Then
The Tin Brook was built in the 1790s by an unknown builder or homeowner at the corner of what is now known as Route 52 and Berea Road in the Town of Montgomery New York. This corner has been a home site for well over 200 years. The 1798 map of the Town of Montgomery lists A. Dorcus living on the site. Little is Known of him. His name is not included on early lists of Town residents. It may have been James Todd who rebuilt or replaced most of the original structure on the site. Old photos show the home as a story and a half structure with Greek Revival details - a once common local house type. It achieved distinction, however, as it continued to grow throughout the course of the nineteenth century. A circa 1860’s second story was added, greatly increasing its size. A one story rear kitchen wing became two stories. An ample front porch eventually encircled the front and side of the house. Interior woodwork is now a blend of Greek Revival, Victorian, and the turn-of-the-century Edwardian styles. This was a house that saw several eras come and go at its dooryard. Modern Route 52 was once a plank road, called the Ellenville Plank Road on old maps. It ran from Newburgh through the mountains to Ellenville. The trolley that once ran from Walden to Newburgh stopped at the Todd House as it was, at one time, a large boarding house. This was the era when Orange Lake, between Walden and Newburgh, was a popular recreation spot.
