Category Archives: People and Places

Human activity including migrations, individual people, families and the institutions they formed in Lenox. Geography, historic sites and homes in Lenox.

Places

25 Cliffwood St., Edward Livingston Estate – 1889

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25 Cliffwood St., Edward Livingston House - 1889 — 25 Cliffwood St., Edward Livingston House – 1889

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This building exhibits the Renaissance Revival style but with an eclectic mix of details—Roman to Colonial Revival. It is two stories with a symmetrically organized, center entrance, five-bay, articulated front facade. The wood-framed house has been resided with either vinyl clapboard. It has a hipped roof clad with asphalt shingles and having shed and gabled dormers. The cornice has a band of small dentils. There are three brick chimneys—one a front wall chimney, one on the interior and one on the side wall between the main house and a two-story left side ell. An entrance portico has curved sides to a projecting center entry section, paired Ionic columns, modillions on its eaves and swag decorations on the frieze. The front door surround has short, ½-length sidelights and transom with Roman-styled cross-in-circle design for the leaded glass. The intact front door has a three-light window above six square panels in three rows.

On the second floor over the entrance portico is an arcade with seven openings having fanlight transoms and 3-o-3 windows. A small shed dormer with four horizontal windows at the roof peak is also centered above the entrance. Flanking the center entrance portico are two-story pedimented pavilions with modillions. These have single double hung windows with elaborate pedimented headers in a shell design. The outer bays of the main house have paired windows on the second floor with swag decorations on aprons. A single first floor window below each second floor pair has arched broken pediments with urn at center and Ionic pilasters. A two-story, two-bay-wide, hipped-roof wing off the left side is slightly recessed. The windows appear to be intact and primarily 6-o-2 double hung with molded trim. A rear one-story glazed porch with hipped roof extends across the entire width of the main house and has an exposed basement below with tuck-under garages. The house has a stone foundation. A metal exterior spiral stairway/fire escape from a right-side dormer has been added. A semi-circular driveway off Cliffwood Street is centered on the front entry and has paneled masonry piers topped with lantern light fixtures flanking the two entrances. A metal fence extends between and beyond them along the front property line. Chain-link fencing encompasses the lot on the remaining sides. There is an in-ground swimming pool in the back yard. The property contains a variety of mature deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs.

The house was designed by George Thomas Tilden (3/19/1845 – 7/10/1919)

“Well known architect in Boston, associated in partnership with Arthur Rotch from 1880 to 1895, subsequently practiced alone until four years prior to his decease. He was born at Concord, N. H., son of William Tilden, noted Unitarian clergyman in Boston, and received an early education a Phillips Exeter Academy. Taking up Architecture as a profession, the young man began his training in the Boston office of Ware & VanBrunt. After attending classes at Lowell Institute (forerunner of M. I. T. in Boston) Mr. Tilden continued his studies in Paris in Atlier Vaudremer of the Ecole Des Beaux Arts.

In 1880 he opened an office in Boston under the firm name of Rotch & Tilden, and over a period of fifteen years the partners maintained one of the most active architectural offices in New England. They also designed buildings in New York, Washington, D. C. and Charleston, S. C. In Massachusetts the more important examples of the firm’s work include the Town Hall in Milton, Sargent Normal School and Gymnasium at Cambridge, the Art Museum, Wellesley College, Plymouth High School, Jesup Hall at Williams College, Williamstown, Public Library in Billerica, the Blue Hills Observatory, Milton, and the American Legion Building in Boston. Mr. Tilden was also identified with the design of many suburban homes, among them “Ventfort Hall” and “Belvoir” on estates in Lenox.

In 1915 Mr. Tilden closed his office in Boston and retired to his home in Milton, a town in which he had resided for more than forty years, participating actively in civic affairs. In his professional career he had been a member of the Boston Society of Architects after 1876, and since 1889 a Fellow of the Institute. In 1895, following the death of Arthur Rotch, Tilden was appointed Trustee of the Traveling Scholarship Fund established by the latter.”

