PORT BYRON, N.Y. – In 1981, Auburn teacher Kathleen Phinney was looking for a return to her roots.
She had been raised on a farm near Phoenix, surrounded by animals and wanted a chance to reconnect with the "soil and the land."
Where she had been living was "not home," she said, nor was it "comfortable" to her.
About eight miles away in Port Byron she found everything which was.
The 19th century farmhouse at 254 Main Street, which was built when the village was a major hub on the Erie Canal, was perfect. The almost eight-acre property had plenty of room to raise horses, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, and more.
She calls the property her "refuge" and says that it is "not just a house, it is a lifestyle."
Phinney said that the "solid" giant barn, made from the old lumber from other barns on the property, attracted her before the four-bedroom main house, which she admitted was pretty "rough" when she purchased the property.
"It needed to be loved," she said.
She has updated and renovated the home "as best she could," while maintaining what she calls the home's original "dignity."
"I just kept working away," Phinney said of her 40-year project.
She was impressed by the craftsmanship of the original owners.
"Whoever built it put a lot of thought into it," she said. "For an older house it has a great flow."
She maintained the hardwood floors, incredible kitchen cabinetry, and the original sink and cast-iron clawfoot bathtub in the upstairs bathroom.
She adores the home's many windows which keeps the interior bright and appreciates that they allow her to keep an eye on her animals and property from almost anywhere.
She had the new center island in the kitchen placed just the right spot so people could look out the big window over the sink at the property.
A pellet stove in the dining room, which could also burn wood, can easily heat the entire house, and creates a cozy reading nook for her at night.
Phinney built a wraparound porch onto the house, replacing one that was "falling down" when she moved in. It is the perfect place to watch the wildlife while enjoying your morning cup of coffee.
Outside, she added new windows, a new roof, and updated siding.
A new fishing pond was dug and stocked it with fish.
She designed a small cabin and had it built near the pond. She calls the charming small building, which has furniture and a woodstove inside, "her camp" and her "girl cave" and is a favorite place to read and relax.
(It is also harkened back to the property's history when a pond on the grounds was a favorite meeting place for Port Byron's children, who would meet close by and ice skate on the pond that was once there.)
Phinney even started her own small business, Phinney's Happy Trails, on the grounds which held horse-riding lessons, birthday parties, and summer camps for children who wanted a taste of farm life.
Her admiration for her home is obvious and she says that the previous 40 years at the farm had "blown by in a wink."
Now, though, she believes that the property is "way too big for her now."
"It needs a big family now for its next chapter," she said.
She says that "everything is done" all it needs is for the right people to move in.
"It is waiting for you."
This rural property now qualifies for financing from the United States Department of Agriculture.
For more information about this property, please contact Realtor Denise Van Patten, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Her contact info is below.
THE DETAILS
Address: 254 Main Street, Port Byron, N.Y. 13140
Price: $299,900
Size: 2,178 square feet
Acreage: 7.6 acres
Monthly Mortgage: $1,026 (based on this week's national average rate of 3.11 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)
Taxes: $3,711 (Based on assessed value of $145,000)
Built: 1850
School District: Port Byron
Kitchen: Owner Kathleen Phinney loves her spacious kitchen. The wall of cupboards is original to the house and she appreciates all the storage in the kitchen. The island is new and makes it easy to prepare foods for baking. "It is invaluable," she said. She calls everything in the kitchen as "handy." The large window looks out onto the property. The one-car garage has access to the kitchen for easy transport of groceries. A laundry room, with sink and full bathroom, is right off the kitchen.
Living areas: Phinney appreciates the original builders of this historic farmhouse. "For an older house, it has great flow." The front living room was once the parlor where people gathered on Sundays and on holidays. Phinney keeps a small home office there. The home, like many older houses, has a front and back staircase. The dining room is very large and features a pellet stove which easily warms the house. She uses a portion of the room as a cozy reading nook. The enclosed sun porch is accessible from the kitchen and dining room. Original cabinetry and hardwood floors can be seen throughout. The home has many closets and widows.
Bedrooms: There are four bedrooms on the second floor. The master bedroom is very large and three large windows. A smaller bedroom nearby could be used as a nursery. Phinney used the master as room for her grandson because the space allowed for a bunk bed, which helped store his Legos and trains. She used another bedroom as her own because it allowed to keep an "eye and an ear" on her animals outside.
Bathrooms: There are two full bathrooms in the house, one of each floor. The upstairs bath has the home's original sink and cast-iron clawfoot bathtub. Phinney appreciates the large window in the room.
Outdoors: The almost eight-acre property dates back to the 19th century and the Erie Canal. Phinney says it is secluded by a long driveway surrounded by both sides by trees and believes that no one will ever build anything around it. She says that the property is not just a home, but a "lifestyle." The property features a huge red barn with horse stalls, riding arena, a chicken coop, and a charming outdoor cabin near a stocked fishing pond. A quaint wooden bridge carries visitor over a creek. She says there are horseback riding trails and four-wheeler trails behind her property. Her children were able to walk to school and she says she often walks to the post office. It is very close to the Thruway and shopping at the Waterloo Outlet Mall. She is just eight miles from Auburn and two miles from boating on the Seneca River. Wild turkeys and deer are frequent visitors.
Agent: Denise Van Patten
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Address: 7575 Buckley Road, North Syracuse, N.Y. 13212
Phone: (315) 436-6992
Email: CNYrealestateconnection@gmail.com
Website: www.CNYrealestateconnection.com
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