Name/Title
Discovering the Bull Stone HouseEntry/Object ID
000574Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
The column features a travel letter written by Linda Ullom to the columnist, Nan Ezzell. Linda details her extensive tour of historic homes in New York and New England, with a primary focus on the Bull Stone House (1722) located in Hamptonburgh, Orange County, New York.
Key Highlights of the Bull Stone House Tour
The Family Legacy: The house was built by William Bull and Sarah Wells. The tour was guided by Michael Brown, a direct descendant of the couple who was raised in the house. The home remains owned and maintained by the William Bull and Sarah Wells Family Association to preserve its historical significance.
Architectural Features:
The house features massive, beautifully crafted stone walls that have stood for over 250 years.
It contains low ceilings on the lower levels and impressively high ceilings on the upper living floors.
The property includes a massive, historic Old Dutch barn, which serves as a central gathering place for annual family picnics and business meetings.
Interior Artifacts: The home is filled with family relics, including Sarah’s wedding dress preserved in a glass case, antique furniture like a butler's secretary desk, and a unique, narrow "secret" hallway compartment rumored to have housed a hired man or servant long ago.
Layout: The tour covered the entire home, moving from the servants' quarters, kitchen, and long closets in the lower level up to the family bedrooms and a workshop area in the garret (attic), which features an authentic Indian lookout window.
The Annual Family Reunion
The visit coincided with the 108th Annual Bull Family Reunion, an expansive event drawing upwards of 500 attendees from across North America (including relatives from Texas and Canada) and even international visitors. The event included a large picnic, home tours, and the election of family association officers.