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Street address: 5976 Genesee Rd.
Lancaster, NY 14086
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Hull Family Home & Farmstead
...relighting the past.
Our rich fabric of cultural heritage is something to cherish, protect, and build
upon. We seek to preserve and to enhance our broad range of resources through
sensitive stewardship, protection and enrichment for the future.
The Hull House Restoration Project is about sustaining, overseeing and ensuring
the continuation of the Western New York story and the rich heritage that can be
interpreted through this historic treasure. This site deserves to be preserved,
interpreted, and celebrated for its own sake, as well as for all of the
residents of our community.
The Hull House Foundation firmly believes in maintaining the authenticity and
integrity of our historical site. The heart of heritage development is to tell
real stories—stories that explain the places and also tell why these places are
important. We, therefore, derive an appreciation and understanding of the
significance and value of our community and its past. This, in turn, helps us
create a sense of shared experience and meaning.
In telling the story about how we arrived at this point here in the 21st
century, how we grew and developed since the first settlers to this area, and
how we became the community we are today, we are relighting the past so our
story can be shared with future generations.
Our Progress
The house, on 1.1 acres, was acquired by the
Landmark Society of the Niagara
Frontier (LSNF) from the Peterson Family in 1992 in order to preserve the
historic structure. Significant progress began in 2001 when the Hull House
Restoration Committee was formed and spearheaded the beginning of major
fundraising for restoration of the existing building.
In December 2006, the Hull House Restoration Committee separated from the LSNF.
The Hull House Foundation was formed when it was granted a charter by the Board
of Regents of the State University of New York, Department of Education as an
educational entity. In March 2007, the foundation achieved IRS non-profit
status.
Key Acquisitions:
In December 2003, LSNF purchased 7.8 acres north of the house including the Hull
Family Cemetery. In the following spring, the purchase of another 1.4 acres east
of the house, along with the Civil War era barn, was completed. This brought our
land holdings to 10.32 acres.
Negotiations are currently underway to purchase five acres opposite the house
and additional property to the west of the current site boundaries. A portion of
these properties were part of the original land holdings of the Hull estate and
would greatly enhance the progress toward a fully developed heritage
site—helping to create a keener sense of peacefulness, realism and nostalgia,
thus further conveying the inextricable links between the early settlers and the
land they inhabited.
Restoration:
In 2003,
exterior stabilization was done to repair all doors and windows making them
serviceable and weather tight. The pebbly stucco was removed from the front
(south) facade and mortar joints were repointed and repaired as necessary.
Repairs to the east, north and west facades were done as well and the pebbly
stucco is currently being removed as time allows.
The roof, cornices, rain gutters, end walls, chimneys and attic windows have
been restored during 2006-2007. Original materials were used whenever possible
and restoration quality was stressed on each portion of this work. Hearths and
fireplaces, the remaining six of the original seven, are still largely intact
and are being restored to working order and original appearance. The common room
fireplace, which had been removed, will be returned to the original location and
appearance.
The rare ‘beehive’ bake oven in the cellar kitchen will receive special
attention during restoration. The intent is to return it to working condition,
so as to be used in interpretive programs.
All existing floors in Hull House are original eastern white pine except for
one, which will be restored to the correct ‘period’ floor.
Interior walls and room configuration is the next phase. The majority of rooms
retain the original design. The modest modifications that have been made will be
reversed to reflect the original appearance and floor plan of the interior of
the house.
Environmental & Archeological Studies:
At the same time the exterior work was being done on the house, an environmental
study was conducted. No major environmental problems were identified but large
amounts of refuse and debris were removed to clear remnants of previous
ownership of the property.
The State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Anthropology,
Archaeological Survey Division, was recruited to conduct an extensive survey of
the entire property. During Phase One of a three phase project, archaeologists
unearthed hundreds of artifacts, including evidence of prehistoric habitation.
This investigation has helped to define the next phase of the project, currently
underway, which includes the use of ground penetrating radar to identify
possible building foundations and other areas for further attention.
The arrangement of buildings on the property in 1810-1830 is also being
researched by a professional landscape architect. Research into documentation of
homes and farms of the period is being conducted to determine the type, size and
approximate location of outbuildings that would have existed on this property.
Reconstruction of these buildings will then be initiated to more accurately
represent the Hull farmstead.