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Known as Osceola, it was built by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Livingston in 1889. Mrs. Dwight Collier bought the house from the Livingston’s. Mrs. Augusta Dee Whitman lived in the house until 1966 when she sold the house that became a retreat house to General Electric Co. In 1969, John and Marlene McCarthy lived in the house. The McCarthy’s sold the house in 1979 to the Backers who resided there until 1983. Set Seven Corporation owned the property from 1983 until 1986 when Joy and E. Scotty Farrelly bought the property. The Farrelly’s have used the house as a bed and breakfast called Cliffwood Inn and as a residence.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Registry of Deeds

Joy and Scotty Farrelly

Lenox Town Records

Town Assessor’s Report

Lenox Assessor’s database

Houses of the Berkshires, Revised Edition 2011, p288

Great Estates Preservation Options, August 2000, p15 Date Constructed

Places

30 Cliffwood St., Crosby House – c.1880

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From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This 2-story, 3-bay, wood-framed house was designed in the Italianate style. However, many of its original architectural features have been lost in its remodeling and conversion to a multi-family dwelling. It has a cross-gable roof with asphalt shingles and has eave returns, molded verge boards, and simple cornice. There is a small interior brick chimney. It is sided with wood clapboard. A reconstructed porch, having a hipped roof, newer spindled railing, and plain pillars, wraps from the front around to a 2-story ell right side with cross-gabled roof. There are molded window hoods without the ornate brackets one would expect to see. A rear entry far back on the left side has a shed-roofed porch. The foundation is stone. Changes made to the house include fanlight attic windows in the gables replacing the original and replaced windows and doors throughout, some of the openings altered. A large addition to the rear was made, replacing a small 1-story rear ell. A wood deck on the right side extending back from the right side ell was constructed. A balcony was added above the right side of the wrap-around porch and entrances added to the front facade. A large parking area occupies a large portion of the rear lot. The house at 34 Cliffwood St. looks to have been built as a twin to this house and still retains many of the Italianate features this house has lost.

NOTE: The 1876 Beers Map has this lot labeled “I. J. Newton” with only a shop depicted in the rear portion of the property. Thus the construction date is after that year.

Further deed research is recommended.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This house had been the homestead of the Crosby’s, the Gilmore’s, and the Felton’s for many years. In 1895 it was the home of Frank and Anna Crosby Gilmore. The Gilmore’s passed the house onto their daughter and her family, Harold and Lucy Gilmore Felton. It was purchased by Miriam P. Hirsch on May 29, 1973 and then by Thomas C. Wessel on October 4, 2002.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1876 Beers Map

Lenox Town Hall Records

Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield

Mrs. Harold Felton

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

33 Cliffwood St., Michael O’Brien House – c.1850

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From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This is a two-story, three-bay wood-framed house that appears to have been renovated about 40 years after its construction to reflect its current Queen Anne styling. It has a front gable roof of asphalt shingles. There is a small brick center chimney as well as a second center chimney in the two-story rear ell that angles out to the right from the rear. The siding is wood clapboard on the first and second floors, with wood shingles in the gables. A pent is located between the attic and second floor levels. There are a pair of 12-o-2 attic windows and other windows are intact 2-o-2 double hung sashes. A full front porch has four turned and fluted posts, two matching pilasters, and millwork railing and frieze. A second floor balcony with front gable roof and clapboard kneewall projects over the left half of the front porch. The front door has a simple door surround with molded header but features a Queen Anne-style window (small square colored panes surrounding a larger clear square light) over four panels. The foundation is stone but has been parged with concrete.

NOTE: This house with an angled rear ell is depicted on the 1854 Clark Map (its size indicates it probably included an attached barn). On the 1876 Beers Map the property with house is labeled “Miss Warner.”

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This property is believed to be the past property of Michael O’Brien. In 1901 Chloe E. Warner died and Thomas Rohan bought the property. Richard O’Brien owned the property until his death in 1948. His sister Mary Forrest and her husband George lived there until 1955 when the house was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Meyer. The Meyers sold the house in 1979. In 1986 Mr. Nathan Winstanley bought the property and used it for office space. As of 1989 the property was owned by Doralene Davis and as of 2000 it was owned by Marc Rosenthal and was again being used as a residence.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1854 Clark Map, 1876 Beers Map

