Tag Archives: Lenox Shiretown

95 Old Stockbridge Rd., Alfred Devaus House – c.1810

September 11, 2014 lenoxhistory 1 Comment

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This 2-story wood-framed Federal period house has received additions and been remodeled such that the eclectic Queen Anne category best reflects its amended style. The house began with a 5-bay, center entrance facade under a gable roof with slate shingles. Its second story slightly overhangs the first floor. Two brick endwall chimneys, one on each gable end, define the width of the original house. Two front gable dormers with 6-o-6 windows flank a front gabled wall dormer with fanlight attic window—these were likely early additions. The house is clad with wood clapboard and has corner boards. A number of the evident changes probably occurred during the period when the Queen Anne style became popular in the 1880s. Colonial Revival style details were often incorporated into Queen Anne compositions, the nation’s Centennial in 1876 having heightened interest in all things colonial. These modifications would have included the Palladian window centered above the front entrance with its fluted pilasters, dentils, and tracery in the arch of the middle section. (The door surround with its 2/3rds-length, 3-pane sidelights flanked by fluted pilasters may be original however.) The entrance porch was certainly another addition. It has a pedimented gable roof, supported by four fluted Doric columns, and having modillions, a classical entablature with triglyphs, metopes, and guttae, along with a barrel-vaulted ceiling. It was probably constructed concurrently with the 2-story extension to the right side, which has a 2-story canted bay window on its front facade and a hipped roof. There is a large 2-story hipped-roof rear ell that has a 2-story hipped-roofed extension off its rear (having a triangular gabled dormer), a 2-story hipped roof ell of its left side, and a small lean-to behind it, also on its left. On its right side is an entrance porch with hipped roof and two Doric columns. A flat-roofed veranda off the left side of the original house (which appears to have been recently added or rebuilt) has triple Doric columns at its outer corners and a single one at the center. The windows are generally 6-o-6 on the first floor and 9-o-6 on the second floor; they have authentic wood window blinds. The foundation is of stone. Mature deciduous and coniferous trees surround the house.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Plumstead was the first site of the jail and the jailer’s house- part of the structures were burned down by a prisoner in 1814. Plumstead was first the summer home of Mr. Alfred Deveaus, who sold it to Mrs. Joseph Whistler. In 1940 the property was acquired by Mrs. Bruce W. Sanborn then descended to her son Carl Weyerhauser. In 1968, it was sold to a local lawyer, Mr. Charles Alberti (who is now retired Superior Justice Alberti). In 1978, the property was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Macioge. The Macioge’s sold the property in 1985 to Paul and Mirjana Draskovic, who are the current owners.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Local histories

Colton, Olive, Lenox, pamphlet

Wood, David: Lenox: Massachusetts Shire Town, p.198.

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

13 Cliffwood St., Worthington House – 1815

September 10, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

13 Cliffwood St., Worthington House - c. 1815 — 13 Cliffwood St., Worthington House – c. 1815

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by Lenox Historical Society

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION

This was originally a Federal-style house that has been altered over the years. The paired brackets under the eaves, round-arched window in the front gable, and round-arched door hood are all features of the Italianate style, indicating that a major remodeling took place during the period of that styles popularity (c.1850 – 1880). There are relatively few Italianate houses in Lenox, making this earlier house an interesting example of a later style.

This Italianate style building has two stories and an asphalt shingle roof which is intact. It consists of 3-bays, with a front gable roof with double scroll sawn modillions on the eaves. The two brick center chimneys are corbelled to create flared tops. It is sided with wood clapboards and the arched entrance canopy contains scroll sawn console brackets. The door surround has an arched transom and the window headers have cornices. The windows on the upper floors are 6-o-6. There are authentic window blinds, an arched attic window and a stone foundation. There is a wood picket fence around property.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This house was built in 1815 for Dr. Worthington, who may have practiced medicine here. It remained in the Worthington family until 1919, when the property was willed to the Church on the Hill by Mrs. Mary H. Barrett. Mrs. Barrett was a grand-daughter of the original owner, who had been a deacon of the church. From 1925 to 1975 the house was used as a parsonage and a gathering place for social events. In 1975 it was returned to use as a private home. Robert M. and Cynthia A. Taylor were the owners in 1979.

