Barber–Mulligan Farm Explained

Barber–Mulligan Farm
Nrhp Type:nrhp
Nearest City:Avon, New York
Coordinates:42.9364°N -77.7122°W
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Marker:building
Mapframe-Zoom:12
Mapframe-Caption:Interactive map showing the location for Barber-Mulligan Farm
Built:1850
Architecture:Colonial Revival, Greek Revival, Italianate
Added:May 19, 1980
Refnum:80002647

Barber–Mulligan Farm is a historic farm located at Avon in Livingston County, New York. The nearly 640acres farm includes a number of original buildings as well as many improvements. The most important cluster is the central farm complex which includes the main house, a carriage house, horse barn, and corn crib, all built in 1852 by Aaron Barber. The house is an example of late Greek Revival architecture. Not far from the main house is a cobblestone tenant house built c. 1828.[1]

In July 2009, a lightning strike ignited a fire which destroyed the large connected complex of barns, the earliest of which were built in the 1870s.[2] The house and earliest structures were preserved, as were all the modern dairy facilities. The farm boasts a cutting-edge Holstein milking operation of nearly 2000 cows as well as acreage in corn, wheat, and alfalfa.

Aaron Barber Jr. purchased the land in 1840[3] and built his homestead by 1852,[4] and his son Aaron III continued the agrarian lifestyle, well known for his prize-winning herd of short-horn cattle. He sold the land to the Mulligan family in 1920,[5] and the third and fourth generations are now running the operation.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Notes and References

  1. 1830 NY Census. "Thomas Hartwell." Accessed on microfilm at Livingston County Historian's Office, Mt. Morris, NY.
  2. Web site: Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS) . https://archive.today/20150701003048/http://cris.parks.ny.gov/ . dead . July 1, 2015 . . Searchable database . 2016-09-01 . Note: This includes Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Barber–Mulligan Farm . 2016-09-01 . Michael Herschensohn and Roger Reed . PDF . February 1980 . and Accompanying 19 photographs
  3. "Sanford and Anna Lacy to Aaron Barber." Liber 22 of Deeds. Livingston County Clerk's Office, Geneseo, NY. p.544.
  4. Biographical Review: Biographical Sketches of the Leading Citizens of Livingston and Wyoming Counties, NY. Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1895. 334.
  5. "Aaron Barber to Edward Durand Mulligan." Liber 208 of Deeds. Livingston County Clerks Office, Geneseo, NY. p. 1.