23 River Road, Scottsville, NY 14546

Building Dates:

1905-1906

Transfer of Ownership:

• The original barn on this property was built by John T. Wells, Sr. in 1896.
• That same year, the barn was struck by lightning during the hay harvest and burned.
• A contract for building this second barn was signed on August 31, 1905.
• This barn was raised on November 29th, 1905.
• This barn’s total cost of construction was $747.50.
• The Giles Family built both barns.
• In 1961, Martin Giles, the son of Oscar Giles, sold the farm to Ted Halpin.
• Ted Halpin farmed the land until 1991 when he sold it to Martin Almeter.
• Martin Almeter owned the property from 1991-1998.
• Gillian Conde, the barn’s present owner, purchased the farm in 1998.
• Her search for a barn worthy of converting into her home lasted six years.
• She put a deposit down the day she serendipitously found the barns for sale.
• Gillian Conde moved into the converted larger barn on April 3, 1999.
• Renovations on the second, smaller barn’s lower level were completed during summer, 2022. Plans are in place for converting the smaller barn’s upper level into additional living space.

Interesting Details:

• Martin Giles (nicknamed Roy), Ethel Giles, Marjorie (nicknamed Meg), and Margaret Giles (nicknamed Babe) detailed their younger years spent growing up at “Maple Lawn Farm,” the Giles Homestead, in the pages of a book entitled “Five Kids and a Farm.”

Present Owner & Present Status:

Gillian Conde owns this pair of Wells barns. The main barn has been converted into a residence she shares with Jean Dombroski and their pets. They are in the process of renovating the smaller, second barn. Its lower level has been transformed into a creative space. Renovations are in store for its upper level.