Restoring Cobblestone Buildings

                           By Jim Salmon 

    As Home Inspectors, we are always seeing things we have never seen before. No matter how long we stay in this interesting business there will always be homes and construction techniques which amaze us. As for me, whenever I think I have seen everything, something strange and different comes up.

   Approximately 12,000 years ago, the last modern ice age receded from North America. Mammoth glaciers carved huge ridges and hills from Minnesota to Wisconsin to New York and Massachusetts.

   Left in its wake were large boulders - some of which were pounded into cobblestones, small fist-sized stones or a stone which can be held in one hand. As the ice receded north into Canada, large bodies of fresh water we know as the Great Lakes were left behind to polish these cobblestones for an eternity.

   Sometime around 1825 near Rochester, New York a country mason began collecting these small "cobblestones" and built walls with them. Soon cobblestone homes were popping up all over western New York and by 1830 it was an accepted construction method. As a result of an inexhaustible supply of cobbles, this trade spread fast throughout the Great Lakes region. The homes were built with materials harvested from nearby fields and forests. A cobblestone wall means the home was 100% hand-made from bottom to top. Between 1825 and the start of the Civil War, approximately 1,000 cobblestone and mortar buildings were crafted in the northeastern United States. From its origin near Rochester, these buildings appeared to the west into Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and even some in Canada. They also dot the landscape to the east across New York state. I have been privileged to inspect 30 of these unique structures in my career. Many cobblestone buildings have been remodeled and updated and just as many still have the same dirt on the floor from 1825. They come in many sizes - from very tiny to large 3000 square foot homes with several additions. Most are residential homes, but some are commercial office buildings, churches, schools, museums or just plain unoccupied historical buildings.

   No two of these interesting buildings are made the same and if we could go back in time and talk with these masons, we would find that they were very proud of their work. Many guarded their techniques with their lives. Special tools were crafted to make their own unique finished look. Of all the cobblestone buildings that I have inspected, only one had major structural failures - most have stood the test of time. The awful winter weather of western New York and the northeast can bring disastrous results to masonry products. Each mason had his own style of constructing the actual mortar joint. Some of the mortar joints were trawled to a point with 6 sides around a single stone producing a hexagon look. The stones were laid in rows using natural lime mortar.

   The reason many of these structures still remain today is the quality and hardness of the mortar and the way in which it was applied. Natural lime mortar was made from limestones mined from quarries located near the construction sites. The lime was mixed with sand and water to specific formulas. Many differences of opinion exist as to which formula worked best. The actual process of making the lime powder was exhaustive. First the lime was pounded into small pieces and burned in a lime kiln. Water was added and the mixture was allowed to age from several weeks to as much as a year before it was used. How well the mortar held up under weather depended on the quality and purity of the sand and limestone used as ingredients.

   Cobblestone buildings can be framed as a wall only or as a veneer to wooden framing. Remember no two are the same. Most stone walls range from 12" to 24" thick. They begin with what is called a rubble wall of stones laid first with no particular pattern. This beginning wall can be made of various sized stones, usually larger than the fist-sized cobblestones. Most of the time records show only one or two masons worked on a home at the same time. Too many workmen would mean the walls might go up too fast and not have time to dry properly causing early failure or even a collapse. Usually it was best for one mason to work methodically giving all mortar time to set up properly. Besides, most of these craftsmen were not eager to teach their trade to others.

   Between the rubble wall and outer wall is where most failures occur. Water penetration and the freeze and thaw cycles will cause the outer cobblestone wall to crack and become loose which would eventually cause movement and failure. This is why when modern restoration repairs are made most of the outer stones are removed to allow the rubble wall to be restored providing a sound base for re-installation of the cobblestones.

   Several of these homes, but not all, have the foundation as the beginning of the stone wall which indicates the subsequent wood floors do not sit on the foundation. Any negative grading situations or foundation damage can be seen as affecting the whole structure. The floor joists are usually mortared into the wall indicating foundation movement would be joist movement. Uneven floors with some extra slope are not uncommon. On-going pointing maintenance is essential for this type of building. Anyone who would live in a historical home like a cobblestone, would most likely be interested in preserving the original look and at the same time make modern upgrades.

   Each one of these homes has a slightly different shade of mortar. Matching the color closely makes a much better result to pointing maintenance. Cracks are the single most evident sign of failure. Pointing will seal out moisture to a cracked area but will not insure against future failures. Usually small cracks pose only normal maintenance concerns. Cracks in excess of 1/16" and those that form a circle or show differential shifting are the ones to direct your attention to. Any bulges, bowing or loose and missing stones indicate a failure of the inner rubble wall which is pushing on the outer veneer of cobblestones.

   The earliest cobblestones structures had the corners the same as the walls, a rubble wall with outer cobblestone veneers. These were prone to failure from having to turn the corner. Later techniques saw large square pieces of lake stone used to give the corners improved support. The finished cobblestones came in several varieties. Red sandstones which had been polished by the lake were used in several ways. A herringbone pattern was popular. Horizontal stones laid flat were also often used.

   It is always important to pay particular attention to very old floor joists and support beams, as well as exterior wood trim and moldings. If you mix 175 year old wood with a stone foundation you are bound to find some decay. What makes this type of a home inspection challenging is that many of these homes have been added onto with modern construction and methods. You are constantly switching back and forth in your mind from 1825 to the 1900's.

Cobblestone Manor in Smyrna

          

                

                         This is the only known cobblestone house in Chenango 
                         County, built in 1850 and known as the Billings farm.
                         It is located at County Route 630 Route 14. The Billings
                         family were early settlers and prominent farmers in
                         the area. It is being restored by Joanna Mulas.

                  

               

                           The Billings house in the 19th century.  Such houses
                           were status symbols.

