Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Building, People

Location

889 Distin Rd, Fulton, NY 13069, USA

Lat/Long

43.367207, -76.425602

Grant Recipient

Town of Volney

Located in Volney, New York, near the Oswego River and Van Buren Cemetery, sits the former house of early resident and active businessman, Volkert Van Buren.

Born in 1795, Volkert arrived in the region while still a child, and as an adult he would establish a series of businesses engraining him in the community and its development. Throughout his life Volkert farmed a significant portion of his large property holdings, ran a grocery store on nearby Battle Island, and operated both saw and flour mills. Volkert also served during the War of 1812 as a private in the company commanded by captain Whitney, which was responsible for defending Henderson Harbor against the British, and is related to 8th President Martin Van Buran.

Throughout the 1820s and 1830s, Volkert increased the property he owned through gradual acquisitions. In 1830 he purchased the property where this marker sits, and not long after constructed a nearby mill using the waterpower provided by Black Creek. Shortly after that, Volkert Van Buren built the house where this historical marker is located. He would live there until his death in 1866, at which point the house would change hands between several owners.

Volkert is buried in the nearby Van Buran Cemetery, which sits between his former house and the Oswego River.

The house was nominated and listed to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 as an architecturally significant federal residence.