The present condition of the Monell Mansion at 288 Grand Street is even more heartbreaking when you take a look at these photos from around the 1930’s. On September 27th there was an open house that allowed realtors and some of the general public to tour the mansion. Kiki Hayden, who lived in the house as a little girl provided these photos and a few memories at the open house in hopes that this property can be bought up and restored. Many feel that this historical mansion is in danger of being destroyed if a buyer can not be found. Until then it deteriorates slowly. These photos are a preservationists dream because it provides a visual record of how the house was decorated over 70 years ago.
You still have a chance to bid at the silent auction. Bids are due October 17, 2012 by 4 p.m. For more information go to the City of Newburgh website for forms and details.
This house at 279 Liberty Street is up for sale at a silent auction. Bids are due October 17th. There is actually quite a nice bit of history available about the current owner, John Galt. Mr. Galt was a very successful business man in the slate industry.
It was reported that he handled about 1/3 of the slate used in the United States, and exported to the West Indies, Australia and South America. Although real estate listings say the house was built in 1890, Newburgh: her institutions, industries and leading citizens records the house being built in 1865.
A lot of changes have happened to the home over the years. It would be a fine house for anyone looking to restore an old home.
-Old photos via Newburgh: her institutions, industries and leading citizens
One of Newburgh’s architectural gems – 288 Grand Street – a possible Frederick Clarke Withers designed home in the A.J. Downing tradition – is in need.
On Thursday, September 27th at 10am, the City of Newburgh will open the mansion as a preview for the silent auction. This Broker’s Opening is a rare opportunity to connect buyers to this magnificent home.
Please come to photograph the home, learn its history and write about the situation so that we can find the right person to restore it. It’s important that we get the word out about the urgent needs of our historic district. Every architectural rarity that we lose further destroys the fabric of our community.
The Newburgh area has a rich history as well as great natural beauty. It may be that the confluence of history and beauty caused the extraordinary flowering of architecture here that had a national impact. A flourishing 19th century economy was a magnet for many of the era’s most influential architects. Andrew Jackson Downing, a Newburgh native, established the nation’s first architectural collaborative with his colleagues A.J. Davis, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Clarke Withers, at Highland Gardens, his nursery and estate once located in the heart of Newburgh’s Historic East End.
RSVP to the Department of Planning & Development at (845) 569-9400 or via email at ckain@cityofnewburgh-ny.gov
I read a blog called Big Old Houses, which is also a column in the New York Social Diary. Writer, John Foreman, shows examples of many grand mansions and homes. I knew Newburgh would be a perfect fit so, I sent him over an email with a few options of different homes he might be interested in Newburgh, and he chose the Crawford House which is home to the Historical Society. If you have never visited, now is your chance to take a tour. Needless to say, I’m excited and hope that others come discover Newburgh architecture for themselves and maybe restore their own home.
Two years ago 71-85 Grand Street was the location a of the film “Return” in Newburgh. It was listed on the market, and today it is home to the Hope Center of Ecclesia Ministries of Newburgh. Habitat Newburgh volunteers lent a hand with the restoration of the historic Holden Home. If you become a fan of the facebook page you can see a lot more photos than the ones shown here. For now here are some photos that show amazing historic details. Whoever took these pictures did a great job!
The front room/lobby was divided into two to make a bedroom. Now, the wall comes down and the works begins of scrapping away all that wallpaper! Become Habitat for Humanity’s Fan on Facebook to see more projects like these around the City of Newburgh.
Back in February this house was featured in a real estate post. There were no interior photos and from the outside you couldn’t really imagine what the interior looked like at all. Well, if you imagine that it needs a lot of work you are definitely right. But you probably did not imagine all of the original beautiful details waiting to be restored. Graphic designer, Catherine Mouttet went on a house tour and shares her photos for you to take a look, and hopefully fall in love too.
The front entrance has a marble diamond patterned floor. All it needs is some shining up to look like a million dollars! The original doors need repair. Let’s hope that nobody trashes them and adds in generic doors instead!
Here are the stairs, banister and a glance of the floor. Don’t let the floor scare you. Check out the stairs in this Brooklyn Limestone and how they were restored. There is so much potential in those floors!
Another look at the floors. If you look carefully in both photos you can see the spiral scroll design that was done along the borders of the hallway. Again, don’t be afraid of the floors! Here are the links again. Click here and here to see amazing floor makeovers.
The house also has these gorgeous ceiling medallions that need a little restoration. There are a ton of websites out there that can tell you how to do this, but here is a link to the National Park Service Government website. It involves creating a mold.
There are also a lot of interesting curves in the windows and doorways. The peeling paint might be a sign of a leaky roof or exposure to the elements. It looks like the entire house will need new windows or perhaps the windows can be restored by replacing the window panes.
There are some definite signs of neglect and vandalism. All the more reason to save this house before further damage is done.
And there are a lot of stairs. There are many more interesting nooks and crannies to discover in this home. If you are interested buying antique doors and other details, check out the Habitat ReStore over on Washington.
