Human activity including migrations, individual people, families and the institutions they formed in Lenox. Geography, historic sites and homes in Lenox.
Based on Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
This Greek Revival/Queen Anne style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and is intact. It is a wood frame, with cross-gable roof with arched bracing, a king post with pinnacle and pendant in side gable. There is a brick center chimney and it has wood clapboard siding. There are scroll sawn brackets & braces on the full front porch. It has 2-over-2 Roman-arched attic window and 6-over-6 windows with authentic window blind. There is a 1-story box oriel on left side, a 1.5-story rear ell on the left side and it has a stone foundation.
The arched roof bracing is not a sufficient indicator of the Stick Style as it was far more common in Queen Anne-style houses. Thus the architectural style is Greek Revival/Queen Anne.
The original section of this building is a temple-front Greek Revival house with corner pilasters, plain board frieze and architrave forming a triangular pediment in the front gable. After the building was moved to its present site, it was enlarged by the addition of a cross-gable wing which has the decorative trusses associated with the Stick Style, a style not commonly found in Lenox. The building was later further enlarged by the addition of porches in the ell formed by this wing. These porches have since been enclosed.
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:
Originally built on the present site of Trinity Church at the junction of Walker and Kemble Streets by William Perrin Walker. The house was purchased by Josiah Lyman in 1848. Lyman, a principal of Lenox Academy lived in this house for many years. His son, the Rev. Dr. A.J. Lyman, inherited the property but resided in Brooklyn and rented out the house.
In 1886 the original property location was purchased by the Episcopalians as the site for the new Trinity Church and for a short time after the churches completion, this house served as a rectory. In 1889 the home was given to the Methodists who moved it to its present Church Street location. It served as the Methodist Parsonage until the Methodist Church building next door was sold in 1926. The house was subsequently converted to use as apartments and shops.
Chain of Title:
Franklin Carpenter (owner of land)
1851 Methodist Episcopal Church ($375) (parcel of land)
1888 Methodist Episcopal Society from William O. Curtis (land) $2,000
1922 James Fantini
1925 Hermann A. Clement
1951 Margaret Swicker
1971 Paul F. & Gloria Rodhouse ($64,000)
1980 Paul Wolworth
1985 Fred Grill
2005 Barbara Grill
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:
Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds Books and pages: 88/31, 118/449, 127/377, 267/344, 419.275, 576/470-2, 938/517
Tucker Manuscript, Lenox Library
The Book of Berkshire, Clark W. Bryan, 1886 and 1890
Information from Surveys Completed 2012-2013 by Lenox Historical Commission
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
This Colonial Revival style building has two stories, a slate roof and has been significantly altered. It is a wood frame and originally a three-bay front façade facing street with front gable roof (indicated by spacing of windows on front facade), and cornice returns. It has 4 brick chimneys and intact 2-over-2 windows. A large 2-story rear addition extends to both right and left of original house with broken-eave gabled wall dormer on the front of the right section. There are two 2-story faceted bay windows on the right side and a 1-story box bay window on the left side. There is a triangular attic window in the front gable.
Originally a simple farmhouse, this building has been altered and enlarged many times. The late-Victorian renovations are the most clearly visible elements of the structure, although the restrained nature of the detailing has preserved a Federal quality. The origin of the rear portion can be seen in its barn-like form.
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:
The original two-room structure was the farmhouse of John Whitlock, an early settler in Lenox whose farmlands occupied much of what became Lenox Village. In the late 1770’s Whitlock opened his house as an inn following the pattern of many Berkshire householders who supplemented their farming income by providing lodging for stagecoach travelers. Whitlock sold off his farmland in the late 18th century including the land for what was to become Church Street, which was purchased by the Town in 1815. In 1821 the house and lot was purchased by Lemuel Parsons for $105.00. Mr. Parsons, a wagon-maker returned it to use as a private home. Around 1890 Graham Root purchased the property and greatly enlarged the house by attaching two barns. He then opened the house once again as an inn which was officially named “The Graham Root Inn”. But the Inn was generally known as the Grey House.
Property was purchased by the Rudisill Maintenance Trust in 1983 and by Bennington Bear Inc. in 2004. Today it operates as the Village Inn.