                                   Photo courtesy of Robert L. Matteson, Smyrna Town Historian                                            

             

This house is stylistically an extremely rare example of  the Regency Gothic style of architecture with its Gothic columns and wavy Gothic cornice trim with tiny pendants, on a Greek frieze with Greek acanthus leaf patterns. This was a style popularized in Britain by the noted architect John Nash in his cottage designs (1790 to 1835). His designs  may have come over to New York State with the wave of British trained architects migrating here in the 1830s and 1840s.

       

  

  

                            Facing south. Kitchen windows and garage door

                            are modern.

                                                      Facing north

                           The Cobble Stone Manor

                              By John R. Parsons

                           [Earlville Standard, April 6, 1944]

    John Billings, Sr., Somers, Conn., in about 1793 bought 1,000 acres of land in the town of Smyrna but never came himself to view it. This tract had within its bounds what is now the Homer Collins farm and extended west over the hill into Cold Brook valley. John’s oldest son, Joseph W., married Abi Pomeroy and they came to Smryna in 1794 and settled on what is now George Record’s farm. 

   Another son of John Billings, Sr., was John Billings, Jr., (1760-1828) and his wife, Lucina, (1765-1845) came from Somers, Conn., with the Hall-Parsons contingent in 1797 and settled on what is now known as the Homer Collins farm. They had three daughters, Lovice (1796-1819), Nancy (1793-1873) and Mary (1789-1861) and a son, John F., (1801-1879), who with his wife, Nancy, became owners of and lived their lives upon that farm. 

    Mr. and Mrs. John F. were blessed with six children: Walter P. (1841-1842), Lucinda M. (1829-1853) and Lucretia Elmira (1838-1855) and three sons who grew to manhood. J. Monroe lived his farming days upon the side hill directly east of Smyrna village and his declining years within that village. His children were Edwin S. and Emma Billings Briggs. Monroe was a respected citizen and a strong man in the Smyrna Methodist Church.

    Erastus Billings left the home farm and became a druggist. He ran a store for many years in Smyrna and while there married in 1876 Sarah S. Dixon. Two sons, John and Walter graced their home and both graduated from Colgate University. Burdette M. Billings (1833-1917) stayed with his parents upon the home farm until both had passed on. Before this Burdette married Ella A. Long. Two months after the death of Mother Billings in 1878 Mr. and Mrs. Burdette buried their 5-year-old son, Freddie P., and the next year moved to Topeka, Kansas, where Ella Long Billings, age 72, was buried. 

    Burdette eventually came back to old Smyrna and after visiting among old friends for several weeks he placed his money with and died in an old man’s home in Philadelphia, Pa., where he was buried Jan. 26, 1917, in our cemetery by the side of his little sons. In Earlville cemetery there are three abandoned lots buried full of this batch of the John and John F. Billings families. 

    The cobblestone house upon this farm was built by John F. Billings in 1850. The cobbles were picked up on this and neighboring farms and white sand for the pointing  of mortar was drawn by horsepower from Oneida Lake. The cobbles were run over a grader and were laid in straight lines and in different lines. It is really the work of an artisan and well worth a few minutes’ close inspection.

    John F. Billings possessed a peculiar querulous voice that was not always attractive to even his best friends. Once when with his neighbors hooking suckers through the ice, as the group crowded together to view the catch the ice began to crack. “Crowd up,” shouted uncle John, “I hope you will all get in.” Moving backward a few steps himself, he stepped squarely into one of the holes cut for fishing and was in the cold water up to his arms.

    An attache of the Billings farm was “Aunt” Nancy (1793-1873) sister of John F. It was said she was disappointed in love. Be that as it may she had some claim upon her brother for support and lived her life of 80  years in the old house across the road from the stone house. She cared for her chickens and garden and was welcome to come and go and come as she please in the homes of her neighbors. She was a harmless old woman when I began going to school and very fortunately she died six years before her brother.

    There was a house on this farm on the west side of the road and near the farm’s north line. The only occupant I can recall was John Brown, a day laborer. He left a cow that found her summer living in the highway, some hands and two pigs, there with his meager earnings, and $1 at a day he supported his family, I believe Mrs. Brown was the widow of  Waterman Curtis  (1793-1859) because there was a Junia Curtis buried on the John F. Billings lot, age 14, and a Jeremiah in 1856, age 23; then Loren Curtis, a Civil War veteran, in 18655. That old house, many years vacant. finally burned.

Cobblestone Buildings in Albany County

Altamont Enterprise

July 7, 1961

Historian Notes Three Periods of Cobblestone

Architecture in N.Y. State, and in Local Area

                         ____

             By A. B. Gregg, Guilderland Town Historian

At a state convention officials a number of years ago, an illustrated lecture was given on “Cobblestone Architecture” that interested me greatly. Since then I have had in mind to present to the citizens of the Town of Guilderland facts and pictures of certain examples of this type of architecture that still remain in our town.

This lecture was given by the foremost authority on the subject, Carl F. Schmidt, an architect of Scottsville, N.Y. He is the author of the book on “Cobblestone Architecture,” as well as numerous articles on “Cobblestone Masonry” from which he has graciously give me permission to quote.

Mr. Schmidt says: “Until about two decades ago cobblestone houses were accepted by up-state New Yorkers without much thought. That there developed a type of masonry wall of unique beauty and interest was never realized except by a few people. With but few exceptions, this type of masonry wall is not found elsewhere in our country.” There are a number of examples of cobblestone houses in Ontario, Can., several in Michigan and Ohio, one in Brattleboro, Vt., and several around Albany. In several instances these houses were built by people who had moved from this region.

“Generally, we can say that Rochester is about the center of the cobblestone region. If we draw a circle of about 60 miles, using Rochester as a center, we would include about 90 per cent of all cobblestone buildings.”

Mr. Schmidt says in his highly illustrated book: “Cobblestone houses are sturdy, compact structures built of small stones, laid up neatly in horizontal rows between straight lines of exceedingly hard mortar, with square cut quoins of red or gray stones at the corners. 

