Hopkins House Farm - Aunt Betty's room

Room in Salem, New York

  1. 1 king bed
  2. Shared bathroom
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars.9 reviews
Stay with Charlie
  1. 11 years hosting

Listing highlights

Room in a farm stay

Your own room in a home, plus access to shared spaces.

Shared bathroom

You’ll share the bathroom with others.

Shared common spaces

You'll share parts of the home with the Host and other guests.
Aunt Betty's room is our only bedroom located on the first floor. It has its own 1910 marble sink, a closet, and reading lamps on either side of the king size bed. All of our beds include mattress warmers controllable on each side. We serve a continental breakfast. For morning coffee or tea, we have freshly roasted and ground coffee from Kenya and Battenkill Valley cream. If you wish to bring your own brewing method, be our guest. It makes your stay even more like home whenever you awake.

The space
Aunt Betty's room is affectionately named after Betty Ensign, daughter of Grace and Owen, who farmed the nearby fields from 1920-1965. As a room on the first floor, it is ideal for those who have trouble using stairs. It is located just off the dining room and nearby kitchen. One shared bathroom is down the hall with a walk-in shower. The upstairs bathroom has a clawfoot tub/shower. All rooms in the house have their own sink. On the first floor you will find common rooms used by all guests: living room, dining room, kitchen, and playroom. Our screened in porch has a breakfast table, rockers, and a craft table for children. Wi-fi is available to guests. Cell service is adequate on most days.

By design, none of the bedrooms have a TV, but there is one, with the ability to watch movies, in the playroom. No TV reception. We keep the house generally quiet, especially at night. Our guests range in age from infant to the 90s. So there are times when new voices grace our hallways, as they did after the revolution, when the country was still young. For over two centuries this stately farmhouse has been home to six farming families. The original family, David Hopkins and his wife Hannah Parrish Hopkins, built five of the current structures in 1790.

Our dog, Lucy, announces all guests and delivery folks. Our two barn cats, Uno and Katie, patrol the outbuildings, though Katie charms anyone who greets her - the most gentle and cuddly of felines. The fields around our 15-acre property are planted with hay and feed corn. The west pasture is mowed for walking and breathing in fresh country air.

Guest access
All of our farm stay guests are welcome to use the common rooms: living room, dining room, playroom, kitchen, and back porch. We have space in our fridge for storing some perishables and drinks. Freezer space is also available. There are two full bathrooms, which are shared by all guests. The bathroom on the upper floor has a clawfoot tub/shower. The bathroom on the first floor has a tiled walk-in shower with an adjustable shower head. Each bedroom has its own sink.

The fields around our 15-acre property are planted with hay and feed corn. The west pasture has mowed pathways for walking and breathing in fresh country air. Outbuildings are generally "off limits" to guests, but we are happy to take you on a tour of the old structures.

During your stay
We plan our day so we can meet you when you arrive. This way we can show you the common rooms, shared bathrooms, exits, and your room. We usually can accommodate your travel schedule.

Aggy and I live in this house, so we are around to answer your questions and make this a comfortable stay, just like it was your own home. Our kitchen is available for light cooking, tea and coffee. We have two dishwashers: Aggy and me, but you are welcome to wash your own dishes, dry with dish towels, and generally keep the kitchen tidy. Think modern 1930s.

Please let us know if you have any special dietary needs.

Other things to note
This antique 18th century house is welcoming to children of any age (infants to 90+) and our playroom includes toys and games for young people. We also allow guests to bring well behaved dogs.
We strive to keep the house comfortable and peaceful.

Uno and Katie are our barn cats. Both roam the property and work to limit the rodent population. You will hardly get a glimpse of Uno our neutered boy, but you will certainly see Katie, a gentle hunter, who graces the kitchen, porch, and common rooms with her humble but regal presence.

Where you’ll sleep

Bedroom
1 king bed

What this place offers

Kitchen
Wifi
Free parking on premises
Pets allowed
Washer
Unavailable: Lock on bedroom door

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5.0 out of 5 stars from 9 reviews

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 100% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 0% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 0% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Salem, New York, United States

Neighborhood highlights

The farmstead was built by David Hopkins in 1790, after the revolution and the signing of the articles of confederation. George Washington was president of the fledgling nation. The Hopkins family came from Rhode Island with the Wilson family. The Wilson homestead is just half a mile away on Chamberlain Mills Road.

The area has been dedicated to dairy farming, however some farms are converting to meat production, sending grass-fed beef, pork, and lamb to markets in Albany, New York, and Boston. The homestead was last farmed by Owen and Grace Ensign from 1920 to around 1960. It was renovated by Charlie and Aggy Duveen without destroying the simple charm of the house, and it has been run as a farm stay since 2005.

We currently have one gentle donkey, Winonah, who patrols the east and west pastures. Guests are welcome to bring her carrots. Our dog, Lucy, and outdoor cat, Uno, along with forty or so happy, free range hens complete the menagerie.

Meet your host

Host
31 reviews
4.97 out of 5 average rating
11 years of hosting
My work: Navy 8 years - UNISYS 16 years, teacher 20 years, just retired
Speaks English
Lives in New York, United States
Teacher of middle school science and math. I grew up in Brooklyn NY and spent 8 years in the Navy, where I learned quite a bit more than I ever did in college. Worked at Unisys Corp for 16 years and currently running a farmstead in rural up state NY. My wife, Aggy, and I meet lots of folks from around the country, Canada, and some from over seas. As soon as I publish my first block-buster novel, we'll get this old 1790 farmstead in even better shape than it is now.

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within a few hours
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Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Checkout before 2:00 PM
2 guests maximum
Safety & property
Carbon monoxide alarm
Smoke alarm
Some spaces are shared