Town Assessor’s Report and Other Lenox Town Records

Registry of Deeds

Mr. Nathan Winstanley

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

34 Cliffwood St., Frank Gilmore House – c.1895

September 10, 2014 lenoxhistory 3 Comments

34 Cliffwood St., Frank Gilmore House - c. 1885 — 34 Cliffwood St., Frank Gilmore House – c. 1885

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This is an intact wood-framed, 2-story house in the Italianate style. The front gable roof has asphalt shingles (a minimal alteration), eave returns, and scroll sawn double brackets at the eaves. It also has gabled dormers on its right side, with eave returns and double brackets. There are two brick chimneys—one at the center and another at the ridgeline, further back on the roof. The house has a 3-bay front facade and is clad with wood clapboard. A round- or Roman-arched 2-o-2 attic window in the gable of the front facade has small brackets below its sill and a round molded header. Nine chamfered pillars with scroll sawn braces and small brackets distinguish its wrap-around porch that extends back to a recessed 2-story right side ell. The second floor windows on the gable ends have heavy molded headers with small bracket supports. A one-story canted bay window on the right side of the right side ell has a hipped roof canopy, the overhang of which is supported by angled brackets. A porte-cochere is located about halfway back on the left side, with chamfered pillars, hipped roof, small brackets and millwork frieze. The house has a stone foundation.

A gabled, wood framed barn occupies the rear yard. An arbor with overgrown shrubberies is located in the front yard as an entrance.

NOTE: This lot is depicted on the 1876 Beers Map, with “J. S. Ross” labeled.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This house was the homestead of the Crosbys the Gilmores, and the Feltons for many years. In 1895, it was the home of Frank and Anna Crosby Gilmore. The Gilmores passed the house on to their daughter and her family, Harold and Lucy Gilmore Felton. It was owned by Kennan Ann Felton who sold it in 1996 to Jean F. Richmond who sold it to Sibylle Baier in 1998.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1876 Beers Map

Lenox Town Hall Records

Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield

Mrs. Harold Felton

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

35 Cliffwood St., Mrs. A. Root House – c.1875

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From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This is a 2-story, 2-bay-wide and 4-bay-deep Classical Revival-style house of wood frame construction. It has a front gable roof covered in asphalt shingles, is clad with wood clapboard, and has corner boards. One of two original interior brick chimneys remains. The front facade is dominated by a 2-story canted bay window that has narrow pilasters, paired pilasters alternating with shingles, between the windows. A wrap-around porch extends from the bay window around the left side of the house back to a 2-story cross-gabled ell, well back from the front facade. It has chamfered pillars and millwork railing. The intact wood front door has a window above panels. The window headers are lipped on the first floor front facade, but more heavily molded on the sides and upper stories. There is a mix of intact and replaced windows; the 2-over-2 windows appear to be original. A rear porch extending along the width of the house has been enclosed/glazed. The foundation is of rough-faced cut stone. A picket fence runs along the front property line.

NOTE: Although there is a building depicted in this location on the 1854 Clark Map (labeled Wd. Dunbar”) it probably was replaced by the current building, which is depicted on the 1876 Beers Map and labeled “Mrs. A. Root.”

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This property was owned by Mary Cooper until 1867 when she sold it to Sarah Root. Miss Root sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. Frances H. Cooke in 1877. After the Cookes came Catherine Snyder, who lived there until 1883. George R. Markham owned the property from 1883-1901. Mr. Robert Richards bought the property in 1901 and remained the owner until 1915. Mr. Thomas J. Kearnin owned the property briefly between 1915-1916. He sold to Marion L. Richards who owned until 1929. In 1929 Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Nugent bought the property. Mr. Nugent was a freight train worker for the Lenox Station. The Nugents owned the property until 1986 when the property was titled to their nephew, Mr. Charles Fuore. In 1997 it was owned by Philip R. Coleman who sold it to John J. Donohue in 2003. Mr. Donohue sold it to Valerie W. Ryan in 2004.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1854 Clark Map, 1876 Beers Map

Assessor’s Report

Lenox Town Hall Records

Registry of Deeds

Mr. Charles Fuore

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

39 Cliffwood St., Mr. James S. Smith – c.1885

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39 Cliffwood St., James S. Smith House - c. 1885 — 39 Cliffwood St., James S. Smith House – c. 1885