The property was acquired by Arthur A. Autorino in1989 and then by Thomas B. Sherman in 1997 and then by Steven M. Fortuna in 2001.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Registry of Deeds

Congregational Church Records

Lenox Assessor’s database 2012

Places

9 Cliffwood St., Calvin Burnham House – c.1805

September 10, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Federal style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and is intact. It is a 5-bay building with a central entrance. The wood framed structure has a 2-story cross-gabled rear ell. One end chimney and one interior chimney suggests that a 2-story addition to the right of the original 3-bay house has been added. It has wood clapboard siding and paneled window headers with cornices on the first floor windows. The exterior has corner boards, an entrance pavilion with fluted Doric columns and pilasters, triglyphs and metopes on the frieze. The front door surround has a plaid paned transom and 1/2-length sidelights. The house has 6-o-6 windows and a stone foundation. There is a wood picket fence with scalloped design between the posts.

This is one of the few Federal houses to survive in Lenox Village; although there is evidence that many more were built, most were demolished in the second half of the nineteenth century.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Calvin Burnham built this house around 1805, and lived here with his family. Burnham was probably a brother of Julia Ann Burnham, who came from Vermont to marry Col. Charles Mattoon of Lenox. Calvin Burnham had numerous business dealings with Mattoon, reflected in various deeds. Burnham’s daughter Anna also has some unusual business dealings; a deed of 1814 granted her the lease to her room in her father’s house in return for payment of one peppercorn. On her father’s death she inherited the house, and in 1822 sold it to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, for payment of $500 “and also in consideration of the love and regard which I have for the missionary cause.” John Hotchkin purchased the house from the A.B.C.F.M. in 1825, two years after he returned to Lenox from the Andover Theological Seminary to follow Levi Glezen as principal of the Lenox Academy. Hotchkin, a graduate of the Academy, held that position until 1848, but continued to teach until his death in 1862. His descendents sold the house to Anna B. Shaw after 1876, and the Shaw family used it as a summer home. It was known as “Homestead” during this period (not to be confused with “The Homestead” at Cliffwood and Greenwood Streets). Later it was renamed “Roadside”, and the name was changed again to “Strawberry House” by a subsequent owner, Anna R. Alexandre.

The property was acquired by Horizon Nominee Trust in1998 and then by Andrew Collins Vickery in 2003 and then by Eric George Haythorne in 2007.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Joseph E.A. Smith, (N.Y.: J.B. Beers & Co. 1885) p.214

New Book of Berkshire, Clark W. Bryan (Clark W. Bryan & Co. 1890) p44

Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 55.38, 64.237, 68.159

Lenox Assessor’s database 2012

Places

169 Main St., Church on the Hill – 1805

September 9, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Federal style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and is intact. It has a three-bay center entrance; six bays deep; wood frame; front gable roof w/dentiled pediment; bell-tower at front of gable peak with a tall, square, balustraded base with large clocks on front and rear sides (clock replaced in 1899). It has Palladian window on left (West) side, topped by an octagonal belfry with Roman-arched vented openings and smaller balustrade and an octagonal cupola with bell-shaped roof and weather vane atop it. It has wood clapboard siding; corner pilasters; 1-bay wide. The entrance pavilion is one-bay deep with dentiled pediment, corner pilasters; Palladian window with tracery, door surround with pediment (short returns), modillions, entablature, paneled pilasters. It has double front entrance doors, wood paneled w/small window high up on each. The two-story square apse on rear facade has a rose window. There is a brick right side wall chimney and an exposed brick left side wall chimney. There are 12-over-12 windows with molded window headers and authentic window blinds. The foundation is large cut stone.

Architect Captain Isaac Damon (1783 – 1862)

Following FROM: http://nhsteeples.org/newport/project_glossary/isaac_damon.html

Isaac Damon, architect

Isaac Damon was born in 1781. At age 30, he moved from Weymouth (MA) to Northampton (MA). His wife died the following year, and he married Sophia Strong (pictured), who delivered eight children. Over the course of his career, Damon built at least 13 churches, 14 other buildings, and 25 bridges. Most of his buildings were constructed in the Connecticut River Valley, but his bridge work took him farther afield. His fully-enclosed bell towers and steeples are easily recognized throughout his region of influence. He retired in 1852 at the age of 71 and died ten years later.

