Topics

1. Bill Y says:

   February 11, 2013 at 9:08 am

   I’ve driven by this place often on my way to my hometown. Thanks for the backstory!

2. Joel Helfrich says:

   February 11, 2013 at 9:35 am

   Is the house for sale? If so, it would be a great addition to the back pages of THIS OLD HOUSE magazine.

3. Peggy Armstrong says:

   February 11, 2013 at 10:49 am

   Been by this house numerous times, just very intriguing, this would be a case for the Haunted House Hunters on the reality TV show!

4. Linda Rainer says:

   February 11, 2013 at 12:11 pm

   My mom Alice Wing Kiefer lived there at some point and my aunt was born there. I don’t know details but will talk to my mom about it. She currently lives at the nursing home in Mt Morris. I remember her telling me she used to rollerskate in the house because it was so big.

5. RochesterSubway.com says:

   February 11, 2013 at 1:18 pm

   @Linda! That’s amazing! If you get a chance to talk to your mom about this let us know what she says. You can drop a comment back here or email me directly. Would love to find out more about this house.

6. Jason Haremza says:

   February 11, 2013 at 3:05 pm

   Can anyone confirm the details on the Feb. 23 talk? I couldn’t find anything on the Nunda Historical Society Website.

7. Lisa says:

   February 11, 2013 at 7:04 pm

   I had heard that Red Hook and Mt. Morris developer Greg O’Connell owns this property now. I never looked into it. Do you know who owns it?

8. Tom says:

   February 11, 2013 at 7:15 pm

   Joan’s talk on John Barber and Chestnut Place on February 23 is part of the Mt. Morris Dam’s 2013 Discovery Series. The talk is held at the visitor center at the dam at 1 pm. There is also a model of the house and other materials at the Nunda Historical Society’s building in Nunda.

9. anonymous says:

   February 11, 2013 at 10:56 pm

   Very cool! We actually used to “party” there, or drink like fish and go up there to scare each other. I don’t believe it’s haunted at all – but it was a great time back in the day. As an adult (now) I look at these pictures and remember back to the little things you could see inside the “Gath Masion” and how awesome it was. Vintage.

10. Nina Vossler says:

    February 12, 2013 at 7:03 am

    My mom and I walked through this house back in the late 80s/early 90s. Never got spooked. I stop for a photo every time I head to Rochester shopping. Shame to see how it’s dilapidating so much more rapidly in just the last few years. Would love to see that model house in Nunda. Even the out-buildings are cool here. Wish it could be renovated!

11. carolyn. hale says:

    February 12, 2013 at 7:35 am

    In recent years someone was working on it and it seemed they were going to restore the structure…we heard the restoration stopped because of permit issues. Is there any talk that the restoration would start up again?

12. chevon duryea says:

    February 12, 2013 at 8:53 am

    my mother dawn gath and her mother and father use to live there. everyone around here calls it the Gath mansion. ive been in this house b4 and havent ever got the haunted feeling from it. i think whoever claims its haunted is full of it… its def a cool house and i wish someone would fix it or rebuild it.

13. Sharon says:

    February 12, 2013 at 10:20 am

    Thanks for this story! This old house is on my shortcut road to Rochester–for years I’ve wondered about its history…and why no one has saved it. Fascinating story:)

14. jo dockey says:

    February 12, 2013 at 10:30 am

    I have also been so intrigued with this property. I also cruised through it with my mother, my sister comments as well, above. I was elated when I saw the work being done on the back side of the home. Many, many trips to Rochester have peaked my interest and awe of this property. I have wondered about the history, and daydreamed the remainder of my trip to Rochester regarding just how astonishing this home probably was. I have also wondered about a
    home in Portagville that looks of the same time and style(aprox across from their Post Office)and wondered if there was any connection. I think it’s awesome that with help maybe someone could contine to preserve it…… it’s falling fast. Thanks for the history and beautiful photos.

15. Scott K says:

    February 12, 2013 at 11:58 am

    I’ve been there a number of times as well. On my one and only attempt to explore the entire inside, I heard strange noises while upstairs, and got too paranoid to go up to the top floor. Ghost? Probably not, but it does get creepy in there on a cloudy day when you’re all alone. That main hall upstairs is bigger than some of the rooms in my own house!

