Tag Archives: Lenox History

169 Under Mountain Rd., John Parsons House – c.1875

September 11, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

The property contains a complex of farm buildings, almost all of which exhibit the architectural characteristics of the Arts and Crafts style. The farmhouse is two stories in height, has a 5-bay front façade, and is two bays deep. It has both stone and wood frame construction. Random rough-face cut stones quarried on the site clad the first floors, while wood shingle siding is used on the upper portions of the house. It has a gable roof with gable dormers; verge boards have decorative scroll sawn ends. There are two large stone interior chimneys. There are two front gabled pavilions, each with a porch. The one on the right side of the front façade is under a second floor overhang, which is supported by turned posts, and has a millwork railing. A group of four double hung sash windows are on the second floor above it and a pair of attic windows above them. The porch on the left side is also under a second floor overhang—on the left side only. Two simple turned posts atop stone piers plus a massive stone pillar support the overhang. On the second floor are two sets of three windows, each set having a large fanlight transom and at the attic level is a set of three windows with four small brackets below; the shingle siding above flares out over them. Virtually all the windows are 1-o-1 double hung sashes, which may be original or replacements. There is a 2-story right side ell with slightly lower gable roof from which a 1-story hipped roof extension projects. A glazed conservatory has been added to the left side of the house, which has a shed roof that is partly solid and partly glazed.

A 2-plus-story basement barn is located to the right of the house. It has a gable roof and an exposed stone basement on the front and is clad with wood shingles above. A cross-gabled second floor pavilion is supported with scroll sawn brackets that contained the original hay door (now infilled with windows). Four- and 6-light barn sashes are set into the stone wall on the front. The entrance door is paneled. Double swing doors on the left side have 6-light windows over vertical panels. Lozenge windows are in the gable peaks. A roof vent has a hipped roof. A stone endwall chimney is on the left side. Extending from the left side of the barn is a recessed 1-story ell with gable roof and two cupola vents. It has a hay door in a dormer. A garage wing extends of its left side containing two double vehicle bays with newer overhead doors. That section has a large wood shingled front gabled dormer.

A long 1-story outbuilding with gable roof, set well back from the house and barn has a stone kneewall with wood shingle cladding above. Its front façade is articulated with a shallow, hipped-roof pavilion three bays wide, a projecting gable, and a smaller gabled bump-out. There are eight bays with paired windows plus a 2story polygonal turret at the far right side. A stone chimney is located between the gabled section and turret. A millwork railing encloses a patio area in front of the turret

A third outbuilding has been attached to the rear of the farmhouse with a 1-story hyphen. Another small, 1-story outbuilding, located between the house and barn, is a one-room schoolhouse that was moved to the property. It has a hipped roof topped with a bellcote. There are three glass doors on the front and four double hung windows on its left side. A stream runs from the hills behind the buildings between the various buildings and has been damned to create a small, stone-lined duck pond in the front yard (with attendant tiny duck house beside it). There is a stone wall in front of the house and a long one that runs along and across the road from the property. Mature specimen, deciduous and coniferous trees are scatted throughout the site, which also has open lawn areas.

Architect Charles T. Rathbun -1908^{^[1]}

Rathbun served as a Commissioner for Pittsfield’s “Main-drains, common sewers, and sidewalks” from 1867 – 1875.[2]

Other Buildings Designed by Rathbun (from MACRIS, unless otherwise footnoted):

1870 – Citizens’ Hall, West Stockbridge

1872 – Methodist Episcopal Church, Pittsfield[3]

1873 – Old Gas Works, Pittsfield

1874 – Memorial Town Hall, Lee

1874 – First Baptist Church (remodeled), Pittsfield[4]

1880 – Oman Block, Lee

1881 – Central Block, Pittsfield

1884 – Rosa England Block, Pittsfield

1887 – Hoosac Street School, Adams

1890 – Second Burns Block, Pittsfield

1893 – Housatonic Congregational Church, Great Barrington

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Stonover Farm was built in 1870 by John Parsons as the farm house for the Parsons Estate, Stonover on Yokun Avenue. The house was maintained by Mr. Herbert Parsons, a New York Congressman and his wife Elsie Crews (who was one of the first female anthropologists, AH). They lived there with their daughter who maintained the property after their death, Mrs. John D. Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy left the property to Mr. Herbert Patterson of New York. After his death he left the property to his secretary. The property was then purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Dovydenas.