Chain of Title:
1771 John Whitlock
1821 Lemuel Parsons ($105.00)
1900 G. E. Root (Gorham Root Inn)
1904 Mrs. E. Spenser
Estate of Josephine Farnham
Cameron Marshall
George Bull Family
1970 Richard & Marie Judd (Named Village Inn)
1981 Clifford Rudisill & Ray Wilson
1983 Rudisill Maintenance Trust
2004 Bennington Bear Inc.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:
Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield, MA 55.448, 64.137, 62.666
Based on Surveys Completed 2012-2013 by the Lenox Historical Commission
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
This Colonial Revival style building has two stories with an asphalt shingle roof, 7-bays, a center entrance, and masonry construction. The building is intact. The hipped roof has overhanging eaves, modillions, and dentils in the cornice band below. The brick is laid up in a variation of common bond (headers interspersed with stretchers every 7 rows). There is stone quoining. There is a 2-story pedimented pavilion, with modillions & dentil bands, and 4 fluted Corinthian columns paired with matching pilasters behind. The lantern atop the building has a gilded dome, garland swags, modillions, paired Ionic columns, an arcade flanked by pilasters, and a balustrade atop square platform. Windows have stone window headers and splayed headers with 3-part keystones. The door surround with molded hood has dentils, is supported by console brackets, and displays a geometric pattern in the transom. The Left side entry has a pedimented porch supported by Doric columns. There is a large 1-story rear ell, 6 bays deep, with an exposed basement and hipped roof.
The use of neoclassical style for this building reflects the popularity of this style during this period, particularly for civic buildings. The red brick and white classical trim of the Town Hall is evocative of the Curtis Hotel, which stands directly across the street.
Architect was George C. Harding (1867-4/23/1921)
George Harding was the senior member of the firm of Harding & Seaver, architects of several noted public buildings in the New England area. Mr. Harding was a native and life-long citizen of Pittsfield, educated in architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and had been active professionally since 1896. After working alone for a time, in 1902 he formed a partnership with Henry M. Seaver, and under the firm name acquired a wide and successful practice. His most important works include the following buildings: Museum of Natural History and Art at Pittsfield, 1907; the Y.M.C.A. Building, 1908; Lathrop Hall, 1905, and Memorial Chapel, 1914, at Colgate University, Hamilton, N.Y.; Town Hall at Lenox, Mass., 1903, and Colby Academy at New London, N.H. Mr. Harding also designed a number of fine homes, one distinguished example being the country house of former Senator Crane at Dalton, Mass.”[1
From MACRIS List – Sept. 16, 2008
Inv. No
Property Name
Street
City/Town
Year Built
LEN.25
Lenox Town Hall
6 Walker St
Lenox
1901
LEN.296
Slater, William House
249 Under Mountain Rd
Lenox
1901
LEN.23
Curtis Hotel
6 Main St
Lenox
1829
LEN.19
Hagyard, Frank C. Store
36 Main St
Lenox
1910
LEN.100
Hegeman, Annie May House
61 Cliffwood St
Lenox
1925
LEN.26
Lenox Fire House
14 Walker St
Lenox
1909
LEN.29
Peters, Leonard C. Block
46-50 Walker St
Lenox
1917
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:
This structure was built to replace the first County Courthouse, which had housed town offices since 1816. In 1816 the courts moved to the brick building, which now serves as the Lenox Library. The new Town Hall contained a post office, as the older one had, and also space for a bank, police station, and fire station. After the new firehouse was built adjacent to the Town Hall, the rear of the building was used for a time as an opera house. It is still used as the Lenox Town Hall.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:
The 1905 Sanborn Map labels rear ell as “Opera House”.
Lenox Town Reports
Biography of Architects, Withy
Lenox – Massachusetts Shire Town. David H. Wood, 1969
Lenox Assessor’s Database 2012
[1] Henry F. Withey, AIA and Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased)(Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970) p. 264.
