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Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, November 28, 2018
A slice of history
Crawford’s historic Hopewell Farm is for sale
By LAURA FITZGERALD
[email protected]
The Hopewell Farm, a little slice of
Crawford history and charming country
retreat, is up for sale.
The property includes a 3,400-square-
foot five-bed, three-bath farmhouse; a loft
studio and two-bed, two-bath unit in the
carriage house; a smokehouse and a barn
complex. Located outside of Pine Bush
at 678 on Route 302, the 7.2-acre country
farmstead offers stunning views of the
Shawangunk mountains.
The oldest portion of the house was
built by Johnathon Crawford around 1780.
His father, James Crawford, immigrated
to America in 1731. James and his father
served in the Revolutionary War and are
buried in a nearby cemetery which is
not a part of the property, according
to the proposal prepared by historian
Robert Williams for the National Register
of Historic Places.
Hopewell Farm owner Alexander Kees
Jordan said veterans groups still honor
those Revolutionary War veterans on
Memorial Day by planting flags at the
cemetery, playing “Taps” and performing
a 21-gun salute.
“It sometimes wakes me up, gunshots
are going off,” Jordan said, chuckling.
Johnathon’s son, James I. Crawford,
inherited the farm, remodled and
adding to the original farm house. He
added to the outbuildings and was most
likely responsible for construction of
the woodshed, smokehouse and barn
complex.
The property stayed in the Crawford
family for more than 100 years, until it
was sold to Charles Smith in 1888.
The recipient of numerous additions
and remodels, the property is an example
of pioneer, Federal, Greek Revival and
Victorian detailing.
The farmstead is listed on the National
and New York State Register of Historic
Places. With the help of the New York
State Barns Restoration and Preservation
Program, Jordan stabilized the foundation
and structure and installed a new roof on
the barn.
The house has several original
features, including random width plank
flooring, beamed ceilings, a cherry
banister and a fireplace mantel. The
house also has a brick beehive oven, two
fireplaces and a porch.
“I think you get a sense of authentic
country living here because of the historic
element,” Real Estate Salesperson Jacob
Matthews said.
With several dwelling units on the
property, the homestead has several
possibilities for a hospitality, residential,
and/or hospitality property, Matthews
said.
Matthews said the property could be
turned into a Bed and Breakfast, or the
A downstairs dining room holds a fireplace and brick beehive oven.
Built in 1780, the Hopewell House is a little slice of Crawford history and charming country
retreat.
carriage house could be rented out as
apartments.
Only a 90-minute drive from New
York City, the property could also be a
weekend country escape. It’s not far from
Minnewaska State Park, the Mohonk
Preserve, the Shawangunk Ridge Trail
and New Paltz.
“It’s a great jumping-off point for the
lower Hudson Valley,” Matthews said.
Jordan said the barn is ready to be
remodeled into whatever the next owner
dreams it to be. It can hold horses, or it
can be used as an event space. The new
owner could even install a pool or create
more apartments. The studio apartment
in the carriage house could be used as an
artist’s loft or recording studio.
“The barn offers a lot of potential,”
Matthews said.
Jordan said his favorite part of
living on the property is the quietness
and tranquility. He loves walking on the
property and enjoying the view. He used
to have gardens, when the wild animals
didn’t get to the plants.
“It’s
very
tranquil,”
Jordan
said.
The property is represented by Ellis
Sotheby’s International Realty, Jacob
Matthews and Associate Real Estate
Broker Barbara du Pont. To search the
listing, go to ellissothebysrealty.com.
A mother and son take a carriage ride outside the house in 1886.