History of the Estate

Please allow me to provide you with the family tree of this magnificent Queen Anne Victorian!! Back in 1884, Sir John Irving "Pegleg" Johnson recieved this 17 acre estate from his father, Sir William Johnson as a wedding present. Sir Pegleg and his lovely bride, Lady Emma resided in the village of Palmyra on Washington Street while their Queen Anne home was being built. During this time, Sir Pegleg expanded his entrepenuerial skills and began a tree nursery business called "Brookside Nursery". He cultivated small fruit trees and berries, and his tree stock was sold to the leading companies all across our fine country. Some time around 1885 the future home of Talulah's Tea Room was completed and Sir Pegleg and his wife (Lady Emma Hanna) moved in.

John Irving "Pegleg" Johnson 1852-1923

Mary Mosher Johnson

They were very happy here, but unfortunately, Lady Emma passed away suddenly in the year of 1891. In 1892, Sir Pegleg went on to remarry Lady Mary Mosher, who was a local widow of a respectable doctor. They continued to live in this magnificent home with Lady Mary's daughter, Lady Carrie. Lady Carrie lived at Brookside until she herself was married in 1902. Sir George Hanna, a brother of Sir Pegleg's first wife, also was a guest and lived at the Brookside home. There is no doubt that he helped with the growing nursery business.

The Dining Room

1884 advertisement for Brookside Nursery in the Palmyra Courier

Postcard of Mary Mosher sitting on the side steps

Sadly, Lady Mary passed on in 1917, and Sir Pegleg was no longer able to run the nursery on his own. He moved into the village of Palmyra into the home of his late Lady Mary's son, Sir George and his daughter, Lady Mabel. Soon after, Sir Pegleg sold the Brookside home to Lady Mabel, who by relation, was a step-granddaughter to Sir Pegleg. Once again - the family was at home at Brookside together. The honorable Sir Pegleg died in 1923 at the age of 70. The local newspaper states that his viewing was held in this very home. And on rare occasions, some lucky guests at Talulah's Tea Room have had the opportunity to meet him, when Sir Pegleg has decided to visit.

As time went on, Lady Mabel Mosher married Sir Harry Armstrong. He moved into the home along with Sir Harry's father, Sir William, and his brother Sir Frank, and Lady Mabel's father, Sir George Mosher. It was quite the extended family. Due to various reasons, they did not continue in the tree nursery business. Sir Harry made his trade as a carpenter, and Sir Frank opened a motorbike or bicycle repair shop out of a back barn. The Armstrongs, a fine family, lived in the home for many years. Lady Mabel passed away in the year of 1958. Sir Harry joined her not too long after in 1962. Surviving Sir Frank sold the home in 1966 to Sir Fred Haines.

Front View of the house in 1929

The house in the summer of 2003

Sir Fred and his wife, Lady Nancy lived in the home from 1966 to 1976. They then sold the home to it's fourth guests or caretakers - Sir Andy and Lady Jackie Germanow. Sir Andy and Lady Jackie raised a beautiful family in the home. Lady Jackie is a local artisan who created some of the interesting elements in the home - such as the large mural in the home's kitchen. On a bittersweet day in 2003, Sir Andy and Lady Jackie moved on to their next journey in life and sold the beautiful home that they helped to restore to it's current caretakers, Sir Steve and Lady Tricia Kuntz.

Largest Copper Beech Tree in the state

The grounds are also the home of the largest Copper Beech Tree in the state. This magnificent specimen stands 100 feet tall, has a 100 feet crown spread, and measures 16 feet 10 inches around the trunk. It is being cared for by Dr. Dan Marion, who estimates that the tree was born during the 1850's. That would make it as old as Pegleg Johnson himself! No doubt he spent many afternoons shaded by it's massive canopy.

"There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Letters and Social Aims