From Surveys Completed 2012-2013 by the Lenox Historical Commission
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
This Colonial Revival style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and is intact. It has 2-bay, 2-story, masonry construction, and brick laid up in variation of common bond (headers interspersed with stretchers every 7 courses). There is a hipped roof and a pavilion with pediment and modillions. There is marble quoining at corners of both main building and pavilion. There are 2 vehicular bays with flared marble headers and 3-part keystones; above each vehicle bay is a 3-part window with marble lintels (headers flared) with 2-o-2 windows flanking a larger 8-o-8 middle window. There is a marble foundation/water table.
Although built several years after the Town Hall, the firehouse was constructed of the same materials and continues the neoclassical style of the larger Town Hall building. The firm of Harding and Seaver designed the firehouse. George Harding had been the architect for the Town Hall. Clifford Sons, the firm in whose building the 1909 fire began, undertook the construction of the building.
Harding and Seaver Architects
George C. Harding (1867-4/23/1921)
George Harding was the senior member of the firm of Harding & Seaver, architects of several noted public buildings in the New England area. Mr. Harding was a native and life-long citizen of Pittsfield, educated in architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and had been active professionally since 1896. After working alone for a time, in 1902 he formed a partnership with Henry M. Seaver, and under the firm name acquired a wide and successful practice. His most important works include the following buildings: Museum of Natural History and Art at Pittsfield, 1907; the Y.M.C.A. Building, 1908; Lathrop Hall, 1905, and Memorial Chapel, 1914, at Colgate University, Hamilton, N.Y.; Town Hall at Lenox, Mass., 1903, and Colby Academy at New London, N.H. Mr. Harding also designed a number of fine homes, one distinguished example being the country house of former Senator Crane at Dalton, Mass.” [1]
From MACRIS List – Sept. 16, 2008
Inv. No
Property Name
Street
City/Town
Year Built
LEN.25
Lenox Town Hall
6 Walker St
Lenox
1901
LEN.296
Slater, William House
249 Under Mountain Rd
Lenox
1901
LEN.23
Curtis Hotel
6 Main St
Lenox
1829
LEN.19
Hagyard, Frank C. Store
36 Main St
Lenox
1910
LEN.100
Hegeman, Annie May House
61 Cliffwood St
Lenox
1925
LEN.26
Lenox Fire House
14 Walker St
Lenox
1909
LEN.29
Peters, Leonard C. Block
46-50 Walker St
Lenox
1917
Henry M. Seaver (3/6/1873 –
The Edward A. Jones Memorial Building was designed by Pittsfield architect Henry M. Seaver. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1897 and began his own architectural firm in 1901.[2] By 1903 he had entered into a partnership with George C. Harding that lasted until Harding’s death in 1921.[3] During that period the firm designed the YMCA Building in Pittsfield; the Chapel at Colgate University in central New York; the Museum of Natural History and Art in Pittsfield; the Colby Academy in New London, New Hampshire; and the Lenox Town Hall.[4] After Harding’s death in 1921, Seaver kept the office open through 1933, during which time he designed the Jones building at the House of Mercy. Other buildings for which he was responsible in this period include the R.J. Flick Residence; an addition to the Berkshire Life Building in Pittsfield; and an addition to the Pittsfield Boys Club Building. He was also an associate architect on the Pittsfield High School Building.[5]
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:
The Lenox Fire Department was formed and this firehouse was constructed as a direct result of the Easter fire of 1909. On the night of April 10-11 of that year, a fire broke out in the Clifford block on Main Street, killing six people and eventually spreading to other buildings, destroying much of the block between Main, Church, Housatonic, and Franklin Streets. Lenox at that time had only a small, poorly organized and ill-equipped volunteer fire department, and help had to be summoned from Pittsfield, Lee and Lenox Dale. Since the 1890’s the town officials had been warned by fire insurance companies that fire protection in Lenox was inadequate, but the few attempts to organize a fire department failed due to lack of support from the town’s most prominent citizens. The day after the 1909 fire a committee on fire protection was formed, although some commented that it was like locking the barn door after the horse had been stolen.
At a special town meeting held June 16, 1909, the committee recommended the formation of a fire company, and steps were taken to supply hydrants and adequate water pressure. Money was appropriated later that year for the purchase of apparatus, and sites considered for the engine house. After several sites were investigated and rejected, it was voted to erect a new firehouse on the lot just east of Town Hall, and $11,000 was appropriated for its construction.