    On one visit, I spoke to a lady walking by who lives down the road. Among other things, she told of a contractor who backed up to the house one day, and dismantled and removed the curved grand staircase. All that’s left of that now is a big hole in the second floor. You have to use the back stair to get uptstairs now. Not that I recommend trespassing, I was in there before the present posted signs went up.

    The house that used to be across the road was also very interesting, if much smaller. The local lady said it was burnt by local teens to destroy stolen property they had hidden there. Former servant quaters for the Barber home? Don’t know.

16. Sue Emmons says:

    February 12, 2013 at 1:18 pm

    I have a paranormal group and this is very interesting. Does anyone know who owns the house now?

17. JR says:

    February 12, 2013 at 4:32 pm

    My understanding is that Greg O’Connell did buy it but a contractor got injured (leg through floor?) and that no further work can take place until the workman’s comp case is completed – which could take forever.

18. Ida S says:

    February 12, 2013 at 5:42 pm

    I used the house as a landmark location when chasing balloons. We called it the Munster house. Ms.Peek used it for a cat rescue for some time in the 90’s. I got 2 cats there.

19. Linda Rainer says:

    February 13, 2013 at 1:31 pm

    I talked to my mom today and she said her dad rented the place for two years.My Aunt was definately born there. My mom was 10 years old at the time she is now 86. She also told about sliding down the bannister on the spiral staircase.

20. Loren Tripp says:

    February 13, 2013 at 9:08 pm

    Funny I was looking at this and I am currently living in The old Barber homestead in Groveland NY. Which itself is a mansion.6500 sq ft. Also with a house across the street used by the farm hands. It is a shame these wonderful works
    of architecture are not preserved!

21. Midge VanEtten says:

    February 14, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    My husband and I went to Letchworth yesterday on a Valentines date and stopped to see the house. I was surprised how the condition had worsened since the article pictures were taken. I took several photos and when looking in the upstairs window to the Right of the gable it looked like a tall, slender, white haired woman was looking out at us. I def. think a paranormal group should check it out.

22. RochesterSubway.com says:

    February 14, 2013 at 4:24 pm

    YIKES! Did you get a picture of the woman?

23. Loren Tripp says:

    February 14, 2013 at 9:56 pm

    Could you please post the pictures of how the home looks now?

24. Sue Emmons says:

    February 15, 2013 at 11:02 am

    If anyone has current info on the house can you please contact me? I am the founder of the Southern Tier Paranormal Research Team and would love to know if my team would be allowed on the property.
    http://southerntierparanormal.webs.com/
    you can reach me at [email protected]. Thank you.

25. Becky Dickerson says:

    March 30, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    I live down the rd from this old house It is veryyyyyy unsafe around it its a shame that its slowlyy falling badly appart.There is no tresspassing around it.Very dangerous.I have have walked down taken pictures and i have seen what is to a figure of what appears of a person near the back side standing as to be watching towards road.

26. tasha jeffords says:

    August 12, 2013 at 9:16 pm

    My husband and I were trying to purchase this property about 10years ago. We contacted the owners who lived in New Jersey. They said there was no way that they would sell. They had told us that it was an old railroad barrens house. And that he had built it for his mistress. I would still love to buy
    the place and fix it up, if only dreams could come true…..

27. sandra dutton bugman says:

    August 12, 2013 at 10:29 pm

    I lived there in 1973 with the Gath family. it was not haunted then so why later? I know the contractor that was fixing it up got hurt not killed. It is a huge home and to dream back, I bet it was beautiful..I use to look at where the Ball room was and dream.

28. Ginelle says:

    August 13, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    I LOVE THIS HOUSE! If O’Connel is the owner, I would like to have a conversation with him.

29. Laurie says:

    August 14, 2013 at 11:36 am

    I am in contact with Greg O’Connell and I am trying to get the community involved as well. Mr. O’Connell has been very gracious and is interested. Would anyone on here be interested in volunteering? I would be interested to know the “contractor” who stole the staircase as well.

