Buildings of Eastfield Village — Historic Eastfield

Our Buildings

The buildings at Eastfield were constructed in their original locations between the years 1787 and 1840. Each of the buildings was transported to what became Eastfield by Don Carpentier, often supported by various groups of volunteers. Piece by piece, each structure was rebuilt, repaired and restored using building techniques, architectural motifs, décor and furnishings specific to the time the structures were built. The numbering below corresponds to the diagram at the end of this section.

The William Briggs Tavern (1)

Originally constructed in 1793, has 13 rooms, including a second story ball room with a vaulted ceiling. It is a lovely example of the architectural details of the time, including a pair of matched palladium windows in a 72-foot façade. The Tavern began its varied history in Hoosick, NY and was moved to Eastfield in 1984.

Brown’s General Store (2)

Built in Minaville, NY just a few miles from Amsterdam, NY. A brick wing was added to the original structure in 1815, and the store was tended by five generations of Browns. It also doubled as a local post office, before being moved to Eastfield and reconstructed there between 1991 and 1994. Its extraordinary 20 over 15 pane windows are more than five feet wide and eight feet tall.

The First Universalist Church of Duanesburg (3)

Moved to Eastfield in 1982, and obtained for a bargain price of 1,000 dollars, not including a little extra for the belfry. Construction began by William Kellog in the town of Braman’s Corners, NY in 1836, was completed in 1838, and the church remained in use until the 1880’s.

The John Brooks House - 1790 (6)

Was originally on an ell on the Inn in Schodack, NY not far from where it stands now. The building was slated for demolition to make way for I-90 and Don dismantled it mere days ahead of the bulldozers.

The Blacksmith Shop (7)

This building (circa 1849) started out in South Schodack, NY. It was being used as a farm shop and chicken coop when it was offered to Don in 1971. It was the very first building dismantled and moved to Eastfield.

The (Old) Yellow Tavern (8)

The Tavern was one of Don Carpentier’s first building projects. It is composed of old building parts and made to look similar to the van der Heyden House in Troy, NY.

Armstrong’s Doctor’s Office (9)

Another building from Hoosick, NY, it was originally built for Prosper M. Armstrong, MD in 1834. This particular structure was moved no less than six times in the Town of Hoosick before arriving at Eastfield. It has been restored with details from 1857, including a vaulted ceiling.

The Cabinet Maker’s Shop (10)

A 1980 reconstruction of a typical wood shop fashioned after one that still exists in Lebanon Springs, NY. It contains a wonderful collection of woodworking tools.

The Clapper Tinsmith’s Shop (11)

This building originally stood in West Sand Lake, NY. Built in 1820, it remained in use as a tin shop for 150 years. Don managed to save it just 2 days before it was slated for demolition.

The Print Shop (circa 1845) (12)

From Stuyvesant, NY was moved to Eastfield in 1976. From the 1890’s to the early 20th century, it was the shop of the Columbia County Agency for the Celebrated Crawford. The remains of a large scale sign painted across the front of the building advertising its use still can be seen.

The Shoemaker’s Shop (13)

Built in 1840 belonged to Tunis van der Zee of West Lake, NY. It was moved to Eastfield in 1977.

The Benjamin Culver House -1789 (15)

This house was part of the glass factory at Glass Lake, NY. It was moved to Eastfield in the early 1970’s.