Does anyone know the location of George Allen's "Chanticleer Farm?"

[OT Dean]

This evening I was happily paging through my newly restored 1953 Model Railroader bound volume and came across the very inspirational Episode 7 of George Allen's great series, "Tuxedo Junction -- the saga of an HO empire."  This was the segment that told of George and his wife, Caroline, buying a 6-acre estate they named "Chanticleer Farm."  The main house was built in 1725 and George described the property: "First you see a white water tower, then a barn, then another, then another..."  He and his friend, Ernie Huebner, installed George's HO model railroad, the Tuxedo Junction, in one of the big barns--and I'm sure hundreds of model railroaders started drooling as they read the story!

I have the feeling it was in White Plains, NY, but it will take further reading of my bound volumes when I get them back from the Old World craftsman who is rebinding these 60 to 70-year-old beauties.  They're a major part of what I call "My Paper Time Machine" and I'd lie to see if Chanticleer Farm still survives--if I can find it on Google Maps.  (Pardon me while I go get a towel; reading that article always gets to me.)  Does anyone know just where it was?

Deano

[ndbprr]

It was certainly in that area.  Amazing how the hobby has changed since then. Don't know if the town is correct but it was in the New York city area

 

[dknelson]

Deano, you are right that George Allen's description of the farm was vivid and precise - I recall an MR reader mentioning that he was driving around in his own neighborhood, crested a hill and suddenly saw exactly what George Allen had described.  And sure enough it was the right house and he became acquainted.  Of course the article in question (April 1953) did mention that it was in Westchester County.

Fortunately George Allen was not only a prolific author for MR but a prolific writer of letters to the editor in Railway Postoffice, back when they would publish street addresses for letters (you could even learn John Allen's street address because he too would write letters to the editor -- maybe that is why they stopped doing that).  Anyway George Allen's letter to RPO in the July 1953 issue says he was in White Plains NY.  His letter in the Januay 1956 issue says it was from 333 Old Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY.

I assume this helps.

Dave Nelson

[rrinker]

 If that's the address, sad to say there's no longer a farm there, just some businesses and a few housing developments around it. 

                                  --Randy

 

[mbinsewi]

I just had to look, Randy is right, buildings as big as a barn, but appears to be housing and a business.

Check it out yourself.

There is a chance that the county has a GIS site on their web site, that MIGHT show past aerial images, or a local historical society might have info.

Mike.

[OT Dean]

rrinker

 If that's the address, sad to say there's no longer a farm there, just some businesses and a few housing developments around it. 

                                  --Randy

 

 

Randy (and Mike), that's about what I figured.  "Nature abhors a vacuum," is true and apparently, "The real estate business abhors large plots of land with nice old buildings.  This must be leveled and divided into smaller, expensive plots!"  I recently discovered the elementary and hih school buildings of my youth have vanished off the map, as has the Freshman-Sophomore building of the school from which I graduated (my classmates and I were the first to graduate from the newest building we moved into for our Senior year).  Oddly enough, both the homes I lived in while growing up are still there!  (The plots must be too small to raze and replace 'em!)

Thanks for the help.  BTW, I did find the letter from the guy who lived in White Plains who spotted the water tower.  Happy modeling, all.

Deano