This $5.5 Million Country Estate in New York Once Served as a Stop on the Underground Railroad

In the rolling hills of Westchester County just north of New York City stand a country estate soaked in American history.

The $5.5 million estate in the tony hamlet of Bedford Hills dates back to the late 18th century. In its early days, it was the country home of New York Governor DeWitt Clinton, who also served as the sixth governor of New York and as a U.S. senator. He was also instrumental in the building of the Erie Canal. During his time there, he engaged in botanical collaborations with David Hosack, a physician to both Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, sir. Later, the property became a stop on the Underground Railroad, offering shelter to those seeking to escape slavery.

More recently, in the 20^th century, the property was the home of actress and writer Gertrude Berg, who starred in the popular radio and TV series The Goldbergs from 1929 to 1956. The 2009 documentary Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg tells the story of Berg’s life, including the time she spent at Buxton Pond Farm, as the property is known. Now on the market for the first time in more than three decades, the listing is held by Krissy Blake at Sotheby’s International Realty—Greenwich Brokerage.

The centerpiece of the estate is a Colonial-style main home with six bedrooms and five baths. The clapboard exterior is done up in an of-the-moment butter-yellow shade. Inside, wideboard pine floors line many of the rooms, and four original fireplaces are found throughout. Outside, the 11 acres of land are planted with heirloom rose beds and rare flora. The gated pool is bordered by a well-manicured lawn and flowers, offering a garden-like oasis.

Among the grounds, several historic structures provide room for work or play. An eight-stall barn includes a one-bedroom private residence for guests or staff. There’s also a greenhouse with an attached office, an antique chicken house, and a detached three-car garage. The restored, circa 1790 schoolhouse on the property is the oldest surviving school in Bedford Hills. And, in a nod to its legacy, the property is also part of the Buxton Pond Farm Center, a nonprofit organization that sends produce to local families in need and offers programming related to botany, herbalism, and permaculture.

Westchester County has been a hot property market as of late, with several notable homes popping up for sale recently. In April, a massive estate built for a Rockefeller was listed for $12 million, and last month, a midcentury-modern glass pavilion carried a price tag of $3 million.

Click here to see all the images of Buxton Pond Farm.