It is currently owned by the Town of Lenox and serves as the Lenox Firehouse.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:
The Berkshire Eagle April 12-14, 1909
Lenox Town Reports, 1909
Lenox Assessor’s Database
[1] Henry F. Withey, AIA and Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased)(Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970) p. 264.
[2] Berkshire Athenaeum/Pittsfield Library, History Department, Architects file.
[3] Henry F. Withey, AIA and Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased)(Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970) p 264.
[4] Massachusetts Cultural Resource Inventory System (MACRIS) online at: <http://mhc-macris.net>
[5] Berkshire Athenaeum/Pittsfield Library, History Department, Architects file.
From Surveys Completed 2012-2013 by the Lenox Historical Commission
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
This Tudor Revival style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof, and is intact. This structure has 5-bay, brick & wood framed construction and a hipped roof with shed-roofed dormers. There is brick cladding on the 1st floor laid up in English bond with stucco with half-timbering on the upper story, and wood shingles on the dormer sides. The articulated 2nd floor overhangs the front façade, and is supported by large wood brackets with sets of 3 windows flanking a center bay w/4 windows – all 4-o-4. There are leaded 12-light transoms over 3-part storefront windows. The recessed Left side ell has a gable roof which is 2-bays wide & has a steeply pitched canopy over the entry to the 2nd floor. The door has 3 vertical panels with decorative wood graining and a 6-light leaded glass window; pent between the 2nd floor and the attic level in the Left side ell. There is a 1-story rear ell and a rear wall chimney between the main house and the rear ell. The foundation is concrete.
Harding and Seaver Architects
George C. Harding (1867-4/23/1921)
“Senior member of the firm of Harding & Seaver, architects of several noted public buildings in the New England area. Mr. Harding was a native and life-long citizen of Pittsfield, educated in architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and had been active professionally since 1896. After working alone for a time, in 1902 he formed a partnership with Henry M. Seaver, and under the firm name acquired a wide and successful practice. His most important works include the following buildings: Museum of Natural History and Art at Pittsfield, 1907; the Y.M.C.A. Building, 1908; Lathrop Hall, 1905, and Memorial Chapel, 1914, at Colgate University, Hamilton, N.Y.; Town Hall at Lennox, Mass., 1903, and Colby Academy at New London, N.H. Mr. Harding also designed a number of fine homes, one distinguished example being the country house of former Senator Crane at Dalton, Mass.” [1]
From MACRIS List – Sept. 16, 2008
Inv. No
Property Name
Street
City/Town
Year Built
LEN.25
Lenox Town Hall
6 Walker St
Lenox
1901
LEN.296
Slater, William House
249 Under Mountain Rd
Lenox
1901
LEN.23
Curtis Hotel
6 Main St
Lenox
1829
LEN.19
Hagyard, Frank C. Store
36 Main St
Lenox
1910
LEN.100
Hegeman, Annie May House
61 Cliffwood St
Lenox
1925
LEN.26
Lenox Fire House
14 Walker St
Lenox
1909
LEN.29
Peters, Leonard C. Block
46-50 Walker St
Lenox
1917
Henry M. Seaver (3/6/1873 –
The Edward A. Jones Memorial Building was designed by Pittsfield architect Henry M. Seaver. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1897 and began his own architectural firm in 1901.[2] By 1903 he had entered into a partnership with George C. Harding that lasted until Harding’s death in 1921.[3] During that period the firm designed the YMCA Building in Pittsfield; the Chapel at Colgate University in central New York; the Museum of Natural History and Art in Pittsfield; the Colby Academy in New London, New Hampshire; and the Lenox Town Hall.[4] After Harding’s death in 1921, Seaver kept the office open through 1933, during which time he designed the Jones building at the House of Mercy. Other buildings for which he was responsible in this period include the R.J. Flick Residence; an addition to the Berkshire Life Building in Pittsfield; and an addition to the Pittsfield Boys Club Building. He was also an associate architect on the Pittsfield High School Building.[5]
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
This building was built as a combination commercial and residential structure, with retail space on the first floor and an apartment below. In 1918, it housed an antique shop and the first Lenox savings Bank, with the owner of the building, Leonard C. Peters, residing upstairs. The Peters family has retained ownership of the building, and although the businesses have changed the commercial/residential mix has stayed the same.
