Mecklenburg

Saturday was one of those perfect late summer days. Cool, dry, crystal clear sky. Perfect day to be outside searching for treasures out in the hills of Tompkins County. This estate sale featured the contents of an 1820's Greek revival farmhouse in Mecklenburg,

former home of the Furcha family.

The thirteen room house sits on six heavily wooded acres bordering a stream.

It has two porches, a kitchen with a huge fireplace,

and is one of the earliest (if not the earliest) homes in Mecklenburg.

Each room had lace curtains and was beautifully wallpapered.
Someone had obviously loved this place at one time.

It'll take a lot of love, imagination and big
money to get it back to its original splendor.

The property also includes a small general store, the contents of which will be sold in September. Can I get in line now?

An enormous barn with remnants of a huge mill are part of the property too.

The Furcha family evidently lived in this house for many years. Art Furcha was a well known fiddler who played weekly square dances in the area. His wife still lives nearby. She is known for her piano playing and for being the very first female fire fighter in New York state. She served for 50 years. The house was packed full, but it was the stuff outside that really captured my imagination.

A crowd gathered around the dumpster to hear stories about the neighborhood and the history of the house from a neighbor.

A lifetime of greeting cards and bills had been thrown away.

There was some dumpster diving (or should I say,
dumpster reaching - no one actually got in there).

In the backyard an old tombstone was leaning against the basement door.

Who has a tombstone lying around their backyard these days?
I found it a little creepy.

There were tools,

and toys,

and all manner of things scattered all about the lawn.

Off in the woods we could just make out the chicken coop,
and out back was this lovely one-seater,
with a beautiful roof line. It was for sale too. Only $300.

So much history and so many amazing family stories.

A perfect morning.
Now time to get back to the shop and start painting!