Kingscote, Newport RI

Kingscote front

Kingscote was originally designed by Richard Upjohn for George Noble Jones in 1839 – 1841.

Side view of Kingscote

One of my favorite rooms in Kingscote is the dining room, which was expanded sometime in the 1870′s to 1880′s by the firm of McKim, Mead and White.  To quote their webpage: “The room combines Colonial American details with exotic ornament – reflecting the architects’ interest in combining eastern and western motifs. The innovative use of materials was also important, such as cork tiles as a covering for the wall frieze and ceiling, and an early installation of opalescent glass bricks by Louis Comfort Tiffany.”

Kingscote Dining Room

Today it is one of the mansions operated by the Preservation Society of Newport County.

Click here to see more of my photos of Kingscote.

Castle Gould, Sands Point NY

I visited this structure on October 7, 2011.  It is part of the Sands Point Preserve.

Castle Gould

 

Castle Gould was the name of this whole estate when it was built by Howard Gould.  This building was used as the stables for the estate. It was originally built to replicate Ireland’s Kilkenny Castle.  In 1917, Gould sold his estate to Daniel Guggenheim who kept the name Castle Gould for these stables and renamed the main house Hempstead House.

Main Turret

 

Castle Gould Wall

 

It really is a magnificent structure that at one time held a museum, but now appears to be empty.

For more photos see my Sands Point Preserve Flickr page.

Hempstead House, Sands Point NY

Hempstead House

I visited this structure on October 7, 2011.  It is part of the Sands Point Preserve.

Castle Gould was the name of this whole estate when it was built by Howard Gould.   In 1917, Gould sold his estate to Daniel Guggenheim who kept the name Castle Gould for the stables and renamed this main house Hempstead House.

Detail - Main entrance

 

Rear facade of Hempstead House

 

another view, facing the harbor

 

Balustrade detail

For more photos see my Sands Point Preserve Flickr page.

Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Hartford CT

Front Harriet Beecher Stowe House

 

This Gothic Revival style home was built in 1871 for Franklin Chamberlin in the Nook Farm neighborhood of Hartford CT.  The Stowe’s bought the 17 room residence in 1873 and Harriet lived there for 23 years – until her death.  I knew Harriet Beecher Stowe authored Uncle Tom’s Cabin – a powerful anti-slavery novel, but I did not know much else about her.  Harriet was an accomplished author of thirty books and numerous articles.  She was also the “Martha Stewart” of her day – having authored The American Woman’s Home in 1869 – a manual for women on all aspects of child rearing, house keeping, cooking and nutrition, and interior decoration.

The interior of the house shows her sense of style and showcases several of her paintings. Well worth a trip to Hartford, Ct.

North-East exposure

 

For more photos of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Visit my Flickr site.

Lyndhurst Castle – Tarrytown, NY

Lyndhurst Castle 6

Lyndhurst was designed by architect Alexander Jackson Davis in the gothic revival style in 1842.  In 1864, Lyndhurst’s owner hired Davis to more than double its size.

Lyndhurst 4

In 1880 Jay Gould purchased the estate and renamed it Lyndhurst.

Front Entrance

Gould added the large, gothic style greenhouse designed by the firm of Lord and Burnham; its cast-iron structure still stands.

Lord and Burnham Greenhouse

Today Lyndhurst is owned by Historic Hudson Valley and is open for tours.

To see more photos of Lyndhurst, visit my Flickr site.

Sunnyside, Tarrytown NY

Sunnyside Exterior 3

Sunnyside is Washington Irving’s gothic-romantic style cottage on the Hudson River.  Irving bought the property and house in 1835 and made some renovations to it – including adding this tower wing.

Tower Detail

Path to Sunnyside, Hudson River and RR Tracks 1

It is amazing how close the house is to the Hudson.  Some time after Irving purchased the property the New York Central Railroad came through his property.  Ruining the bucolic setting.

Porch Gingerbread

Although, you can still get a feeling for the romantic nature of the grounds.

Wisteria Vine

This wisteria covers the building.  Today the property is owned by Historic Hudson Valley, and it is open for tours.

For more photos of Sunnyside, check out my Flickr page.