House article f15
by beth S. Buxbaum
While having the charm and history of a traditional Bucks County fieldstone farmhouse, Black Horse Farm's upgrades elevate it to function as a 21st century home. Both structural and system renovations have taken place over the last 16 years. Most notable is the 2008 conversion to renewable energy from solar panels and wind turbine. In addition, a geothermal heating and cooling system was installed with 4 zones of high efficiency. This property has been brought into the next century with an eye to environmental sustainability, efficiency and conservation. With skill and vision, it has been preserved to provide many more years of country living.
Originally built circa 1851, the house was constructed on land deeded in 1845 to Samuel and Elizabeth Hager. The homestead is actually in the tiny town of Hagersville and Samuel Hager is buried in the local cemetery. Little is known about the earliest inhabitants, but what is evident is how the dwelling was transformed and expanded during its 164 years. Records indicate that there was an addition of a new kitchen and second bedroom in 1930. After that very few architectural changes were made until 1993, when Chris and Betsy bought the property. As its newest caretakers, they continued with the transformation, embellishing and enlarging the structure. From a modest four-room stone house, Black Horse Farm is now a sprawling two-story 4000 plus square-foot country estate.
With the ambiance and authenticity of a centuries-old homestead, this country estate is punctuated with many modern amenities. Adding to the stature and grace of the main house is a landscape overflowing with historic significance and natural beauty. A stroll around the property reveals a wide expanse of rolling hills, with a lush landscape offering a spring-fed pond with a dock, an in-ground pool overlooking the pastures, approximately 15 to 20 acres of five fenced pastures, a fenced garden area with raised beds and a nearby orchard with apple, pear and peach trees. Several impeccably maintained outbuildings make up the homestead's exterior footprint. Intertwined throughout the landscape is a stone bank barn with six horse stalls, a state-of-the-art, five-bay stone agricultural building, a renovated spring house, a stone structure presently functioning as a gym, a run-in shed and a detached two-car garage.
To finish reading about Black Horse Farm, go to page 60 in our Fall issue of Bucks County Magazine.