30. barbara Mitchell says:

    October 12, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    We happened by this house today and were so intrigued. Great to find this website and have some questions answered…love the photos!

31. Maria Bennett says:

    October 28, 2013 at 12:27 am

    Is this home for sale and how much?

32. greg o'connell says:

    October 31, 2013 at 5:24 pm

    This is a money pit and none of you have enough cash or credit to fix it.

33. Marchelle Vianese says:

    February 23, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    A classmate and girlfriend lived in this house during the 60’s and 70’s. I often stayed over night. Not knowing about the history of the house, or probably not caring at that time, I always got a cold feeling inside. The house was fantastic inside, I remember. My girlfriend had said she had pushed by someone, she thought it was a lady a few times. And at one time, I was going there to visit her, and I was just out front of the place and I looked up, there in a window upstairs was a lady, old looking outfit, staring out. I asked my friend who was upstairs, she said no one, everyone was gone at that time! So, I guess, it just depends on the moment. If you believe or don’t.

34. nicole says:

    August 17, 2014 at 10:33 pm

    This house is a part of a very large parcel of land. The last I knew there was a family (it was like six siblings) who owned it wanted 1.3 million. It came with the dairy barn down the road as well as the house across the road from the dairy barn. If you are driving on the road. Where the newer house is (it’s yellow) you can seee the grave that is dedicated to the originalnmembers of the family that died from illness.

35. Scott K says:

    September 28, 2014 at 3:26 am

    We stopped by there Saturday afternoon, and were appalled at the current condition. I hate to say this, but the place is toast. The west wall was stripped down to the studs, and very little new plywood nailed back up. The floor upstairs on that side was also gone, I assume removed during the attempted renovation. The chimneys have apparently also been removed, leaving even more holes in the roof. But the worst thing we saw, was the large gap in the north sdie of the foundation, with a view straight into the basement. The sagging side sill beam tells me that at least that part of the house will probably have collapsed by the next time I see it. A shame, really. Whatever the reason for the work stoppage, it was the worst thing to ever happen to the place. Too much has been left open and exposed to the weather.

36. Becky Stephens says:

    January 6, 2015 at 11:06 am

    Hello, My name is Becky Thomas Stephens. I lived in this house in 1982-1983 until we had a chimney fire. Yes this house is haunted I have seen the ghost of original owner John, and his daughter Mary. This place went to hell, and is posted. I feel this part of history is gone. I known that people say the Gath family is the last ones to lived there but that is not true. My grandmother Lucille Thomas and my dad lived there when he was a teen. This is when the Gath lived in the back and they had the front.

37. Rich Edick says:

    January 6, 2015 at 1:18 pm

    I was raised in the area; but can’t remember this place. What I do wonder is Joan Schumaker, was she a Math teacher at Nunda?? I had a crush on her, always enjoyed the class, Ha. Ha.

38. Gemma says:

    January 14, 2015 at 12:40 pm

    I find it quite ironic that the assumed owner posts on 10-31-13 that nobody has the money or credit to fix it. Apparently he doesn’t either, if this house is sitting wasting away. Sell it to someone who has the time and money to actually invest in this piece of history. I’m sure someone who has the $ and credit to fix it will step forward. Such a shame.

39. Barb says:

    February 11, 2015 at 8:37 pm

    http://www.nundahistory.org/BarberHouse.html

40. Kathleen Gaddy Clarkson says:

    February 19, 2015 at 8:52 pm

    Hi,
    My name is Kathleen Gaddy Clarkson. I’m the grand daughter of Samuel W Barber. I have visited this home many times as a child. My grandfather had moved to A near by village, Scottsburg. It was a gorgeous home in its glory. My favorite thing was the winding staircase. I would believe it to be haunted. My grandparents home in Scottsburg was. After Grandpa SAMs death he visited with my Grandmother Ida many times. I myself had many experiences with my Great Aunt Bessie Barber. Family always refered to it as the house on the hill. Many memories of my childhood. I would live to have someone invest in this piece of history. The Barber’s we kind, hardworking and loving people. I loved Grandpa Sam very much!!