Eventually the antique shop was replaced by a medical office, and in 1957/8 the bank and medical office were replaced by Talbot’s Dress Shop. On July 31, 1979 Talbots The, Inc. took over ownership.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
Jane Peters Heathfield
Registry of Deeds (Book 384, p.244)
[1] Henry F. Withey, AIA and Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased)(Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970) p. 264.
[2] Berkshire Athenaeum/Pittsfield Library, History Department, Architects file.
[3] Henry F. Withey, AIA and Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased)(Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970) p 264.
[4] Massachusetts Cultural Resource Inventory System (MACRIS) online at: <http://mhc-macris.net>
[5] Berkshire Athenaeum/Pittsfield Library, History Department, Architects file.
From Surveys Completed 2012-2013 by the Lenox Historical Commission
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
This Greek Revival style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof, and is intact. It has 3-bay, and wood framing. The front gable roof–temple has a front with corner pilasters and a hefty entablature. There is a brick center chimney and a 4-bay Left side ell, 1 bay deep, with a brick rear wall chimney. The recessed entry has a flat-roofed entrance porch with 4 fluted Doric columns (replacements) and pilasters, and 2 smaller fluted columns set back with the entry. The door surround has 2/3rds-length sidelights of geometric design. The front door is in tact. There is an enclosed glazed porch along the front of the Left side ell. There are authentic wood window blinds and some original 2-o-2 and 6-o-6 windows. The foundation is marble.
*Additional Major Alterations: porch and wing added, side porch enclosed in glass.
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:
The first inhabitant of this house, Richard Walker, was a local farmer. His daughter married Dr. E.P. Hale, a physician who served on the Town Board of Health from 1890-1898. Dr. Hale and his wife lived in this house, which also served as his office. Dr. Hale was also president of the Lenox Savings Bank. In the early 1900’s, the Misses Brooks acquired the property and ran a rooming house and tea room. They also used it as Headquarters for the British Relief effort in WW I. It was purchased by William G. Clifford on November 20, 1959 and then by John D. Foulds on May 3, 2002.
From Surveys Completed 2012-2013 by the Lenox Historical Commission
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
This Colonial Revival style building has two stories and a slate roof. The structure has been altered. The building has 3-bay, wood framing, and a hipped roof with slate shingles. There are modillions on the eaves, 1 large brick interior chimney, and 1 large Left sidewall chimney. There are 3 gabled dormers on the front, 1 gabled dormer on the Left side, and corner pilasters. There is also a large 2-story hipped roof rear ell with a 1-story extension wrapping around it. There are some intact 6-o-1 windows, 2 Doric columns at the opening to the recessed entrance (once a freestanding entrance porch), and a gabled rear entry on the left side of the rear ell (added before 1911).
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:
1854 Clark Map labeled house as “H. W. Taft” then 1876 Beers Map labeled it as “Mrs. Wm. Thompson” (demolished); current house first depicted on 1893 Sanborn Map.
This is the earlier of two houses owned as summer cottages by Florence Bishop, in 1885. The cottages were generally rented to summer visitors, or used to house overflow from the Bishop’s estate, Interlaken (dem.). After its purchase in 1949, by Karl and Sophie Grosser, this house became a restaurant and Inn.
October 8, 1874 built by Henry W. Bishop, sold to Ellen L. Thompson, then bought by William Curtis.
October 17, 1885 Florence Bishop purchased from William Curtis.
January 31, 1921 Florence V.C. Parsons from Cortland L. Bishop.
February 14, 1921 Charles L. Slattery from Florence V.C. Parsons
July 16, 1926 Katherine McDonald from Beatrice B. Bishop
October 21, 1945 Joseph F. Deely from Mary McDonald
November 22, 1949 purchased by Louis C. Ardel and Albert Blaser.
___________, 1949 purchased by Karl and Sophie Grosser and run as a restaurant called Chef Karl’s.
April 29, 1963, purchased by John and Ann Pedretti and run as a restaurant called The Toby Jug.
