Odell Farmhouse: Bethel, NY

About The Property

It’s hard to pick a favorite moment at Odell Farmhouse - this historic property oozes warmth and understated elegance out of every corner. The current owners are only the third stewards of the home since it was built in 1860. The original builders, the Brown family who lend their name to Browntown Road, erected a sawmill on the property and constructed the house from hemlock harvested from the property itself. Besides being a notable farm in the area for generations, the home also once served as the post office for the since-defunct hamlet of Odell.

You can still feel the echoes of all this history inside the walls of Odell Farmhouse. The wide plank floors and original woodwork reflect a legacy of loving care. The house has a pleasant and natural flow, with generously sized rooms, high ceilings, and an abundance of natural light.

A spacious informal entryway is anchored by a large cast iron stove and a delightfully surprising wood fired oven perfect for pizza nights and bread baking and features a convenient powder room with laundry. From here, the kitchen, with modern appliances and a vintage feel, opens into a cozy sitting area, so the cook needn’t lack for company. At the front of the house, the dining room and parlor are both anchored by french doors that open onto the recently refreshed rocking chair porch and offer lovely views of the surrounding grounds. A formal front entry and staircase reflect genteel elegance in the their original details.

Upstairs are four very spacious bedrooms, each with closet and generous windows framing the idyllic landscape. The full bathroom on this floor leads to a hidden alcove with three additional rooms. Two are insulated spaces over the main house, currently used as a playroom. The third is a rustic workshop area, unheated but with electricity, that connects to a similar space below. The lower level functions as garden shed and also houses the bulk of the wood oven mentioned earlier.

Outside you’ll find two covered porches overlooking mature trees and gardens, including maples, apples, pears, and lilacs. A stone patio extends your outdoor living space and overlooks the charming gazebo, perfect for rainy day meditations or perhaps an ad hoc greenhouse. Several additional outbuildings remain as a nod to the property’s previous life as a working farm. There’s opportunity here for folks with some vision.

Past the back fields is a hidden pond, previously enthusiastically used as a private swimming hole. The surrounding nature has grown lush upon the banks, but a little landscaping and attention could bring it back to its former glory.

Don’t let the rural setting fool you - Odell Farmhouse still sits close to an abundance of local attractions. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is just six minutes away, and features world class musical acts, bustling makers markets and seasonal attractions year round on the site of the original Woodstock Festival. The charming river hamlets of Narrowsburg and Callicoon are both just fifteen minutes away and offer farmer’s markets, excellent shopping, and enticing cultural events that run the gamut from the Deepwater Literary Festival to the annual Tractor Parade. Be sure to check out local favorites The Heron and Black Walnut when you’re in the mood to dine out. And make a night of it with a film at Callicoon Theater and a few frames at the newly reopened bowling alley.