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This wood-framed house is two stories high, two bays wide, but with a 3-story pedimented tower angled out 45-degrees from its left front corner. The roof is hipped with projecting gabled bays and dormers, and clad with asphalt. It has a molded verge board. There is a brick center chimney. Corner boards, wood banding along the top of the second floor windows and bottom of first floor windows, water-table, and vertical bay-defining boards all reveal its Stick Style design. A wrap-around porch, from front to a right side ell, has a pediment with incised decoration above its entrance, four turned posts, two engaged turned posts, scroll sawn and incised braces and valances, and a railing with millwork balusters below arches. The front door is a 2-part Dutch type with a 9-light Queen Anne-style window over three panels. A 1-story lean-to is located behind the right-side ell. A 2-story canted bay window with projecting pedimented gable roof supported by scroll sawn corner braces below is located on the left side. There are a number of original 5-o-1 and 9-o-1 windows; others have been replaced. The foundation is of rough-faced cut stone.

NOTE: On the 1876 Beers Map, there are two properties labeled Mrs. M. Newton and J. S. Smith; the houses on which appear to have been demolished and replaced by this one.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This property was owned by Mr. Ensign Loomis until 1855 when he sold it to Mr. James S. Smith who lived at the residence until 1888. Mr. Murry A. Brown bought the property in 1888 and sold it two years later to Issac J. Newton. Mr. Newton lived in the house until 1935 when he sold the house to Mr. Adelbert I. Newton and his wife, Beatrice. In 1943, Edward and Ora Burke bought the house. In 1989 the property was sold to Doralene Davis who sold it to Marc Rosenthal in 2000.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1876 Beers Map

Town of Lenox Assessors Records

Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield

Lenox Town Hall records

McAlester, Lee and Virginia, A Field Guide to American Houses, p. 262-267

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

36 Cliffwood St., Churchill Satterlee House – c.1880

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From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

The style of this house is Italianate. It features a front gable roof (from which the brackets have probably been removed) with eave returns and pedimented dormers on both the right and left sides, also having eave returns. Slate shingles clad the roof and dormers. There are two interior brick chimneys and round- or Roman-arched attic windows. A 2-story canted bay window, with flared pent between first and second floors is set well back from the front facade. It serves as the terminus for a porch that extends across the front and wraps around to the right side. The porch has seven chamfered pillars and two pilasters, incised scroll sawn brackets and braces, a spindled balustrade and a standing seam metal roof. First floor windows on the front facade are very tall. Most of the windows are intact 2-o-2 double hung sashes. There is a 2-story rear ell. The stone foundation has beaded joints. The house has been resided with metal clapboard and the window blinds are decorative. The building now houses law offices, which are posted on a ground-mounted sign in the front yard. The yard contains mature deciduous trees and shrubs. Several bluestone slabs provide a walkway up to the porch entrance.

NOTE: This house is not depicted on the 1876 Beers Map, but the lot is labeled “E. Loomis.”

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Orginally built as a summer home, it was named Syringa Cottage because the Latin word Syringa means Lilac. Lilac bushes surround the property. This cottage was the home of Mrs. Churchill Satterlee. In the 1950’s it was the office of Dr. Harter. Dr. Harter sold the property to Charles Alberti. In 1979, Mr. Charles Alberti sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. Philip Heller.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1876 Beers Map

Assessor’s Reports

Lenox Town Hall Records

Mr. Philip Heller

Wood, David, Lenox Massachusetts Shire Town, p. 201

Lenox Assessor’s database – 2012

Places

44 Cliffwood St., Joseph Clifford House – c.1880

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From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

The design of this house combines features of the Gothic Revival and Queen Anne styles. It is wood framed with a front gable roof clad in asphalt, with a decorative verge board with a wavy edge overlaid with a sawtooth board and spire at its peak. There is a large shed-roofed dormer on its right side. An exposed and painted brick side wall chimney is on the left facade along with a large, 3-story square tower with hipped roof. The front door surround has panels on its sides, with a transom over the door only. A front porch wraps around to the right side of the house; it has a hipped roof, 7 chamfered columns, and millwork railing. A 1-story ell on the right side, with a second front facing entrance, may have been a portion of the wrap-around porch that was enclosed to provide a vestibule. The 2-o-2 windows look to be original and have authentic window blinds.

NOTE: The house is sited on a large tract of land labeled “E. Loomis” on the 1876 Beers Map (no house depicted).

