The Production of Affluence in Central New York: The Archaeology and History of Geneva’s White Springs Manor, 1806–1951

Abstract

The multicomponent White Springs site (NYSM 1952; RMSC Plp-018) in Geneva, New York, contributes to the archaeological study of historical farm sites and presents an opportunity for the diachronic study of elite maneuvering to maintain affluence. Though a neoclassical-style mansion presently sits on the property as a visible symbol of solidity and stability, documentary and archaeological evidence reveals a varied history with considerable ties to local and regional trends and economies. Over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, the manor and associated property played differing roles in the economic and social strategies of a string of wealthy owners. Historical records reveal changing practices, from piedmont-style plantation agriculture to orcharding and dairying, as well as varied land-use practices with materially unique manifestations in the archaeological record. Through archaeological excavations, documentary research, surface survey, and archaeogeophysical investigations, this paper takes a multiscalar approach to revealing the diverse adaptive strategies elites used throughout White Springs Manor’s history, encompassing the multi-sited endeavors owners used to generate wealth both at and beyond the manor. These processes are attested to by datable landscape modifications and the changing use of the property over time.