“The gathering of the small cobblestones that formed the facing or veneer was a long laborious procedure. It is said that the children and often women aided in gathering the stone from fields, creek beds, and gravel pits. The stones were ’sized’ by posing them through an iron ring, called a ‘beetle’ ring, or by passing them through holds cut in a board.

“How did the mason build a cobblestone wall? In all cases, the small stones are only a veneer, or skin, which is backed up by regular rubble masonry of large field stones, or large stones roughly squared… It appears that the backing wall of about 14 inches thick was built up first, at least sections of it were built first, and after the mortar dried, the veneer of cobblestones was laid up. It was a slow process. A good mason could lay up about thee courses of stone on one side of a house in one day. This is about the night of nine inches of vertical wall. It may be readily understood why it took two or three years to build a house. The average mason received #1 to $1.25 per day, plus board. Ten to 12 hours a day was the work day.

Claude Bragdon, who wrote the preface to Mr. Schmidt’s book, said: “It would cost a small fortune to construct such a cobblestone house now-a-days, even assuming it could be done. The Civil War, which raised the price of labor, spelled the doom of cobblestone structures.”

And quoting Mr. Schmidt again: “The cobblestone era really divides itself into three periods - early, middle and late. The early period includes that work which was built from the late 1820’s until about 1835 - the middle period, 1835 to 1845, and the late period those  erected after 1845. The Civil War seems to have ended cobblestone construction; only a few scattered structures were built after 1866.”

Mr. Schmidt lists under these various periods almost 300 cobblestone structures in the Rochester area. There are numerous illustrations and architectural drawings of these beautiful farm houses, barns, schools and offices.

The cobblestone structures of the Town of Guilderland illustrated in this issue of the Altamont Enterprise, can hardly be classed as beautiful, but are presented with the belief they may add to the story of this long abandoned type of architecture.

Our first example is that of the school house of old District No. 6 of the Town of Guilderland Center. It was used as a school house until 1941, when the district sent its pupils to Voorheesville, under contract. Since the centralization of Guilderland schools in 1950 it has been used as an office and now as a supply storehouse by the Guilderland Central School District.

Visible only to the most searching observer is this inscription, carved on one of the upper front quoins: “R.E. Zeh, mason, 1860.”

The cobblestones in the front of the building are small and uniform. Nine curving cut stones with smooth surfaces form an arch above the door. The front corner quoins are of ill regular dimensions, becoming larger at the bottom. The three windows on each side of the building are reinforced with long, wide slabs of cut stone at the top, and long, narrow slabs at the bottom, while vertical and horizontal quoins reinforce the sidewalls about the windows. Long, flat rough cut stone slabs support the building on top of its fieldstone foundation.

The second is a close-up view of the southwest corner of the building, showing the irregular size and shape and arrangement of the cobblestones as well as the quoins, the large square stones used at all four corners  of the building and about the windows.

Number three is a view of the former schoolhouse of District 10, Town of Guilderland. When old-time residents of Guilderland or New Scotland referred to “the cobblestone schoolhouse” this was the one they meant. Used as a private dwelling since the centralization of the district with the Voorhees Central School isDistrict, it lies just outside the southern boundaries of the extensive U.S. Army Reservation. Somewhat larger, its general construction followed of the Guilderland Center school. No record of date or builder can be discovered.

A third cobblestone schoolhouse, that of old District 9 at Osborn’s Corners was destroyed by fire about 1890, and the present wooden structure, now used as a private residents, was erected on its site.

Number four is a view of the receiving vault of Prospect Hill cemetery at Guilderland. It is only a few feet off U.S. Route 20, at the base of the cemetery. The marble tablet above the door bears the inscription: “Prospect Hill cemetery. Chartered 1854. Receiving Vault, 1863.”

Number 5. A view of the receiving vault of the Guilderland Cemetery at Osborn’s Corners. Above the door is a  marble tablet with the inscription: “Guilderland Cemetery, 1872, Receiving Vault,” and cut in the keystone of the arch below: “Guilderland Cemetery, 1872.” The large cobblestones in the side walls ae large and multi-colored: those in front multi-colored but smaller and more uniform. The quoins are smooth faced with rough ends. This is no doubt the latest of all the structures pictured. 

The cemetery itself is much older than the vault, dating at least to 1850. Prior to that, from the days of early settlement, in the beginning of the 18th century, burials were made in private farm grave yards. The cemetery and vault like a short distance behind the parsonage of the Helderberg Reformed Congregation, built in 1790. Their first church and for years the only one of any denomination between Albany and Schoharie, was built about 1750.

We conclude from the data available that cobblestone schoolhouses in the Town of Guilderland were constructed in the 1860s and were the product of the same mason, R.E. Zeh. It is probable he also built the two receiving vaults in 1863 and 1872, respectively. Why tase examples of such a are type of architecture came into being in our town a century ago will probably never be known. They are worth of preservation and public markers.

Again we must express our indebtedness to Mr. Schmidt, for without his skilled research and history of cobblestone structures, these pictures of our own Guilderland landmarks would be meaningless.

  

                             

Cobblestone Schoolhouse District  at 479 Route 46 in Guilderland Center built for District No. 6 in Guilderland Center. Carved in upper left front corner is the inscription, “R.E. Zeh - Mason - 1860.”  It was used as a schoolhouse 81 years and is still owned by the Guilderland Central School District. Its solid foundations and walls remind one of a Revolutionary blockhouse. Externally and internally, this structure is in splendid condition, belying its antiquity.

  

          

                      This schoolhouse is located on the west side of Route 146 

                      in Guilderland Center and is still owned by the Guilder-

                      land School District. Current plans include establishment

                      of a one room museum.

                            

                                           

                  A close-up view of one of the walls of the Guilderland

                  Center school, showing the irregular size, shape and

                  arrangement of the cobblestone used in the construction.

