Valley Heritage Driving Tour

Quaker Farms Historic Homes

Many of the homes in the Quaker Farms area are from the original families of Oxford. Quaker Farms was originally called Quaker's Farm. Legend has it that before the first settlers came in 1680, along the road lived a Quaker. He lived in a house by a babbling brook, in an open field, below the mountain. He never married. And so, the area was called Quaker's Farm. Of course, there is no proof of this story.

As you drive along the road here, you will see many historic homes dating back before the American Revolution. For a definitive look at all the historic homes in Oxford, read Early Houses of Oxford, published in 1976 by the Historic House Committee of the Bicentennial Commission in Oxford. Most of the information here came from that publication.

The sample houses here are the Hawkins House at 410 Quaker Farms Road and the Perry-Pangman House located at 411 Quaker Farms Road. This house is sometimes referred to as the "Flagg House" because of a later owner.

Jonathan Griffin House
Located at 491 Quaker Farms Road, this home was built by Jonathan Griffin in 1725 on land purchased from Josiah Perry. legend has it that the first white child born in Quaker Farms was Jonathan's son John.

The house was later owned by David Tomlinson, a member of the state legislature. When his son Horace owned the house, it served as the Quaker Farms Post Office.

This house underwent major renovations following a fire in 1950.

Carriage House
The Carriage House is located at 486 Quaker Farms Road. It has been lived in since 1869, but before that a carriage manufactory.

Glenbrook
One of the earliest existing homes in Oxford, Glenbrook is located at 429 Quaker Farms Road. The original owner and builder was William Tomlinson who received his land grant on March 8, 1673. The house was probably built about 1696. It has 14 rooms with 2 central fireplaces and 10 fireplaces. There is also a large cellar fireplace used in the original slave quarters.

The original house was much smaller as additions were added in 1814 and again in the 20th century. This latter renovation was done by a Mr. & Mrs. Courtney. He was a New York Circuit Court Judge and was also involved in theatre. The home was the site of weekend sleighing parties for such actor friends as Basil Rathbone.

Mrs. Courtney also endowed the St. Thomas Church in Oxford.

George P Sanford Homestead
Moving along to 330 Quaker Farms Road, we come to the Sanford Homestead dating back to 1750. The style isd Dutch, and it is a one and one-half story building with a central brick chimney and four fireplaces.

An unusual feature of this home is the "secret" cupboard in an upstairs bedroom. The door to the cupboard is small and easily hidden. Inside is what appears to be storage space under the attic stairs, but at the back there is enough room for a full grown man to stand up behind the chimney and be completely hidden.

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