Following From: Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased) by Henry F. Withey, AIA & Elsie Rathburn Withey. (Los Angeles, CA: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970).

“Damon, (Captain) Isaac

“Architect-building in western Massachusetts for more than three decades, his work included a number of public buildings, mainly churches. It is believed that Damon was one of the junior draftsmen in the Town & Davis office in New York, and when in 1811 he was called to Northampton to build the First Congregational Church, it seems probable that Ithiel Town helped prepare the plans (*). The church, one of the largest and most elaborate in New England at the time of its erection stood until 1878 when it was destroyed by fire. In Northampton Mr. Damon also designed the Town Hall built in 1823 (*).

“In the course of years he executed many important commissions, and the drawings, some of them in India ink, showed skill in draftsmanship. In his work as builder he was one of the first to understand the use of a truss and incorporated it in the bridgework of a number of buildings. Thirteen or more churches in the western part of the state are ascribed to him among which should be named the First Church at Lenox, dating from 1814; the First Church at Springfield, 1818 (**); the old Meeting House at Ware, 1820 (**), and the Unitarian Meeting House at Greenfield. In addition he was architect of the county Court House at Lenox (an early building from 1814); and probably designed (at least he was paid for making the plans) the oldest group of buildings at Amherst College, including the North and South halls and the Chapel between 1821 and 1827 (***).

“- References: Dictionary of American Biography; “Town and Davis, Architects,” by Roger Hale Newton (*); “Greek Revival Architecture in America,” Talbot Hamlin, 1944 (***).”

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE

In 1803, a special town meeting was called in Lenox, and it was voted to begin construction of a new church to replace the meeting house which had been built about 1770. The new church was to be built on or near the same site. The church was completed in 1805, and on the first day of 1806 it was dedicated in a service led by Rev. Samuel Shepard. As the official town and state church it held an important place in the political and social, as well as religious life, of Lenox. Although other churches were incorporated in the early nineteenth century, and their members exempted from paying taxes to support the Congregational Church, this church was not disestablished until 1834, and even then it retained its important position in the town.

“The Church on the Hill,” as it came to be known, was prized by visitors to Lenox for its picturesque beauty and its embodiment of New England tradition. Guide books never failed to mention it, and its white steeple became a landmark visible for miles around. Even the wealthy summer residents who belonged to the Episcopalian Church took a special interest in the Church on the Hill, and contributed to its restoration.

The Church on the Hill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places Sept. 30, 1982.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Church records

“The Church on the Lenox Hilltop…”, New England Magazine. October 1900

Lenox – Massachusetts Shire Town. David H. Wood 1969

Lenox Assessor’s database 2012

Places

80 Main St., Harriet R. Hickok House – 1835

September 9, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

80 Main St., Harriet Hickok House - 1835 — 80 Main St., Harriet Hickok House – 1835

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Greek Revival style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and has been significantly altered. It is a three-bay wood frame. It has a front gable roof–simple pediment, and full entablature with a plain frieze. It has a brick center chimney, wood clapboard siding and paneled corner pilasters. There is a two-story rear ell with a gable roof. The foundation is stone.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

“In 1835 Harriet R. Hicock bought this lot from Caleb Bailey and built this house. In 1858 the house and property was sold to Eunice M. Sears. In April 1887 Theodore J. Cowhig bought the property and built the ice houses in the rear. Teamsters and horses were also part of Mr. Cowhig’s business. He died young and his widow continued the family businesses which included the quarry on Hubbard Street. The property remained in the Cowhig family until 1976, when it was renovated by Mr. Soroken for use as a shop and gallery of pottery and other arts.”

New research notes that on the 1854 Clark Map, the property is labeled “Mrs. Hickok”; the 1893 – 1905 Sanborn maps show building footprint without any front porch but with right-side porches; the 1911 Sanborn depicts a small front entry porch (thus earlier B form statement about the front entrance porch dating to1860s is incorrect) and labels the building “Barbers”.