Our Programs - Education at the Heart of Hull House
For
the current season, a broad array of experiences are currently being offered to
visitors through a variety of methods to encourage understanding and
appreciation of the multifaceted heritage story presented here. We strive to
develop a ‘hands-on’ experience for visitors.
The house is presently open for individual and family visitation, group tours
including student groups and commercial tour companies. We continue to develop
new topics for our lecture series, seminars, field trips and focused field
studies. Several times each year, we invite the public to join our
archaeologists in a community ‘dig’ where they can unearth a piece of our past
for themselves. We currently have seasonal and themed special events which
provide new reasons to visit the site on a repeat basis.
The architecture of the Hull’s home was fairly new to this area as few settlers
could afford the opulence of the Federal style. This is a rather large stone
home and not at all like the simple wooden structures that most settlers
inhabited. Docents will guide you through the house and explain the
architectural significance of key elements of the dwelling.
…and for teachers or parents of 9 to 11 year olds, be sure to read The Ghost and
Me, Joey by Iris Drzewiecki, a book of historical fiction based on the Hull
family and their home.
As restoration and our educational program development progresses, it is our
goal to expand the telling of the stories inherent to our site—the role of
pioneer settlers in the development of Western New York, to a time dating to
before the building of the Erie Canal, the daily life during that time, and the
relationship between Hull, Joseph Ellicott and the Holland Land Company. The
Hull settlers played roles in the development of our nation including the
Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the burning of Buffalo in December 1813,
and the Civil War. There is great importance in telling the stories of white
settlers to the Native American lands, and how the family was involved in the
issues of black slavery during abolition. They have links to the broader pattern
of westward expansion of the United States and migration of some of the Hull
children to six Midwestern states by the 1850’s.
The development of the land and the beginning of agriculture in Western New York
is a story all its own. New England farming techniques were adapted to the rich
soil of this area and new crops were established. Our unique weather patterns
must have also played a large part in the success or failure of the annual
harvest. With the full restoration of the barn, development of pastures, a
kitchen garden and cultivation of fields, we will have a small working farm to
demonstrate the full experience of a frontier farm.
Our Plans - The Grand Vision of The Hull Family Home & Farmstead
We have some work to be done.
The Heritage Destination:
The c.1810 Hull family house and property will be restored to reflect the Hull
family’s occupation of the home and farm from 1810 to 1830 and operated as
an educational historic resource open to the public to interpret pioneer life.
In providing access to this important historic and architectural resource, we
wish to contribute to the public’s understanding and appreciation of the
earliest settlement of Western New York. This vision includes the fully restored
Federal style house and illustrative farm with outbuildings, family cemetery and
restored barn. This will further enhance the Buffalo Niagara region’s
outstanding reputation as a heritage tourism destination.
Cemetery Restoration:
Full restoration of the Hull family cemetery is intended. A comprehensive
archaeological study is being done. Graves and gravestones are being located,
restored or reconstructed. Every consideration is given to the sanctity of this
site as it is the known burial place of numerous members of the Hull family and
of two Revolutionary War veterans. Proper landscaping, paths and fences will be
added.
Native American Cultural Interpretive Site:
There is no doubt that Western New York’s earliest white settlers had occasion
to relate to and to interact with those Native Americans known to inhabit this
region. The Hull Family Home & Farmstead heritage site offers a magnificent and
truly unique opportunity to interpret the Native American culture of this region
directly alongside the presentation of white pioneer life. It is hoped that this
effort would be undertaken with the full involvement of the local Native
American community.
Visitors Center:
To support present day programs and interpretive needs, visitor and back office
functions, exhibit areas, meeting rooms, archival storage and lavatories, a
visitors’ center will be developed on-site. The center will be designed to
architecturally complement the Hull House style and will be placed so as to be
minimally intrusive in the landscape and view shed that we strive to preserve.
Autumn 2007 will see the beginning of our first annual membership drive. We have
guided hundreds of visitors through the house in the past few years. Many
visitors are excited about the progress to date and wish to become a part of the
development of this rare site. It is truly an experience to follow the progress
and growth, and to witness the relighting of the fire and warmth this home has
shared with so many.
We invite the public to visit us as work progresses and to share in this
experience of discovery as we learn more about life on the Western New York
frontier and this fascinating pioneer family.
History is not just something that happened somewhere else
…history is in your
own backyard!