The property without the barn was transferred to Lawrence and Rosemary Geller in 1990. Tom and Suky Werman purchased the house in 2000 and the barn in 2003 and have made extensive renovations to convert Stonover Farm into a renowned Bed and Breakfast Inn.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Marcia B. Brown

Janet H. Pumphrey

Town of Lenox Assessor Card

[1] American Architecture & Building News, VOL. XCIV, No. 1703, August 12, 1908 issue, p. 16.

[2] J. E. A. Smith, History of Pittsfield From the Year 1800 to the Year 1876, (Springfield, MA: C. W. Bryan & Co, 1876), p. 572.

[3] Ibid, p. 446.

[4] Ibid, pp.442-443.

Places

119 Under Mountain Rd., Daniel C. Belden House – c.1875

September 11, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This is a 2-story Federal period building of brick construction (modified common bond) with a 3-bay front facade and front gable roof with pediment and fanlight attic window. The roof is clad with asphalt shingles. It has a brick chimney at the right rear corner and another on the right side wall. The front entrance is recessed within an arched opening, in the right-most bay. The door surround has a fanlight transom, ¾-length, 21-pane sidelights in a “plaid” muntin pattern. This section of the house has a long 2-story rear extension, with slightly lower gable roof and cupola. On its left (southwesterly) side runs a 1-story glazed porch. On its right side is a box bay supported by two massive Tuscan columns and a second box bay farther back is above a 1-story hipped-roof projection that fronts another 2-story cross-gabled rear addition terminating in a polygonal section on its right side (north end). That section has a brick center chimney. A greenhouse extends from the rear of these multiple rear additions. Back to the front facade, a large 2-story, 3-bay side ell with wood shingle siding extends left of the original 3-bay house. It has a brick endwall chimney on its left side, between it and a recessed 1-story addition to its left. The roof of this 1-story section extends to cover a porch running along its front, with chamfered pillars, a simple wood railing of horizontal members, and a small canopy supported by scroll sawn brackets at its entrance. The windows are primarily 6-o-6 and may be quite old if not original. The foundation is stone. With all the extensions and additions, the footprint of the building is roughly H-shaped.

A large barn, built c.1850, is located to the left and rear of the house. It has a gable roof with cupola/vent. A front-gabled, broken-eave dormer is on the roadside facade; a balcony projecting from it has been added, as have a set of glass doors below. The barn has been converted to studio/living space and now sports a Modern 2-story glass bay on its left side. A recessed 2-story, gable-roofed ell is on the right side and has a shed-roofed canopy over its entrance. Solar panels have been added to the roof on either side of the cupola. There is an in-ground swimming pool to the left of the house, across the driveway. A pool house on the left side of the pool has front gable roof with cupola facing the house. A split-rail wood fence runs along the front property line/road right-of-way. The property has been extensively landscaped with gardens and ornamental trees and shrubs that provide a privacy screen for both the house and pool. There are also many mature coniferous and deciduous trees on the property.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

First records of this house can be traced to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel C. Belden in 1889. They left the house in their will to their daughters Mary and Ellen. Mary Tappen and Ellen Dixey sold the property in 1928 to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hibbard. In 1962 they sold the house again to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sitzer. The house was sold again in 1972 to Mr. and Mrs. Malcom M. Frager.

The property was acquired by Anita Howe-Waxman in 1993 and then by Richard and Ingrid Taylor in 2000.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Lenox Town Hall Records

Pittsfield Registry of Deeds

Town of Lenox Assessor’s Card

Places

40 Plunkett St., Edward Spencer Carriage House – 1885

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From Forms Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This 3-story, 3-bay, wood frame, house exhibits the Tudor Revival style of architecture, popular in the early 20^th century. The construction date is on the center gable of the building, which was originally a carriage barn, probably containing quarters for hostlers or stablemen. There are multiple roof lines and gables, most clad with asphalt shingles, and several dormers. The primary finish on the building is stucco with some exposed wood timber framing. A central 3-story tower/entrance pavilion dominates the front facade. It has a front gable roof with half-timbering in the gable and at the third floor level, which contains a set of three diamond-paned, leaded glass casement windows. It has broken-eave gabled dormers on both sides, also with half-timbering. A stuccoed chimney stack tops this small roof. On the tower/pavilion’s second floor are similar leaded glass casement windows that wrap around the three sides (three on the front, two on the sides), but with transoms. The first floor of the tower/pavilion has Tudor arched entrance openings and recessed wood doors on the front and left sides. A 2-story cross-gabled section is located behind the tower/pavilion from which 2-story, flat-roof bays with parapet walls project. They have sets of four leaded glass casement windows on both first and second floors with single overarching label molds over each set. A massive stuccoed chimneystack is on the right gable end wall and there is another in the interior. Front gable dormers overlook the flat roofed sections. Extending from the right side of the main gabled section is a recessed 1-story wing with gable roof. On the left side of this section is a recessed 2-story square tower that is glazed on the front and left sides. Behind and to the left of this original building is a huge gable-roofed rear ell that extends far to the left. It also has a massive interior stuccoed chimney stack and gabled dormers. A metal fire escape from its front gabled attic window extends down to the ground. From this rear addition project two 2-story front-gabled bays with a flat-roofed section between. A terrace extends along the back of the rear section.

