Name/Title
Bull Stone HouseEntry/Object ID
000602Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
The Bull Stone House is a historic ten-room stone home located on Sarah Wells Trail, just behind the Hamptonburgh Grange in Hamptonburgh, New York. It is famously one of the very few homes in America that has been continuously owned and lived in by the same family since its construction, with a ninth-generation descendant currently residing in it.
Construction & Architecture
The Builders: It was built by William Bull (a skilled English stonemason) for his new bride, Sarah Wells (the first female settler of European descent in Goshen).
The Construction: Begun in 1722 (and completed around 1727 or over a span of 13 years), building the home was a joint effort—Sarah reportedly helped carry the fieldstones while William cut and laid them.
Design & Features:
It is constructed of cut blue limestone and stands three stories tall with an attic.
It features two ground-level stories that are 11 feet high.
The ground floor was built over a natural spring to provide a secure, internal water source for the family in its early days.
The walls are exceptionally strong at two feet thick.
Historical Incidents & Legacy
Surviving Nature: The house survived a notable earthquake in September 1727 (which left a visible crack on its east side). It was also struck by lightning twice (in 1767 and 1768), but only suffered minor damage.
The Family: William and Sarah raised 12 children to adulthood in this home.
Annual Tradition: The property remains the site of the Bull Family Reunion and Picnic, held every August. This gathering is recognized as one of the longest-running continuous family reunions in America, dating back to 1867/1868.
Additional Property Features
The Barn: Located on a nearby rocky ledge, the property features a historic New World Dutch barn originally built by William Bull. It was constructed with ash planking and split pine shingles held in place with dowels. It has been fully restored and remains in excellent condition.
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Hill Hold is a historic stone homestead in Orange County, New York, built in 1769. Today, it is owned by the county, fully restored, and operates as a public museum showcasing historic farm life and rare period furnishings.
Construction & Features
The Builder: The home was built by Thomas Bull (son of William Bull, the builder of the nearby Bull Stone House).
The Process: Thomas reportedly built the home himself using stones collected from his own farm fields in between his daily agricultural chores.
Architecture:
It is situated on a rocky ledge on a hill, providing striking views of the surrounding landscape.
The house is built with sturdy two-foot-thick stone walls.
The large rooms on the first floor feature elegant wood paneling imported from England on their east and west walls.
Revolutionary War History
During the American Revolutionary War, Thomas Bull remained a Loyalist (loyal to the British King) and was subsequently taken into custody.
After the war ended, he was permitted to return to his farm, where he lived out his days until his death in 1801.
Transition to a Museum
The Donation: The farm eventually came into the possession of descendants Robert McLeod Jackson and his sister, Margaret Eleanor Jackson, who willed the property to Orange County in 1969.
The Restoration: The effort to restore the home for the public was led by Amy Bull Crist, who collaborated with the Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties and the Orange County Department of Parks.
Today: The museum houses many rare, beautiful period appointments and furniture, offering guided tours to the public.