The Jethro Wood House is a historic house on Poplar Ridge Road, in a rural area west of the hamlet of
Poplar Ridge in the town of
Ledyard, New York
Ledyard is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,654 at the 2020 census. The name of the town is from General Benjamin Ledyard, an early settler of the town. Ledyard is on the western edge of the county and is south ...
. Built by 1800, it was the home of inventor
Jethro Wood
Jethro Wood (March 16, 1774 – 1834) was the inventor of a cast-iron moldboard plow with replaceable parts, the first commercially successful iron moldboard plow. His invention accelerated the development of American agriculture in the ante ...
(1774-1834), whose 1819 invention of an iron
moldboard plow
A plough or plow ( US; both ) is a farm tool for loosening or turning the soil before sowing seed or planting. Ploughs were traditionally drawn by oxen and horses, but in modern farms are drawn by tractors. A plough may have a wooden, iron or ...
revolutionized American agriculture. The house was declared a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
in 1964.
[ and ] It is a private residence, and is not normally open to the public.
Description and history
The Jethro Wood House is located on the south side of Poplar Ridge Road, west of the village center of
Poplar Ridge in
Ledyard, New York
Ledyard is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,654 at the 2020 census. The name of the town is from General Benjamin Ledyard, an early settler of the town. Ledyard is on the western edge of the county and is south ...
. It is a large -story wood-frame structure, with a gabled roof and clapboarded exterior. It has a five-bay front facade, with sash windows arranged symmetrically around the main entrance. The entrance is sheltered by a gable-roof portico supported by metal fixtures, and is framed by sidelight and transom windows.
The house was purchased about 1800 by
Jethro Wood
Jethro Wood (March 16, 1774 – 1834) was the inventor of a cast-iron moldboard plow with replaceable parts, the first commercially successful iron moldboard plow. His invention accelerated the development of American agriculture in the ante ...
, who grew up in
Washington County, New York
Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 61,302. The county seat is Fort Edward. The county was named for U.S. President George Washington.
Washington County is part of the Glen ...
and engaged in farming when he moved here. In 1814 he was granted the first patent for a cast-iron plow with replaceable parts, improving on extant single-piece plows. This first effort was not a commercial success, but in 1819 he was awarded a second patent which was. His improvements made it possible for farmers to more rapidly prepare land for planting, enabling them to work more land.
Jethro Wood was also the area's first postmaster. His wife, Sylvia Howland, was the aunt of
Emily Howland
Emily Howland (November 20, 1827 – June 29, 1929) was a philanthropist and educator. Especially known for her activities and interest in the education of African-Americans, she was also a strong supporter of women's rights and the temperan ...
, an active
abolitionist
Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people.
The British ...
,
philanthropist, and educator. He spent his earnings fighting patent infringements. When he died in 1834, his children tried in vain to carry on his efforts at obtaining a renewed patent.
Current owners Thomas Hoppel and his partner extensively renovated in 2020 both inside and out and have added a porch to resemble a previous addition in the back of the house.
Gallery
Image:JethroWoodHouse.jpg, Front of Jethro Wood House
File:Jethro Wood House, National Historic Landmark plaque.jpg, Jethro Wood House, National Historic Landmark plaque
See also
*
List of National Historic Landmarks in New York
*
References
External links
The Cast Iron Plough
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wood, Jethro, House
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)
National Historic Landmarks in New York (state)
Houses in Cayuga County, New York
National Register of Historic Places in Cayuga County, New York