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Many people ask how a house full of Carrington's came to be called the Merrill Magee House. In 1981, the Carrington's purchased the remainder of Grace Merrill Magee's estate (house, pool & gardens) and converted what had always been a private home into a traditional country inn.
Grace was the longest resident of the house and the last of her distinguished line. She lived to be 91 and like her mother she was devoted to maintaining the house and grounds as her grandfather Stephen Griffin II had left them.
Stephen Griffin II (1812 - 1893) was a prominent lumberman and owned extensive mill properties and timber lands. In 1880 he built a tannery in Hamilton County near the town of Wells. A town grew up around the mill - now a ghost town - it was namd Griffin. There is a bool called "Griffin Ghost Town of the Adirondacks" by N. Girard who tells what it was like to grow up there.
In 1875 he was a member of the state legislature and twice held office of town supervisor. "During his active life he did as much for Warrensburgh as any man who ever lived there, giving employment to many and never turning away an appeal."
Stephen Griffin II was named for his grandfather Stephen Griffin I. Stephen Griffin I was born Jan 22, 1754 and died March 1, 1841. As a young man he served in the Army of the Revolution with the rank of Ensign. In the winter of 1780 he was stationed at Valley Forge. What must have been a welcome change came on May 29th when his brigade was ordered to proceed to Albany. They were then ordered to march to West Point at once. There in September, Stephen was an actor in one fo the most dramatic episodes of the Revolution, the treason of Benedict Arnold and the capture and execution of Major Andre. His part was to guard Joshua Smith, the man who made possible the secret meeting between Arnold and Andre. The following excerpt from Stephen's journal is an exact copy and the language and spelling are his...
Munday Camp Orange town Septr 25 1780
this evening the whole of the armey was under arms about 12 oClock at Night
and Everything in Readeness to March at a Moments Warning Genl Wain (Wayne)
Marched with his Brigade and all the Pennsylvania troops and we was informed
that Genl Arnold had sold West Point and all the Stores and that our People
had taken the Adit Gen'l (Andre) of the British armey as a spie and Gen'l
Arnold hearing of the Maid his escape to New York as he had sold the fort
for three Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling...
Munday Camp Octr 2 1780 Orange town this day at 12 o'clock the Adj't
Gen'l was hanged there was two battalions attended his Execution as well
as a great Number of Spectators...
Stephen Griffin I's journal was recovered and restored by Mary Griffin Merrill (Grace's Mother). She donated the original document to the Col. Strong Museum in Vergennes, VT. We are fortunate enough to have a copy of a book written about this distinguished family that contains a transcript of Stephen I's journal.
Because the history of this house and its occupants is so much a part of the history of our country and the town we have made every effort to maintain the house, as it had been in the past, for your enjoyment. We take great pride in having the house on the National Register of Historic Places.
As you look around you can see how the house grew as the family grew and prospered. When Stephen Griffin II purchased the property in 1839 there was a small existing house. The portion is now the tavern and lounge, later in the 1850's he added the Greek Revival front and still later in the 1920's Grace added the back section where we have a large dining room. That is the oldest part of the house dating to 1812 but was brought here from an earlier homestead several miles away. It was used as a summer kitchen and wood shed till we converted it for dining. Grace was also responsible for adding the swimming pool in 1928. This pool is reported to be the oldest private pool in New York although we have not been able to document that yet.
In the spring of 2006, a partnership of two families were formed and purchased the Merrill Magee House from Pam Carrington Converse. Brothers - John Brown and Chris Brown, teamed with brother & sister - Stuart Smith & Connie Smith Maxam and have transformed the tavern, parlor and reception area's into a large tavern and lounge. You will find a warm welcome with crackling fireplaces and a friendly, helpful staff to greet you.
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