A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
The Babcock House Museum was built in 1848 by Jeptha Babcock near the shores of Lake Ontario along the Seaway Trail. This Greek Revival cobblestone farmhouse is now operated as a museum by the Town of Somerset Historical Society. Its cobblestone masonry, using weathered stone from Lake Ontario, is unique to this area of New York, and most cobblestone homes were erected prior to the Civil War. Focal points of the home are the brick bread oven and beehive cook fireplace. The house is completely furnished with vintage antiques, china, light fixtures and a pump organ. Besides hosting various events throughout the year, the Babcock House Museum is open for touring from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays from June to October.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
These types of cobblestone houses with this type of masonry wall, with a few exceptions, are not found anywhere else in the United States.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
Building these houses was a slow process. A good mason could lay up about three courses of stone, on one side, in one day. This represents about nine inches of wall. They would have two or three houses under construction at once, allowing time for the mortar to set and harden as they worked on the next. We can well understand why it took more than two years to build a cobblestone house.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
Quoins are masonry blocks used to provide strength for a wall and to keep the corners square.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
In the back of the Babcock House, the mason used larger stones than in the front as the front was the focal point of the structure.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
A stone sizer was used to keep or reject stones that were too large to be included in the makeup of the structure.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
Jeptha Babcock was a farmer, the first postmaster in the western section of the town, supervisor of the Town of Somerset and a New York State Assemblyman.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
A large barn sits at in the back of the Babcock House Museum in the Town of Somerset.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
Jeptha was born in 1806 Albany County, New York. In November 1829 he married Mary Hoag, a Dutchess County native. Jeptha and Mary moved to Niagara County in 1833. They had four children: Isaac H., Henry H., Mary Jane and Sarah Elizabeth.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
A line of barrels in the barn at the Babcock House Museum.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
The house was renovated in 1984 by New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) with collaboration from the Genesee Country Museum. The cost of the renovation was approximately $250,000 and brought the interior of the building back to what it would have looked like in the 1800s.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
The dining room has furniture that dates back to 1865. On the wall is a print depicting the Emancipation Proclamation with Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet. The chandelier over the table has concealed the wiring running it through the rods that connect it to the ceiling.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
Mr. Babcock wanted a wide front door with sidelights to brighten the entry. The foyer was angled out, and the door was constructed specially to support a wide door, and the side lights have a deep sill.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
The living room or the parlor room has a pump organ used for entertainment.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
The pump organ.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
This wreath that hangs on the wall in Mr. Babcocku2019s office is made from human hair.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
There was no central heating system in the home, so every room has a separate coal or wood stove.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
The original fireplace is shown in the kitchen where dinner would have been used to cook meals. To the right of the fireplace is a beehive oven.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
The upstairs bedrooms hold many artifacts including clothing from that period.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
A family picture is seen at the bottom of the stairs.
A Closer Look: The Babcock House Museum
A Bible rests on the sill of a belly window in the upstairs bedroom.
In this Series
Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…