October 7, 1977, purchased by James DeMayo and run as a restaurant and inn called The Candlelight Inn.
September 1985, purchased by Robert Artig and Marsha Heller and run as a restaurant and inn called The Candlelight Inn.
August 19, 2002, purchased by John M. Hedgecock.
September 19, 2002, purchased by Rebecca M. Hedgecock.
August 31,m 2004, purchased by William G. C. Dakin.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:
1854 Clark Map, 1876 Beers Map, 1893 Sanborn Map
Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield, MA
Atlas of the Garden Spots of Berkshire, Barnes & Jenks, 1894
Atlas of Berkshire County, Massachusets, Barnes & Farnham, 1904
From Surveys Completed 2012-2013 by the Lenox Historical Commission
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
This Colonial Revival style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof, and has been significantly altered. This structure has 3-bays, a center entrance, a wood frame, and a hipped roof. There is a shallow entrance pavilion with a pediment, a fanlight attic window, modillions & dentils. There is a 3-part window with 2-o-1 windows flanking larger 6-o-1 on the 2nd floor of the pavilion. There are pedimented dormers–2 front, 2 right side, and 1 left side. There are 2 large brick interior chimneys and a full front porch which has a projecting center section aligned with the pediment above. There is a set of 3 Doric columns at the corners of the porch’s center section and a millwork railing. The recessed front entrance has door surround with sidelights; the front door is intact. The windows are 6-o-1 with molded window headers. There is a 1-story faceted bay window on the left side, and a 2-story rear ell with a hipped roof, and a rear porch with a hipped roof and a hooded entry on the left side. There is a semi-circle driveway in front yard centered on entrance.
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:
This is one of two cottages built by the Bishop family (the other is 35 Walker Street). Both were built as guest cottages by the Bishops, who owned several large estates in Lenox. This house was built by Florence V.C. Bishop (who later became Mrs. White through her second marriage) and was given to David Wolf Bishop, who never lived in the cottage. In 1921, it was purchased by Charles Lewis Slatterly, the Bishop of Western Massachusetts, who in turn sold cottage #2 to James and Maude Reger. In 1927 the house was acquired by Alice Regnier. In 1957 the cottage was inherited by Clement J. and Hilaire Regnier. On February 25, 1994 it was acquired by Charles T. Schulze.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:
Registry of Deeds
Conversations with Mr. Clement Regnier
Atlas of Garden Spots of Berkshire, Barnes and Jenks, 1894
Atlas of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Barnes and Farnham, 1904
88 Walker St., Trinity Episcopal Church Parish House – 1896
From Form B’s Completed by Lenox Historical Commission 2012-2013
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
This Romanesque style building has one story, with a red slate roof, and is intact. It has a cruciform plan styled after a Norman church. The masonry construction is of rock-faced granite with a dressed granite trim. It has a front gable roof with parapet walls, and wings with cross gables, also having parapet walls. There is a tall stone side wall chimney behind the Right side wing and the front entry porch on the East side is in the form of a semi-circle with Roman-arched openings, 7 sets of columns & 2 sets of pilasters, each with a different capital cornice with reverse crenellated molding. Semi-circular steps and stoop lead up to the porch. There is an arched door surround with 2 granite columns and a curvilinear carving on the stone header & plain stones on outer band. There are Roman-arched double entry doors with elaborate metal strap hinges. A small rose window is in the gable peak above the porch and small rectangular attic windows in the cross wings. Projecting from the Southwest gable end is a shallow chancel with a slightly lower gable roof. Windows in pairs & sets of 3 are Roman-arched and 2 flank the Northwest side entry. The foundation is of stone.
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
Trinity Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 26, 1996.
In 1896, John E. Parsons, a wealthy New York attorney. gave Trinity church this handsome Parish House in memory of his late wife, Mrs. Mary Dumesnil Parsons, who had died the same year (1896). The Parsons, who also lived in New York City and Rye, N.Y., had been summering in Lenox since 1871.
The Parish House was built to resemble a small Norman church and to be consistent with Trinity Church. Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) was selected to paint the over-mantel for the parlor, which consisted of two panel oil paintings on wood. Parsons also donated handsome directional markers to the Town of Lenox. One is on the corner of the property in the form of an obelisk stone marker. They were erected in Lenox in 1892, but the marker which is now on the Trinity Parish property was not moved there until 1927.
The Parish House has seen use as a church school, for youth group meetings, AA, and recreational and social activities.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
Trinity Church, Lenox. John Allen Gable,1966.
Assesors Data Base.
Interviews with Mrs. Robert Whitman, wife of the pastor of the church.
National Register of Historic Places
Gable, John Allen. The Goodness that Doth Crown Our Days, A History of Trinity Parish, 1993.
Palmer, C.J. History of Trinity Church, 1763-1895 , Cambridge,1895.
Tucker, G.H. History of Lenox, 1936, Republished by Lenox Library, 1992.
From Form B’s Completed by Lenox Historical Commission 2012-2013
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:
This Queen Anne style building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and has been altered. There is a 7-bay, center entrance. The building has wood frame construction with a hipped roof and 2 large brick interior chimneys. The first floor has wood clapboard siding and shingle cladding on the second floor. The upper story flares out at bottom over the first floor. Two pedimented shallow pavilions flank the entrance porch. The entrance porch has a front gable roof, 6 turned posts, and scroll sawn braces. There are 2 stories of balconies above entrance porch (one at the 2nd floor and one at the attic level. There are 13-light Queen Anne-style windows with small square panes surrounding larger square pane in the middle. LANDSCAPE: there is a semi circular driveway in the front yard centered on the front entrance.
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:
On November 19, 1856, Ira T. Bangs sold this property to Elizabeth and Wickham Hoffman. The Hoffman’s sold to George A. Winchell, July 12, 1871. George A. Winchell sold to Nancy W. Rogers on October 3, 1884.
Mrs. M. E. Rogers of Philadelphia had this house built in 1885, for use as a summer residence. By 1890 the house had been rented for the season to John Burrell, and in 1892 it was sold to Nancy W. Wharton (Mrs. William C.) who summered here with her daughter. Mrs. Wharton’s son, Edward, was married to novelist Edith Wharton who was to become one of the most illustrious residents of Lenox. After spending several summers in Newport, Edith Wharton, displeased with both the climate and the lack of intellectual life there, came to Lenox. She stayed at “Pine Acre”, home of her Mother-in law and Sister-in-law, who were abroad at the time. She was very impressed with Lenox that she returned to “Pine Acre” the following summer and, in February of 1902, returned to Lenox to look for a house site of her own. While looking for the site she stayed at the Curtis Hotel. She spent one last summer at “Pine Acre” in 1902, while her house, “The Mount”, was under construction.
Mrs. William C. Wharton continued to stay at “Pine Acre” for several summers until her death in August of 1909 in Lenox. The house was purchased by William J. and Mary E. Merrick through the estate of William C. Wharton in 1929. In February 23, 1946, the house was sold to Mrs. Charles Dugan and Mary Dugan, who converted it to an inn. On December 27, 1963, the Dugans sold to William J. and Lois G. Sununu. In October 1969 the Sununu’s sold to Helen L. Fillio. Helen Fillio sold to John C. and Ida M. Connors on March 1, 1971. Connors sold to James W. Kelly on March 15, 1978. Kelly, who created and ran “Kelly’s Irish Pub,” sold the property to Lewis and Inna T. Rubin on February 2, 1979. Rubin sold to Robert P. Butler, who ran an inn on the site called “Three Gables Inn”, on June 7, 1982. Butler sold to Mary and Francis Newton on April 18, 1986. Newton changed the name from “Three Gables Inn” to “The Gables Inn”. In 2007, Frank Newton converted “The Gables” into 5 condominiums. The current owners of the condominiums are: Elliott R Morss, Harvey Siegel and Christine Hoppus, Mark A. Peeler, Terence G. McInerney, and Francis Newton.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:
Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield, MA 150.538; 211.171; 257.427; 281.178; 448.130; 520.530; 776.249; 882.246; 902.394; 1001.585; 1016.585; 1059.129; 1144.286.
Edith Wharton – A Biography R.W.B. Lewis (N.Y. Harper & Row, 1975) page 93
Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor’s records, early maps, etc.)
