The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Durfee House

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Durfee House, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Institution Name: Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Original/Historic Place Name: Durfee House
Location on Campus: 639 S. Main St.
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

pre- 1831	original construction Unknown
1831	relocation to present site Unknown
1844	expansion Unknown

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: stone

Walls: none specified

Roof: asphalt shingle

Function:

1844-1885	president's house
1885-1929	private residence (William Pitt Durfee)
ca. 2004-present (2007)	admissions office

Significance: architecture, history
Landmark designation:

none

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
Durfee House was originally a land speculator's office. The house was moved in 1831 to its present site and enlarged by President Benjamin Hale in 1844 for use as his residence, and it was occupied by subsequent presidents until 1885. It is the earliest connection to Geneva on campus and is considered to be the earliest standing frame building west of Rome, New York. It later became the home of William Pitt Durfee, first Dean of Hobart and professor of mathematics from 1884-1929. Both W.P. Durfee and his son W. H. Durfee served as interim presidents during their long tenures at the College.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

Smith, Warren Hunting. Hobart and William Smith: The History of Two Colleges. Geneva, NY: Hobart and illiam Smith Colleges, 1972.

II. Location of other data:

University: Library, Special Collections