of cars skidding to avoid hitting a girl running from the mansion who then vanishes. People think this girl is Malinda. Some groups have even held séances there, trying to talk to spirits. They have shared other strange paranormal experiences. However, Malinda's bones have since been moved to a small area in the backyard of the mansion. After her bones were moved, people reported that the strange encounters stopped.
A researcher named Joe Nickell has looked into these stories. He wrote that there is no real proof the mansion is haunted. He believes that the strange things people saw had simple, natural causes. He also thought some experiences were due to people misinterpreting things or expecting to see ghosts. Nickell found that many stories about Malinda were different and often exaggerated. He even went to some séances in 2003. He discovered that the table-tipping, where a table moves on its own, was actually caused by the ideomotor effect. This is when a person's unconscious movements make something happen.
Inside and Outside the Van Horn Mansion
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This is the main entrance to the Van Horn Mansion. It leads into two living rooms.
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This living room on the south side was used for music and fun. People also believe it was part of the area where the first Newfane Town Board Meeting happened.
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This living room on the north side was used for entertaining guests and staying warm by the fire.
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This dining room was added later by Judge James' son, Burt. It is on the first floor, along with a third floor that was also added.
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On the second floor was a seamstress room. This is where someone would work to mend and make clothes for the Van Horn family.
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This is believed to be the main bedroom of Abigail and Judge James Van Horn. It is also on the second floor.
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This sign was placed on the front lawn of the Van Horn Mansion by the Newfane Historical Society in 1984.
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This is a view of the Van Horn Mansion from across the street.
