THE GILBERT FARM |
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Style: Three-bay, two-story gable-ended vernacular Greek revival house sheathed with wood shingles. |
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| Built: Sometime between 1850 and 1852 by Bennett C. Perry who purchased the five-acre lot of land. The house is nearly identical to the house to the north also build ca. 1850 by Bennett Perry's brother. | |
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The farm changed hands a number of times during the 1860s and 1870s before being purchased by Betsy and David Buell in 1875. The Buell's had three children and a daughter who married an O'Dell. She and her husband purchased the house and 31 acres from her parents in 1949. |
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Renovations: The Buell's added the Italianate verandah in the front, a portion of which was removed sometime during the 20th century. The O'Dell's put in the first plumbing and electricity and installed a furnace. Up until then the house was heated with wood and lighted by kerosene lamps. Water came from a well located under the kitchen and it is still in use today. The outhouse was in the woodshed just a few feet from the well. The house was sold with 3 acres in 1963 and at one time during the 1960s, the old kitchen was used as an antique shop. The current owners, who operate a Christmas tree farm on the property, purchased the house in 1973. They spent 17 years rebuilding and restoring the house to its present state. |
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Highlights: Original woodwork and chestnut floorboards, Original six-over-six window sash, Owner's green handle tin utensil collection, focal point of kitchen décor. |
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In 2004 an additional 2.3 acre parcel was added to the farm, bringing it back to 5 acres it was in the 1850's. At the present time, about a tenth of an acre is cleared every year for fire wood and the cleared area replanted in Christmas trees. We collect the wood stove ash and use that to mark the new spots for trees, starting the new trees with what is left of the old. |
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551 South Plains Road 
Complimentary Hot Cocoa
