Peachblow Farm c. 1805

This is one of the houses in Volume # 1 of Historic Houses, Churches, and Structures of Warwick Township. It is called Peachblow and was there in 1805. Around 1872, Henry Pelton wrote an article of what he remembered in Warwick when he first came here in 1805 as a young teenager. He pointed out this house as one he remembered. Later, in 1933, Mrs. Elizabeth VanDuzer created a map from his article. I doubt if the house looked anything like the current photograph. But there was a structure there and it was owned by Samuel Denton, Sr. In 1945, when I was born, my parents were renting the right side of the house, it having been converted into a two-family apartment. My first five years were spent living there and I do remember bits and pieces of that.
I have written a history of this house and it can be found at the Albert Wisner Library in Warwick, New York. It is an historical article with the proper citations. What follows is a brief history based on that article.
The Denton family is of English decent. Nathaniel Denton was born 9 Mar 1628/29 in Turton, Bolton Priory, Lancastershire, England and died on 18 Oct 1690 in Jamaica, New York. Going down about five generations, we run into Samuel Denton, born 13 July 1754. This was probably the Samuel Denton, Sr. who was there in 1805. Of special interest is the marriage of his sister Elizebeth to John Mapes. The Mapes family owned the property after the Dentons. Samuel Denton married Julian Roe in 1784 the couple went on the have eleven children: Samuel, Issac, Susanna, Nathiel Roe, Sarah, William, Abigal, Elizabeth, Amelia, Samuel, and Susanna. Without doing a title search on this property, it seems logical that Samuel Denton, Sr., owned the property in 1805 and that upon his death in 1828, his son Samuel took ownership. Upon Samuel Denton death in 1874, the property passed to the Mapes family. In 1898, George W. Sanford owned the property and for a period of time a Mrs. Vail ran a boading house during the season. Around 1922 Effie Buchanan bought the house and barn. At some point the house and barn (no longer there), got separated from the rest of the farm property. I think Herman Berger may have owned the farm property at some point in here. When I was growing up in New Milford the farm part was owned by Peter Wilhelm. In 1939, Harry Vail, Sr., bought the house and barn from Effie Buchanan. It was probably Mr. Vail who converted the barn into three apartments. When I was there in the late 40's there were three families living there.
Very few of the old houses in Warwick have anything approaching an historical account. A history has to be created from from whatever sources one can find. This from the Warwick Advertiser of August 29, 1889:

Last Saturday morning was a bright one, and all the inhabitants from "Peach Blow Farm," the home of our townsman, A.J. Mapes - a place dear to the memory of our people by reason of the luscious fruit it bears, and to many city people who annually rest 'neath its inviting roof, and gain health in its refreshing shades - were moved with the idea and promise of a grand family picnic. Of course the inviting shores of Wawayanda lake, with the delighful road by which it was reached, was the objective point on which most of them would readily fix for an ideal outing of this kind.
Those who had been there before knew what to expect, and were prepared to say "I told you so," on hearing the exclamations of delight from those who saw it that day for the first time. The wild and romantic waters elicited admiration from those who only dined upon its banks as well as from those who fished in its depths or rowed over its calm bosom; and as evening came on much of the graditude of the day of inspiration was turned to words of thankfulness to the good-natured host and his family for providing so much pleasure.
As the party returned it came through this village, and did not fail to draw considerable attention. First there was a "straw load" drawn by the reliable farm team, well crowded and punctuating their way along by frequents toots on tin horns, next was a livery rig and two teams with carriages followed.
Among the party were Mr. and Mrs. J. McKeever and Master Archer; Mr. and Mrs. J. Link and Misses Mabel and Lela; and Mrs. F. Crowell and Misses Marion and Ethel; Miss Hattie Murphy, Miss Tessie Manly, all of New York; Mr. and Mrs. J. Priddy and Master Winfred of Brooklyn; Miss Lena Mapes of Chester; Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Mapes and Misses Jennie, Mabel and Gertie and Master Andrew Mapes of Peach Blow farm.

From this article it appears that A.J. Mapes owned the farm and was raising fruit, probably peaches. It also appears that the family took in boarders during the season to add to their income. Be aware that the New Milford Station was a short walking distance from this house. At this time there were probably passenger trains running from NYC to New Milford. I would guess that the Mapes family was also running a dairy business in addition to what was mentioned in the article.
When I was living there in the late 40's, the bathroom had no running water. The water supply to the kitchen consisted of a pump. Bath time was in a tub with hot water being heated on the stove.