The schoolhouse in the early 1900s. Children attended the cobblestone schoolhouse on Route 146 in Guilderland Center from its start in 1860 through until 1941, according to “Guilderland, New York” (Images of America) by Alice Begley and Mary Ellen Johnson.

                      Historical photos from Guilderland Historical Society collection.

                                          

The former schoolhouse of District 10 at 1064 West Townline Road, Town of Guilderland. It is a near duplicate of the Guilderland Center schoolhouse. When old-time residents of Guilderland or New Scotland referred to “the cobblestone schoolhouse” this was the one they meant. It is now a private dwelling since the centralization of the district with the Voorhees Central School District. Somewhat larger than the one at Guilderland Center, its general design is the same. But no record of date or builder has been found. Close up photo by Glenn Hinchey. A third cobblestone schoolhouse, that of old District 9 at Osborn’s Corners was destroyed by fire about 1890, and the present wooden structure, now used as a private residence, was erected on its site.  It is similar to District #6 schoolhouse, a rectangular plan with the entrance in the center of one end flanked by single windows.  The cobblestones are the water-rounded variety found in the fields and gravel pits, laid three courses to a quoin height.  Window openings have stone sills and lintels  Quoin stones of alternating lengths are built into the side jambs of the windows.

Receiving vault at Prospect Hill Cemetery at 2167 Western Ave., Albany. The marble table above the door bears the inscription: Prospect Hill Cemetery, Chartered 1854. Receiving Vault, 1863.” It has a slate covered gabled roof. It is built of course stones with smooth quoins and a stone lintel above the door. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.                       

                                                           _____

                                   

                        

                           

Cobblestone receiving vault of the Guilderland Cemetery at 6432 Stitt Road, Osborn’s Corners. The marble table above the door bears the inscription, “Guilderland Cemetery 1872 Receiving Vault.” The cemetery itself is much older than the vault. It is also known as the Dutch Reformed Cemetery, being located on the original lease of 43 3/4 acres from “the proprietor of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, Stephen Van Renesselaer, Esq., to the Minister, Elders, and Decons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Helderberg.” The lease was dated October 25th, 1794.
                                               _____

Cobblestone out building at 600 Route 156 and Anderson Lane, Town of New Scotland. The dimensions of the cobblestone summer kitchen are 17' 8" on the sides and 14' 2" on the door and back.

House and cobblestone outbuilding in the early 1900s. Courtesy of Ann Potts.

 Fireplace inside the building.

                                                                                           

                                                                                         

Cobblestone House in Saratoga County

                      Fate of The Fort House, Mechanicville



  Photo courtesy of Paul Loatman, Historian, City of Mechanicville

The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Thursday, June 30, 1966

Stone House Gets Reprieve

By Hal Sheehan

MECHANICVILLE - A historical cobblestone house, a landmark in the path of Urban Renewal progress, got a stay of execution Wednesday when UR officials acknowledged state Urban Renewal authorities had interceded.

Demolition of the pre-Civil War structure as part of the widening of the Hill Street entrance was slated under the contract let Donovan, Forma and Palmer Monday. The reprieve gives historical interests 10 days to act if they plan any action. The demolition firm began its contract at another section of the area today.

Historical groups have shown concern that the former Fort residence was to fall under the bulldozers and expressed sentiment the it should be moved to a new location. The Methodist Church wants the land where it is now located. The stone building with its large pillars, its interior fireplace and long lost history was acquired by Urban Renewal a part of a property purchase, including the former Fort Store at Hill and North Main St. It is necessary to demolish the store for widening purposes.

State Urban Renewal authorities requested that a brief stay be given to investigate and study a request to preserve the building. Nothing will be done, the local agency said, for at least 10 days on the advice of Charles Horan, UR regional administrator at New York. Horan apparently was recipient of the request asking whether federal funds were available for relocation of historic buildings within Urban Renewal areas.

It has been suggested that the residence be used as a public library after relocation and renovation. A check of the structure has shown that the north corner of the roof, with appears to be cut off, is actually enclosed within the attic of the attached store building. One pillar is apparently missing. However, an architect has pointed out that proper spacing of the present three pillars would restore the appearance of the structure.

                     Must find solution in 10 days

Urban renewal officials on the local level, who are apparently open to any workable solutions, pointed out that under the law all buildings on property acquired for redevelopment must be leveled. For this reason, the Fort cobblestone house could not remain on its present site.

They have acknowledged that federal funds are available for relocation of such buildings but that the building must be turned over to an acceptable historical society, which must also provide the new site. 

It is understood that a state historical society was responsible for the present reprieve although its name was not available. Mechanicville does not have a historical society although a number of local people are members of the Knickerbocker Historical Society of Schaghticoke and hold offices and directorships in that society.

Granted the 10-day lease on life, the stone house stays or is pounded into oblivion depending on the state  authority’s findings.

Troy Times Record

Saturday, July 9, 1966

History Buffs Asked To Aid

Knickerbocker Mansion

By John H. Maloney

    Mechanicville history buffs, who may or may not succeed in saving the landmark Fort cobblestone house from being rubbled by Urban Renewal wreckers, have been offered a suggestion for sublimating their chagrin in case they fail.

    Miss Mary M. Hart, corresponding secretary of the Knickerbocker Historical Society, had the constructive thought, after reading recent news stories about the apparently doomed local stone structure.

                    Requests Support

    She wrote “May I suggest that people in the Mechanicville area interested in historical preservation, turn their enthusiasm and energy toward helping the Knickerbocker Historical Society preserve and restore the Mansion in Old Schaghticoke.”

    While the dedicated member of the Knickerbocker Society have been played with many problems in their long tussle to make a historic shrine of the old Dutch colonial mansion house just two crossed-fly miles across the river, they haven’t had to wrestle with the rigors of redevelopment.

