In the spring of 2007, Gene took Bambi for a ride and pulled up to an old barn. "I want to show you something," he said. After walking around the property not for sale, they both fell in love with it and approached the owner, hoping he would consider selling. The deal was eventually sealed, and the Polako family became the proud owners of the Barn at Stoney Creek.
Both recognized that the barn required extensive repairs and restoration to transform it into a functional horse barn for Bambi's horses, which was the original plan. However, Gene's vision evolved and he began to work on the project, and a new dream emerged. With determination, Gene undertook project after project, single-handedly restoring the space to its former glory. His newfound goal was to create something truly special.
Initially conceived as a winery, the plans for the barn shifted in 2016 when Genes son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Calyn, decided to hold their wedding at the farm. This marked the inception of The Barn at Stoney Creek as an event venue.
After dedicating 30 years to healthcare, Bambi Pirozzolo Polako has retired. Her days are spent caring for her horses, which reside near the Barn at Stoney Creek, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Gene Polako devoted 27 years to the NYS Dept. of Corrections. He keeps himself busy with carpentry work on his Barn and extends a helping hand to friends and family with their projects.
The following content was copied from a newspaper article that we are not able to identify the publication or the year.“David Love Farm Remains in Family Since Early 1800’s”
The Everts family is said to have originated in Wales, however, history records that John Everts, the first of the name, settled at Concord, Mass. in 1683. He is listed as being a freeman. He removed Guildford, Conn., where he is recorded as a landed proprietor.
This family is representative of many others who endured great hardship to establish the freedom we now so greatly enjoy.
The first of the name to settle in this section was Daniel Everts, a Revolutionary soldier, in the Sullivan Expedition. He is listed as a Commission Inspector in the Battle of White plains. After the war was over he and Reuben Smith came from Sallisbury Conn., together to the “Western Country” as it was then called: Hector as it is now. They remained that season putting in crops of corn and wheat and after harvest returned to Connecticut. In the Spring of 1794, Daniel Everts and his wife and eight children, along with Reuben Smith and his family, returned to Hector.
Aranthus Everts, the eldest son born in 1782, was a Colonel in the War of 1812, and raised a regiment, which went on foot through the unbroken wilderness from Hector to Buffalo. He had command of the fort when a flag of truce was sent to him, and a demand to surrender was refused. The General in command send work, “I want you to understand that we will take our breakfast in the fort tomorrow morning.” Colonel Everts replied, “If you undertake it you will get your supper in hell.”
He married Margaret Mathews daughter of Courtright Mathews, another representative of Schuyler County.
Together they broke and cleared the land, built one of the first frame houses in this section about the year of 1814. If was a land grant for army service. The original house still stands on the farm settled by Colonel Everts and at the present time is occupied by his great great granddaughter, Mrs. Winifred C. Love. The original land tract situated one mile east of Burdett on the Ithaca Road was a narrow strip of land consisting of several hundred acres which extended to Montour Falls. However, many parcels were given to members of the Everts family including the Martins and the Himrods. This left the 130 acres of the original tract, 121 of which are tillable.
Colonel Everts, a surveyor by profession, lived on the farm until his death in 1869. It was he, with his son Aranthus, who laid out the village of Warkins Glen. His wife, Margaret lived on and operated the farm with the assistance of her niece Emily Larrison and her son, Emmett until her death which occurred in 1879.
The farm then was purcahsed from the heirs by two brothers, grandsons of Aranthus, and Margaret, one brother, Alanson, grandfather of Robert Everts of Montour Falls and Charles grandfather of Mrs. Love. They operated the farm, raising grain and corn as main crops, for about one year at which time Chrarles purchased Alanson’s interest.
It was during this period of the “Gay Nineties” that Charles Everts found life most enjoyable. He made a race track on one of the fields where many fast horses of the community made excellent records. He also maintained a large fish pond.
The crops consisted of grain, mainly wheat, oats and corn, also a new crop to this area was added, sugar beets, which grew very well on the muck soil near the creek.
Charles Evert was an attorney at law, having received the degree of L.L.B from Albany Law School in 1861. His practice in Watkins made it necessary for him to commute via horse and buggy each day to the village.
He and his charming wife Eliza were most happy when the house was filled with guests and they presided at the sumptuous dinners of roast pig, turkey, duck and fish.
After his death in 1904, the farm was managed by his son J.B. Everts of Watkins Glen.
Mrs. Everts, mother of J.B. lived on the farm until her death in 1919. At this time the farm was purchased from the heirs by David and winifred C. Love (October 1919) David was an ardent community worker and an excellent farmer. His farming included grain and corn raising, also cattle was a major interest (a herd of pure blood short horns). He was a Charter member of both the Schuyler County Farm Bureau and the Burdett Grange and for many years he was a Committee man of the Farm Bureau.
His home was a mecca for all community affairs, as well as family gatherings.
Mr. Love worked the farm until his death in 1945 after which ihs wife and daughter Jane remained on the homestead and still managed the farm.
Crops were excellent this year about one thousand bushels of grain having been threshed, along with a considerable amount of hay, grains and beans.
Thus, it is that a landmark, once the forest primeval, has remained in the family of its original owner for nearly a century and a half.
Its rich historical background of folklore is still cherished by all of the living descendants of Aranthus Everts.