Durfee House Explained

42.8589°N -76.9818°WThe Durfee House is a historic building that now serves as student housing for Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. It was originally built downtown as a land speculator's office during the nascence of European settlers in the region. Frederick Augustus de Zeng and his family are supposed to be early owners. Dated to 1787,[1] it is the oldest known extant structure in Geneva and the surrounding area; however, the building was moved to its present location at 639 South Main Street in 1838 and expanded at least once in its history, in the late 1790s and/or in the 1840s.[2] This hinders its historical landmark eligibility,[3] despite the fact that it is considered to be one of the oldest extant frame buildings west of Rome, New York.[4] [2] Owned by Hobart College since 1840, the building is named for mathematician and dean William Pitt Durfee.

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Historical campus buildings PDF . Hobart and William Smith Colleges. March 27, 2015.
  2. Web site: Durfee House . . March 27, 2015.
  3. Web site: Criteria Consideration B: Moved Properties . National Park Service. . March 27, 2015.
  4. Web site: 639 Durfee House. Coldwell Banker. Corrine Stoewsand Carey . March 27, 2015.