There are three accessory buildings on this property. One is a 1.5-story cottage named “Carriage House.” It has clipped, “Jerkin-head” gable roof with a front gabled wall dormer over its entrance. A 2-story rear ell has a cupola and a shed dormer with balconette. The building also has a long 2-story, 3-bay left side ell. It is stuccoed to match the lodge. To the north of it, is a second accessory building, 1-story with a 3-bay front facade. It has a front gabled entrance porch facing the main building. It too is stuccoed to match the lodge. On the east side of the main lodge is a c.1970 2-story, motel-like lodging facility with gable roof, second floor balcony that runs its length, on the rear, entrance side of the structure. It has vinyl siding and paired 1-o-1 windows on the street facade. There is a stone retaining wall facing the two small cottages that mediates the grade between them and a large unpaved parking lot, which is at a higher elevation. The lot extends along the front of the main lodge and connects on to a second parking arwea behind the cottages. A ground-mounted sign with shield shape identifies the complex as the “Seven Hills Inn.” Mature coniferous trees line the front and side property lines.

NOTE: Check National Register nomination for “The Mount” to see whether the main lodge building (original carriage house) was included in that. If so, it should be referenced on the Bldg Form.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This is the carriage house to Shipton court. It was built in 1911. The property has recently been renovated and restored by the most recent owners, Drewkat Partners, Inc. who acquired Seven Hill Inn in 2008. Shipton Court was established in 1911 by Mrs. Edward Spencer. She lived here many summers. In 1953 the property and its buildings was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hewitt. They changed the name to Seven Hills, Inc. In 1983 Mr. Howard Green bought the property. He owned it until 1987 when he sold to Baron Properties Nine Limited partnership. The property was acquired by the Fereal Realty Trust in 1994 and then by Drewkat Partners LLC in 2008.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Wood, Lenox . p. 197

Lenox Town Hall

Pittsfield Registry of Deeds

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

1 Pittsfield Rd., Frank Parson House – c.1890

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From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This 2-story, wood-framed farmhouse has a front gable, asphalt-shingled roof with three bays on the front facade. It is clad with wood clapboard, has corner boards and a water-table. There is a brick center chimney and a brick rear wall chimney. The house has symmetrically placed and recessed cross-gabled ells off both the right and left sides. A 2-story, hipped-roof, canted bay window projects from the left side ell, with paired windows on its outer wall on the first and second floors. Behind this ell is a glazed sunporch with a side entry; steps once provided access to it from the basement-level grade as evidenced by a pipe railing. The steps have been lost. The stone basement/foundation is exposed on the rear of the house; portions have been parged. The window trims have molded headers. The distinguishing feature of this dwelling, its 3-sided wrap-around porch that extended across the front and connected to both the side ells, has been removed. It had a hipped roof supported by eight turned posts and it had a geometric-designed railing. The left-hand portion of the porch had been glazed early on. The original 2-o-2 windows (evident on the 1994 survey photograph) have been replaced. Although simple in design, it reflects the architectural transition between Gothic Revival and Queen Anne styles. No outbuildings remain on the site, the driveway access is overgrown, and the rear yard has become something of a dumpsite. Seventeen years ago, when first surveyed, the house was viewed as being in “fair condition.” In 2012, it looks to be on the verge of being condemned and razed.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Home and workshop barn behind was built by Frank Parson who was a contractor/builder. Skip Parson, Frank’s son, continued the business. They built the Bradford Inn on Route 7 which was later called the Cardinal Inn (this property now is the site of the Quality Inn). Mabel Annie Parson and Mira Katherine Parson, the daughters of Skip Parson, lived in the house and kept accurate records of the Church on the Hill burial grounds which are used today and is the only record of births and deaths that Lenox has during their lifetime. In 1987 the structure was owned by a great grandchild of Frank Parson. It was owned by Pam Hicks in 1994 and acquired by Brian C. Hicks in 1995.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Town of Lenox Board of Assessors

Tom Bosworth (Lenox native).