41. Richard Jordan III says:

    March 6, 2015 at 4:56 pm

    I wonder if the roof is still up after all the snow this winter, almost 100 inches. I drive by this place often on my way to the Portageville Train Trestle from Rochester. It has always intrigued me. Thank you to everyone that has posted, very interesting.

42. Gail Kellogg says:

    March 14, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    I’d like to make a correction about who lived in the house. I know there is some argument in town about this, but I live just down the hill, and I know who I played with as a kid, and who lived there.

    A few months after the Gaths moved out my friend John Ferrin and his family moved in. They were there for two years (mid 80’s, I think 1986-88) until his brother’s chemo treatments ended. We were in Kindergarten and first grade. It was sponsored through Ronald McDonald house and there was a waiver on the condemned status.

    Then Mrs. Peaks lived in the house with a million cats until 1993 or 1994 when she moved across the valley. I know it was that late because we took a little dog up to her, and the dog got dropped off in the summer of 1993. Most of the house was closed off at this time, but she showed me the living room, parts of upstairs and we got to peek in the 3rd floor, which was a disaster. I don’t remember her first name.

    It was empty for several years after that, but in 1999-2001 there was a squatter. He was a sandy blonde fellow who was supposed to be cleaning the place out. He stayed in a tent through the summer, but moved into the house when it got cold. I never got his name.

    A lot of partying, a lot of theft.

    The gentleman who owns the house now is Greg O’Connell. He hired a contractor to fix the place, and the back basement wall fell in on him. My father lifted the stones off of the man and helped haul him out. It was not plywood, and he is not dead. He had broken legs, but made a full recovery, or that was the last I heard. The reason it is not fixed is that the contractor failed to get the proper work permits and the town shut the project down. The house is currently open to the elements and in ever-worsening condition.

    There are bats that hibernate in several rooms. Aside from the risk to humans, disturbing them during the winter months is not healthy for them. I heard that from a local police officer. Many of the rooms are very, very unsafe to walk in.

    I would love to see the house saved. I think that is highly unlikely at this point.

    On a side note, several of the neighbors look after the property, and regularly call the police if there are trespassers. It’s a safety issue, and none of us want to haul bodies out of the basement – which floods in winter/spring.

43. Keri A. Grotke says:

    March 29, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    my husband and I saw this house for the first time today. we had left letchworth and passed it on our ride. I had him turn around so that I could take pictures. it is such a lovely sad old shell of a house. one of the rooms on the first floor is completely open to the weather. the floorboards are gone and an animal has a large burrow in the dirt of the floor. what a dream it would be to fix up the old home!

44. Keri A. Grotke says:

    March 29, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    it is a shame the the owners have neglected it so!

45. Jordan Engel says:

    June 1, 2015 at 8:45 am

    I travel upstate NY for sales, and passed this home last week while driving from Olean to Rochester. Like many others I circled around for a better look. I nearly missed the home because the foliage is so dense; the property is nearly swallowed by greenery. A shame that such a grand home has been allowed to rot away, but, I believe that fate has probably been in place for many decades. Homes like this are incredibly expensive to maintain – even when starting in good condition, let alone trying to come back from neglect. The photo from 1960, 55 years ago, shows the property in a sorry state even back then. I expect that the structure will collapse in a year or two. Thanks to those that explore, photo, and ultimately share the images online. I love being able to search something interesting I see in my travels.

46. Karla Kates says:

    February 1, 2016 at 6:49 pm

    Oh my! I recognized this place immediately! I took pictures of it when I took a wrong turn on my way to Evergreen Trails. I always wondered about it! So wonderful to read this history.

47. Mike says:

    February 2, 2016 at 12:54 pm

    My girlfriend and I stumbled upon this old house in 2013 while graveyard hunting (we photograph old cemeteries). It was VERY interesting to finally find out the history of this old home. What I was wondering though is if anyone had any old pictures of the interior before it became so run down? I see several people who used to live there have posted comments here, as well as relatives of the original owners. Do you have any photos you could share of what this house looked like in its heyday? I’d love to see this staircase, the marble bathroom, ballroom, etc. You must have some old pictures in a box in your attic somewhere I hope. If so, please share them here or even email me [email protected] because I love old abandoned houses.

