Amelia Barr House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Amelia Barr House
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The house, vacant and undergoing renovation, in 2007
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mountain Road, Cornwall on Hudson, NY |
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| