Historians & History Resources

1997 Awards Ceremony

The ceremony was attended by a full house, including all the property owners, plus most of our public officials. Presenting the awards were two state representatives from NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation - Win Aldrich and Claire Ross. Claire had been our guiding light through all of this, and was happy to witness the final fruition of everyone's work.

After the presentations, attendees enjoyed a short slide program, refreshments were served and people had time to visit and look at the booklets prepared for each property. A master copy of the nominations is available in the Historical Society office, on the second floor of the Municipal Building, Park St., Newark Valley.
 

John Settle / Clyde Tull Farm House and Barn

This property has been farmed since ca 1840 after David Settle had purchased it in 1827. Generations later, Oscar Settle expanded it to over 1000 acres. Today it is much smaller, but still being farmed. There are two ca 1880 Victorian barns, plus several other outbuildings. Although modified, the house still retains enough of the original to be recognized as an early farmhouse.

Sutton / Howland / Chapman / Phillips House

This late Victorian, stick style farm house was built ca 1880 on property farmed since early 1800's. The banked barn was probably built between 1840-1870 because circular saw marks can be seen.

Lipe / Keith Farm

This 1881 Morris Clinton house was designed and built by Mr. Clinton to included a center staircase, ample light to all rooms and a large attic. This innovative design was published in an agricultural journal in 1882 along with an engraving. There have been few changes over the years.

This farm remained in the Wade family from 1833 to 1992. The present owners are restoring the house and outbuildings. The original wainscoting, cut from a single tree remains in the dining room; original paints are being uncovered and matched. The English barn is being used. This is a working farm, using many old methods.

The first phase of this house was built ca 1835, the second 1840-1850, and the final section about 1855. Early Republic-Federal-Greek Revival architecture includes a wrap-around porch. Much of the interior remains intact.

1820 census reports that Jonathan and Betsey Bement Belcher were living at this location. It is believed that the Federal style farmhouse was built in 1812, presently being restored. Family legend says that the leaded glass lights surrounding the front door (visible in an early photo) were removed, the lead melted down and donated to the World War I effort. The farm is an intact example of a 19th century farm complex, including an early, modified English barn.

The present schoolhouse/social hall was once a one-room school and meetinghouse of the church and was located across the road from its present location.

The church was built in 1848 in Greek Revival style with clapboard and flushboard siding on a fieldstone foundation. Organized as the Union Church of Westville and Candor in 1823, changed to the Second Church of Newark in 1832 and adopted the Congregational rules of worship in 1853, it is now an independent Congregational Church. Most of the old records were lost in a fire in 1990.

The cemetery is next to and behind the church; having been established in 1820's as a church cemetery. Later it became a community burial ground. It is believed the cemetery was transferred to the West Newark Cemetery Association in 1905-06, with additions of more property. Again these records were destroyed in the 1990 house fire of the president of the association.

This Greek Revival house was built ca. 1860 with a modified temple front. The rear portion appears to incorporate an earlier house known to stand on the property. Many original six over six windows remain.

Dr. Hiram Knapp Sr., a country doctor had this Colonial Revival home built in 1905, to be used both as his office and a home in which to raise his family. It has remained in the family, and now has been restored back to original condition. The carriage house remains; the speaking tube from the side entrance still will rouse anyone sleeping in a second floor bedroom: even the finials from drapery rods have been rescued from the attic.

In 1888, the town of Newark Valley purchased a Lenticular pony truss bridge from the Berlin Iron Bridge Company of East Berlin, CT. It is one of only perhaps 50 such bridges known to survive in the U.S. Because of its width, age and constant need of repair, the town is trying to find funds to fix it properly.

Hope Cemetery was established in 1820 as a privately owned burial ground. It has been enlarged several times, and now is a nonprofit association, governed by a Board of Trustees. The gravestones represent every period of Newark Valley history. Many of the paths are named for early settlers. The Mausoleum was built in 1928, containing 200 crypts in a neoclassical Greek Revival structure with white marble interior, and plastered concrete on the outside.

An example of the certificates awarded to each property owner. This certificate recognizes the Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum.