He lived here from 1850 to 1862 and befriended nathaniel hawthorne during these fecund years for literary development in the lenox area. It seems an apt response to the struggles facing the historic mansion since 1991 when a developer, arthur ivey, announced plans to tear it down and build a nursing home on the site he had acquired. Robert gould shaw october 10, 1837 july 18, 1863 was an american officer in the union army during the american civil war. The lively and glamorous margaret emerson vanderbilt, who rented ventfort hall during the first world war, will be the subject of a lecture by cornelia brooke gilder, coauthor of. Ventfort hall was one of the approximately seventyfive socalled cottages built in lenox in the late 19th century when the village became a popular gilded age resort. Then take a walk on the beautiful grounds, with manicured walking paths and gardens, dotted by local artisans sculptures along the way, water fountains, and ponds, pure. Bellefontaine talk by richard jackson at ventfort hall.
Born into a prominent boston abolitionist family, he accepted command of the first allblack regiment the 54th massachusetts in the northeast. Concerts and performances ventfort hall home of the. Make ventfort hall mansion and gilded age museum a part of your lenox vacation plans using our lenox online tour planner. Ventfort hall mansion and gilded age museum lenox 2020. Bellefontaine was built in 18961898 for giraud and jean foster. Hampton terrace was built across the street from ventfort hall in the same era to participate in lenoxs gilded age social season.
Afterward, ventfort hall will hold an ice cream social and in the evening a grand gala. Ventfort hall our weekend escape to the gilded age. Ventfort hall mansion and gilded age museum the history list. Gilded age history across street from hampton terrace hampton terrace is considered one of the berkshire cottages and its owners were part of the lenox social scene for more than half a. Ventfort hall, built by george and sarah morgan as their summer home, is an imposing jacobean revival mansion that typifies the gilded age in lenox. Directions from the northwest albany and troy, new york i90 e toward boston, exit 2 lee, lenox, pittsfield slight right after the toll to us 20housatonic street follow us 20 w, in lenox turn left onto rt. When one visits ventfort hall, in the town of lenox in the massachusetts berkshires, you realize they didnt call it the gilded age for nothing. Gilder is a member of the program committee at ventfort hall and was the coauthor with the late joan olshansky of a history of ventfort hall. The estate also is home to the museum of the gilded age, which interprets changes in american life during the late 19th century. The ghosts of ventfort hall in lenox, massachusetts new.
Ventfort hall, at 104 walker street, in lenox, offers four 45minute guided visits daily through the end of october. Morgan family, lenoxs ventfort hall is a gilded age mansion with ties to the legendary massachusetts 54th regiment from the civil war and was host to the people who shaped and molded this country at the turn of the century the vanderbilts and the rockerfellers of the era. Ventfort hall is open to the public daily for tours, lectures, exhibits, theatrical performances and other events. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited. Supporting the promised equal treatment for his troops, he encouraged the men to refuse their pay until it was equal to that. This mansion and museum is open daily, year round and hosts concerts and events along with its permanent exhibits and consistently changing exhibits. Richard jackson talk on bellefontaine at ventfort hall april 11, 2015. For information, contact ventfort hall at 46373206. Known nationally and internationally as one of the most respected awardwinning journalists and historians writing today, newsweeks editoratlarge evan thomas will appear at. Awardwinning journalist, historian to lecture at ventfort.
It is an imposing jacobean revival mansion that typifies the gilded age in lenox. She is now working on her fourth commission and, in a few weeks, will teach a 10week playwriting workshop there called the gilded age for stage. He is also the author of eleven books, including architectural guide books. In june of 1997 it was rescued by the ventfort hall association. Located on spacious grounds in the heart of the village, we are continuing its restoration, with the first floor completely open to the public along with many of the rooms on the second floor. Enlivening the past the berkshire eagle pittsfield. Ventfort hall mansion and gilded age museum home facebook. Ventfort hall has produced all three of the works she wrote for them. If you would like to visit ventfort hall, you can find it nestled between the trees of lenox, massachusetts. Visit ventfort hall mansion and gilded age museum on your. Photos courtesy of kit mayquist 2018, unless otherwise noted. Chicopee paranormal investigators at ventfort hall, paranormal activity part 2. Architectural historian and author lecturing at ventfort hall.
Arrowhead the home of herman melville and the berkshire historical society herman melville finished moby dick at arrrowhead, his farm on holmes road. Her husband, george, was also a morganthe couple were seventh cousins. Here is a list of our upcoming musical events please check our event calendar for more information, pricing and to make sure the times have not changed. The historic mansion is located at 104 walker street in lenox. Built by george and sarah morgan, the 28,000 square foot mansion was the crown jewel of the social season in the berkshires. His writings have appeared in the wall street journal, the new criterion, city journal and the new york sun, where he was an art and architecture critic. Chicopee paranormal investigators at ventfort hall lenox, ma paranormal activity part 1.
Open year roundlike our page to be part of our daily updates, show announcements, and. Gilded mansions lecture at ventfort hall berkshire county. A taste of summer fashion at ventfort hall iberkshires. Reservations may be made for the lecture by calling ventfort hall at 46373206. Morgan family, lenoxs ventfort hall is a gilded age mansion with ties to the legendary massachusetts 54th. Chicopee paranormal march 26, 2011 held an open to the public ghost hunt at ventfort hall lemox, massachusetts. As sponsors of the summer tea and talk series, my son bill and i have had the great joy of seeing the enthusiastic response of you, our guests, each week. The ventfort hall program committee, our staff and volunteers all played a part in bringing you a memorable season. Ventfort hall mansion and gilded age museum will host a taste of summer fashion on sunday, march 20, at 5 p. Lenox, massachusetts is the perfect destination for those looking to enjoy vibrant culture, great food, beautiful views, and american history.
Ventfort hall and the gilded age, part one last march when we were in massachusetts and rick was in a recliner with his leg up, i took off for a bit of an exploring trip and came to ventfort hall. The current bellefontaine decorative arts exhibit features the history of one of lenoxs. Murder at ventfort hall in lenox hampton terrace inn. Book now ventfort hall mansion is a mustsee attraction. A history of ventfort hall paperback january 1, 2002 by joan r. However, the gardens could be toured without a guided tour and are beautiful and the house tour is excellent, but the house could be viewed with a self. Lenox history archives page 16 of 16 lenox history. Ventfort hall mansion and gilded age museum will kick off this years weekend of the gilded age with a victorian evening of songs.
Ventfort hall is an imposing jacobean revivalstyle mansion built in 1893 for sarah morgan, the sister of j. Educated at vassar college and cambridge university, gilder, a lifelong berkshire resident, also wrote hawthornes lenox, the tanglewood circle and a history of ventfort hall with the late. The ghosts of ventfort hall in lenox, massachusetts jeff. The ghosts of ventfort hall in lenox, massachusetts. A perfect combination stay two nights in a gilded age mansion which has been an inn since 1937 and enjoy a murder mystery dinner at ventfort hall across the street with hampton terrace picking up the bill.
Here is some of the paranormal activity we caught that night. Berkshire scenic railroad both the original 1850 station continue reading historic sites to see in. Ventfort hall mansion and gilded age museum, lenox, ma. Ventfort hall is the star of the show in downtown lenox, ma. The town of lenox was the center of the social season in the berkshires during the gilded age, the.
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