Harvey M. Steurwald (Lenox Native), who knows the family and was employed by the Parsons as a carpenter for the contracting business.

Places

30 Pittsfield Rd., Capt. Oliver Root House – c.1792

September 11, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

36 Pittsfield Rd., Capt. Oliver Root House -c.1792

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Federal period dwelling is wood framed, two stories tall and has a 5-bay, center entrance facade. There is a brick endwall chimney on each side. The house has a gable roof with decoratively incised verge board, a gabled rear dormer, and two small 4-light attic windows in each gable (on either side of the chimneys). The original house has wood clapboard siding. A front entrance porch, an early addition, has four chamfered pillars and two pilasters supporting a hipped roof, and a millwork railing. Originally two bays deep, the house has received several rear extensions, as evidenced by various surface treatments. The first addition was a 2-story, cross-gabled ell, three bays deep, constructed of brick with red mortar. The window lintels in this section are of stone. On its south side is a 2-bay-wide entrance porch with hipped roof, four chamfered pillars, and millwork railing incorporating incised banding below the balusters. A second extension, tacked onto the rear of the first rear ell is probably wood-framed with a brick veneer in a decorative Flemish bond pattern. This section has a hipped roof, a gabled wall dormer above the second floor window and wood corner boards. A tall chimney is located on its rear side. A set of five 8-light casement windows is on its side.

The house is accessed via an access point onto Pittsfield Rd; a long paved driveway, with adjacent parking area, runs along the north side of the house. A low stone retaining wall encircles a portion of the front yard.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Capt. Oliver Root, a blacksmith, was one of the early settlers who came to the Berkshires from Southington Conn. about 1778. He obtained the Lenox property in 1792. When he sold the property to Luke Gates in 1797, it consisted of a house, barn and blacksmith shop. Capt. Root had seven children and there are many descendants in Berkshire County.

1792 Capt. Oliver Root (Blacksmith)

1797 Luke Gates

Miss Elizabeth Love Godwin/ Miss Frances B. Godwin

1976 Dr. and Mrs. George J. Hashim

At the Lenox Town meeting on 10/24/84 the Hashims were denied their request to change zoning of the residential parcel from residential to commercial. Their plan was to build town houses and turn the farmhouse into an inn and shopping area.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Registry of Deeds

East St. Book (Lenox Library)

Berkshire Eagle

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

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

30 Kemble St., Frank Sturgis House – c.1880

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From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This rambling, 2-story, wood-framed house evolved over quite a number of years and is categorized as Colonial Revival. It incorporates both a hipped and a gable roof with hipped roof dormers on the front, left and rear sides. Two 2-story wings extend from the central section, one from each side. The main section of the house is topped by a metal balustrade, as is a lower 1-story addition off the left side ell. It has three tall brick chimneys. The cladding is wood clapboard and it has wood corner boards, cornices, and trim. A porch is created by a recessed entry with the second floor over it supported by three chamfered pillars atop collared and paneled plinths. A secondary entrance to the right of the front entrance is also recessed with a smaller overhang supported by a single pillar matching those for the main porch. These porches are separated by a 2-story bow window topped by a projecting pedimented front gable roof. The earliest portions of the house have stone foundations. There is a 2-story, cross-gabled rear ell, with bow window on its rear facade. A 2-story, 2-bay-wide, front-gabled pavilion (projecting to both front and rear) to the right side was also added. Both additions appear to have been constructed sometime after 1939. There is a large circular driveway in front of the house, accessed from one point on Kemble Street, with adjoining parking area. The house is at a lower grade from the street necessitating a large retaining wall in the right front corner of the lot (recently constructed). Newly planted young coniferous trees have been planted between the driveway/retaining wall and the street. There are other mature coniferous and deciduous trees on the property.

NOTE: The 1905 Sanborn Map labels this property “Mrs. F. L. Sturgis” and “Clipston Grange.” The 1911 and 1939 Sanborn Maps depict the same building footprint as the 1905 map. The architect is still unknown.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This once festive Lenox country house of New Yorkers, Florence Lydig and Franklin K. Sturgis, had almost been forgotten before its rescue and restoration in 2007 by the Jurney family in conjunction with their plan for Spring Lawn. The panel core of this fascinating structure is an old village house, which originally stood at the junction of Main and Cliffwood Streets. George G. Haven, a New York Stockbroker and a Lenox real estate speculator moved the old house to its present location in c.1893.

