Warning: This house is lived in. The place is huge, look at it from above on Google Earth, but.....the family is odd There are about 9 out building including the ruins of an old carriage house . They live like west Virginians lol, there are no fewer than 20 cars disabled and strune around the farm including old tractor trailors and yellow school buses. In its "hay day", it was a massive estate. I believe several families live in whats left of the buildings, Youve gotta look on Google Earth or Bing for an aireal view, its quite scary! Leave these people alone, or you might not come back. DO NOT go TRICK-OR-TREATING there! lol
The angle of the sun provented me from getting any side shots, this place is huge!
About Georgian Architecture:
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United Kingdom, and George IV of the United Kingdom—who reigned in continuous succession from August 1714 to June 1830.
General characteristics
Identifying Features (1700 - c.1780):
A simple 1-2 story box, 2 rooms deep, using strict symmetry arrangements
Panel front door centered, topped with rectangular windows (in door or as a transom) and capped with an elaborate crown/entablature supported by decorative pilasters
Cornice embellished with decorative moldings, usually dentilwork
Multi-pane windows are never paired, and fenestrations are arranged symmetrically (whether vertical or horizontal), usually 5 across
Other features of Georgian style houses can include - roof to ground-level:
Roof: 40% are Side-gabled; 25% Gambrel; 25% Hipped
Chimneys on both sides of the home
A portico in the middle of the roof with a window in the middle is more common with post-Georgian styles, e.g. "Adam"
Small 6-paned sash windows and/or dormer windows in the upper floors, primarily used for servant's quarters. This was also a way of reducing window tax.
Larger windows with 9 or 12 panes on the main floors
Schwartz pond, shot from stone bridge ifront of the house.
Colonial Georgian architecture
Georgian Architecture was widely disseminated in the English colonies of the time. In the American colonies, colonial Georgian blended with the neo-Palladian style to become known more broadly as 'Federal style architecture'. Georgian buildings were also constructed of wood with clapboards; even columns were made of timber, framed up and turned on an over-sized lathe. The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, is an excellent example of Georgian architecture in the Americas.
Unlike the Baroque style that it replaced, which was generated almost solely in the context of palaces and churches, Georgian had wide currency in the upper and middle classes. Within the residential context, the best remaining example is the pristine Hammond-Harwood House (1774) in Annapolis, Maryland. This house was designed by colonial architect William Buckland and modeled on the Villa Pisani at Montagnana, Italy as depicted in Andrea Palladio's I Quattro Libri dell'Architettura (Four Books Of Architecture).
good example of a Suffield Georgian
The establishment of Georgian architecture, and the Georgian styles of design more generally, were to a large degree aided by the fact that, unlike earlier styles which were primarily disseminated among craftsmen through the direct experience of the apprenticeship system, Georgian was also spread through the new medium of inexpensive suites of engravings. From the mid-18th century, Georgian styles were assimilated into an architectural vernacular that became part and parcel of the training of every architect, designer, builder, carpenter, mason and plasterer, from Edinburgh to Maryland.
Very sad to see such a once proud property in decline. There is a painting of this house back in its prime, at the library and ive seen it online. I can't find it right now, but you wont believe the difference.
UPDATE!
You can see an aerial shot of this massive estate in run down condition at Bing maps, birds eye vie. Here is the link:
While your there, drag the curser behind the house and follow the dirt farm road, endless busses and old farm equipment, its truly creepy! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
16 comments:
Hey - the house on Boston Neck Rd....I have been driving by every couple years to "visit" it for like the last 20 years. You seem to know who lives there - I am trying to find out who built in....or anything more about it. Wanna chat about it? I have more pics, too if you want them. nnicky6@yahoo.com
haha too funny. This is why people shouldn't blog about people they don't know.
yea, even though seventeen families live in that house, they are very nice people and they can sure cook a BEAVER!!! MMMMMMM and one of em can sure play a mean Banjo... YEEEHAWWW!!!!!!!
Hi I happen to be in the house that you wrote about right now, there arnt 17 families, there are only 16 now (the other one is buried out back under the garage)but seriously, do you really have nothing better to do then to snoop around and take pictures of our property. The people that live in the house are extremely nice hardworking people and none of this is necessary
Hi there.
I been livin in dat der house fer years now 'n' I think dat it is bout time fer yall to stop thinkin that it be haunted. De families that be livin der would really appreciate you not snoopin round in our front yard...tanks bunches.
I just want to say I was very glad to see your post. I've loved that house since I was a kid and have always been very interested in the house. I know live in AZ and don't get back East as much. However, everytime I go back I make sure I drive by that house. If you have anymore recent updates I would love to know about it. Thanks for the post.