48. Veronica Petracchi says:

    April 19, 2016 at 7:51 am

    I would be interested in volunteering to help with what I can on fixing it up. I have been drawn to this house since i moved her. told my husband many times it just draws me back to just stare at it! since its posted!please contact me if anyone finds out if something is going to be done about it. Gosh this would make a fantastic bed and breakfast or walk thru museum. [email protected]

49. Mike says:

    July 10, 2017 at 10:53 pm

    The house is shot. We went through it today despite the fact that we completely blew by it because you can only see the highest point of the house through the foliage. Haunted? Didn’t see or capture anything of interest today. Dangerous? Without question yes. Some solid portions still but do not move quickly through the house. No place to hide a vehicle so I’m sure cops were on their way. Dad said he picked up a few bikes there back in the day. Must have been Mrs. Peaks living there because he said there were a ton of cats. Him and his buddy were freaked out cuz she looked like a witch in this creepy old house lol. Unfortunately it needs to be knocked down and burnt to keep trespassers like us the hell out of there.

50. Gregory O'Connell says:

    July 21, 2017 at 11:42 pm

    Not sure who posted under my father’s name on 10/31/13 but anyone that knows him would know that he hardly knows how to use a TV remote, let alone a computer or smart phone to access the internet. I am not sure what his plans are for the building but I do know that it looks like it may not be able to be saved. I just went through the house and took a bunch of photos, some if which I’ve posted on my Instagram account (@itsgregwithag). I’ll do my best to get more information on his plans for the building when I’m visiting him again upstate. I definitely had hairs on my neck standing when I went in the attic. It was pretty scary.

51. Thomas R. Engel says:

    April 2, 2018 at 10:41 pm

    I wonder if this is the old place I came across in 1980 and then a few yeas later. Big old crumbling place–that was still lived in. I took pictures from the road then over the years lost track of where this was. I was on my way to “worship” the portage railroad bridge–yes I have the trackage gotten in 1985–which I’ve done since 1972. All the relatives I had in Rochester are gone now so I don’t get there very often. Now the Portage bridge is gone; did get to eat at Caroline’s (2 diiners; 1 breakfast) and stayed overnight at the Glen Iris in 2015, my last session of bridge “worship”. Thank you for this bit.

52. Thomas R. Engel says:

    April 2, 2018 at 10:46 pm

    I will add this place reminds me of the Webster Wagner mansion in Palatine Bridge NY. After years of slowly collapsing when the 3rd floor fell into the second demolition over several years started.
    In summer of 2017 I found the building totally gone. In 1992 I had met the then owner there; he told me anything of real architectural/historical interest had long since been lost/stolen. he was using it as a weekend “hunting” cabin!

53. Rebeca Mejia says:

    April 19, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    This is the house from my dreams. I’ve had them my whole life. I was actually looking for a picture of a stairwell so I could show my bf because I couldn’t figure out how to describe it to him and this is it. Funny thing, my dream always ends in the attic with an old lady in a rocking chair.

54. Thomas R Engel says:

    August 28, 2018 at 1:39 pm

    As of Sunday, 26. August 2018 this building still stands; however the trees surrounding it have been very recently cut (as in leaves’ still being on the branches!) so I suspect this house is not long for this world and soon to be as gone as the old Portageville RR bridge which has been demolished over the last 8 months. Possibly my last visit to the area; you can’t go home again–because you’ve moved! Life changes.

55. Sheila says:

    February 26, 2019 at 3:12 pm

    As a child we lived about a mile north on Oakland Rd, my dad was head sawer for Vince Osborn? We visited the “ Gath Mansion many of times. The Gath children and myself nd cousins loved playing there. Many memories. As for being haunted- I can’t say that I’ve ever felt it. The Cherry curved staircase was awesome. When the grownups weren’t looking we would just have to slide down it. The cedar closet at the top of the back stairway always smelled just like cedar. I was told that at one point that was a stage coach stop??

