Address: 2 Kemble St., Lenox, MA
Bedrooms: 13
Bathrooms: 13 full, 1 partial
Square feet: 9,510
Price: $4,850,000
Most of the local legend of this Gilded Age estate isn’t true, but the truth is better than fiction says real estate agent Cameron Volastro, an associate with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty in the Massachusetts Berkshires. His listing at 2 Kemble Street in Lenox, MA, is the stuff legends are made of. It is widely told that the home was built for Secretary of State Frederick Frelinghuysen and that President Chester Arthur stayed there. The town accessor’s office documents that the home dates back to 1881. “But line up the dates and it falls apart,” says Volastro. The town historian uncovered documents showing the land was purchased in 1886 by the secretary of state’s wife, Matilda Frelinghuysen for $35,000. “Both men were dead before the first shovel went into the ground.” In truth, President Chester Arthur’s daughter Nellie and his sister Mary McElroy stayed there in the summer of 1888. That October, the Frelinghuysen family hosted J.P. Morgan and his wife for a dinner party. At the time, Morgan was 51 and a major investor in the American securities market and the railroads. The home is registered with the town of Lenox as a Great Estate, a Gilded Age “cottage,” and set in the heart of downtown Leonx, MA. Fully renovated and updated to suit the modern buyer, it accommodates more than 20 guests and is designed for gathering.
“The moment you step in, the sightlines pull you straight through to the views off the back of the house — the layout immediately pays off the home’s outdoor setting,” says Volastro. “The high ceilings keep everything airy and light, but the rooms have an established, settled presence to them. It feels important without feeling stuffy.”
Historical details have been preserved throughout, from the marble fireplaces to hand-carved woodwork to the grand staircase with hand-turned spindles. “The original craftsmanship is everywhere you look,” says Volastro. The home was designed by the prominent Boston firm Rotch & Tilden and built by Hascal Dodge, the same master builder behind Lenox’s St. Stephen’s Church. “This was conceived as a piece of architecture,” he adds. “Those human touches, the carving, the millwork, the Palladian windows, are exactly the things you couldn’t replicate today, and they’ve been preserved rather than papered over.”
Gathering spaces are grand with room enough to host a wedding, fundraiser or corporate event, and they flow into each other gracefully, notes Volastro. Even the grand front hall could play host to a party all its own. Off the hall, formal sitting rooms offer spaces to gather around the fireplaces, while the fully operational wet bar with seating for six provides ample room for cocktail hour with friends. The expansive kitchen is professional-grade with custom cabinetry. The home has served as a private estate and rented event space. With two first-floor en suite bedrooms, it can comfortably accommodate multi-generational families with some guests who aren’t navigating stairs. “The house has been doing exactly this for almost 140 years,” he adds. “It’s hosted at least 100 weddings over its life, along with countless dinners and celebrations.”
His favorite room is the formal parlor. “It’s anchored by a stunning fireplace and beautifully scaled for exactly what you want it for: friends, a roaring fire and a long conversation,” says Volastro. In the summer, the private backyard, expansive patio and covered porch can accommodate a long guest list, but are equally suited for an intimate conversation around the fire pit, “with the views and the privacy doing all the work.”
What many potential buyers might not realize is that the bright, light color palette of the interiors “isn’t a modern imposition,” notes Volastro. The historical society’s records show when the home was finished in 1887, it was painted cream with milk-white trim, which was fashionable and modern at a time when most homes were still dark and heavy. “So, the light, airy feel of the renovation is really a return to the home’s original spirit, not a departure from it,” he adds.
Beyond the grounds overlooking rolling hills of the Berkshires, the location provides a front row seat to all the cultural offerings that are increasingly drawing residents and second home buyers to Lenox. It’s a short walk to the restaurants, art galleries and boutiques in the historical New England village that is bustling year-round. Just minutes away from the home, Tanglewood and the Boston Symphony Orchestra draw music lovers in summer. In warmer months, nearby hiking, canoeing and horseback riding attract outdoor enthusiasts, while winter months draw skiers and snowboarders.
CONTACT:
Cameron Volastro
Real Estate Associate
William Pitt Sotheby’s international Realty
Lenox and Great Barrington, MA
413-770-7712, cvolastro@wpsir.com
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