    This Miss Hart pointed out and said the society “hopes for more cooperation from our Mechanicville neighbors in a project that will not suffer by Urban renewal.”

    With her letter to The Times Record Miss Hart included a State Department of Commerce “travel news” release about the sixth annual New York State Cobblestone Tour” which was held last month in Niagara County. Data in this she said, might “provide some idea of the age of the Mechanicville structure.”

                                Many In State

    The brochure noted “most of the 500 to 600 cobblestone structures which exist in the United States are in New York State, largely within 50 miles of Rochester. The masons whose skill built them came from Europe to work on the Erie Canal. The Cobblestone style began about 1825 and lasted until the end of the Civil War.”

    It explained that “early buildings used rough stones gathered from nearby fields, but as the craft progressed to greater refinement, smooth cobblestones from the shore of Lake Ontario were preferred.”

    Of the three known Mechanicville examples of stone construction, two of which, the Fort house and one on Burke Street, are still standing, it is fairly safe to assume their rocks were harvested right nearby All three including one last used as an auto repair shop  on North Central Avenue, were close by the old Champlain Canal and could have gotten their stones from that historic ditch.

    In fact, they could have been dug up almost anywhere intone, as Mechanicville had and still has plenty of them, as the many recent diggings have disclosed. WJ. Dwyer and Sons Construction Co. unearthed a fine supply digging the trench for the new telephone cable down the south side of Mabbett Street.

                        Plenty of Cobblestones

    Contractors excavating for foundations of the recently completed Parish Hall and school on William Street also were plagued with plenty of the “round heads.” While Mechanicville’s old time builders were more partial to clapboards than masonry they didn’t waste the cobbles they encountered pick-and-shoveling cellars.

    They were cheaper than brick, costing nothing but sweat, so they used them to lay up their cellar walls, build cisterns and line the old bucket wells. Besides it was easier to use them than car them away on horse-hauled stone boats.

    Many Mechanicville houses built up to the turn of the century have fieldstone foundations, which weren’t noted for their warmth and helped sell a lot of “long-johns” and also newspapers which had to be piled under carpets to keep out the frosty blasts from the basements.

    But, on the other hand, these cobblestone cellars were ideal for storing winter supplies of potatoes, apples, cabbage and turnips, until folks ruined things by fancying them up with furnaces, insulation and knotty-pine paneling.

The Saratogian

Tuesday, July 12, 1966

Death Looms for House

Structure Holds Up UR Project

By Hal Sheehan

    The doomed Cobblestone House holding up urban renewal progress here will have to gain a lot of friends and influence a lot of people quickly if it is to survive. It is understood from reliable sources that an arbitrary demolition death sentence has been passed for July 15.

   Urban Renewal Agency officials on a local level admit that the Hudson River Valley Commission has contacted them on the fate of the Old Stone Home situated at Hill and North Main St. It is apparently for this reason that this portion of the demolition contract, let to Palmer, Forino and Donovan, has been delayed.

U.R. needs the land for widening the Hill Street entrance under the federally accepted master plan. The Methodist Church gets the land on which the /Fort Stone House sits, but portions of it and the area where the old Fort Store is now located must give way to a new roadway necessary at this point.

U.R. officials have indicated  that only a proposition which makes some sense will be considered by the agency which would amend its redevelopment plans to permit the building to remain.

Up to the present time no historical units which have shown an interest have given any intentions of moving the structure to a new site location. The Knickerbocker Historical Society of Schaghticoke, now engaged in restoration of the Old Knickerbocker Mansion, has indicated that it has room for the historic building on its land in Old Schaghticoke.

Faced with no other alternative but to demolish the stone building, the local agency must comply with Federal rulings which strress that where property is acquired for urban development, all structures must be demolished. Certified historical societies may request moving of historic buildings under a new law which permit the government to assist in costs of moving.

According to Mrs. Mary M. Hart, corresponding secretary of the Knickerbocker Historical Society, the cobblestone structures began about 1825 and lasted until the end of the Civil War. The builders gathered the stone from nearby fields as a rule, and it is thought that stone taken from the early Champlain Canal digging may have gone into the Fort Stone House construction. The village had three such buildings. One stood at the head of Hill St., one at its foot and a tis still standing is located at Burke St. All are within each reach of the original canal bed.

The Fort Stone House has been tabled by architectural interests studying “buildings worth saving in Saratoga County” as worthy of being preserved because of its early architecture.

On the other hand, local officials have pointed out that the building has been tabbed for eventual demolition since 1959 and no steps have been taken to preserve it until the last minute after a contract has been let for its demolition. They pointed out that this had been sufficiently publicized and it would appear that sufficient efforts to have it sold have come long before the final steps for its demise had been taken.

Unless present plans are drastically changed, it appears that the bulldozers will shortly move in and level the controversial structure.

The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs

Friday, July 15, 1966

Stone House May Gain Time

__________________________

Historical Unit Resolutions Seen as ’Stop Gap’ Measure

MECHANICVILLE - A resolution adopted by the Knickerbocker Historical Society of Schaghticoke could pave the way for preservation of the Old Fort Cobblestone House at 19 North Main St. in Mechanicville. The resolution came after Charles Keppel expand the Hudson River Valley Commission’s interest in the matter.

He told the society’s meeting at Schaghticoke Thursday night that while state funds for to aid such projects as are contemplated are proposed under recently enacted legislation, the bill was not yet law and the measure had not been signed by the Governor who was on vacation. He pointed out to the group, legislation which would be submitted to the voters in the state at the November elections which could also aid in the work.

There was a woeful lack of Mechanicville support at the gathering. Members of the society question Mechanicville’s interest in keeping the old building preserved. Keppel noted that it was a building described by Bernard Forest of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as worth saving solely on the basis of its architecture.

As passed by the Knickerbocker Historical Society which is seeking desperately on their own to preserve for posterity the old Knickerbocker Mansion in Old Schaghticoke, the resolution is a stop gape measure to gain time to put potential forces to work until state or federal funds become available.

