John Jay (1745 – 1829), statesman, jurist, first Chief Justice of the United States, and Governor of New York State for six years, built Bedford House in 1800. It remained his home for the last twenty-nine years of his life.
Jay represented New . . . — — Map (db m24691) HM
Once a one room schoolhouse
District #6 public primary school
authorized in 1814, expanded in 1847.
A private residence since 1923. — — Map (db m237251) HM
World War I Candie Angelo M. Jones Frederick B. Kelly James J. Russell J. Stanley World War II Bernardo Pompei M. Booth Jasper W. Buonassissi Michael Diamanti Albert G. Ferguson Charles E. Jr. Fowler Robert L. 3rd Knudsen Ellwood B. Lorzer . . . — — Map (db m24667) HM
Paul Basile •
Peter Bimonte •
John Cunniffe •
William Dove •
Christina Harvey •
Michael Harvey •
John Keating •
Sean Keating •
Thomas Kenna •
Mathew Lounsbury •
Dennis McGuckian •
Patricia Mills •
Michelle Molinari • . . . — — Map (db m230092) WM
John Jay began developing approximately 700 acres near Bedford NY as an income producing farm in 1787. Jay had chickens on his farm along with hogs, cows, oxen, and horses. Five subsequent generations of the Jay family continued to farm here. . . . — — Map (db m237324) HM
The first chief justice of the United States and the governor of New York state, inherited this land from his mother, Mary Van Cortlandt Jay.
Here in 1800 he built Bedford House, his home for the last years of his life. — — Map (db m159227) HM
The United States’ first Chief Justice, Jay, retired here after drafting New York’s first constitution and serving as President of the Continental Congress and Minister to Spain.
* Revolutionary War Heritage Trail Sites
The Revolutionary . . . — — Map (db m24699) HM
[ East plaque ]
In Memoriam Capt. James Mckeel Capt. John W. Sweetman And Members of Co. A 4th N.Y. Vol. Heavy Art’y Who Enlisted From Katonah, NY to Serve During The Civil War of 1861 – 1865 James C. Bogan Franklin Dingee Oscar L. . . . — — Map (db m24572) HM
Barns are essential to a working farm. The main barn dates to the early 19th century. It was originally used for housing livestock, threshing grain, and storing hay. Sheds were added later to both sides of the barn and used to store tools, farm . . . — — Map (db m24707) HM
When Jay assembled his 750 acres by 1800, much of the land had already been cleared indiscriminately by tenant farmers. Stone, however, was abundant and it was put to good use. Jay spent 15 years encircling his property with stone fences and an . . . — — Map (db m24714) HM
When John Jay began planning his Westchester farm in the 1790s, he was fortunate to find a source of clay on his property which he used to make the brick for constructing a home and various farm buildings. Archeological testing has identified the . . . — — Map (db m24704) HM
The original carriage drive entered the estate from the Post Road one mile north of the current Homestead driveway. In the mid-19th century, an allee (avenue) of European and copper beech trees was planted along the drive below the house. These . . . — — Map (db m24713) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m24705) HM
The design of the herb garden located here among the ruins of the old glasshouse yard is based on typical 18th- and 19th-century American and English gardens. Please enter and explore. An herb garden brochure is available in a box by the potting . . . — — Map (db m24702) HM
This property has seen many changes. Over 2,200 years ago, Native Americans lived and hunted here. As the family’s tenanted farm in the 1700s, it produced wheat, rye, corn, and other grains. After Jay’s retirement and the development of the farm . . . — — Map (db m24701) HM
After the American Civil War, the nation experienced tremendous economic growth in agriculture and industry. In the 1870s, the refrigerator car was introduced, and farmers expanded their market opportunities. Farming became big business. Between . . . — — Map (db m24703) HM
From the top of this hill, the highest point on the property, much of the original Jay estate could be seen. During the early 1900s, the jays built a grass tennis court here. The court was later used for croquet. Across the fields to the south of . . . — — Map (db m24710) HM
John Jay began planning his farm soon after he amassed the 750 acres by inheritance and purchase in the 1780s.
In 1832, William Jay made several improvements to the Jay farm. He enlarged the cow barn, renovated the main barn, had an old barn . . . — — Map (db m24706) HM
From this vantage point, the sloping back lawn of the main house is visible. At the top of the hill and to your left, is a stone schoolhouse built between 1826 and 1828 by John Jay and his son William for William’s young children. In this back . . . — — Map (db m24709) HM
The coachman’s house on your right and carriage barn on your left were built between 1801 and 1802. gated stone fences connected the two buildings and created a courtyard where the coaches and horses could be cared for and prepared for use. . . . — — Map (db m24708) HM
The gardens at the Homestead pay homage to John Jay’s love of nature and to the pleasure that the Jay family found on the grounds surrounding their home.
This garden combines designs found in family gardens from the early 19th through the 2oth . . . — — Map (db m24715) HM
In numerous Jay family photographs, the terrace appears as an active lawn and garden area for family gatherings. The terrace garden was designed in 1924 in conjunction with the addition of the west wing of the house.
The Rusticus Garden Club . . . — — Map (db m24711) HM
In 1801, after a distinguished career in public service, John Jay retired to Bedford where until his death in 1829, he enjoyed spending time with his family and improving his farm. Four succeeding generations of the Jay family resided here until . . . — — Map (db m24700) HM
