The Crook Farm and Schoolhouse

On a recent drive through PA, we stopped at the Crook Farm in Bradford,PA and took the following pictures of the old homestead.

The Crook Farm, a National Heritage Site, stands where it was constructed in 1847 in a beautiful rural setting located at Seaward Avenue Extension, Bradford, PA.

You will enjoy a walk back in time as you tour the 19th century restored farm house, barn, one-room schoolhouse, herb garden, tool house, train depot and outbuildings.

The Knox house, Coudersport,PA

Vintage picture

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This old Italian  Villa style home was owned by F.W. Knox who was a prominent businessman in Coudersport and President of the Coudersport & Port Allegany Railroad. Mr Know was born in 1824 and died in 1884.

                               Picture from the 1970's

                                (Click to enlarge picture)

Many years later the house was turned into a bar and hotel called the "Old Hickory" and was open for over thirty years before falling vacant again. It is said that famous Prohibition Agent Elliot Ness used to hang out here.

                          Vintage picture from the 1990's

The house was boarded up and left to the elements.

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This picture was taken by me in the summer of 2009 on one of our trips and was used as the backdrop for one of our books....

The William Goff house 1830

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This old house was built in 1830 by William Goff near what is now the town of Howard,NY. Mr Goff was born in 1780 and settled here around 1802, behind this house in 1812 he built a brick kiln and mill on on the creek that is now called Goff's creek. The house and grounds is now a museum and pottery shop open during the summer months for all to enjoy.

If houses could talk

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There is something about old houses that fascinate me. Driving through the country of NY I came upon this old house along the road in the town of Franklinville,NY.
If old houses could talk think of the stores they could tell. An old chair on the porch where mom used to set, the toys in the yard where the kids once played, the old abandoned cars that once took them to town.  

Now abandoned for whatever reason.  What a shame to see once loved and cared for homes left to the elements.  Now fading into the ground.  So many people in need of housing yet all across America, once good, usable houses sitting to rot.  It's too bad there isn't a way to somehow fix them all up and help families in need enjoy them.  Recent statistics show that now, in America, the abandoned homes outnumber the number of homeless people.  

The old house on Seneca Lake

Sitting on the hill overlooking Seneca Lake in the town of Dresden,NY. is this beautiful old home.

                         
                       (Click image for larger picture)

This old house was built in 1830 by Christopher Willis and has sit many,many years vacant. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. Although it is privately owned it still sits all alone. It is still filled with belongings of the ones who lived there such a long time ago. Some say it is haunted with spirits of the past. Such a shame to see it sit and rot to the ground.................

Old Homestead

This classy old homestead like so many others across NY state sits abandoned along the highway in the town of Italy Valley,NY. New York like so many other states has a great number of old houses just setting in disrepair, abandoned in time due to loss of jobs or being foreclosed.  These beautiful old homes are just being left to rot to the ground.....

The Octagon House

This Octagon house is located in Hammondsport,NY and was built in 1859 by Timothy Younglove one of the founders of the Pleasant Valley Winery. This old house was completely

renovated and turned into a Bed & Breakfast and features  five guest rooms. It is now called the Black Sheep Inn. Rates for a nights stay range from $150 to $240 per night.