Enders’ Property, present day.
With the completion of the town’s survey on historical resources, this is the last article of this series. As such, it is fitting to highlight one of the town’s more significant structures.
For 164 of its 180 years, the property originally known as the “Comstock Farm” has been owned by just three families. This Federal style farmstead — with its symmetrical, two-story, five bay, center hall plan — is set on a small rise from the road. The center entrance is flanked by fluted pilasters and sidelights.
According to the NYS Office of Historic Preservation, it is important as an example of rural Federal-style architecture, and in recalling Cazenovia’s prominence as a prosperous agricultural region. Bordering the hard line between the village and town, the home marks the gateway between the two.
Zephaniah Comstock was born 1792 in Connecticut. Arriving in Cazenovia, he bought 130 acres from Simeon Marshall in 1818. There he lived with his wife, Sarah, and three children. By 1860, he and his son, Julius, had prospered and had a successful farming operation. Around this time, a Victorian-trimmed front porch was added. Zephaniah died April of 1878.
The farm was left to Julius, who died before 1900; his daughter Mariah and son-in-law, Edward Smith moved in with Julius’s widow, Martha. Martha and the Smiths continued to farm and live there until they sold it to William Gaugherty in 1910.
In 1912 Gaugherty sold the property to Henry Burden, a wealthy landowner responsible for placing the telephone and electrical wires underground on Albany Street. During this time, a large two-story wing on the west side of the house was added.
In 1932, Francis and Dorothy Townsend moved in, first as renters in the back wing of the house, then buying the property two years later. They established a large chicken farm, and each of the several hen houses had its own unique name.
Prev Next
Comments
AnnTownsend 4 months, 1 week ago
I hope the house can be saved.
What is the source of the information about our taking in boarders? We didn't, although we had many visitors. The heifers that the Browns pastured on our place were sometimes called the "Summer Boarders." And I believe that the total acreage of the property was less than 100 acres.
Ann Townsend
rhbcazny2 2 months, 2 weeks ago
The hen houses were named The Massachucetts House, The Hen House, The Brooder House, Big Top, and Bender- Bowers. Bender-Bowers was built be Dale Bowers' grandfather and his partner. The farm was 58 acres, and Dorothy Townsend had a PHD from Cornell in Greek. They never owned a TV while living in this house. I started working for Francis at 5:30 AM on my 14 birthday. Hour and a half everyday except Sunday because we did the eggs at 3:00 Sat. afternoon. If I overslept and Francis had to call my house to wake me, whoever answered the phone got $10 of my $17 paycheck. I don't think I have been late to work over 10 times in 45 years!
Richard Brown Cazenovia
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID