Judah Burton House, Burtonsville, NY

Judah Burton, Sr., a Connecticut Yankee was a Major in the Revolutionary Army who received 1400 acres of land along the Schoharie Creek for his service. He settled there in Mudges Hollow, an area named for one of the early settlers in the area.

In 1785 Judah Burton Sr. erected the first saw mill and grist mill in this community located in the southeast corner of the Town of Charleston in Montgomery County. In 1790 he had the first bridge across the Schoharie Creek erected. A toll bridge, it brought many people to the mills along the creek fueled by the natural falls.

His home still remains today near the site of the mills along the creek. Mudges Hollow became Eaton Corners, then in 1837 the name was changed to Burtonville (without the 's') in honor of Judah Burton Sr. In 1850 Judah Burton, Jr. built a sawmill, one of the many that flooding periodically took out along with bridges and other factories that had developed there. After a flood in 1870 which washed away the lumber, grist, and carding mills, and other factories, Burtonsville (the s having worked its way in) declined.

In 1834 Judah Burton Jr. built the home pictured here. On his farm he grew grapes, hops, and timber of black walnut, maple, and red oak. Remnants of all those crops remain today. Most notably, the hops grow up a windmill tower which remains from that time.

The home is a Federal side hall colonial. It was known as a transition house because it was built at a time when the use of fireplaces was going out of vogue and were being replaced by wood stoves. Many false fireplaces with mantles were built in the house with holes in the ceiling for the stovepipes. The house was likely built in sections. The center part of the house was originally a cabin, perhaps earlier than 1834. Then the front formal part of the house, which looks more federal with more ornate window detail, was attached.

It was probably built after he became more prosperous and was used for his business dealings. The front door opens into a large room with a parlor off of it. The second floor where the bedrooms are was likely the family living area with a large living room and smaller bedrooms off of that. The farm passed to Judah Burton's daughter who married a Jameson, and it remained in the Jameson family for many years.

Stories from older residents now passed on tell of rolling up the rugs, opening the pocket doors and dancing in the early 1900's. One person lost his ruby and gold ring during a husking bee in the 1920's. The home eventually ending up being owned by the Reids from 1940-1970. Reid, an inventor and engineer for GE, was involved in early radio as well as repairing gunsights for heavy bombers in WWII. He used it as a summer home, living in Oklahoma the rest of the year.

The Kaufmans were the next owners, Kaufman being a record producer from Woodstock involved in record production in the 1960's. He bought it in the early 1970's and lived there until 1989 when John McKeeby and Ellen McHale purchased it. They converted the attached carriage shed to living space and, through research, have made other improvements that are historically accurate.

 

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