Frank and Florence Sturgis enlarged the house in 1894 in the Colonial Revival style adorning the roofline with a parapet, installing elegant bow windows in the dining room and study and adding a new reception room at the south end. A childless couple, the Sturgises were devoted to animals. Florence’s family property is now the Bronx Zoo and Frank was a founder of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The epitome of this dapper gentleman, businessman and sportsman, Frank served a term as President of the New York Stock Exchange, on the building committee of Madison Square Garden, on the boards of the Jockey Club and the New York Coaching Club.

Four years after Mrs. Sturgis died in 1922, Mr. Sturgis left Clipston Grange to the new and growing Lenox School for Boys which was at that time based in Sunnycroft which was next door.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

1905, 1911 and 1939 Sanborn Maps

2008 House Tour Brochure by Cornelia B. Gilder

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

266 East St., Bartlett Farm-c.1797

September 11, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This wood-framed Federal period house exhibits the classic characteristics of the type: gable roof, two stories, five bays, central entrance and large brick end wall chimneys. The chimneys have been painted white with black bands at their flared tops. The current door surround may or may not be a restoration of the original. It has a very large arched pediment with key block; within it is a smaller pediment with sunburst design over the door section; fluted pilasters flank the ¾-length, 8-pane sidelights. The door appears to have been replaced. Lantern light fixtures on either side of the door surround. A 2-story cross-gabled rear ell, has a rear extension with slightly lower gable roof and off its rear is a 1-story lean-to. On the left side of this ell is a side entrance porch with a polygonal extension at the back, Doric columns and millwork railing. On the right side of the rear ell is a 1-story cross-gable extension, which has a brick end-wall chimney. Windows are primarily 12-o-12 double hung sashes with authentic window blinds. The foundation is stone. A later 2-story porch/balcony addition to the left side of the house is slightly recessed from the front facade and wraps around to the rear of the house. It has a hipped roof supported by Doric columns and engaged columns on the second floor; the first floor is a screened porch. The house has been resided with metal clapboard.

A large c.1882 basement barn is located behind the house and embanked into a small hill on its right side, which provides direct at grade access to the threshing floor. The left side has the exposed stone basement that originally served as the animal quarters. There are two other farm outbuildings on the property, each wood framed with gable roofs, and located to the rear and left of the barn. A wood picket fence runs along the driveway and the outbuildings, which leads from East Street past the left side of the house back to the barn. An in-ground swimming pool is located to the left of a stand of mature coniferous trees to the left of the fence.

NOTE: The earlier Form B states that the rear ell was the original farmhouse. Unless a physical examination by a qualified architectural historian has confirmed this, it is far more likely that the rear ell is the original kitchen wing for this high style house.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Thomas Rockwell of Ridgefield, Ct. first settled in the Bartlett Farm, circa 1770. He is believed to have built a log house a few rods sought of the present dwelling. In 1795 Rockwell deeded the farm to Jeremiah Osborn, also of Ridgefield, CT. Osborn sold the property February 16 1797 to Zadock Hubbard. Hubbard built the frame house that is the rear ell of the present house.

Allen Metcalf purchased the property in 1808. Originally from Sharon, Ct., Metcalf had settled on the farm later owned by George O. Peck in about 1794. Metcalf was a joiner and a house builder who constructed the front 2.5 story part of the house in 1810. Edmand Dewey laid the cellar for him. Mr. Metcalf also ran the Lenox Coffee House. Later his son, Allen C. Metcalf, purchased the Sabin Farm of 50 acres south of his father. Allen C. Metcalf died in 1846 and his father and mother moved to Ohio.

John Kellogg purchased the property and stayed for 2 years. The farm was then purchased by William Bartlett in 1849. B.F. Bartlett inherited the farm upon his father’s death on July 6, 1857. A fire on June 24, 1881 destroyed the Old Sabin barn, house and shop. The present house narrowly escaped. A barn was built to replace the Sabin barn in 1882.

