Farm History

Though official records have been hard to come by, it is believed that the original barn at East Durham Farms was built in the late 1700s.  “I have heard from people whose families have been here since the valley and town of Durham, NY, was first settled that the barn was built by soldiers returning from the Revolutionary War,” says proprietor Chris Brannigan.

“From our meticulous restoration efforts, I can certainly attest that certain types of nails and cuts would date the barn from around 1800, if not earlier.”

During restoration, framing was uncovered that seemed to indicate a bell tower had been attached to the back section of the barn’s roof. The current tool shop could have once been used as a schoolhouse or, judging by the proximity of a small cemetery right next door, perhaps a church. Information is still being gathered.