The Sablewood
a rich history
Set in the immersive landscape of the northern Catskill Mountains, The Sablewood is home to a rich and vibrant history. We invite you to read on and discover the many stories it has to tell.
A Region Steeped in History
The picturesque Schoharie Valley situated in the northern Catskill Mountains is known for its rich farmland on the valley floor surrounded by gorgeous mountain views. The first European settlers from Palatine, Germany chose this valley because the breathtaking beauty reminded them of their homeland. [Photo: By CJH Photography]
01
An Agrarian Heritage: Deep Roots Build Strong Foundations
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The Schoharie Valley is known as âThe Breadbasket of the American Revolution,â and played a significant role in the formation of the United States. The agricultural output of the region including wheat, corn, and vegetable crops fed much of George Washingtonâs Continental Army during the war. [Oil on Canvas: AUG.COUDER 1836]
The Burning of the Valley
Because of this key role, the valley was subject to a series of raids by the combined forces of the British, loyalists, and natives who sought to burn fields of crops in an effort to cut off the food supply to Washingtonâs troops. The âBurning of the Valleyâ led by Joseph Brandt and Andrew Chrysler in October 1780 stormed directly through Highview Springs Farm destroying crops and buildings along the way. [Photo: Janice Barchat]
03
The Sablewood is Born
The Sablewood was originally built as a multi-functional barn for cows and horses with abundant hayloft storage upstairs. Local craftsman hand hewed the massive native timber of the valley to create the impressive barn beams, several of which measure 40' in length. The earliest recorded deeds show the farm was owned by the Schaeffer family who we believe were the original builders based on initials marked on the beams.
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English Style Post & Beam
English style barns feature a main entrance that is along the long side of the barn. Our âgrand entranceâ is the original entrance in the center of the barn. There are three main bays which used to have a floor above to store hay. The original hayloft ladders still exist in the main barn flanking the chandelier, and the original hay trolley track is still intact on the ceiling near the peak of the barn. [Illustration & Reference: About Barns by Ann Gourlay Gabler and Mirko Gabler]
05
An Equestrian CenterâŚ
Beginning in the 1960s the farm was converted into a Morgan horse farm. The Grand Room of The Sablewood was used as a riding area and the addition known as âThe Stablesâ was added to create a long line of stalls for the horses. The famous Morgan stallion Tutor lived on the farm for several years and sired many foals. The current bathrooms maintain the character of the original horse stalls. [Photo: The Morgan Horse, April 1964]
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âŚand Home to Local Theater
In 1975 The Sablewood took on an additional function when the Every Man Theater Group, founded by local Hollywood movie star John McGiver (famous for his role in Breakfast at Tiffanyâs among others), put on a production of the Hudson Valley based play Rip Van Winkle, directed by Regina Betts. [Photo: Tommy Lee Walker]
07
A Bright Future
Forty years later The Sablewood had fallen into disrepair and was then sold. After a multi-year tremendous family effort to restore it, The Sablewood opened for functions in 2018. Visiting the barn is an unforgettable experience, and our hope is for many people to enjoy this piece of history while celebrating special occasions with family & friends, brimming with happiness and love. [Photo: Danni Laraia]
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A New Addition
In 2021, our little white carriage barn underwent a grand rebuilding into a magnificent space for Ceremonies and Cocktail Receptions. We designed this barn ourselves and were devastated when our builder cancelled their contract 3 days before construction was set to begin. We are blessed that our extremely generous and overly ambitious Dad, Charlie, took the reins and worked tirelessly throughout the year performing the majority of the construction. With limited help, Charlie built the 18 massive scissor trusses that support the vaulted ceiling in addition to the site work, framing, plumbing, electrical, finish details, and interior lighting. We affectionately named the new white barn âThe Charlingtonâ in his honor.
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Whatâs in a name?
The Sablewood is named for its rich black (sable) wooden siding and is the only barn in our upstate NY area that has been black for well over 50 years.
When the farm was sold in 1961 the new owner purchased it with aspirations of converting it into a grand equestrian facility. During his travels to Kentucky, he admired the tobacco barns which were painted black to raise the heat inside to help cure the tobacco. Over time, more and more Kentucky barns were painted black as a fashion statement, and this new owner brought this âbit of fashionâ home to NY.
Although the barn has been known for its black color since the 1960s countless people have inquired about The Sablewoodâs color throughout our restoration project. Typical barns are red, gray, brown, or white â but almost never black.
We love that The Sablewoodâs black color has always been unique. Its timeless elegance allows the beauty of our natural surroundings to shine, and its neutral palette highlights any colors our couples choose to design their event with. With that, the tradition of the fashionable âsableâ color is here to stay.
Traditional Schoharie Attractions
Schoharie is an easy commute for visitors from downstate and the Capital district. The area has always been a destination for the local farms stands and orchards as well as and historic tours. A growing tourist industry attracts visitors for year-round recreation.
Visitors come to Howe Caverns, Secret Caverns, The Old Stone Fort, and the Iroquois Indian Museum. The Old Covered Bridge in Blenheim was the longest single span covered bridge that was unfortunately destroyed by flooding from Hurricane Irene in August 2011. It has now been rebuilt and reopened for visitors.
Enjoy Miles of Hiking trails including Vroman's Nose, which is a local âmust see,â as well as kayaking down the Schoharie Creek, golfing or mini golf at Gobblerâs Knob.
Visitors enjoy a variety of shopping for antiques and gifts including some wonderful local favorites like the Carrot Barn and Apple Barrel Country Store & CafĂŠ, as well as touring a variety of local eateries, breweries, distilleries, and vineyards. Beekman 1802 Farm & Mercantile is a brief trip away.
Discover more about our piece of paradise here in Schoharie by visiting:
