Occasionally, but not often enough, I have reported here on my travels outside of the Hudson Valley. Last December I made a trip through Central New York (and I should probably do a post on that trip eventually) but for now I write of one ruin in particular that I believe is worth calling attention to.
A few years back Wint Aldrich told me to look for the Webster Wagner House in Palatine Bridge (Montgomery County) after I told him I was planning a trip across New York. I missed the house, somehow, on my way into Canajoharie, located on the opposite side of the New York State Thruway and the Mohawk River. In Canajoharie I had my sights set on the former Beech-Nut factory, an old school high on a hill above town, and one of the very few traffic “dummy lights” in the country. This time the Wagner House took priority.
The Wagner House is easily, and sadly, among the most photogenic ruins I have ever seen. With an unpainted finish, a sagging roofline, a half-collapsed porch, Gothic-arch windows and pointed roof dormers, abundant Victorian detailing, a missing exterior wall in the back, and a massive gnarly tree flanking its southeastern corner, it is the haunted house that every fictional version aspires to be.
The Wagner House is also condemned. Despite appearances, the house was occupied, partially at least, until fairly recently. The front porch completely collapsed this winter which, combined with the exposed rear addition, large hole in the roof, and bowed south wall, led the Palatine Bridge Code Enforcement Office to issue a demolition permit earlier this month. The current owner wishes to restore the house, but would need to address the obvious poor condition of the house quickly before the village could even consider renovation permits.
The house was built in 1876 for Palatine Bridge native Webster Wagner, a manufacturer of railroad sleeping cars, as a summer home. Its architect was Horatio Nelson White of Syracuse. The Webster Wagner House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
National Register Document – Text
National Register Document – Photographs
Photographs December 8-9, 2013.
These are beautiful photos of this decaying home. I have been to Canajoharie several times as a kid (driving through) and can recall the old Beech Nut factory as seen out the window as we passed by. Anyway these photos are great, what a beautiful old home. Thanks for a great post.
I remember touring the Beechnut factory on a school field trip. The memory is very vague,but I am sure that’s where we went. Had to be late 60’s or very early 70’s. My father grew up in the Catskills and Albany, so our ‘Sunday’ drives were always in the HRV & the lovely back roads of his youth. Thank you for sharing your travels. I hope this beautiful piece of history and architecture has a chance to shine for more generations.
You’re welcome, and thanks for sharing your memories. Cool that they gave tours at Beech Nut. That’s great that your father took you on some awesome drives too.
What a loss.
Beautiful photographs. It has been so sad to see them slowly tearing it down.
It’s a shame you missed this until very recently (the Mohawk is a tributary of the Hudson and it’s not far away); I’ve been seeing the structures you mention in Canajoharie and they’re small potatoes and Canajoharie itself is much like the jaded Hudson Valley towns you cover (I check up on you every few months) .
I have been watching this grand structure deteriorate alarmingly since at least 1990. Until 2004 I was travelling at leat annually to family in Rochester NY and Palatine Bridge is the halfway point between Boston and Rochester and Rt 5 follows the NYC RR closely at this point and as a railfan I knew who Wagner was.
In November 1992 on one of my trips I met the then owner (he said he was) and talked with him. He told me there were no remaining furnishings from the Wagners inside and that even woodwork features had been looted; he felt there may have even been local “collusion” in looting the building while he was away. He lived in CT and had bought the place to use effectively as a weekend “hunting camp” and was living mostly in the rear addition when there. Much more recent newspaper stories say that a man and his son were living in the rear and were only evicted a few years ago (ca. 2011 or so). My most recent visit 24 August 2014 found the house in process of slow demolition for salvage. The newspaper stories state the roof caved in this past winter; by my previous visit in 2012 or 2013 I found the 3rd floor interior had caved into the second floor and the roof was sagging alarmingly. The current owner who’s doing the demolition says he found painted portraits of the Wagners in a closet inside.
I am very much reminded of Wyndcliffe, which is crumbling away even worse.
Hi Thomas,
Thank you for sharing your reminiscences it. It is only recently that I’ve been making an effort to really explore the rest of New York, and beyond. I wish I had seen the house earlier too, though I am glad I caught it in time. It must have been quite the place in its time. Indeed there are many cool sites along both Routes 5 and 20, and I look forward to visiting more of them. Thanks again.
They are tearing it down! So sad!
Such a shame that this place was not preserved. It was a beautiful, historic home!! Not many left anymore. Architecture back then had much more character and beauty.
My grandfather.., Jason Coppernoll.., owned and lived there from late 50s to late 70s.., people he sold it to let it go to , um, waste I guess is word. Have fond memories of playing hide and seek there. Sometimes I’ve daydreamed about being rich and turning house into a bed and breakfast.., too late now.
