A Tour of Arcadia homes
By Robert Hoeltzel, Arcadia Town Historian
October 1999
People are still recalling enthusiastically the tour of homes sponsored by the Arcadia Historical Society on September 25. On that perfect fall day, upwards of 175 Newarkites and others visited six local homes with historical significance. Each one was different; each was delightful. The hosts seemed to enjoy the day as much as their visitors. The homes selected for this tour were:
PRESCOTT - BLODGETT HOUSE on East Maple Avenue.
In 1837, Isaac Moore built a seven-room frame house on East Miller St., the site now occupied by the Newark Municipal Building.
The following year the house was sold to Capt. Thomas Davis, a veteran of the War of 1812. In 1851 Capt. Davis' daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Joel Prescott, moved from Lyons to live with Capt. Davis. Mr. Prescott, whose business interests included insurance, real estate, and a jewelry store, was for many years one of Newark's most prominent citizens.
Following the death of her parents, Miss Clara Prescott remained in the homestead until her death in 1946 at 89 years.
In 1948 its new owners, Dr. and Mrs. Jacob Sirkin, moved the house to its present location. In 1953, a large sunroom, breakfast room, and modern kitchen were added on the east side, with a master bedroom above. Two smaller rooms were made into one large living room and a fireplace added.
In 1967 the Sirkins sold the house to Alfred Warren and family, who, in turn, sold to Mr. and Mrs. John Blodgett in 1971. Jack Blodgett owns his own insurance business and Lynn has retired from teaching at Lincoln School. Sons, John Jr., Stuart and Bruce, who were raised in the home, now have homes of their own.
BARTLE - CHAPMAN HOUSE - Scott Street
The residence now known as the Blue Brick Inn was built in 1854 for Mr. and Mrs. Andrew C. Bartle as a wedding present from Mr. Bartle's father, Col. James P. Bartle, Newark's first merchant and postmaster and Arcadia's first supervisor. Andrew Bartle was in the lumber business as Bartle & Wright, Bartle & Eames, and A.C. Bartle Lumber Co.
The house, in the Albany and Schenectady style with cupola, originally had kitchen and dining room in the basement. An addition on the west side about 1906 made room for dining room and kitchen to be moved to the main floor. A screened porch and new front steps have been added in recent years.
In 1912 the house was sold to Mr. and Mrs. S. Ray Peirson who occupied the house for many years. Mr. Peirson was Vice President of the First National Bank. Later owners of the house were M/M Wilson Parker, M/M Ralph Perkins, M/M George Finley, Dr/M Dupha Reeves, Dr/M Andrew Guidarelli, M/M David Bryiarski, M/M John King, M/M Paul DeLeo and M/M Richard Tanhauser.
The house was purchased in 1985 by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chapman, who opened the Blue Brick Inn Bed and Breakfast in 1992, while continuing to reside in the house. Bob Chapman is a teacher at BOCES in Williamson and Bobbi teaches in Marion.
PEIRSON - WELCHER - CORTEVILLE HOUSE - Parker
Rd.
Silas Peirson (1786-1857), progenitor of a large Arcadia family, came to this area in 1807. In 1815 he purchased 87 and 1/2 acres of land. Over the years, the farm was expanded to 250 acres. A carpenter by trade, he erected a small frame house for his use. Twice married, Silas became the father of 11 children. Following the death of Silas, the farm passed to his sons, William and George. George's portion included the house, which by then consisted of the ten rooms at the back of the present structure. George increased the house further by adding the front portion, giving the house its present 16 rooms.
From George Peirson the house passed to William Hyde who, in turn, sold to Frank Welcher in 1889. Mr. Welcher conducted a 100-acre dairy farm until his death in 1931. Thereafter, his daughter, Hazel Welcher, a teacher, operated the farm in addition to commuting to her school in Seneca Falls. Miss Welcher died in 1989.
In 1990 Gary Corteville purchased the house. Gary, of Corteville Construction, has added modern amenities while carefully preserving the architectural integrity of this fine old house. Gary and Mary have three children, Georgia, Taylor and Evan.
'THE MANSE' - GAROFALO - Williams
Street.
