Unlike his fellow Scots who had settled in the "Big Springs" area (at the site of present-day Caledonia N.Y.), John MacKay, a Scot from Shamokin, P.A., arrived at the Big Springs as an entrepreneur. By 1814, MacKay had prospered sufficiently to build the two-story brick-lined house that now looks out across the Genesee Country Village square.

The design of MacKay's new house was as up-to-date as his ledger books. The American version of the modified Georgian style popular in the period is termed "Federal" or "Post-Colonial." Its lightened and attenuated forms are seen in the architectural detailing of the MacKay house with its gable end turned toward the road. The elegant three-bay facade is articulated by four pilasters, linked by blind elliptical arches, and crowned by a full pediment. Positioning the short side of a house to serve as its front had an important effect upon its interior plan: the narrow end allowed for only a single room across the front, with the entrance moving to one side.

MacKay's fine house was to have had a full-height portico across the front, but when the four columns ordered for the job could not be shipped from Kingston, Ontario, during the War of 1812, MacKay finished off his house without the projected frontispiece.

Some of the rear sections of this ample house were torn away in the early 20th century. An archeological program conducted in cooperation with the Rochester Museum & Science Center uncovered remains of the foundations of the missing portions, including footings for the kitchen hearth, fireplace and oven.

MacKay's house and several pieces of his furniture were given to the museum by his descendants: Mrs. Marianna Wilkins, Mrs. Mary Enderton, and John Newton MacKay.

Throughout the season, visitors may see fiber spinning demonstrations daily at MacKay House. On selected weekends during the season, the talented craftspeople also present fiber dyeing demonstrations behind the house.