Jeff, I think my great aunt and uncle worked for and rented from your family. Care to email me at dsweinstein @ gamil? Last name was kachinsky. Just have some questions about the town, area etc. They are long passed away, but we were very close and I’ve always felt a need to visit the town.
I am planning a trip to the Mohawk River Valley around Palatine, perhaps next fall. My forefather was one of the Palatine Immigrants of 1709, and William Nellis and Hendrick Klock were also my forefathers. What remains in this area worth seeing today? My forefather settled in German Flats on the Mohawk.
Amazing ! I’ve been in South Carolina for 10 years now. Originally from Monticello, NY Hudson Valley, Sullivan County all my life well, 39 years, you do the math ! LOL! Love to see more of your findings ! Please post anytime ! Best of luck to you.
Yours Truly,
Laura A. Brown
Thank you Laura!
When a child my grandparents owned that house. The first time we saw it the night was dark and raining. Grandpa and Granma had a fire lit in the dining room fireplace. My sisters and I spent many summers helping Grandpa type out the lists for the old records and Edison players. When my dad and Grandpa would check out the gutters, they climbed out of the 3rd story window and walk around the roof in the gutters. That took a lot of nerve. When the home was sold, the person bought it had high hopes of it being another antique shop plus bed and breakfast. The town would never give him a permit, so he did nothing with the home from that point on. Finially it was sold at auction for $1000.00 and the man was trying to restore it but had to first clean floor by floor due to falling apart. I guess he did not do it fast enough because the town was going to fine him thousand of dollars a DAY until it was cleaned up. So, he turned it back to the county of Palentine Bridge and as of now they have done nothing with it at all. So much for them running off the only person that was going to clean it up and restore the first floor to original. I feel bad for this gentleman, he was going to do the town a huge favor and they ran him off. I hate how this happened to this home, I loved this place and hold dear all the wonderful memories close to my heart.
This old home with such a deep history has been torn down. I grew up in Canajoharie and still live in the area and do miss it being there. Susan B Anthony stayed there and taught school at the West Hill School on corner of cliff Street and Otsego street.
The West Hill school was purchased and do not know if the community is trying to raise money to do something ( that is last I heard) but it sits empty too. I went to school between kindergarten and Third grade, as second floor was closed for safety by that time. ( My mother attended same school but she was able to attend more grades there as they could use second floor. On first floor we had a gym and cafeteria ) After those grades we were bussed to the East Hill School and the High School on Erie Blvd is gone and now part of the Library and Arkell Museum. Another lovely stone mansion is being auctioned off soon and it was a restaurant once, and could be a Bed And Breakfast, or Adult home, ( assisted Living, or Rest home, for seniors, ) or even a fantastic one family home. It has fourteen acres. So much could be done, but it now is in very bad shape and would take alot of work to fix it, but there are alot left that would be wroth it if anyone had money. My cousin is renting offices out in the Stone old school on main street in Palatine Bridge. That is another place with much history. We are losing many very historic homes, so it seems ,and breaks my heart. People just are not such people of money anymore, in our area. Just in case anyone would be interested, and also, in case one should come to area for a tour and want to see a few more historic places, while still around!
….i lived in canajoharie from birth (64′) , in amsterdam hospital) and went to all of the schools above, also, and also a ‘church school’ adjacent to the west hill school. …when i was very young, we lived behind the stone lodge in palatine, for a brief while, and then bought a house on ridge road in canajoharie.
….used to play little league ball at the east hill fields, and all star games in ilion…
….moved from the area around 79′, ….headed west near buffalo….
…memories….
Thank you for sharing your memories!
Saw this awesome house year’s ago, (before the dam broke and flooded Amsterdam and area) , it was already in rough shape. Still I always wanted to sketch it. Now I have much better photos I can use. Thank you. Sheila Button
Is this place still up I would like to do paranormal exploration there
Also if anyone in Canjoharie knows of any haunted places here let me know I would love to Film a paranormal exploreing youtube vidieo there.
It is demolished.
The dummy traffic light was hit by a car ca. 2021 or 2022 and is no longer there. I did have pictures of it somewhere tho’ they may be entrapped on dead computers now.
we may be lucky and someone posted pix on-line.
Just a squat traffic light on a low pedestal. I’ve read its pieces are preserved somewhere local.. Came back here while looking for Webster Wagner mansion pictures to see if any were around..
Nowadays I go to the Glimmerglass Festival every year so I spend several days in the general area. If this place hadn’t been on the former NYC&HRRR main line I probably wouldn’t know of it!
Sad news! Thank you for the update.