CAN THIS HOUSE BE SAVED: Fairview Manor, Claverack, New York PART II
Yesterday, I did a post about a fabulous house in New York which needs a savior.
Today, Mischa contacted me. He grew up in the house from 1968 to 1987. And—drum roll, please—he had pictures!!!!!!!!
These first two images are from yesterday:
Fairview Manor in all its glory.
And now. Sigh. All the porches are gone. The entire red roof appears to be a replacement, and its attendant cornice is also lost.
The house had a fire after Mischa’s family sold the property in 1987. Mischa wrote that the later owner hired a crew to remove some paint from the exterior and, in the process, set the house on fire. Even though the fire department was across the street, the crew fled rather than alert anybody.
Today, the interior, from the few images online, appears to be gutted with its plaster gone. Is this related to the fire? How much plaster is gone? Are some portions of the interior intact?
The main facade, facing west! The porches, right, are gone. The dramatic gable-end eves (left) are gone. Note the large arched opening above the front entrance. We will return to this area. Courtesy of Mischa.
A close-up of the lost porches. Note the impressive skirting under the porch floor. Courtesy of Mischa.
Mischa wrote that the house was painted by an artist from New York City around 1969. The house was then called, for a time, The House of the Rising Sun because there were like 23 different colors used: rusts, oranges, purples, and ending in the blues. If you click this image to enlarge, you can see the color variations which are quite subtle. I prefer this paint scheme to white! When Mischa’s family purchased the house in 1987, all the trim was dark brown. Now, see, again, the huge arched opening above the entry doors (middle)? Courtesy of Mischa.
This is how it looks today. Mischa says this is where the fire started.
And this is what has been lost. See the double columns?
There are nearly matching columns to each side of the entry doors. So, a template to recreate the lost columns!
Halcyon days. Courtesy of Mischa.
The north facade today. The tower used to look…
…like this. Its roof and upper brick level is gone. Mischa say this was due to the fire. I was curious what the brick addition was used for (left); Mischa say this was the kitchen. So, where was the original kitchen? Courtesy of Mischa.
The entry hall. The plaster has been removed from the walls but all the wood trim seems intact. The ceiling is bare wood joists. Note the top of the newel post, lower left.
The entry hall, before! Wow! This kind of image would be invaluable in recreating the lost plaster ceiling. Courtesy of Mischa.
The reverse view, from the entry hall to the grand stair. Again, all the wood has survived.
The dining room, facing the west bay window. Courtesy of Mischa.
Again, the dining room. Note the huge brackets over the windows and door. Are those extant? Is the plaster ceiling extant? Courtesy of Mischa.
The opposite view. Note mantel and over-mirror in background. Are they extant? Courtesy of Mischa.
This is the room above the entry hall. The fire started on the exterior wall. Note what appears to be a section of missing plaster cornice. Courtesy of Mischa.
The same New York artist who painted the exterior in many hues, did a wall mural. And say hello to Mischa! Courtesy of Mischa.
There is so much still unknown about this fascinating house, and I will post updates as information becomes available!
I am powerfully drawn to houses like this, and in such condition. If I could afford it, I would take this project on without hesitation. What fun!
Thanks soooooooo much Mischa!
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Is this Italiante? It almost hurts to look at all the craftsmanship that once was.
Looks it.
Reminds me of (here in my burgh of Sacramento) the California Governor’s Mansion (but in brick, not white).
Such a grand house, even in it’s state of disrepair. If only the workers would have called the Fire Dept. right away, some of the wonderful features could have been saved. How lucky to have grown up in a house like this. These pictures leave me wanting to see and know more about the house.
It gives me such hope to see pictures of this house when it was in better condition and people lived there and loved it well! I wish they could be included in the listing because I think it would give prospective buyers the inspiration to take on the project. I know it’s hard for some people to imagine the potential or where to begin replacing such massive things like the tower, but with past images as it was in all it’s glory, maybe the right person would fall in love and save it!
Guess I gotta play the lottery!
In the 1920’s &30’s my disabled mother & sister attended Walter Scott Free Industrial School for Crippled Children in NYC. The Lulu Thorley Lyons Home for Crippled and Delicate Children would sponsor the disabled children to spend summers at the home in Clavarack NY. She told me many wonderful stories of her times here & made some lifetime friends. In the 1970’s we were able to see the house from the outside…it was bare & empty & we peered through the windows. We saw the big winding staircase, high ceilings & dark wood, the porch & large lawns where they played.It must have been so grand in the it’s day! The town would have a parade & the children would ride in a wagon & wave to the crowds. It was a poignant memory of a happy childhood. I was so happy to see the photos of what the “original” rooms looked like. I hope to maybe see it again
Thank you for this tour, Mischa, all. Mischa will remember that I went to camp for many summers at his childhood home, the former Open Community School and graduated from Allegro/Open Community in 1976. Would that folks here or anywhere be moved to resurrect , restore this once magical, majestic place.