Katonah in Westchester County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Farm Manager’s Cottage
John Jay Homestead
Photographed By Michael Herrick, November 10, 2009
1. The Farm Manager’s Cottage Marker
The brick cottage was built ca. 1800 for Jay’s first farm manager, Major Samuel Lyon. Lyon oversaw such daily activities on the farm as: ditching and draining land; building and maintaining fences; plowing, planting, and harvesting fields; and tending the orchards.
Like others in his economic position, John Jay employed tenant farmers who carried out the work under the manager’s supervision. In return for their services, Jay provided them with cottages and small gardens, and he subsidized the cost of seeds and tools so they could plant larger cash crops on his land. When Jay collected rent from his tenants, it was often paid in the form of “shares” of these cash crops.
Erected by Friends of the Jay Homestead. (Marker Number 5.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1800.
Location. 41° 15.09′ N, 73° 39.508′ W. Marker is in Katonah, New York, in Westchester County. Marker can be reached from Jay Street (New York State Route 22) 0.1 miles south of Beaver Dam Road, on the left when traveling south. Located on the grounds of the John Jay Homestead. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Route 22, Katonah NY 10536, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers
this page online
Photographed By Michael Herrick, November 14, 2009
2. The Farm Manager’s Cottage and Marker
Photographed By Michael Herrick, November 10, 2009
3. The Farm Manager’s Cottage Marker
Photographed By Michael Herrick, November 10, 2009
4. Farm Manager’s Cottage, ca. 1960.
[ detail from the marker ]
Family documents in the Homestead archives reveal a constant change of tenants and managers. On the Jay farm. Tenancy was common in America and was practiced by all five generations of the Jays until the 1940s. This photograph shows the farm manager’s cottage, ca. 1960.
Family documents in the Homestead archives reveal a constant change of tenants and managers. On the Jay farm. Tenancy was common in America and was practiced by all five generations of the Jays until the 1940s. This photograph shows the farm manager’s cottage, ca. 1960.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, November 10, 2009
5. Tenant Houses
[ detail from the marker ]
This is one of the three small tenant houses built by the Jays in the 19th century. Today the tenant houses exist as parts of larger homes in the neighborhood of the Homestead.
This is one of the three small tenant houses built by the Jays in the 19th century. Today the tenant houses exist as parts of larger homes in the neighborhood of the Homestead.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, November 10, 2009
6. 1900 Photograph
[ detail from the marker ]
This view, ca. 1900 shows the glasshouses on the left, the main house on the ridgeline towards the left center, and the barns and farm manager’s cottage to the right.
This view, ca. 1900 shows the glasshouses on the left, the main house on the ridgeline towards the left center, and the barns and farm manager’s cottage to the right.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, November 10, 2009
7. Houses on the Homestead
[ detail from the marker ]
The prefabricated house next to the brick cottage was built in the early 1920s. From 1926 through the 1930s it served as the residence of the farm superintendent. Factory-produced, prefabricated houses were sold through catalogs and shipped ready to assemble.
The prefabricated house next to the brick cottage was built in the early 1920s. From 1926 through the 1930s it served as the residence of the farm superintendent. Factory-produced, prefabricated houses were sold through catalogs and shipped ready to assemble.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2009, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 612 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 21, 2009, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
