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A simple, black outline of a sheep sitting.
Hammondsport, NY
(607) 569-3767
A simple, black outline of a sheep sitting.

Black Sheep Inn History

Nestled in the heart of Upstate New York's Finger Lakes region, Black Sheep Inn is far more than a charming place to stay, it is a living piece of local history. Housed within the remarkable T.M. Younglove Octagon House, a nationally recognized historic landmark built in 1859, the inn reflects a unique chapter of American architectural innovation and the enduring legacy of one of Pleasant Valley's pioneering families. For more than two centuries, the Younglove family helped shape the region through farming, winemaking, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. Together, the story of the house and the family offers a fascinating glimpse into the heritage, vision, and craftsmanship that continue to define Black Sheep Inn today.
Historic two-story house with ornate architecture, surrounded by trees.

The Inn's History

Black Sheep Inn is housed in an unusual style of architecture known as the “Octagon Mode,” and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the T.M. Younglove Octagon House. The T.M. Younglove Octagon House, constructed in this intriguing manner, is a two-story, Italianate stucco-covered stone building consisting of the main octagon shape, constructed in 1859, and two, rectangular wings added to the North and East faces of the eight-sided structure in 1882. The entire dwelling is comprised of stone masonry with stucco applied to all of the exterior walls.


Historic homestead with a vintage car parked in front, surrounded by trees.

The Younglove Family Legacy

Arriving in Pleasant Valley in June of 1807, the Cornelius Younglove family was one of the first families to establish a permanent home in this area. In fact, some of the land originally developed by the Youngloves is still held today by the family’s descendants. As Orson Fowler’s A Home For All encouraged, T.M. Younglove, (Cornelius’ son), was directly responsible for the construction of his octagon house in 1859, and he personally attended to many of the menial tasks necessary to complete the project.