Picture this: It's been a long, hot, stressful week. Finally, Friday. You settle into a comfy hammock, smooth aged cider in hand, and enjoy the evening bird sounds and the scent of blossoms in the garden. Tunes from the player piano waft through the parlor window. Relax, it's summer in the Catskills.
No hammock? No home-made cider? No player piano? No front porch?
No worries. Tom and Connie Jeffers have all those things and you're invited to enjoy them Friday, July 11 between 5 and 8 p.m. at a Summer Soiree to benefit the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown. Their home is located on Walnut Street, Margaretville. To meet the Jeffers and spend an informally elegant evening among friends old and new, call them at 845-586-4878 by July 5 to let them know you'll be coming.
Fare from Mary's Cookin' Again will include shrimp cocktail, chicken sate, bruchetta, Mary's famous home-made potato chips and much more. The Jeffers will show you where they make their wonderful cider -- several varieties -- and then pour you a sample. Check out Tom's incredible woodworking shop in the Carriage House, and tour the immaculately restored -- and updated -- Victorian house bult in the 1890s by Henry Coulter.
Tom and Connie have owned the house for almost 6 years and have kept up the tradition of constant improvements to this stately old Queen Anne Victorian.
At the end of September in 1892, architect, contractor and builder, Henry Coulter and his wife Nina purchased a lot on the northwest end of Walnut Street from Jeremiah Ackerly. They built a house in which to raise their family and it was completed in approximately 1895 or 1896. Since that time the house has had 7 owners including the present owners. Since Mr. Coulter was a builder and architect and the home was intended for his family to live in, the construction is amazingly sound and somewhat over-built. The house features a typical wraparound front porch, turret and Carriage House in back. Previous owners have added a massive modern kitchen and a master suite in what was a 3rd floor attic. The turret and witches cap was also raised by 14 feet.
