Federal – Cherry Valley, NY

Sold / Archive From 2016

Added to OHD on 6/2/16 - Last OHD Update: 7/25/22

48 Alden St, Cherry Valley, NY 13320

5194 Sq Ft
0.34 Ac.

Post and Beam construction with stone foundation. Large entry hall, Library with period arches and fireplace mantle, sewing room with fireplace, banquet room, sitting room, galley kitchen, period cooking hearth, molding, six panel doors, 12/12 windows, attached carriage house. The upstairs features dressing room, large meeting hall, and two large attic spaces. This property in recent time served as the IOOF - Rebekah Lodge. Formerly a fine family home owned by the Seeleys and Livingstones among others. A great opportunity for an historical restoration.

Listed With

Patricia Bensen-Ashley, Ashley-Connor Realty

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Ashley-Connor Realty

This is an archived listing.

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Kelly, OHD | 14794 comments

Admin

6 years ago

Thanks Cora for sharing!

Robinjn | 241 comments

Oh I am sad for this house. Such gorgeous bones but such ugly alterations. I hope it finds someone who will respect its age and the beauty underneath the awful.

Laurie W. | 1819 comments

What sad things happened to this house. It’s at least still standing but what a pleasure it would be to pull out the unhappy features it has accumulated. Zillow says built in 1800 & some elements look about that age. There’s a good house under all that stuff. I don’t know whether it would pay to put the necessary money into it, but I’d love to see it happen.

Victoria Webb | 128 comments

I looked at land/houses in Cherry Valley back in 2006/2007. The town has some great older and historic homes, but it’s still struggling to attract growth. This 1812 beauty is currently for sale: http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Town-of-Cherry-Valley-NY/31626399_zpid/399032_rid/any_days/42.811443,-74.73542,42.785276,-74.76619_rect/14_zm/?3col=true

JimH | 7846 comments

Moderator

The oldest part of the house is the rear section built around 1790 by lawyer Isaac Seeley, one of the founders of the village. Previously a remote rural valley, this was the site of the infamous Cherry Valley Massacre in 1778 during the Revolution, and the house and cemetery next door stand on the site of the frontier fort.
It’s thought that Seeley added the front section of the house around 1825. The house was later purchased by aristocrat Jacob Livingston and his 2nd wife Levantia White, the daughter of an influential physician and landowner here. They didn’t mingle much with the locals, though they built a school and spread their money around, for which the folks were grateful. They had a daughter named Levantia who married well, and by 1860 the household wealth was $190,000 by their estimate, a lot of money 150 years ago. Their descendants owned the house and lived here well into the 20th century.
The Odd Fellows used the place for 75 years and obviously didn’t treat it very well. Let’s hope someone is inspired by the history and brings the place back to life.

Cora | 2461 comments

Reply to JimH | 7846 comments

Cool stuff Jim. I’m always amazed at the way you find the history of these old homes, and it does make a strange old place like this much more interesting. Especially knowing the significance of where it stands. Oh, if walls could talk.

Really cool stuff, Jim. Makes the place even more attractive. I like the info about the fort & the massacre being right there.

Thank you Jim. I hate to see such a well built home come to where it is today. I hope someone saves it.

Thanks, ladies. It says Pending now so we should keep our fingers crossed for this one.

Old Jarhead | 1 comments

Jim, I am curious about the history of the home, as I recently purchased it. Would you please contact me at fergusojc@gmail.com? Thanks.

AmyBee | 1202 comments

Supporter

3 years ago

JimH
Thanks for mentioning the Cherry Valley Massacre.
Not to creep anybody out (or violate the rules here), for that VERY reason I’d NEVER live in Cherry Valley. This historic contrmpi3 accounts are horrifying.

Reply to AmyBee | 1202 comments

But it happened over 200 years ago. You would have a tough time going anywhere that didn’t have some tragedy happen, recorded or not recorded.

Reply to Kelly, OHD | 14794 comments

That’s quite true! However, what happened in Cherry Valley was of such horrific magnitude I can see the landscape scarred for quite some time.
I live in WNY. Besides snow we have quite a history for bloodshed, particularly from the War of 1812. Entire commuunities, such as Lewiston and Buffalo were put to the torch while their inhabitants were massacred. As lovely as Lewiston is, all along the Niagara River to Ft. Niagara, you couldn’t give me a house there either. As for Buffalo, except for North Buffalo (at one time it’s own hamlet), I’ll pass on that too. And I was born there!
As an historian I look at facts, but one can’t deny what that history can leave on the landscape.
I live in a house from c.1859 which I believe (for reasons I can’t go into here) played a role in the Patriot War. I’ve spent much time researching this period in Lockport with no irrefutable evidence, as yet.

Julles | 691 comments

I agree with Laurie and Robin, such a sad house. It would be hard to put it back to the way it was. Hopefully, someone has some knowledge of the original floor plan and the miracle of a photo or two of the rooms.
I have heard of the Odd Fellows but who are they what do they believe and what is the Rebekah Lodge?

Diane | 832 comments

Reply to Julles | 691 comments

The Odd Fellows is a men’s philanthropic organization and the Rebekah is the women’s portion of the group. An old organization with membership declining in recent times.

Steve H | 142 comments

I think there’s a lot of potential. It seems like it’s more a matter of removing later additions rather than restoring lost features. In the barn picture you can see some old doors that were saved.

I guess I saw the Odd Fellows alterations as cover-ups more than hopelessly destroying. Hopefully, the original siding is still under the wrap. Wood floors under the linoleum. Plaster under the ceiling covering. Shutters stored in the basement. The fact that the woodwork, fireplaces, floors and old glass remain is a good sign. Also it looks like the OF were pack rats and that usually means things weren’t thrown away, they were stored. An exciting prospect for this old home.

John Shiflet | 6646 comments

Thanks Jim for coming to the rescue with a historical narrative of this long used property. There were so many different periods of details I wasn’t even going to try to guesstimate the date(s). It will take a creative individual with money and vision to maximize the potential here. Since its steeped in local history preserving it seems like a worthy endeavor. (a lot of house and history for less than $100k) I’d be curious to see what someone does with this place; hopefully they will create a blog with photos as work progresses.

SOLD 2/7/2017 (Realtor).

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