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Community Corner

Good Bones: Inside One of Briarcliff's Oldest Homes

A house with pedigree…and history.

Old? Yes. Charming, interesting and historic? That too. You don’t have to be an architect to appreciate the quality, architectural elements and history of a home belonging to early settlers of Briarcliff Manor.

For those of us too young to remember—and that would be all of us—Briarcliff Manor, prior to its incorporation in 1902, was referred to as Whitson’s Corners.

Although part of the Philipse estate in the late 17th century, Whitson’s Corner—or Whitson’s Station—was so dubbed after several brothers, Reuben, John and Richard Whitson, settled and built farm houses in the area.

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So who better to appreciate one of these architectural gems than the current residents of the old Richard Whitson home, who also happened to be the architectural team of Springer and Ting?

Todd Springer and wife Mary Ting have lived in the Richard Whitson home since 1984. During their initial house hunt, other older homes in the vicinity had caught their eye—one in particular on Hardscrabble Road—but it was the residence on Pleasantville Road, reportedly built in the 1790s, they fell for and settled into.

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When asked why this particular home, Springer was quick to respond, “Mary!”

“Actually, the house was a wreck,” he added. “But it was no problem—we love to fix up old things. We liked everything about it except its condition. Everything needed to be changed.”

Springer and Ting, who have no plans to depart anytime soon, were drawn to the property’s setting. When asked what in particular they liked, Springer said, “The idiosyncrasies… moldings, nooks, plaster walls and everything making it unique…including a dirt basement.”

As with any house possessing such an enduring history, one can always anticipate the curiosity of previous residents leading them to stop by and pay a visit. Over the years, several former inhabitants have indeed knocked on the door asking to see the house and relive old memories. Scarbouroughs, Campbells and Ossens, all previous tenants, have come by during the 27 years Springer and Ting have occupied the home—but a Whitson descendent has yet to drop by.

From ice house to club house

The house was originally built with an adjacent ice house that, during the 20th century, was used as a popular teenage hangout, complete with parties—authorized or not. The restored ice house is now used as a workshop or quiet getaway.

Interesting things have been found on the property over the years—old farming tools, metals, and hinges. Skeletons of many small animals were uncovered when the dirt basement was being deepened to—among other things—to accommodate the height of the over-six foot Springer.

The house comes with a secret road, too. Washburn Road is a map road that previously extended to and intersected with Pleasantville Road, but has since become overgrown and gated. Remnants of the path remain visible from Pleasantville Road.

The secret street was also home to fun. Tom Vincent, an officer of the Briarcliff Manor Scarborough Historical Society, and his childhood friend Bob Raup—also an earlier resident of the home—took advantage of the roadway.

“We’d race little handmade cars down the hill," he recalled.

Vincent also remembers attending school with Bobby Whitson—the last Whitson to graduate from the Briarcliff school system—in 1949.

And although Whitson resides in St. Louis, it’s never too late for a visit.

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