From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Italianate style wood frame building has two stories, a cross-gable roof with double bracketed eaves. It has wood clapboard siding, a brick rear wall chimney on rear the ell, an asphalt shingle roof and has been significantly altered.

This house presents a somewhat strange mixture of decorative elements applied to an oddly proportioned structure. The fanlights in the gables and the paired brackets under the eaves of the front gable appear to be later embellishments to an otherwise simple building.

This appears to be an earlier 3-bay house that was expanded after 1939 to its present dimensions & footprint – inspection of interior would be required to determine whether present structure is a replacement of the “T. Mahoney” house depicted on the 1854 Clark Map. Depicted as the “Mrs. B. Mahanna” house on the 1875 Beers Map and on the 1893 Sanborn Map.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This was one of the three houses on Church Street owned by members of the Mahanna family.

In 1875 a lot owned by Timothy and Bridget Mahanna was divided between two of their children with this half deeded to daughter Bridget M. Mahanna and the other half going to son Michael Mahanna.

Bridget’s nephew Timothy conducted a fish and fruit market on the lawn south of the house.

The property was purchased by Player J. Crosby in 1980 and then by Charles T. Schulze in 1998.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1854 Clark Map, 1875 Beers Map, 1893 Sanborn Map

Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield, Ma. Book 223, Page 261

Lenox Assessor’s database 2011

Based on Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Shingle style building has an asphalt shingle roof, is intact and has a brick center chimney.

This is one of the few Shingle Style 2 story houses in Lenox where the Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles enjoyed greater popularity in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Vernacular interpretations of this style are somewhat unusual and this example displays only a few characteristics of the fully developed architect-designed shingle style. The over-sized front gable which dominates the main face has relatively little adornment. Paired windows punctuate the center of the gable and a two-story oriel projects slightly providing surface interest.

Dentils run beneath the oriel and between the second story and the gable. The dentils also ornament the smaller cross-gable on the side façade. The shingles from which this style takes its name are here used only on the upper portion of the house, with the shingled surface flaring out at the point where it meets the clapboards of the first story. The porch recessed into one corner of the house is another hallmark of the shingle style.

It is depicted on the 1893 Sanborn Map with attached barn & labeled “John Gorham Carriage Facy [factory]” in rear portion of property with additional miscellaneous buildings.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

The original owner of this home was Michael Mahanna. Mr. Mahanna operated a livery stable on the premises and rented horses, carriages, sleighs and hacks for funerals.

Upon his death, his son, William T. Mahanna took over the property, renovating the house and detaching the sheds and barns used for the livery stables. He also built the barn that now exists to the rear of the premises. The new barn housed trotting horses as well as a family horse and pony. William Mahanna had extensive holdings in Lenox including the Mahanna Block on Main Street and the Mahanna Hotel on Church Street.

This house remained in the Mahanna family and in 1988 was owned by William Mahanna’s daughter, Marjorie and her husband Edward P. Daley. The property was sold to Anthony B. Chojnowski in 2007.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1893 Sanborn Map

Conversations with Mr. & Mrs. Edward P. Daley

Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield, MA Books/Page 264/63 and 265/202

Lenox Assessor’s database 2011

Based on Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Commercial Italianate style building has three stories, a flat roof and has been minimally altered. It has masonry construction with brick, a flat roof, and two levels of corbelling at cornice. There are paired windows in the center bay of front façade, and stone banding (also serving as window sills) between 1st & 2nd and 2nd & 3rd floors. It has arched window openings with soldier course brickwork.

A modest commercial block with decorative brickwork confined to the corbelled cornice. The 3 bay front façade is divided by shallow brick piers, windows are surmounted by brick relieving arches.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

William Mahanna, a prominent businessman in the area, built this as a hotel around 1908. The building was constructed of Lenox Brick, probably from the brick yard on the Lenox-Pittsfield Road (near the Quarry) owned and operated by Mr. Mahanna. Mr. Mahanna also had extensive real estate holdings including the Mahanna Block on Main Street (1903) and a house on Church Street.

The building remained in the Mahanna family & was passed onto Mahanna’s daughter Florence. In 1946 it was sold to George Shaker and John J. Kock. The name Mahanna Hotel was retained through several subsequent owners until 1968 when it became the Lenox Apartments.

Chain of Title – Books/Pages

1908    William Mahanna built –

Florence Mahanna (daughter – inherited)

1946    George Shaker & John J. Koch 524/270

1961    Lucille & Ralph Crissey (purchased from Lenox Savings Bank) 720/262

1964    Pioneer Investment Corp by Foreclosure sale

1968    Carl L. Proper, Proper Realty Trust

1986    Evelyn Witkowski

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1905 and 1911 Sanborn Maps

Registry of Deeds

Josephine Pignatelli

Lenox Assessor’s database 2011

Based on Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

The original 19^th century vernacular dwelling has been obscured by later additions and alterations. This undetermined style wood frame building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and front gable roof with cross-gabled side ell on the right.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

One of the many properties owned by William Mahanna. Tunnels under this building had connected it with the Mahanna Hotel. The tunnels were reported to have been where bootleg liquor was stored during Prohibition.

In the rear of the building was a long shed in which the Town stored its horse drawn fire-fighting equipment, hook, ladder and steamer.

In 2007 it was purchased by PTW Development LLC – Church Street Condominium

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1854 and 1876 Clark Maps

Atlas of Berkshire County, Mass. F.W.Bears, 1876

Lenox Assessor’s database 2011

Based on Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Gothic Revival style wood frame building has two stories, an asphalt shingle roof and has been significantly altered.

A modest gable front-and-wing house typical to those built in Lenox in the second half of the 19^th century displays a cross-gable roof w/scroll sawn or incised verge board in geometric design, wood clapboard siding, a full front porch w/shed roof, recessed side ell, a box bay window w/paired windows, hipped roof, scroll sawn brackets on 2nd floor front façade and hipped window hoods.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This is the earliest of the trio of Mahanna houses built on Church Street (the other two are located at 56 Church and 62 Church).

Timothy Mahanna (spelled Mahanny in the early records) and his wife Bridget (nee Norman) were among the first Irish immigrants who settled in Lenox in the 1840’s. Bridget was involved in the formation of the Catholic parish in Lenox. In 1846 she opened her home to Father Brady who said Mass there on an informal basis for several years.

The Mahanna’s seem to have lived at several addresses before they purchased the lot in 1856 and built this home. The house remained in the Mahanna family though the 19^thth century and eventually come into the ownership of William Mahanna.

William Mahanna also owned the adjacent properties as well as numerous buildings in Lenox.

In 2007 the property was purchased by Lenox Acquisitions LLC – Shire Town Condominium

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield, MA Book 148 Page 70

Lenox Assessor’s database 2011