It placed the society on record as being in favor of attempting to retain the Old Fort Stone House and authorized the Society to write Mayor John H. Connors, Urban Renewal Director Frank Yankowski and the New York State Office of Urban Renewal as well as the Hudson River Valley Commission noting that they are asking for delay on demolition of the building until more possibilities can be investigated.

The resolution does not place the society under any financial obligation. If funds are available in the near future and the delay is okayed, this would be the method of financing any moving of the building. It is proposed to move the building to the Knickerbocker site.

Keppel explained the purposes of the Hudson Valley Commission and its outgrowth, the New York State Historical Trust Fund which becomes effective in October. He explained that the most the society could do at the present time was to institute a delaying action on demolition, which he explained would not actually interfere with the widening of Hill Street.

He pointed out that through his studied, the Stone building was not in the way of the proposed project, but was part of the overall property and under the urban renewal plan, had to be taken down or the plan amended.

The Hudson commission member said the historic trust fund was available for buildings which had historical value, military history or contributed to the lore and growth of the Hudson Valley, because of its architecture. “One year from now, we would not have any problem,” Keppel said as he explained that a deadline had been given the commission until July 19 “to come up with something definite.”

He noted that if the society could secure additional time, he would work to get money for the removal and renovation project.

The speaker said he did not come to the meeting “with a blank check,” but felt something could be worked out if there was working time. 

Five Mechanicville people were at the meeting, four of whom were society members.

The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs

Wednesday, August 10, 1966

Monday Deadline

For Cobblestone House

      ____

MECHANICVILLE - Monday has been set as the deadline for the private interests seeking to preserve Mechnicville’s celebrated cobblestone house to file an acceptable plan for its relocation.

Doomed for demolition under the city’s urban renewal program, the landmark, formerly the Fort residence, has had several stays of execution as several groups have sought its preservation as an historical oddity.

Latest and, perhaps the last, of these efforts is the proposal of Drs. Paul and William Gratan of Waterford to by the old residence an move it to a new site for development into a professional building.

    Can’t Wait Longer

Urban Renewal Director Frank Yankowski said today he had advised the Waterford men that the agency could wait no longer the Monday for them to determine the costs involved and decide definitely whether they planned to proceed.

If their decision is negative, the director indicated the original demolition plans for the unique cobblestone house would be put into effect immediately.  He pointed out that while urban renewal could turn the building over to a bonafide historical society and pay for moving it and development of a new location, no such group has asked this action.

The director stressed that the building could not be preserved where it is as that would requite a major amendment of the urban renewal plan. Also it would snarl the agency’s agreement to sell a portion of the site to the adjacent First Methodist Church for expansion of its parking lot, he noted.

It is understood that a local group is preparing to submit a proposal of a different nature which might affect the future of the stone house. Details of this plan are expected to be revealed Friday.

The Saratogian

Monday, August 29, 1966

Readers Forum

___________

        Cobblestone house ‘rare asset’

        To the Editor:

In most European communities the drama and background for American tourists’ visual pleasure can be attributed to older buildings which continue to fulfill modern human needs.

The graceful sweep of brick-paved North Main Street near the city offices and particularly the unique character of the “Cobblestone House” endow Mechanicville with potential to rival many a renowned European attraction.

However the many qualities of this site and the residence are overshadowed by the gloom of an ill-related wooden addition.

An Urban Renewal plan provides for the demolition of the offending wood structure in a few days but it also irrationally includes demolition fo the rare stone construction too!

The house’s intimate scale, pleasant proportions and charming  relation to the sloping land and curved street alone merit its restoration rather than remove to provide empty parking spaces, especially considering the nearby parking lot for the new commercial area.

From a practical standpoint the building is in good structural condition and its appropriate, well-organized educational use for generations of children can guarantee continued usefulness for the self-interest of the community.

Many Capitol District residents, as well as home-town families, will enjoy a unique experience at a restored and culturally active “Cobblestone House.” But to be enjoyed, the building must be saved from the bulldozer NOW.

Mechanicville parents can assist civic officials to demonstrate genuine pride in a true urban renewal by supporting their historical society and thoughtful regaining a rare asset.

                                       James E. Duggan, Architect,

                                       Schenectady.

The Saratogian

Monday, November 4, 1966

Old Stone House Doomed; URA

Orders Demolition

MECHANICVILLE - The controversial Fort Cobblestone House, subject of many moves and counter moves and object of statewide attention, is apparently doomed for destruction today.

In a surprise and unexpected move, Frank Yankowski, director of urban renewal for this city, notified Miss Charlotte Record, chairman of the Mechanicville Historical Society, that he was recommending the stone house be demolished.

Miss Record stated Sunday “The urban renewal people have acted in bad faith.” She said that as late as Friday, Nov. 4, the Historical Society had filled out and signed a developer’s statement in the office of Yankowski and there were no indications that the agency were contemplating demolition. Miss Record, in a signed statement, said she was handed “an approved recommendation by Yankowski that the house be demolished.”

The Mechanicville Historical Society was “shocked” to receive word that the URA would start demolition of the cobblestone house Monday, she said. “All members contacted agreed that urban renewal has acted in bad faith in dealing with the society,” she said.

Yankowski on the other hand said that after evaluating all of the evidence and information submitted to him with respect to moving the house to disposal parcel 15, Francis St., and after hours of consultation with city engineer and Donald Larmon, an expert on house moving, that in “good conscience I must recommend to you and the agency that the proposal to move the house is unrealistic and that demolition of this structure will commence Monday Morning Nov. 7.”

Yankowski based his recommendations on the original moving cost of $39,850, the top amount authorized by the New York regional office. He said the cost would be substantially above the figure and noted the city’s share would be 12 percent.