It was purchased in 2001 by Serge Paccaud and is currently used as a restaurant.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1854 Clark Map, 1893 – 1905 Sanborn Maps

Old Form B

Town Assessor’s Report

Mr. William Roche

Lenox Assessor’s database 2012

Places

48 Main St., Oliver Peck House – c.1835

September 9, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Federal style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and has been altered. It has a three-bay center entrance and a pedimented front gable roof with attic fanlight. It is wood frame with wood clapboard siding; pilasters flank the center bay. The corner pilasters have light/refined entablature. The front door is surrounded by a three-light transom and pilasters. The door has a12-light window. The right side entry has a gable header with a sunburst design, dentils, and pilasters. The house has a stone foundation. Farther back on the right side is a small cross-gabled box bay with pedimented side entry; large recessed cross-gabled side ell on left with concrete foundation (added after 1939).

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Oliver Peck, the original owner of this house, was an attorney with the Lenox firm Peck and Phelps. A subsequent owner, Benjamin Rogers, was an employee of George Westinghouse, and was in part responsible for bring electricity to the town. Rogers had his workshop in an annex, later used as a greenhouse. In 1876 Mrs. Platner was the owner, in 1900 it was Francis Weed and in 1904 Benjamin H. Rogers purchased the property. This house caught fire in the Easter fire of 1909, but was saved from destruction. In the 1980’s the house was owned by Dr. Carl Bergan who used space in the house as a medical office and rented out apartments. Currently the building is owned by Charles Schulz and contains a hair salon and retail stores.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1854 Clark Map,1876 Beers Map

“Wm. C. Curtis & J. D. Curtis” on 1854 Clark Map; Mrs. Justin Curtis & W. O. Curtis on 1876 Beers Map

Conversations with Dr. and Mrs. Carl Bergan

Old Form B

Town Assessor’s Report

Lenox Assessor’s database 2012

Places

27 Housatonic St., First County Courthouse – 1791

September 9, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This undetermined style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and has been altered. It is a wood frame building with small dentils along molded cornice; hipped roof; 3-bays facing Housatonic St. façade at 2nd floor and a rear wall chimney on North side.

This square, two story building has a hipped-roof with square cupola, and is similar in plan to early New England meeting houses. Store fronts and additions were built on in the nineteenth century, and most of the original detailing has been removed or obscured, but the original building is still recognizable from the description in the Tucker manuscript:

“It was of wood, constructed for the courts only. The entrance was from the west, through double doors around which was some carving, and over it a fanlight window. Their (sic) were lobbies on either side of the door, 15 feet in length and 8 feet in width, for jury rooms. The ceiling of the courtroom was arched, and it comprised what is now both stories of the building… In each of the windows there were 24 lights of glass, 10 x 12. The specifications called for a cupola with a spire and vane.”

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Built in 1791, this building originally stood just west of the present Town Hall. This was the first County Courthouse, built several years after the county seat was moved from Great Barrington to Lenox in 1784. When the new County Courthouse was built in 1815 (now the Lenox Library) this building became the Town Hall and Post Office, and remained in that capacity throughout the 19^th century. In 1901 the present Town Hall was built, and this structure was moved two years later to its current location by Thomas Post. George Therner purchased it shortly thereafter for use as a business block and apartments.

The property was purchased by Fares A. Khoury on April 5, 1972 and then by Jean Kelly Troiano on October 31, 2007.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1905 and 1911 Sanborn Maps

Lenox, Massachusetts Shire Town. David Wood, 1969. P. 118

Town records

Lenox Assessor’s database 2011

Places

17 Housatonic St., Jacob Washburn House – c.1825

September 9, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Federal style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and has been altered. It has brick construction laid up in Flemish bond and a front gable roof with eave returns. There is a gabled entrance canopy with large scroll sawn support brackets and pendants in Italianate style (early addition). There is an intact wood front door and large brick front and rear wall chimneys. It has an oval vent at attic level and limestone window lintels. There is a recessed right side ell with cross-gable roof and with a 2nd entry. The foundation is stone, there are 12 over 12 windows and authentic wood blinds on the second floor windows.

