Development of Postal System Traced

Amsterdam Evening Recorder
July 20, 1906

The Hann Homestead Inn in Andover, N.Y.

        The  Hann Homestead Inn (bed and breakfast) along Route 417 west of Andover, N.Y. was built by Simeon Hann in 1840. Born in Oxford, Conn. in 1811, he came to Andover with his family in 1837. He lived in a log cabin until he built this house three years later of lumber he cut in his own sawmill nearby.  He was a farmer by occupation. The 17-room house is 40 feet long facing the road and 28 feet wide.

      Downstairs there are five bedrooms, a combined kitchen and dining-room, one large living room, a parlor, and an entrance hall at the end where a narrow winding stairway leads to the second floor. Upstairs there is a large sitting room, and six bedrooms off the hallway. Adjoining the house in the rear is a large woodshed 32 feet long and 28 feet wide which was kept well supplied with wood throughout the year.

     During severe winters up to 75 full cords of wood heated the house.  Two large fireplaces on the ground floor are built back to back in the middle of the house. A single chimney serves these fireplaces.  Originally there were three fireplaces downstairs and one upstairs.  Later the upstairs fireplace was removed.  The irons which were used to hold the kettles for cooking and the spear used for testing the meat roasting over the fire still remain.

   Somewhat peculiar is the fact that the chimney was built first and is not attached to the house proper except where fireplaces made it necessary.  One could crawl through the attic on a a ladder attached to the chimney and work his way down to repair it. 

   Double porches extend the full length of the house.  The 10-over-10 pane windows reflect the vintage of the house. Some of the boards used in construction of the house are 24 inches wide. 

   The cellar was kept stocked with  barrels of pork, beef and large quantities of staple food.  Wheat was raised on the farm and taken to Dansville to be ground into flour. It was kept in room upstairs over the kitchen.  On these trips back and forth to Dansville Mr. Hann drove a team of oxen, leaving at 3 a.m. and returning late at night.

  The reason the house was so large was Hann and his wife, Rachel, had 10 children. The spacious bedrooms were arranged around the outside edges of the house.  Each was furnished with a head-high “clothes rail” where hooks were inserted on which to hang clothing. 

    By the time he died in 1876 at the age of 65.,  Simeon was a comparatively wealthy man for his day, being worth $60,000.  His farm had grown to 600 acres. His youngest son, Adelbert remained at home to care for his mother.  In 1884 he married Eliza Updyke and she remained there until her death in 1955. Then her daughter Rachel remained there until her death in 1958. Her son, Victor lived there until 1961. Then the property was purchased by Harold Ford of Andover. His idea was to fix it up and convert it into an inn.  The idea never materialized.

  Then Henry Argentieri of Hornell purchased it with the same idea and nothing happened. Later Mr. and Mrs. David B. Herr purchased the property and have made it their home. It is now owned by Barbara Rechenberg, a descendant of the Hann family, and her husband, Kurt.

  Since this house is very old there are many stories associated with it. It is believed it was a stagecoach stop. Folklore has it that this house was a stop on the Underground Railroad, to move slaves from the south to the north. Many members of this pioneer family are buried in the nearby Hann Cemetery.

   

                          The Hann Homestead now has a new lease on life
                          as a bed and breakfast.

Stagecoach Advertising Card for 1831

Syracuse a Stagecoach Town

Onondaga Gazette

February 11, 1824

                                      

    In order to inform our distant readers of the public travel through this place, we are informed as a fact that on Wednesday last, the passengers in the stages passing through here amounted to between sixty and seventy, averaging from nine to eleven for each state. The lines of stages now through this village, consist of the old and new lines from Albany and Utica, east, and from Buffalo and Canandaigua, west; which pass daily. In addition to this, the Cherry Valley mail line also passes every day, east and west, Sundays excepted.

    Also a new line of stages has recently been established from Sacket’s Harbor to this place, running three times a week. There is not a place in the western district, perhaps, where public travel has increased to such an extent, as through our flourishing village; and the rapid growth of the place, and extensive works for the manufacture of coarse shalt seems to excite the admiration and elicit praise of all who view them. We think we hazard nothing in saying, that, from the peculiar advantages of our village, it must become a place of importance and worthy the attention of the enterprising emigrants who wish to locate in a growing place of business; and particularly inviting to honest and industrious mechanics.

Arriving in Style at Lake George

Four and six-horse teams were a common sight when guests of Fort William Henry Hotel spent the whole summer at Lake George.

Death of Isaac Sherwood (Canandaigua Messenger, December 9, 1947)

edge - the knowledge of men and things. He retained his

reason to the last moment of his existence, and died in the

hope of an interest in the Redeemer.

(Note: He is buried in Skaneateles.)

Stagecoach and Tavern Days in Canandaigua

Canandaigua Daily Messenger
December 9, 1947

                                                                                             

Stagecoach Driver Tells of Old Days

Syracuse Herald
July 15, 1911

Reminiscences of Stagecoach Days

From the Syracuse Herald
April 1, 1930

                                                           _________

                 
                    Driver Fred Cunningham out on the road with a big crowd of passengers.