Harmony Historical Society
The aims of the Society are to aid in the preservation and development of local history of pioneers and early settlers of the Town of Harmony, and its adjoining area and communities; to acquire and save for public use and exhibition relics, pictures, maps and articles of historic value, dealing with the economic, political, patriotic, and cultural life of the community, and to cooperate with all other organizations having similar aims and purposes.
The Harmony Historical Society is located in Blockville, NY, which is on Route 474 between Ashville and Panama. The Society was established in 1972 to serve the community and preserve local history. It serves the Towns of Harmony and North Harmony which was originally identified as the Town of Harmony.
The Society maintains several buildings at its Open Meadows Road location. The buildings are as follows: Harmony District #1 Schoolhouse, the Matson House (a 1840's furnished farmhouse), the Nagel Weaving Shed, the Butts barn filled with local artifacts, Carpenter Hall (a meeting hall), and the Waite Building (containing the newly renovated library and archives).
Matson House
The Harmony Historical Society purchased an historic old house in Blockville, NY from Bruce Carpenter in 1982. They restored the house to its original condition around one hundred years ago.
The first record of the original site of the home which was located near the United Methodist Church in Blockville is a deed from the Holland Land Company to Israel Carpenter, great-great grandfather of Bruce Carpenter dated April 26, 1826. This deed transferred 296 acres of land for the sum of $168.90. The land was then divided in 1866, when Joseph Curtis purchased a 3/4 acre lot for $50. He in turn sold the same to Albert Young for $100.00.
In view of the fact that the house is built in the style and method used in the 1830s, it appears that the house was either moved to this location or built from materials from an older house. The first indication of a house being built on the property is a mortgage given to Loren B. sessions of Panama on June 11, 1867. The mortgage was foreclosed upon when Albert Young defaulted. Records show that on May 14, 1869 a notice of the foreclosure sale was posted on the outer door of the Court House in Mayville, NY by Albert Willing of Mayville, NY. The date of the sale was to be on August 10, 1869 at the Panama House in Panama in the form of a public auction. A weekly notice was also published in the Sherman News beginning with the issue of May 14, 1869 and ending with the August 10th issue. Eliphalet Steward acted as auctioneer and the highest bidder was Loren B. Sessions for the sum of $6625.00.
A few months later Mr. Sessions sold the property to Jane Miner Salisbury for $500.00. In 1873 she sold to William H. Truesdell for $200.00 reflecting the sharp decrease in property values following the Civil War. In 1883, Mr. Truesdell sold it for $600.00 to L. Delos Powers, ancestor of the Powers families in Jamestown. Mr. Powers retained ownership for five years, selling in 1888 to Miles D. Matson. It was during his ownership that the house was first inhabited by his parents, Richard and Lydia Matson. Later a son-in-law of Richard Matson, George McDowell, rented the house and operated a grocery store in the front room. In one corner of this room the Blockville Post Office was located. The late Luella Spooner recounted that her father was postmaster there in the 1890s. The late Bernice Schruis recalled going there at noon from the school to buy cinnamon candy.
The property was then sold to Albert Hosier and his wife Ella, later passing to their sons James and Eugene. In 1935, the brothers sold to Clarence and Mary Swanson, reserving use of the house and a garden spot and a place to store fuel for their mother for the remainder of her life.
After the death of Mrs. Hosier, the house was modernized with indoor plumbing. Mr. Swanson’s parents, Albert and Jennie Swanson resided there. Another of Albert Swanson’s sons, Clyde, was the author of the book, “Far Down the Road Stranger.” After the death of the elder Swansons’, the home was purchased by Reverend and Mrs. Ivan E. Rossell. Mr. Rossell had served for many years as minister of Blockville and Ashville Methodist churches.
Mrs. Rossell passed away in 1963. Rev. Rossell died on March 7, 1966. A short time after Rev. Rosell’s death, the house caught fire and was partially destroyed. The adjacent carriage barn burned completely. Rev. Rosell’s son, heir to the estate, sold the property to the Blockville United Methodist church and the remains of the house was given to Bruce Carpenter, who moved it about ½ mile north to his farm. There it stood from 1967 until September 1982 when it was moved about half the distance south again to a new site near the one room school house on the historical society campus.
The house mover was Robert Hartloff of Silver Creek who specialized in moving buildings. The new site had been prepared and a basement built by Rudolph Nelson. The new site had been purchased from Bruce Carpenter and at one time had a small home on it which was destroyed by fire many years ago. The last inhabitant of the house was Leet Carrier and among former owners were the Wilcox family. Their son, Eliphalet Wilcox was Blockville’s first postmaster. IT was their grandson, Wilbur Spooner, who was the postmaster in the 1890s.
The rear wing of the Matson House was rebuilt and very similar to the original kitchen wing. Much of the material was cut and given by Gerry Green at his sawmill in Panama. In 1982, long range plans were to furnish the house as a home would have been furnished in Blockville when the first frame houses were built.
Credited with the restoration of the building are: Rudolph Nelson, Willis Waite, John Gleason, Eugene Erb, Gary Green, the Building Committee, the Amish carpenters and many others.
Notes
There are often various meetings and events occurring on the grounds, so please don't be alarmed, or surprised if there are cars in the parking lot. Please be respectful, and only search for this cache during daylight hours. Also, to ensure safety, please wear orange during hunting seasons.
Congrats to Dove78 and RoJo73 on the shared FTF!!