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This house was first built by the Clifford family of Lenox. The Clifford family lived at this sold the house address until they sold the house to the Mole family. Mrs. Peter J. Piretti acquired the property in 1976.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1876 Beers Map

Town of Lenox Assessor’s Report

Lenox Town Hall Records

Mrs. Grace Clifford

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

49 Cliffwood st., George Flosom House – 1884, 1926

September 10, 2014 lenoxhistory 1 Comment

49 Cliffwood St., George Flosom House - 1926 — 49 Cliffwood St., George Flosom House – 1926

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This house was designed as a modern interpretation of the English Cottage style that became exceedingly popular in the early 20^th century and is essentially intact. It is a stucco-clad wood-framed house, two stories high and four bays wide. It has a steeply pitched cross-gable roof with slate shingles. The front facade is asymmetrically organized and articulated. A front gabled entrance pavilion has a painted brick kneewall and round-arched door surround with quoining and soldier course brickwork. Within this surround is a unique multi-pane sidelight-transom combination that echoes the arch of the surround and door itself. The front door has a full-length 15-light window topped by a fanlight. On the second floor above the front entry is a 3-part window with a large 12-light window flanked by 8-light casements. To the right of the entry pavilion is a painted brick front wall chimney; to the left is mid-floor level round-arched window (indicative of an interior stair landing). A recessed ell off the left side has a lower gable roof and massive brick chimney and is fronted by a shed-roofed porch. A slightly recessed wing off the right side of the main house has a roof that extends down to the top of the first floor on the front facade. A 2-story cross-gabled rear ell has two sections, with two brick interior chimneys. Eight-light casement windows are generally grouped into sets of four. There is a c.1883 wood-framed, front gable-roofed barn located behind the house. The house is sited well back from Cliffwood Street. The grounds are extensive, with open lawns, mature coniferous and deciduous trees. An in-ground pool is located behind the house; tennis courts occupy the outer portion of the left side yard. Curvilinear driveways have access to Cliffwood at two points plus via an alley running along the left property line. Chainlink fencing surrounds most of the property.

Architect Aldrich Chester Holmes (1871 – 12/26/1940)

“For many years a partner with William A. Delano under the name of Delano & Aldrich, a firm which designed many buildings of note, both public and residential. Born and educated at Providence, R. I., Mr. Aldrich prepared for a career in architecture in study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Awarded his diploma at the latter school in 1900, he returned to New York and three years later began practice in association with Mr. Delano. After their first important commission, Walters Art Gallery at Baltimore (1904), the partners enjoyed an active and highly successful career, in which their best known works were: Union Club, Park Avenue, New York; The Colony and Knickerbocker Clubs in New York; Japanese Embassy at Washington, D.C., the new Embassy of the U. S. at Paris, France; School of Music at Smith College, Northampton, Mass.; Chapel and Dormitories, Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Conn.; Riggs Foundation Building, Stockbridge, Mass.; Russell Sage Music Building at Northfield, Mass.; Sterling Laboratories and Sage Hall, Yale University; Willard Straight Hall at Cornell University (1925); and their outstanding achievement, the new Post Office Department Building at Washington, D. C., completed in 1933.

“In the field of domestic architecture the firm won added distinction. The country estates and homes designed for many prominent persons were not-worthy for their good taste, dignity and charm. Outstanding examples of these were the Estate of the late John D. Rockefeller at Pocantico Hills, summer home of Otto Kahn at Cold Springs Harbor, Long Island, residence for Vincent Astor, Port Washington Long Island, Mrs. Dwight Morrow’s home at Englewood, N. J., and at Lenox Mass., residence for Osgood Field.

