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Smart Century Farm
| Historic Site #: | 05-067 (Exists) Type: D1,G1 | Town: | Lyons | ||
| Site Name: | Smart Century Farm | GPS Coordinates: | 43.092355, -76.962965 | ||
| Address: | 8841 Lock Berlin Rd., Lyons, NY | ||||
| Description: | |||||
| Smart family established this cobblestone century farm in 1874. This house is an example of the Cobblestone Early Period.This house is not visible from the road as it sets back quite a bit down a dirt driveway and is set behind trees. | |||||
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| Photo by Edith Farrington 2019 | Photo by Edith Farrington 2019 |
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| Current owner Stuart Smart. Photo by Edith Farrington 2019 | Photo by Edith Farrington 2019 |
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| The original Erie Canal (Clinton's Ditch) cut across their property just south of the house.Photo by Edith Farrington 2019 |
| Historic narrative: | |||||
| I know it was built in the early 1830s by John and Sarah Rooke. It took 3 years to build and the Rookes lived in a small cabin near the house until it was completed. It was taken over by my parents ( Mary Simpson Smart and William Jacob Smart) in 1948 after a period of neglect. They tore down a two-story wooden addition and put up the current single-story wing. Previously owned by my grandparents (Arthur Thomas Smart and Martha Gress Smart). The stone is natural, of varying sizes, no doubt taken from the fields. The farm consists of 130 acres with the original Erie Canal (Clinton's Ditch) bisecting the farm just south of the house. - From Stuart Smart current owner Early Period Rooke-Smart homestead. Built by great grandparents, John & Sarah Rooke. Three stories counting walkout basement. The basement was used for a winter kitchen and has a big fireplace, with crane, oven, etc., with large windows, door and shutters. Supposedly, they used this basement floor for complete warm living in the winter. The home is in excellent condition, with shutters, two covered chimneys. The home has a wooden addition, put on in 1955. The home is a long lane away from the original Erie Canal, the road being the original towpath.”
- From Gene Bavis | |||||