I just found this house online listed as the Ruins of Katharine Hepburn's old vacation home, but I have my doubts since its a farm and very inland. The famed actress is known for her Summer Home being in Fenwick, down by the shore.
Hi - I'm from Windsor Locks, living in Texas now. But back in the mid 60"s we looked at this property to buy for $65,000 and turn it into a Inn/restaurant. Back then $60k was a lot of money. We had family then that owned the Shady Glen in Manchester and originally had interest in our idea, but backed out when they saw the condition of the place, which hasn't changed much since then. We too drive by it when we come to CT from time to time. Great to see it on your blog.
Just an update. The house is absolutely amazing and I know the family that lives there and they are awesome people. Would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. It is one thing to admire or find a piece of architecture alluring and another to insult those
Just an update. The house is absolutely amazing and I know the family that lives there and they are awesome people. Would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. It is one thing to admire or find a piece of architecture alluring and another to insult those
Built by Parkes Loomis in 1828. Parkes is buried in the center of town next to the First Church. I was told recently by an elderly local that horses were bred on the property at one time.
Hello everyone. Well, I don't live in this home but I am much involved with it while it undergoes some TLC.
I am putting together a series about the home, talking about its' past and try to find out more about the history of this old home.
From being in it and seeing how it was built, it appears that the section with the two chimneys is the first section being built. This section has an office, library, living room and former kitchen, now known as the small dining room. The second floor has 4 beds and 2 baths. Each room has a fireplace. I suspect that when this house was built that central heat was not a thing yet.
Anyway, so much to find out about this house. It is my understanding that Katherine Hepburn visited this house. Did she stay overnight?
So I am looking for older pictures of this house to use in the series. I actually have a few old pictures that are also on the web somehow. I took the pictures of the actual pictures in the scrapbook.
The son of the previous owner painted a beautiful rendition of the house. A picture of this painting is part of my pictures that I am going to display.
Hi Spyder,
Something from the Suffield Historical Society Facebook page:
Recently a couple went on a "cabin fever drive" and came across "a strikingly beautiful home" on Boston Neck Road. She wrote to SHS asking for info and this is how Lester replied:
Parkes Loomis, a Suffield tobacco businessman, built the front part of the old mansion in about 1820 as a standard two-chimney "Colonial" house, more academically called a "Federal" house. His daughter later married Philip Wadsworth of Hartford, who became successful in business in Chicago. Years later, the Wadsworth's daughter married Charles Schwartz, reported to be "the big man on the Chicago Grain Exchange."
In about 1888 Mrs. Schwartz persuaded her new husband and her parents to acquire her grandfather's old house and make it their summer home. They proceeded to add a port cochere on the east side, a conservatory on the west, a large ell at the rear to accommodate guests, plus some extravagant dormers on the roof, allowing extra rooms on the third floor. They made considerable renovations inside, as well, including some beautiful paneling and cornice moldings. They also added a grand stable and carriage house, improved the landscaping, converted the old grist mill at the adjacent dam into a pavilion, and installed a pedestrian bridge to the little island above the dam, for picnics.
The family arrival by train each year, with an entourage including horses and their best carriage from Chicago, was a well known local happening. Unfortunately, Mr. Schwartz lived only long enough to father two boys, who were brought up with the help of the Wadsworths. Mrs. Schwartz ran her household in grand style, with lots of house guests. She called the place, "Brookside." (The estate's guest book is in the collections of the Historical Society's King House Museum.)
Philip Schwartz, one of the boys, stayed on in the mansion and continued the grand tradition, including famous race horses, homing pigeons, and sports cars. Well-known actress Joan Fontaine is reported to have been one of the guests. Philip, in turn, had two boys, Philip and Charles, neither of whom chose to remain in Suffield. Some time in the 1950s Philip's widow finally left the house, going to live with one of her sons. The house, whose neglect had begun during the last of the Schwartz years, deteriorated while empty.
I believe it was in the 60s that the house was purchased by a new owner, now deceased. Over many recent years, the owners' son-in-law, a local contractor, has made sporadic efforts to restore the structure. He tells me that the remaining family is considering what to do with the place now.
Hi Spyder,
If you Google "Schwartz Institute Suffield Conn" you can find some links and what looks to be a photo of the home shortly after the late 19th Century additions. Also named Schwartz Place or Brookside.
https://thesuffieldobserver.com/2019/07/volunteers-sought-for-old-house-photo-index/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/594123375817768660/ (click on the photo to enlarge)
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