For Sale
126 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville, NY 13066
7 Bedrooms | 4 Baths | 4,370 Sq. Ft. | 2 Car Garage | .47 Acre Lot
Like a London townhouse - the historic Beard Morgan House sits prominently on the main street of the historic Village of Fayetteville, NY. One of the earliest in the area, the house was built on a long swath of land, lined by trees to the southwest, and extending from street to street - affording enviable back-yard privacy. The prime in town location means a short walk to a vibrant array of restaurants, coffee shops, and stores, as well as Erie Canal hiking, biking and fishing.
The original ‘The Beard-Morgan House’, was built in 1830 by Adna Treat, one of Fayetteville's earliest mill owners. The house was purchased by Beach Beard in 1854 for his son, a paper mill owner and village President for two terms. Under Henry L. Beard’s oversight, the size of the house tripled. He added another parlor, two more bedrooms and servant's quarters. The stately manor currently boasts 12 rooms, 7 bedrooms and 4 full baths. The house remained in the Beard family until 1988.
A spectacular example of Italianate architecture, the house blends history with contemporary comfort. The original family spared no expense in lavishing abundant architectural detailing, wide plank flooring, high ceilings, large rooms, beautiful light fixtures, brass window locks, and curved walls in four of the major rooms.” Exterior and interior walls are unusually wide, blocking sound between the rooms, and the home’s stone foundation on the west side is FOUR FEET THICK. (Buckingham Palace sits smoking nervously in the corner.)
The current owners, world class artists and designers, Victoria Bingham and Andre Kouznetsov, have embellished houses owned by Tom Sullivan, Alfred Lord and Pasqueline Steiner. They have painstakingly restored and enhanced their own property, leaving no stone unturned, no old appliance left behind – no unique idea unsatisfied. Artists at the height of their profession, the pair poured heart and soul into the home, intending to make it what it ultimately became - totally one of a kind.
Their style means beautifully coordinated color throughout, furniture & window fabrics, acting as foils to the walls, and gallery quality art, plus 2 murals, to boot. No square inch of the walls, floors, or ceilings were left undressed. Beauty, as they like to say, is its own perennial reward. Currently operating as an extremely successful B&B, The Iron Lion Inn, guests come from all over the world. Some tell us, their local friends say they MUST stay here!
INTERVIEW WITH OWNER
When asked what they love most about their home, the owners found it difficult to sum up in only a few brief sentences. In regards to the renovations, they replied:
“We love this house from head to toe. Just this weekend a B&B guest said.. “Everywhere I look there’s something beautiful to look at”. We totally agree. It’s new every morning.
What else!? We love the Italian Plaster Damask walls, moonlight from the Skylight, the secret loft over the Crow’s Nest Bedroom, the innumerable solid wood paneled doors. We love sipping Chicory tea on the back porch viewing the flowering trees; lounging on overstuffed chairs in the dining room by the sconce lights – while unwinding with a glass of Montrachet, and a good book.”
“And we LOVE entertaining here.. When someone who knows how - plays ‘A Walk in Black Forest’ on the baby blue piano, we gather in the living room smiling till our faces hurt, and giggling till the crows fly home.’”
“The very popular B&B has brought a wealth of interesting people from all over the world. A NYC dance troupe stayed for 2 weeks one time, to do a local show. They played the piano EVERY NIGHT. On their last day we sang the ‘cup of kindness’ song- ‘auld lang syne’ all together in the middle of summertime, with a full moon in the skylight window.“
“We LOVE the kitchen, and hang out there daily. When a group of SU students held their New Year’s Eve fete’ here, they cooked a meal there, and TOASTED the kitchen! (People fall in love with the kitchen.)”
Someone will buy the house because it’s gorgeous. Someone will realize it’s the only house of its kind anywhere. Someone will envision their family gathered around the Baby Blue Grand Piano, or reveling in volleyball tournaments in the lowest yard. It won’t take much foresight to imagine years filled with comfort, fun, and pride.
Then with a stately downstairs featuring 2 Offices, and multiple entries, there’s the prospect of a professional who envisions their doctor’s office sign prominently displayed sign on the busiest residential street in one of the toniest towns of Onondaga County.
There’s no limit to what can be done with the 12 rooms on ½ acre on the main drag of the gorgeous hamlet of Fayetteville New York. This is a house to cherish and make forever memories in.
WE will never forget it.”
Erie Canal Hiking and Biking Trails- just a few short blocks away
Wegmans Grocery Store- 5 minutes
Fishing- 3 minute walk to Limestone Creek
Green Lakes State Park- 17 minute drive
Syracuse University- 10 minute drive
Area Hospitals- 10 minute drive or less
Hancock International Airport- 11 minute drive
Ski resorts- 5 minutes to 40 minutes.
Destiny USA- 10 minute drive
Salmon River fishing expeditions are 40 minutes away.
Ithaca College, Cornell University and the Fingerlakes Region inside of 45 minutes