Conklin Mountain House is a historic home located at
Olean in
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County (locally known as Catt County) is a county in Western New York, with one side bordering Pennsylvania. As of the United States 2020 census, the population was 77,042. The county seat is Little Valley. The county was created ...
. The above ground portion of the main house is a 4,500 sq. ft
Second Empire style wood frame dwelling built in 1886. The front facade features a three-story tower with
mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof (also called a French roof or curb roof) is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterised by two slopes on each of its sides, with the lower slope, punctured by dormer windows, at a steeper angle than the upper. The ...
and a wraparound
porch. The exterior of the home features extensive overhanging eaves, decorative brackets and balustrades. The house sits on top of a 2,000 sq. ft full-height stone basement. The property also includes a 1,600 sq. ft two-story carriage house.
The interior features elaborate and extensive woodwork, quarter-sawn oak floors throughout the house, one of the longest
cantilevered staircases on the East Coast of the United States, a large and ornate antique Eastlake-style chandelier in the dining room, and the only known existing installation of M.H. Birge & Sons block-printed peacock wallpaper ca. 1915. The home was constructed by the owners of
Conklin Wagon Works, one of Olean's most important industries in the late 19th century. It was subsequently owned by the Mountain family, who operated the Mountain Clinic Infirmary, and is currently an owner-occupied single family residence not open to the public. On the morning of October 8, 2023 the house caught fire, resulting in the residents being displaced and a total loss of the historic interiors.
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It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
The home caught fire the morning of October 8, 2023.
History
The home was built in 1886 by
William H. Conklin. Mr. Conklin was born on December 21, 1811, in Greenfield, Saratoga County, New York. In 1860 he moved his wagon-making business to
Olean; the famous
Conklin Wagon Works. It became one of Olean's most important industries at that time, eventually growing to employ 50 skilled laborers with an output of 2000 wagons per year. The wagon works was located closer to the
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River ( ) is a long headwater stream of the Ohio River in western Pennsylvania and New York (state), New York. The Allegheny River runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border northwesterly into ...
than the house itself, which sits some 600 feet away. This was for purposes of using the river systems for transportation of materials and completed wagons.
First Floor
The first floor of the home, used mainly for entertaining guests, features 12 foot ceilings throughout and contains the vestibule, foyer, first parlor or "music room", library, second parlor or "drawing room", a formal dining room and kitchen.
Vestibule and Foyer
The vestibule is a small space approximately 16 feet square. It's the first space encountered upon entering the home and is separated from the foyer by a double-door. The foyer contains access to the main staircase with a large carved newel post made from cherry and Birds-Eye Maple. The staircase and landings are cantilevered above the first floor and feature a continuous varnished maple railing supported by 102 turned spindles.
Music Room
The first parlor, also known as the "blue room" or "Music room" features blue wallpaper inside of decorative wall moldings and is the scene of most seasonal celebrations. During the Christmas season the largest tree is placed in the bay window of this room. It houses the grand piano and Victrola, among other instruments.
Library
The library/lounge room contains a 10-foot L-shaped bar, brick fireplace and built-in bookshelves.
Drawing Room
The second parlor, also known as the "drawing room" or "ladies salon" features white wallpaper depicting gnarled trees and fanciful scenes. It contains a large white tile fireplace and mantle straddled by ornately carved wooden griffons.
Below is a cache of images from the home listing when the home was last for sale in 2016. These images are how the house appeared at that time, and do not reflect more recent changes to the structure such as the remodeled kitchen surfaces and appliances and the painting of the main and rear staircases. These pictures also do not show the furniture and possessions of the new owners. These are included only for historical reference pertaining to the structure itself, for the purpose of eventually restoring the structure after the October 8, 2023 fire.
File:Conklin Mountain House - Northeast Corner.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Northwest Corner.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Front Porch.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - White room west wall.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Foyer 2016.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Foyer From Stairs.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Foyer to Music Room.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Blue Room 2.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - French Door Foyer.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Blue Room 2.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Blue to White.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - White to blue.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Blue Room Overview.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - First Floor Half Batch.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - First Floor Half Bathroom.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Ladies Salon to Music Room View December 2016.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Music To Salon.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Salon FP.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Salon FP Detail2.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - White Room Fireplace.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Ladies Salon Fireplace Mantle April 2017.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Salon Detail.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Salon FP Detail.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - radiator detail.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Music Room August 19 2016.jpg
File:MusicRoomChristmas.jpg
File:LibraryChristmas.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Music Room Chandelier 2017.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Dining Room Overview.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Dining Room.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Dining Room SouthEast Corner April 2017.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Dining Room Corner.jpg
File:DiningRoomWallpaper.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Dining Room NorthWest Corner April 2017.jpg
File:DiningRoom1.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House M.H. Birge Peacock.jpg
File:V3Znb1EI.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Dining Room to Ladies Salon View April 2017.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House Dining Room Window Treatments 2017.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Main Bedroom.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Kitchen1.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Butler's pantry 2.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Butler's pantry 1.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Kitchen 3.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Kitchen2.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Tower Room 2016.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Tower to Hall.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Third Floor Master Fireplace.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - A view up the stairs.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Two story carriage house garage.jpg
File:Conklin Mountain House - Second floor of the carriage house.jpg
References
Sources
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{{National Register of Historic Places in New York
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)
Second Empire architecture in New York (state)
Houses completed in 1886
Houses in Cattaraugus County, New York
National Register of Historic Places in Cattaraugus County, New York
Olean, New York
1886 establishments in New York (state)