“A distinguished member of the profession, Mr. Aldrich was admitted to the A.I.A. in 1907 and in 1916 became a Fellow. He was an active member of the New York Chapter, A.I.A., the Architectural League of New York, the Society of Beaux Arts Architects, the National Institute of Arts and Letters, the National Academy of Art, and many social organizations. Mr. Aldrich remained a bachelor all his life. He spent many years visiting in Italy, a country for which he had deep affection, and his death occurred during a stay in Rome.” [Cited a New York Times obituary: 12/27/1940.][1]

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This house was built as a summer home by Mr. and Mrs. George Folsom in 1884. Mr. Folsom was the law partner to President Grover Cleveland. Miss Frances Folsom married the President in the first White House wedding. She was 22 years old and President Cleveland was 50 at the time. In 1925 the original house was destroyed by fire and it was rebuilt the following year. The next owner was William T. Barnum sold the house to Mr. James G. Fletcher who was the Superintendent of the Lenox Public Schools. In 1948 Mrs. Bonnie Siegal sold the house to Mrs. Janet Upjohn Stearns. Mrs. Stearns sold the house to Louis and Doris S of Schroeter in 1970. In 1974, the Delvechio family bought the house and lived in it until 1986 when they sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Uwe Wascher.

Sylvie M. Nathanson of Sarasota, FL. acquired the property in 1991.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Town of Lenox Assessor’s Report

Lewis, Arnold, American Country Houses of the Gilded Age, p. 13

Lenox Town Hall Records

Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield

Mrs. Christina Wascher

Wood, David, Lenox Massachusetts Shire Town, p. 201

Owens, Carol, The Berkshire Cottages, A Vanishing Era, p. 24

(copies of selected articles with original Form B)

[1] Henry F. Withey and Elsie Rathburn Withey. Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased). Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970, (facsimile edition), pp. 13-14.

Places

65 Cliffwood St., Feno House – c.1920

September 10, 2014 lenoxhistory 1 Comment

65 Cliffwood St., Feno House - c. 1910 — 65 Cliffwood St., Feno House – c. 1910

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This wood-framed Colonial Revival-style house is two stories tall and has six bays on its atypical asymmetrical front facade. It has a hipped roof with projecting gable sections and a long hipped dormer on the back. There are four brick chimneys; two are massive side wall chimneys with flared tops, one each on the left and right sides of the main house. The front entry porch has a flat roof with fluted Doric columns and pilasters. The front door surround has full-length 7-pane sidelights and a 3-light transom. To the right of the front door is a 12-o-8 Palladian window at a mid-floor level (indicating a stair landing on the interior) with tracery in its arched upper section, and narrow 4-light sides. There is a 2-story, hipped roof rear ell which has a side wall chimney between it and a 1-story screened porch on its northerly side. A slightly projecting left side ell with a lower gable roof has a broken-eave shed dormer. Attached to its left is a 2-story, 2-bay-wide, front gabled pavilion with saltbox form and a large brick center chimney. A small 1-story bump-out with corner pilaster is located at the inner corner of these left side ells. On the rear side of them is a glazed conservatory with French doors giving out onto a large terrace, supported by a low stone retaining wall. A recent large addition included a 1-story hyphen extending from the left side of the pavilion. It has eyebrow dormers with fanlight windows on front and back, and an arched opening flanked by pilasters to a recessed entry with French doors. This recent addition also included a forward projecting wing on its left, with exposed brick chimney on its front gable end. The rear facade of the new left-side additions has French doors. The windows look to have been replaced, but most of the window blinds are authentic.

A semi-circular gravel driveway off Cliffwood Street is centered on the front entry. A metal fence runs along the front lot line. The lot is double fronted with Yokun Avenue bordering the rear lot line. A tennis court is located close to Yokun Avenue. An in-ground pool is located behind and right of the house, along with a gazebo. There are numerous mature deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs and ornamental objects on the extensive grounds.

NOTE: this house is not depicted on the 1911 Sanborn Map, but is on the October 1911 – June 1939 updated Sanborn Map and is labeled “G. K. Livermore.”

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

After the division of the Stokes property, Three Acres became the home of Mr. & Mrs. Fenno. Mr. Fenno was the Choir Master at Trinity Church. Mrs. Fenno was the former Miss Trenor. After the death of Mr. Fenno, his widow married Mr. G.K. Livermore. She lived at Three Acres until her death. The home was then sold to Mrs. Ralph Pulitzer.

The Chain of Title is as follows:

1963 Mrs. Englebert Krichels

1972 Peter & Brigitte Berger

1978 James S. & Harriet O. Cole.

1981 David and Rose Dortort

1983 Mr. George Krupp.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1911 Sanborn Map, October 1911 – June 1939 updated Sanborn Map

Town of Lenox Records

Lenox Massachusetts Shire Town, David Wood. P. 201

Registry of Deeds