The Waters Edge Lighthouse is the oldest existing building in Glenville, NY. It had been formerly known as The River House, Little Richard's Tavern, and for 105 years before that, it was a farmhouse privately owned by the Seeley Family.
In the early 1700s the land was owned by Johannes Van Epps, later sold to Volney Freeman, the same person who built Freeman's Bridge in 1885. Descendents of the Seeley Family, originally from Germany, have lived at the residence from 1851 - 1956. The Greek revival farmhouse dates from the 30 year period in the 19th century when Schenectady County produced a large portion of the nation's brooms. Broom corn was grown on the Mohawk River flats, cured and made into brooms by the workers who lived on the Seeley farm. Town records show that members of the Seeley family held town of Glenville offices in the years 1898 through 1909.
In 1956 Mr. and Mrs. A. George Murray purchased the Seeley farm, a 22 room house with no indoor plumbing, running water, electricity, or heat. They renovated the house room by room and eventually included Little Richard's Tavern.
Because of its unique architecture for this area, the house was registered in the State Historic Sites Survey and was nominated for the National Register of Historical Places. The house showed elements of Georgian, Federalist and Greek revival architecture. This combination implies that the house was built during a transitional period because it does not follow the Dutch style common here for those times.
And in 2005, the Popolizio Family purchased this historic building and has renovated it once again, The Waters Edge Lighthouse on the Mohawk River. We are so proud and happy that you can share in the excitement of this new restaurant and inn with us and welcome you to dine and enjoy.
