Save This Old House ~ Second Empire in Middletown NY Under $38K ~Sold
97 E. Main ST., Middletown, NY $37,900 Sold for $44,000 on 6/16/2020
OHU50K NOTES
Boy, was I wrong. It appears someone purchased the house. The Middletown librarian got back to me quickly, and as promised, despite the home being off market already, here is some of its history.
Karen Heil was so kind to type out a portion of the new book by Peter Laskaris, Middletown historian, called Old Middletown Homes.
“97 East Main Street: At least a brief mention should be made of the house at 97 East Main Street. The lot was purchased by Linus Babcock in 1865, and in 1872 his son Willaim Babcock began construction of a Second Empire styled house which was completed in March of 1873. Mr. Babcock, a Middletown hat manufacturer, was born in 1847 and died February 16, 1874 in New York City. This once beautiful house fell on hard times, as the saying goes, and was acquired by the City of Middletown in March of 1981 for non-payment of taxes. At this time, the house was painted red and green and was called “The Christmas Tree House” by many. City government, of course, with their typical creativity, planned to tear the house down, but a local group called the Middletown Urban Renaissance Action League (MURAL) intervened in an attempt to save the noteworthy structure. Their goal was for the city to sell the house at a low price with the provision the buyer actually restore the house rather than simply correct the code violations. While the group was successful in saving the house from demolition the city wouldn’t go along with their idea that the house be restored and a wonderful opportunity was squandered by the shortsighted politicians.”
- 4bed
- 2bath
- 2,269sqft
- 6,425sqft lot
- Build date 1900
- Google Map
- Property Listing
- Realtor: Derek Morgan with USREALTY .com