Odell Farmhouse: Bethel, NY

About The Property

What a treat to explore the house and grounds of this storied 1800s farmhouse, which has been lovingly maintained and enjoyed by the same family for 43 years. Originally owned by the eponymous Brown family (Browntown Rd) who were large landowners, until the current owners purchased the property in 1979, this was the notable property of the area. As the story goes, a sawmill was placed on the front lawn and the entire building was built from hemlock from the woods in the western part of the property. At one point a portion of the house was dedicated for use as the post office serving the hamlet of “Odell”.

Today Odell Farmhouse remains a special and welcoming place both inside the spacious home and throughout the expansive grounds. The rooms are generous with high ceilings, and feature two front parlors or sitting rooms with sets of French doors that open onto the covered rocking chair porch. They are separated by a central hall with staircase. The kitchen and dining room are open to one another, the latter with a door to a pretty side porch and half moon stone patio overlooking gardens, a wide swath of lawn, and a gazebo the current owner purchased and saved from eventual dilapidation after spotting it on a country drive years ago.

There is a large entry area at the side of the house which includes a cast iron wood stove, and off that room is a powder room with laundry as well.

There are four generously proportioned bedrooms with closets off the wide hall upstairs, and there is a full bathroom with tub/shower.

Now to what we in the trade call “bonus spaces”. That door in the bathroom leads to 3 additional rooms. The first two are above the entry hall. While it is not heated, the space below is. The third room is very rustic and is a “workshop” with electric but no heat, and there is a similar space below it, that functions as a “shed” for outdoor furniture storage, garden equipment, etc. For those looking to add another bathroom, there may be interesting options using those first two rooms.

The outdoor spaces surrounding the house are a dream. Huge mature maples are one of my favorite status symbols at a country property. You cannot buy the glory of wonderful old trees, or decades-old stands of lilacs, apple and pear trees. There are several barns/outbuildings that have not seen too much use in recent years.

Heading down from the side field and stepping into the woods, a large hidden pond comes into view. The now grown children of the owners used to swim happily in the pond, and they had a small boat as well. It’s become a bit overgrown and cattails have encroached, but a new owner would do well to reclaim and enhance this picturesque spot.

The sellers purchased a large adjacent meadow with forest during their ownership which added 33 acres bringing the new total to 67. Conveniently it borders Hans Fischer Rd. adding access options.

There is a lot of farming in this area, which brings a satisfying sense of the annual cycles of planting and harvesting and this wonderful property still feels an important part of that history. It is rural and yet an easy 15 minutes to all those amenities and activities in Callicoon and Narrowsburg that make for such a vibrant community.

Listing Broker: Jennifer Grimes