Secondly, Yankowski pointed out that the government had said that this proposal would not be approved if the operation would cause undue delay in the overall project.

A conservative esteem by the people involved states that it would take at least five to six months to complete the move and possibly more, he said. The director pointed out that although the Historian Society had a membership of 100, only 18 appeared at the meeting, regarding acceptance of the building.

“Of the 18 who attended, 12 voted to accept, while six objected. Of the 12 who did vote in favor, four or five are not residents of the city,” Yankowski pointed out

The director also pointed out that responsible people had informed him there was a risk of the building collapsing or becoming badly dilapidated in the move. Also the redeveloper’s statement indicated financial resources of $5,000. “The initial cost of renovating this building will not be covered by tis sum … the resources of the society appear to be insufficient,” he said.

“It simply is not feasible or practical to move this building.I have a responsibility to the entire city and to the success of the urban renewal plan. In view of the foregoing, I respectfully recommend to the agency that the building be demolished in order that we might proceed with the progress of the urban renewal plan,” Yankowski stated.

    Miss Record said Sunday that “The Society had been led to believe that they were complying with every directive of the agency, and that the project would be completed.” She stated that as late as Oct. 31, James Duggan, a Schenectady architect, had been informed by letter from a URA official that “It seems to me, however, that it may be possible if all other things had been complied with, there should be mo objects to its removal to Francis St.

Whatever the pros and cons, whatever the lengthy arguments, regardless of sentiment, historical value or basic facts, the Old Cobblestone house has a mighty hole in one side of it this morning and it looks like it will be a dusty pile of cobblestone rubble tonight.

The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs

Tuesday, November 8, 1966

Bulldozer Razes Historic Stone House

By Hal Sheehan

MECHANICVILLE - The cobblestone house has been felled. It took the count Monday and was downed by a big bulldozer which quickly stepped into the long-drawn-out battle and punched a gaping hole in the south side, ending for all time any further arguments over whether it stayed or moved on.

As the cobblestones tumbled, so did the Mechancville Historical Society’s dream of a junior museum. The aged structure collapsed easily. The stones, with doubtlessly had been laid up with care and ride during many months of labor over a hundred years ago, were scattered, the wood partitions and the lath were splintered, and the big columns toppled.

   This morning the cobblestone house was a worthless pile of rubbish.

City Engineer John Sheehan, who visited the site during the morning, said the ground would be skinned back after the debris was removed in an effort to try to locate the fabled “Cuerdon Spring” or well from which General Washington is said to have taken a drink while on his way north on an inspection trip following the war.

Throughout the morning, crowds gathered at the site to watch. Emotions were mixed. Most were surprised at the sudden move. The attached wooden building, the former Ford store and at one time the Sweeney saloon, remains standing. No effort was made yesterday to push it in.

But at noon Monday, the cobblestone house was a meaningless pile of rocks, plaster and wood. In its place, after urban renewal has widened Hill Street, there will be shrubbery, a parking lot and only a memory of the heyday of “Saloon Corners.”

                            Photos of Fort House, 19 North Main St.

                            Courtesy of Paul Loatman, Historian, 

                            City of Mechanicville, New York

The Saratogian

October 1, 1966

Stone House Attracts Controversy

By Harold F. Sheehan

MECHANICVILLE - Controversy over the old Stone House at the foot of Hill Street is not new. Almost a hundred years ago tempers flared: the press joined in, and public sentiment reached a point where the citizens by popular subscription raised $500 to help purchase the property in order to clear out what was then known as “Saloon Corners.”

While actual construction of the Stone House itself is somewhat vague, it is possible that it was built very early in the 1800s by Dr. Croyden, also spelled Creudon, a Tory who served at the Battle of Saratoga as a surgeon to General Burgoyne. The land area was known as the Croyden Farm, and Dr. Croyden did have a wooden building on the spot at one time and a place known as a tavern. A well or drinking fountain of some type actually stood near the front of his tavern along what was then known as the King’s Highway.

The fact that the tavern was a popular stopping off place for “drinks” gave rise to some stories that, when Washington was making is inspections north, following the Revolution, he did stop off at the tavern to water is horses. Croyden is credited with saying that “If the General wished to take a drink, he should take it from the drain gutter, that bette men than he had drunk from it.”      

       Croyden built the Saratoga House on South Main Street, then also the King’s Highway. Apparently a young man at the close of the war, he found taverns and real estate mod to his liking than the medical profession. In 1812 the Saratoga House was used to house British officers captured on Lake Champlain and to the north. The doctor eventually sold the Saratoga House to William C. Tallmage, then an enterprising young man who remodeled it into a fine hotel. The hotel eventually burned to the ground in a spectacular fire.

It could be that following tis Croyden built the stone house addition to part of his original structure, for while his whereabouts seem to have become lost, records indicate the some of Mechanicville’s pioneers lived in the “old stone house.”

Among these were W. F. Terry, one of the village’s earliest newspaper publishers and a prominent lawyer, whose paper was the forerunner of the Mechanicville Saturday Mercury. Job V. Viall, who settled “West Mechanicville,” the Saratoga Avenue-Viall Avenue area, and was connected with the American Linen Thread Co. and operated his own mills  in Willow Glen, lived there when he first came to the “borough.” A Dr. Ingraham had an office in the stone house.

According to the obituary of Cornelius M. Fort, one of Mechanicville’s best known and highly respected citizens, he lived there when he was first married before build his home on Park Avenue. He was later to become owner of the property.

In 1884 Thomas J. Sweeney came in possession of the stone house. He built the present wooden addition adjacent to the north and operated what was then becoming known as a “saloon,” the word tavern having disappeared. The upstairs was laid out into rooms for travelers and the downstairs was one of the plush saloons of the era. There was a wide veranda which Ean across the front of the wooden addition on which the politicians of the day would gather for their nightly discussions, all of which didn’t hurt the proprietor’s business in the least.

