by Sue Swingle, Gates Historical Society
The Hinchey House, a Victorian-era Italianate house located at 634 Hinchey Road, is a house full of history. It is listed on the Federal Registry of Historic Places and has received New York State Landmark status. Built in the 1870s by Franklin Hinchey, who was a land and tax agent for the NYC Railroad as well as a dairy farmer, the house sits on part of the three-acre lot known as the Hinchey Homestead. The house and surrounding land are owned by the Town of Gates and are maintained by the Gates Historical Society.
The house contains 14 rooms and most of its original furniture. Four generations of Hincheys lived on the homestead, and the house was occupied until Harmon Hinchey died in 1998 at age 89. The house includes a two-seater privy and indoor plumbing. There is also a large barn on the property.
The Hinchey House is open for tours by appointment. Call 585-464-9740 or email GatesHistoricalSociety@gmail.com to schedule a time.
Visitors are encouraged to stop by between noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 30, for Hinchey History Day, a rare chance to see a collection of artifacts the Historical Society doesn’t typically have room to display. This fun and educational day gets bigger and better each year.
Other events take place at the Hinchey Homestead throughout the year, including Victorian Teas, vintage clothing (bridal, hat, and period) exhibits, and “Holly Days” each December, when eight trees throughout the house are decorated by various groups. The decorations extend outside of the House as well, as the trees are decorated with homemade ornaments made of various treats for area wildlife.
The Hinchey House also includes a gift shop where many different books about the Gates area are available for purchase.
For more information about the Hinchey Homestead and the Gates Historical Society, visit gateshistory.org or the organization’s Facebook page.
Photos courtesy of the Gates Historical Society