56. Yvonne says:

    March 20, 2019 at 11:19 pm

    I try to stop here every year when we return from The Maple Tree Inn. Was quite startled by the amount of clearing that has been done. I fear it’s days are numbered. I was able to get some nice shots from the road. Some of the details of the house that were hidden behind the trees could be seen again. I’ve been stopping to see this house for 31 years after I stumbled upon it. It has always intrigued me and I get a feeling of beautiful sadness when I’m there. I’m not sure it’s haunted but it most definitely has a spiritual energy about it.

57. Libertie Oknames says:

    October 27, 2019 at 2:03 pm

    Was driving down Short Tract yesterday to Letchworth falls. My GPS took me this route and my car started to sign dashlight warning. I pulled over next right turn where it was safe. This house was to the left of me. I never got out of my car. Just turned it off and back on to reset dashlights. Snapped a picture from my car on the side of the road. After my car behaved I turned around and left.

58. Garrett says:

    July 2, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    Just drove by this house on my way through Nunda to Rochester. Still standing! I’m sure it was amazing back in the day! Duper thankful I found this write up about it!

59. Scott M says:

    November 23, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    Drove by today on way home from Rochester Took a pic and put on twitter can be seen here https://twitter.com/24quad6s/status/1330998666627313676 wish the house could be saved but not looking good

60. Glen T says:

    May 8, 2021 at 8:56 pm

    My GF and I Were driving down short tract road today coming back from mother’s day dinner at her mother’s in My. Morris. I’de never been down this road in the daylight. Staring out the window I spotted this big beautiful but dilapidated house, it had an energy that pulled at me. I immediately told my GF to turn around,that she had to see this herself and I wanted a picture. We love old houses, history and architecture. We both own 100+ y/o houses ourselves. We snapped a few photos from the car and we went about our way. I then went down the Google wormhole to learn everything I could about this house. Here I am may 2021 I will report the house still stands but I’m not sure for how much longer. There appears to be a large hole in the center of the roof that doesn’t bode well for it’s longevity. It’s sad, It would be amazing to see this “house on the hill” preserved.

61. Becky says:

    March 1, 2022 at 10:01 pm

    Hi! I know everyone is saying Gath Family was the last ones. But that is not true, there was renters. I lived in the front half with mom and her husband. I believe also back when the Gath lived there. There was a mom Lucille Wing Thomas and her son James. Living in back part, when the Gath lived in the front. After the Barber family left, the Wing family owned it for a short time. I had to be about 5 because I was in school. We moved because of a chimney fire

62. Mason zglinicki says:

    March 7, 2023 at 1:13 pm

    As of February 2023 I can confirm this house is still standing, it’s completely gutted and definitely in pretty horrible shape structurally, I walked through and made it out safe but I’d still be very careful, their is no where to park so if u plan on going I wouldn’t stay long, I didn’t go upstairs because I was afraid they would collapse but it was still amazing to see in person, definitely got chills being in there, theirs also a very old treehouse in the backyard I haven’t seen anyone mention, very stunning place I wish their were more pictures of it in its glory days

63. David Savage says:

    March 16, 2024 at 6:40 pm

    I stopped by the house today on the way back from Cartwright’s, and took pictures from the road. I did not attempt to go inside the house since I did not have permission. It still stands, but is obviously at the cusp of being beyond repair. I have owned 13 properties over the last 40 years..constructed in 1838 through 1900. Some I have brought back myself, some I’ve passed on to others to develop. There comes a point, especially when a roof fails, or a hand-laid stone foundation begins to fail, that the pendulum begins to swing to demolition. I’m sure this was a glorious home in it’s day, and with that roofline, very difficult to maintain. Houses of this vintage were built to be showy, opulent, to display the success of their owner. Because of this glorious design, bringing this back is pricier and more difficult to restore than an average colonial. If you have enough money, anything can be fixed, then location and strong desire to save it come into play. If you invested the 800k it would take to bring this back, would you live in this house, in this location? Is there a return on your investment.. for the joy of living there, or as a profit center? I say all of this because there will be a point where strong winds, snow, water infiltration, lightning, or whatever, will make this unreclaimable. It’s such a cool place.. enjoy seeing it (safely from the road) while you can. The fact that it still stands is a testament to the pride, effort, and skill used to build it.

Post a Comment...