Long known to Newarkites as 'the manse,' this house was built in the early 1870's for Zerah Landon, a well-to-do retired farmer, and his family. The house was sold to Mrs. Mary Phillips of Clifton Springs in 1877. Marcellus Burnham, a merchant, rented the house for a time, purchasing it in 1883. After his death, the house was sold in 1893 to Rev. John Moore, former Newark Universalist pastor, who intended to return to Newark on retirement. Death ended that plan and the house was leased to Dr. George York, who practiced medicine from an office in the house until 1899, when it was sold to the Presbyterian Church as its manse (parsonage/rectory).
The first minister to occupy the house, Rev. Dr. A. Parke Burgess, lived there for only the last six months of his 26-year pastorate. Subsequent pastors and their small families have been: Rev. John Ball (4 yrs.), Rev. Carl Scovell (7 yrs.), Rev. Dr. Cyrus Creighton (13 yrs.) Rev. Willis Sanderson (20 yrs.), Rev. Walter Hobkirk (32 yrs.).
During, the Ball residency, the roof of the house was raised and a porch built across the front. The porch was removed in the 1930's and replace by the present entry, the same size as the original.
Rev. Timothy Johnson and family lived in the house for several months, following which the property was sold to a Miss Pynne and M/M Robert Jackson. M/M Sherman Parker purchased the property in 1981. M/M John McCarthy owned the house for a time and sold it in 1993 to M/M Eugene Garofalo. Gene operates his own insurance company from the house. His wife, Carol Swan, is a busy housewife. Their children are Julie (now married), Meredith, Maureen, David and Lydia.
Few churches in Newark have hosted as many weddings as were performed before the fireplace in the front parlor during the 80 years this house served as 'the manse.'
PARKER HOMESTEAD - Parker Rd.
Six generations of the Parker family have resided in this home - the oldest cobblestone house in the town of Arcadia.
The Rev. Preston Parker purchased 72 and 1/2 acres of land for his home in 1824. The house was built 1825-26. A Methodist exhorter, Mr. Parker held religious services on the second floor of his home. From these services the former East Palmyra Methodist Church had its origin.
The style of the house is of the earliest period of cobblestone construction, with limestone quoins and lintels. A fireplace in the basement was once used for cooking. The present front entry was built in 1962.
Esbon Parker, one of 13 children, took over the farm from his parents. His son Samuel, was the next in line of ownership. Samuel's son, Esbon II, gave up general farming to found a nursery business in 1923. Mrs. Esbon II lived in the house until her death in 1991 at 98 years. Her son, Lloyd, and his wife Evelyn returned to the homestead in 1992 and continued the Parker Nursery with the help of their son Kevin.
As Rev. Parker's parents lived with their son for a time, their great-great-great grandson, Lloyd Parker, is the sixth generation of Parkers to reside in this 174-year-old homestead, and Kevin is seventh in (part) ownership. Can any other Arcadia family beat this record?
THOMAS - POWELL HOUSE - Jefferson Street
This 168-year-old house was built for Justus Baldwin in 1831. In 1849 it was sold by his widow to Robert Raymond. Little is known about these early Newarkites. In 1855 the house was deeded to Rodman Thomas who moved to the house from Berlin, N.Y. with his son, Dr. Rowland Thomas in 1857. Dr. Thomas practiced medicine from his home until his death in 1892.
Byron Thomas, a banker and son of Rowland, lived in the house until building a house next-door on the corner. The house remained in the family, passing to Byron's daughter Martha (Mrs. Stephen) Comstock and then to her son, Richard Comstock, President of Comstock Foods. The latter, however, never lived in the brick house. The furnishings in the 'Thomas Room' of the Wayne County Museum originated in this home during the 115-year Thomas-Comstock ownership. The house was given to the Landmark Society of Western New York in 1975. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Krens rented the house from Mr. Comstock from 1972 and thereafter from the Landmark Society. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Selner rented the house until 1977, when they bought the property.
Mr. and Mrs. John Carey bought the house in 1983 and the Powells in 1991.
Paul Powell works for Optics, Tech., Inc. in Pittsford and Vicki teaches at Kelley School. With Lindsay married and Adam a college freshman, Paul and Vicki began life as 'empty nesters' this fall.
The Arcadia Historical Society wishes to sincerely thank the gracious home-owners for their hospitality and the Newark Garden Club for furnishing fresh-flower arrangements for each of the homes.
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