Cyrus Gates Farmstead

The Cyrus Gates Farmstead is a Greek Revival house in New York surrounded by several outbuildings on roughly 130 acres. The main residence sits among a tenant farmer's house, two barns, and a blacksmith shop distributed across the property to serve different functions of farm life.

The farmstead was constructed in 1848 and served as a place of refuge during the struggle against slavery until the end of the Civil War in 1865. Hidden architectural features were built into the house specifically for this lifesaving purpose.

The site bears the name of its original owner and reflects through its buildings the life of a prosperous farming family in the 1800s. The arrangement of structures shows how domestic and working spaces were organized on estates of that period.

The property contains a concealed attic space accessible through a hidden door that tells the story of shelter. Plan a visit that includes time to explore both the main house and the grounds with their various structures.

Margaret Cruizer arrived at age 16 seeking refuge and remained with the family for the rest of her life. She is now buried in the cemetery beside the house, marking a bond that extended beyond shelter into lasting family ties.