Another World Entirely…
I've been in the midst of a very important research project regarding a little gas station in my town. The property is being sold and redeveloped from a towing and service center to a convenience store. The property is blighted, to say the least, with roof elements damaged and falling off, and junk piled up around all sides of the nondescript mechanic shop. Every time I walk by, I just shake my head. This little dilapidated property is on the corner of the bustling and historic downtown, a part of Lenox known simply as The Village.
If you don't know Lenox, Massachusetts, you should. I don't work for the Chamber of Commerce, I have no vested business interest or anyone paying me to make these statements. But from the first time I visited the Berkshires, and drove through town, I was hooked.
The town has such a storied past; so many authors, artists, and industrial titans flocked to the region, and Lenox specifically, to build homes and settle in to the rustic beauty of the Berkshires. A significant period for Lenox was referred to as The Cottage Era, a time between the late 1800's and early 1900's, when wealthy residents who came to settle in town were referred to as Cottagers. Books have been written on the architectural significance of the homes, deemed The Great Estates and which are now protected under town by-laws. Like so many others, the town and its architectural features have been transformed over many, many years. And I've had a fascination with every part of that history.
In my research on the gas station, I've been trying to find its original identity, thinking perhaps the building could be transformed back into one of the quirky designs from the 1950's or 60's. I enlisted the help of the Lenox Library, which is such a gem of an institution downtown. They introduced me to a fabulous website of old photos of the town. As I flipped through the nearly 1500 images, I came across many I hadn't even seen in the books I've read. And so, below are just a handful of images harkening to an entirely other time in Lenox.
The hall at Blantyre. This estate is now a Relais & Chateaux property, lovingly restored to much of its original beauty.
Butternut Cottage, which has since been moved from its original location to a spot in the Village and transformed into an Inn. In 2021, the property was for sale.
View to the main facade of ColdBrook, which became part of what is now Miraval.
Elm Court, which now sits dormant on its site. This property is incredible - it is the largest Shingle style home in America and was designed by Peabody and Sterns with grounds by Frederick Law Olmstead. I actually interviewed as part of the project management team bidding on work to reimagine the property into a Travaasa resort several years ago. It was truly sad the battles that ensued between neighbors, and the end result is nothing. The property is now on the market for a pittance of what it is worth, and I think most people are just hoping the next owner will maintain its majesty.
A porch at Erskine Park. Sadly, while so many of the Great Estates have been maintained, the original estate was demolished and reinvented over the years. It is now a condo complex.
A garden on the grounds of Groton Place. This estate is now the Tanglewood Institute and the building looks very much the same.
A view to Stonover Farm, which sits on Undermountain Road, one of my favorite walking routes in town. Stonover was the farm complex for an important Gilded Age landowner, John Parsons.
An entertaining space at at yet another grand home.
Croquet on the lawn of Shadowbrook, which is now the Kripalu Yoga center. The original house burned to the ground in the 1950's.
A view from the porch at Spring Lawn.
Facing the front facade of Spring Lawn. This is a tragic story similar to Elm Court. The house sits just within the Village, and Brian and I walk by it nearly everyday. At one point about five years ago, it was scheduled to be subdivided into condos, maintaining most of the homes original aesthetic. The project has since gone dormant and this beautiful building just sits, time erasing its beauty with each passing day.
A statue within the gardens of The Mount, author Edit Wharton's estate and one of my favorite spots in Lenox. The Mount has been lovingly maintained. The back terrace is a wonderful spot for cocktails on a summer night. I'm actually in the middle of Edith's famed novel, The Age of Innocence. I'll report back when I'm finished; so far it's quite an engaging read.
The stables at Ventfort Hall. Sadly, this gorgeous estate could use some love. It's still standing and has been refurbished as a non-profit museum. Personally, I think a private owner needs to take it over and fully restore it. We'll see.
The main staircase at Venfort Hall. It looks pretty much the same, but many of the furnishings have long since been removed.
The approach to Ventfort Hall.
I had to come back to the gas station! I couldn't leave you hanging on that.
At left below is an image of what was probably a similar design to the current gas station in town. There's a certain utility but at the same time, it's not a bad design considering the use. I'd love to see the current property transformed back into something like this. The problem is, there are very few records of the current setup, and it's not a historical property per se. At right is the current setup. Sad, right?
If you want to learn more about the history of the Great Estates, I encourage you to check out the book Houses of the Berkshires. There are many, many resources to choose from, but this book has all the pretty pictures :)