“The stone that was rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.” So says Psalm 118:22, one of my favorite biblical passages, because it dangles hope for all of us struggling artists. Perhaps, just perhaps, after a lifetime of rejections, there may finally be a triumphant acceptance.

That neat, white house in the photo was rejected by the builders of the new YMCA in Norwich. It once stood at 21 Mechanic Street, near the northeast corner of what used to be the Turner Street intersection. It was in the way of the developers and faced imminent destruction. However, it was rescued by a team of local saviors and donated to the Farmers’ Museum in nearby Cooperstown. It now proudly stands on the northeast corner of Main Street and Schoolhouse Lane in the museum’s Pioneer Village. It may not be the cornerstone of that interesting place, but it sure fits in well. This village showcases buildings from the 1840s.

The brass plaque in front of the building reads: “Hosea Dimmick House, Norwich, Chenango County, New York, 1845. This house was built in Norwich, Chenango County, New York, in 1845. The architecture is an example of Greek Revival, with the gable end of the main block of the house positioned toward the street and a smaller wing set perpendicular to it. This style of house was so popular in the mid-19th century that examples can be found in almost every village and town in central New York.