The property was acquired by Stephen Pavlosky from Rufo in 1991 and then acquired by Judith Ann Pavlosky in 2000.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Maps

The East Street Book, pages 9-12

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

592 East St., Fedediah Foster-Rufus Parker House – c.1837

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From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This Federal period farmhouse is wood framed, two stories tall, with a 5-bay, center entrance. It is two bays deep and has a gable roof clad in asphalt shingles. There is a brick center chimney (which looks to have been rebuilt). The house is sided with wood clapboard and has narrow corner boards. A relatively simple door surround has a lipped header and 5-light transom (no sidelights). A hipped-roof porch extends along the full right side of the house and wraps around to the rear. A 2-story ell extends from the left rear corner of the house and from it a larger cross-gabled 2-story rear ell. The foundation is constructed of large stones and it has a wood watertable above it. The 8-over-12 double hung sash windows look to be intact. A low stone retaining wall is in front of the house.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

Fedediah Foster built a log house in 1788 near the present home. It burned as a result of a lighted candle igniting wool and flax store in the loft. Foster replaced it with a gambrel roofed house located at the foot of Foster Hill. It stood on the east side of the road opposite James Hutchinson’s Lime Kilns. Foster died in 1819 and his son Thomas lived there until 1835. It was sold to Rufus Parker who redid the library to update the older 1837 house.

Originally a farm, the building’s occupants contributed to the exploration/settlement, agriculture, architectural themes as well as community development.

Registry shows building to have changed ownership as follows:

Richard Clark: 1854, William Burns

Walling: 1858, H. Dewey

Beers: 1876, Rufus Parker

Barns & Farnum: 1904, H.M. Parker (Mercy)

The property was acquired by Robert E. Brownlow in 1994 and then by Thomas R. Czelusniak in 1995

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES

Maps

The East Street Book, pg. 12-13, photo pg. 120

Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds, Pittsfield, MA

Lenox Assessor’s database

Places

15 Cliffwood St., Francis Farley House – c.1850

September 10, 2014 lenoxhistory Leave a comment

15 Cliffwood St., Francis D. Farley House - c. 1850 — 15 Cliffwood St., Francis D. Farley House – c. 1850

From Surveys Completed 2011-2012 by the Lenox Historical Commission

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

This is a two-story, three bay, wood frame house designed in a Picturesque style—transitional between Gothic Revival and Italianate. It has a cross-gable roof with asbestos shingles. There are two interior brick chimneys. The front gable of the main house is pedimented with dentils. A dentil band on the cornice surrounds the house. Attic windows have Roman arches. There are corner pilasters and it is clad with wood clapboard on the first and second floors, with shingles on the gables. A wrap-around porch from front to right side has two pediments–one at the main entry and a larger one at its right edge. There is a polygonal section in the rear with a millwork frieze and nine sculpted posts. Its railing is rectilinear in design with incised square panels between horizontal rails with short spindles between. It has a dentil band at the cornice below its hipped roof. A matching second porch extends along the front of the recessed left side with a cross-gabled ell. A two-story rear ell extends off the left side ell. The windows are 2-o-2 double hung with lipped and molded headers and authentic window blinds. The first floor windows on the left facade have molded hoods. It has an intact wood front door with two tall windows over two panels.

CARRIAGE BARN: A two-story two-bay carriage barn, c. 1900, is located to the right and rear of the house. It has a front gable roof and is clad with wood shingles. There is a pent over the sliding doors of the vehicle bays. It has been converted to living space. A millwork picket fence extends along the front property line/Cliffwood St. right-of-way. A stone hitching post is located in the median immediately in front of the house.

The current building foot print matches that depicted on the 1854 Clark Map; lot is labeled “F. D. Farley.” The 1876 Beers Map labels the property “W. I Washburn.”

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE:

This house was owned by Francis and Jennie Farley until the year 1864. In 1864 the property was sold to Mr. and Mrs. William Washburn. The Washburn’s lived there until 1883 when they sold the property to Mr. Bernard N. Duclos. The Duclos family were in residence at the property until 1949. Executors of the will of Bernard Duclos, Cyrille D. Duclos and Herbert J. Klipp, sold the house to Mr. and Mrs. Philip Bashara in that same year. The Bashara’s sold the property in 1984 to Andrew and Lilla Weinberger. The Weinbergers operated their home as a bed and breakfast until they sold to Ms. Rhoda Drowell in 1986 who also operated it as a bed and breakfast (The Amadeus House). The house was sold to Martha Gottron in 1993. It was sold to

Gray Ellrodt in 2000 and was acquired by the Marianne D. Ellrodt Trust in 2011.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES:

Registry of Deeds

Ms. Rhoda Crowell

Town Assessor’s Report

1854 Clark Map, 1876 Beers Map

Lenox Assessor’s database