Durfee House

The Durfee House is a historic building that now serves as student housing for Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. It was originally built downtown as a land speculator's office during the nascence of European takeover of Native American territory in the region. Dated to 1787,[1] it is the oldest known extant structure in Geneva and the surrounding area; however, the building was moved to its present location at 639 South Main Street in 1838 and expanded at least once in its history, in the late 1790s and/or in the 1840s.[2] This hinders its historical landmark eligibility,[3] despite the fact that it is considered to be one of the oldest extant frame buildings west of Rome, New York.[4][2] Owned by Hobart College since 1840, the building is named for mathematician and dean William Pitt Durfee.

The Durfee House from across Route 14, with Seneca Lake in the background.