Sherburne is a sure bet for rustic living
Surrounded by the hills of Central New York, Sherburne offers a rural atmosphere with small-town perks. “In all honesty, one of the top reasons that people love Sherburne is the cheap electricity,” says Kara Posson Reed, who’s the owner of Posson Realty LLC and KP Country Real Estate LLC, and has over 30 years of experience. “They have their own electric service, it’s not NYSEG or National Grid. It’s literally Sherburne Electric. … Your electric bill is literally about a quarter to one-third of the surrounding towns.” This area also features a variety of classic architecture, quick access to outdoor recreation and is just about 60 miles outside downtown Syracuse .
Homes are a blast from the past
This area has homes topping 200 years old, and the sidewalk-lined streets in the village of Sherburne here feature a variety of colonial-style options and bungalows. “They are known to have a lot of older homes. But they’re known to have nice older homes,” Reed says. “There are very nice homes in the village.” Earlville, another village within the wider Sherburne area, has a similar selection of houses. Properties in the villages are relatively close together on lots often between one-fifth and one-fourth of an acre. However, there are also more secluded sections of this community, outside the two villages, where homebuyers can find properties on multiple acres. Houses around Sherburne sell for $60,000 to $310,000 based on condition and acreage.
Schools help students get involved in extracurricular activities early
The Sherburne-Earlville Central School District gets a C-plus rating from Niche. The C-plus-rated Sherburne-Earlville Elementary has a jazz band and a running club. Sherburne-Earlville Middle carries a C grade and offers drama and technology clubs. Sherburne-Earlville High maintains a B rating and has robotics and ski clubs.
State routes are a direct connection to larger communities
New York state Route 12 cuts through the middle of Sherburne, doubling as the area’s Main Street. Commuters in Sherburne can follow Route 12 directly south to the city of Norwich , 12 miles away, for amenities like the UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital. State Route 80 takes drivers northwest toward Syracuse. The Syracuse Hancock International Airport, just under 60 miles away, has direct flights to over 20 cities.
Village acts as a center of business
Most of the Sherburne area’s businesses are within the village of Sherburne. Many are along Main and State streets, including Lewis' Restaurant. “Which is like a third- or fourth-generation, very good, well-known restaurant,” Reed says. Lewis’ has been open since 1942, specializes in pasta, seafood and steak, and is hard to miss with the small lighthouse that juts out from its exterior. Gilligan's Island is a hot spot for milkshakes and soft serve ice cream, and The Sherburne Inn is an option for brunch. The inn dates to 1917 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. There’s also a Dollar General on Main Street, next to Stella's Meat and Deli, which offers steaks and produce, plus prepared subs. Norwich has more stores, from a Grand Union supermarket to Marshalls.
Hiking, fishing and sightseeing opportunities are easy to find
Natural attractions surround the homes in Sherburne. The list includes Rexford Falls, a 35-foot waterfall tucked just east of the village. The Rogers Environmental Education Center, to the west, features 6 miles of trails, and its paths are open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Paddleford Park, within the village, has a playground and a community pool that’s open from mid-June through mid-August. Locals can make the 20-mile drive north to the Brookfield Railroad State Forest for 848 more acres of green space, including streams open to trout fishing and trails open to horseback riding. “That’s a pretty popular area,” Reed says. “People do come from all over, and they bring their horses and camp there.”
A long-running Sherburne tradition celebrates bands
This community hosts the Sherburne Pageant of Bands in June, an almost 80-year-old tradition. The event includes a parade through the village, and is the oldest of its kind in the state. “People come from all over to see that,” Reed says. “Many schools throughout New York participate in that. That is a big event.”
![Wayne Epps Jr.]()
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
