Program

NYS Historic

Subject

House

Location

Hwy 481 & Van Buren Dr, Volney, NY 13069, USA

Lat/Long

43.360573559633, -76.427579876479

Grant Recipient

Town of Volney

During the late 18^th century many towns across Oswego County were established. Few roads existed throughout the countryside therefore waterways served as traffic ways. Many early residents built their homes along the waterfront to capitalize on the resources that a nearby water source brings (History of Oswego County, New York, Crisfield Johnson, 1877). The Town of Volney is located along one such waterway – the Oswego River. Before the construction of the Oswego canal, “goods were brought down from the East through the Mohawk River, Oneida Lake, and Oswego River to a point just above the falls in the Oswego River at what is now Fulton” which is only a short distance from Volney (“Early Van Buren Residents of Oswego County,” J.E. Horrocks, Oswego County Historical Society Yearbook, 1940). Homesteader John Van Buren purchased land in Volney just outside of present-day Fulton to build his home.

John Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, NY in 1753 (History of Oswego County, New York). In 1796, he moved to Oswego County with his second wife and four sons to put down roots on the west side of Oswego River. After the birth of his last son, David, in 1798, they moved to the east side of the river and took up residence across from Battle Island (“Early Van Buren Residents of Oswego County”). Here, Van Buren decided to “build a fine large mansion which would serve the double purpose of a tavern and a dwelling” (“Early Van Buren Residents of Oswego County”). Construction began around 1820 and lasted for eight years, bringing costs to $5,000 (“Early Van Buren Residents of Oswego County”). This house took on the name “The Tavern” and faced the river as a sign of the waterway’s importance.

As stated in the National Register application, there were originally three buildings were on John’s property; the Tavern, a smokehouse and the house that the family lived in, while the main house was being built. The Tavern is a large brick building with six over six windows. The house plan was altered to “separate tavern activity from those parts of the house used solely by family members”. The main floor was mostly kitchen and a barroom, while the second floor included a ballroom, ticket office and dressing rooms. The Tavern “became a popular stopping place for river travelers as well as the nucleus for the family business in transportation and trade”.

In 1821, family patriarch John Van Buren passed away and his son, Jacob assumed ownership of the Tavern. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 dramatically increased the amount of river traffic for the Van Burens (The Story of the New York State Canals, Roy Finch 1925). The Tavern soon took on the appearance of a “small community”, equipped with a blacksmith tool houses, grocery store, horse stables and a cooper’s shop (“Early Van Buren Residents of Oswego County” & “Story of John Van Buren Mansion.” J.E. Horrocks, Oswego County Historical Society Yearbook, 1946).

In 1847, David, John’s youngest son, built a house just north of his father’s property on the Oswego River (David Van Buren Residence National Register of Historic Places Form, 1988). This house was also constructed out of brick, from the brickyard located between the two Van Buren properties (David Van Buren Residence National Register). Its “main feature is a series of white Ionic pillars,” which gave the home its name “The Pillars” (“Early Van Buren Residents of Oswego County”).

As of 2020, the Tavern and the Pillars houses are still standing and occupied by families who maintain the historic appearance of their 19th century homes. Both were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.