Description

Majestically set in the center of a park-like oasis just minutes from both Uptown Kingston and the waterfront Rondout, this brick Second Empire mansion is rich in both history and architectural character. Weeping willows, fenced gardens, rolling lawns and a stunning allee of soaring pine trees mark this fully fenced 4.3-acre property as unusually gracious before you even enter the front door, and from there, the ’’Oh wow’’ moments only escalate. Built in the 1860s by a local bluestone-quarry titan, the house later served as the Hudson Valley retreat of Father Divine, a self-proclaimed messiah whose controversial teachings made him a tabloid sensation in the early 1900s. It was more recently the home and studio of a renowned American sculptor, whose skilled preservation of ceiling and hardware patinas, and other unique details, lends a fresh and sunny energy to an otherwise traditional style. The main house features four levels of living space filled with natural light. On the ground main floor, formal living and dining rooms, each with 12-foot pressed-tin ceilings and original marble fireplaces, flank a central front-to-back foyer, allowing northern and southern exposures and plenty of sunlight throughout the rooms. The main floor also includes a full bath, den and a wrap-around sunroom offering wonderful views of the grounds. The updated kitchen is large and features industrial-style cabinets and a commercial range and hood, while retaining its wonderful dual porcelain sink. Upstairs are three sunny bedrooms, including a large primary suite with its own luxurious spa-like bathroom, renovated to include a large shower but with an original porcelain tub and double sinks still in place. The third floor, complete with its own full bath and sauna, is an enormous studio space, with 8 windows on three sides, a darkroom and sliding exhibition panels. The walkout basement features multiple finished rooms plus storage spaces, an original ’’New Beauty’’ cast-iron stove, plus a preserved ice closet. Behind the main house is a separate air-conditioned 2-story carriage house with a kitchen, full bathroom, bedroom and living room crowned by an over-sized skylight. The property also includes a 3-car garage partially finished as a pottery studio, a charming playhouse, an outdoor dining courtyard with koi pond and a pizza oven, plus multiple gated entrances. Only two hours by car from NYC, and a quick ride to the shops and restaurants of Uptown or the boat launches of the Rondout, this property fully honors a unique legacy while also offering in-town conveniences from a lush, quiet and private setting.