Across the street Bryan Sweeney conducted another saloon on what is now the Collins property. It was smaller but adequate. Where Pender’s Store is located Patrick McCall had a rival saloon to the Sweeney’s and thus the term “Saloon Corners” became popular.

The three drink shops dispensed nearly all the liquor sold in town at that time. One set of records shows that Sweeney acquired the property in 1875 rather than 1884 which is more likely to be the actual fact. He as at that time overseer of the poor in the Town of Half-moon and for a number of years was a member of the Board of Education. His saloon was the headquarters for politicians of both parties and caucuses were frequently held there.

The growing Methodist congregation and a hard core of businessmen became quite disturbed in 1906 over “Saloon Corners.” They pointed out that it split the Main Street business section in half. Men customers coming down Main St. never made it any farther down the street than the front door of Sweeney’s. Those going up the street found the same situation.

When Thomas Sweeney died, William dryer took over the operation of the saloon and the stone house Wass still being rented out as living quarters. Apparently, Dwyer an into some financial difficulties, for William H. Allen, a prominent businessman and citizen, finding that the property could be purchased, raised $500 from business associates and members of the church. An additional $8,000 was available and the property purchased with the avowed intention of tearing down the saloon and forcing the others out of business.

The records are not clear as to whom actually made the purchase, but the Mercury of June 26, 1906 said: “Mechanicville raised $500 on short notice last week and thereby made possible the purchase of the largest and most prominent saloon on North Main Street. The saloon property formerly owned by the late Thomas J. Sweeney at the corner of North Main and Hill Streets was purchased from Mrs. Dwyer by William Allen for $6,500. The purchase was made for the Methodist Church members who contributed toward the price. It is understood that the property will now be turned over to C.M. Fort, who will turn the cobblestone house over to his son, Sidney Fort, Jr.”

The brewers and wholesale liquor dealers were considerably wrought up over the purchase of the property, which was turned into mercantile use. Saloon property was becoming hard to get. Homes adjoining prospective plots balked. Dobler Brewing threatened to contest the sale, but Attorney J.F. Terry, once  resident of the stone house, drew up an air-tight transfer and the deal was made.

Dwyer had the property on the market for some time. The brewers were accused of marking time until there would be foreclosure and there would be foreclosure proceedings and they could pick up at a fraction of its value.

Coming to the hamlet of Vischers Ferry in 1859 when Mechanicville was a community only 800 people, Cornelius Fort accepted a clerkship in a general store owned by J.S. Warner on the site now occupied by the State Bank of Albany. Five years later he branched out for himself in the Mead Building at the corker of Park Avenue and North Main, where he conducted a store for 36 yeas, getting much of his freight by canal boat.

    He handled groceries, hardware and dry goods and was credited with bringing grapefruit to the village. He retired after 36 years of activity, closed out his general store but in less than two years he went into business on the now controversial site. He remained active in the business up the time of his death in 1926.

The wooden addition is the original Sweeney Saloon although some modifications were made. It was covered on the upper floors at tone time for the Austin Studio, and it is reputed that Sweeney also ran a bakery in the back at one time.

Mechanicville Mercury

Saturday, June 19, 1909

        Church Buys Saloon

                      ___

The saloon property formerly owned by the late Thomas J. Sweeney at the corner of North Main and Hill streets, which adjoins  the Methodist church property on the north, was purchased of Mrs. John E. Dwyer, by William H. Allen for $8,500. The purchase was Mae for the Methodist Church, members of which contributed toward the purchase price. It is understood the property will now be transferred to C.M. Fort, who will turn it over to his son, Sidney V. Fort.

The cobblestone house, in which the late Job Viall formerly resided, and the fine apartments over the saloon will be rented for residence purposes, and the saloon will be remodeled into a store. A new plate glass front will be built and the interior fitted up for merchandise. Possession will be given July 1. Mr. Dwyer has already begun to remove his goods, and soon the sale of liquor on that corner will cease forever.

Twenty-five years ago that saloon was the leading and most popular drink-shop in town. Across the street, Patrick McCall conducted a rival saloon almost equally popular. On the other side of the creek where Harvey R. Collins is now located, Bryan Sweeney conducted another saloon.

Those three drink shops sold nearly all the liquor sold in town at that time. The closing of the “Jack” Dwyer” saloon July 1, will clear that creek corner of its last saloon and mercantile business will replace the liquor business and raise the value of all property in that neighborhood.

Schenectady Gazette

September 19, 1912

   (Under Mechancville news items) 

      Charles Hurd is constructing a concrete blacksmith shop in North State Street on the site formerly occupied by the cobblestone house, which was a landmark.

Schenectady Gazette

October 25, 1912 

(Under Mechanicville news items) 

   Alvah Ames has the new concrete shop for Charles Hud, nearly completed. This is the first concrete building of this mode of construction in that village. It stands on the site of what was one of the oldest buildings in the village the old cobblestone house on the tow path, which was razed to make room for the new building.

(Note from Paul Loatman, Mechanicville City Historian):

“Charles & John Hurd worked as wheelwrights at Dodd's Wagon/Carriage Shops in 1897 on Park Avenue & South State St., the formal name of the canal tow path running on the east side of the Champlain Canal which is now Central Avenue. 

   “This is about a block south of Hill Street where the Fort cobblestone house in question was located. Apparently, the Hurds decided to go into business themselves and built a shop at the top of the northeast corner of Hill Street within 150 yards of the cobblestone house on what the article says was the scene of a previous cobblestone house.”

                      "Olde Stonehouse Inn," Maltaville

Eastern-most cobblestone house in New York State is the “Olde Stone House Inn”  at 545 Route 67 and the intersection with Knapp Road in Maltaville.  It was built about 1845. This house was the Olmstead Homestead. Down through the years this home has served as a residence, boarding house, tourist home, and a bed and breakfast.

 Same place as it appeared in the 1920s.