This is one of the few brick vernacular houses in Lenox, and one of two to survive from before 1850. It is predominantly a Federal style house, with 12/12 window sash, spalyed (sic) stone lintels and other characteristic features of this style, but the gable-front form of the building is a hallmark of the Greek Revival style, just emerging in the 1820’s. It is possible that this house was influenced by the Classical Revival Second County Courthouse of 1815, which used the temple-front form. This house would have been among the most substantial and fashionable in Lenox in the first three decades of the 19^th century, and reflects the prominent position the Washburn family held.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This was the Washburn homestead, probably build by Jacob Washburn, who married the daughter of Samuel Northrup, an early settler in 1786. Jacob was a prosperous farmer with a large family and it seems likely that he built the house after establishing himself in Lenox. He died at age 62 in 1828, but his wife and children survived him and continued to prosper. His children and grand-children became some of the largest property owners in Lenox. The house remained in the Washburn family through the nineteenth century. Mrs. Thomas Morse was the last Washburn to own it.

Charles T. Schulze has been the owner since November 22, 1983.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1893 & 1898 Sanborn Maps

Gazetteer of Berkshire County. Hamilton Child, 1885

History of Berkshire County, Mass. Joseph E. A. Smith, 1885

Lenox Assessor’s database 2011

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Charles T. Schulze has been the owner since November 22, 1983.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1893 & 1898 Sanborn Maps

Gazetteer of Berkshire County. Hamilton Child, 1885

History of Berkshire County, Mass. Joseph E. A. Smith, 1885

Lenox Assessor’s database 2011

Places

65 Main St., Lenox Academy – c.1802

September 9, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Federal style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and is intact. It has a five-bay center entrance; wood frame; hipped roof; and an octagonal cupola with a spire atop a tall square base. It has wood clapboard siding with a dentil band at the cornice. It has very light paneled corner boards, Palladian window on the second floor. The front façade is centered above the front entry with brackets below the sill and a dentiled cornice. The door surround has an entablature having metopes and triglyphs, and a gable above with modillions, fluted pilasters and 2/3rds-length 10-pane sidelights. There are intact 6-over-6 windows; authentic window blinds; and a large dressed stone foundation

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

On January 5, 1803, a group of twenty-five Lenox citizens petitioned the State Legislature to grant an incorporation to their group for the purpose of establishing an Academy. They were incorporated February 22, 1803 as “The Berkshire Academy,” the name being changed to the Lenox Academy in June of that year. The Academy flourished throughout the first half of the nineteenth century, and had a number of illustrious headmasters and students including John Hotchkiss, Josiah Lyman, Mark Hopkins and Charles Sedgwick. The Academy closed in 1866, serving as a public high school from 1869 until 1879. In 1879, under the direction of Judge Julius Rockwell, the building was moved to a new foundation and repaired, reopening the following year under principal Harlan H. Ballard. In 1886 the building was again put to use as a public high school, serving in that capacity until 1908. The Academy was incorporated as a private school, the Trinity School, in 1911 and remained in operation as such until the 1920’s.

After a period of vacancy and the threat of demolition, the decision was made at a special town meeting to preserve the building, and in 1947 the trustees of the Academy turned the building over to the town. Since that time it has served as office and meeting space for various public groups including the Girl Scouts, the Lenox Garden Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Society, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Lenox Historical Commission.

Listed on National Register of Historic Places, September 30, 1982

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Old Form B

Town of Lenox Assessor’s Map

Lenox Academy records 1803-1947 (manuscript in collection of Lenox Library)

Berkshire County Historical Society Survey form – D.S. Smith, October 1972

“Saving of Lenox Academy,” Berkshire Eagle, October 25, 1946

Lenox Assessor’s database 2012

Places

48 Main St., Oliver Peck House – c.1835

September 9, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1854 Clark Map,1876 Beers Map

“Wm. C. Curtis & J. D. Curtis” on 1854 Clark Map; Mrs. Justin Curtis & W. O. Curtis on 1876 Beers Map

Conversations with Dr. and Mrs. Carl Bergan

Old Form B

Town Assessor’s Report

Lenox Assessor’s database 2012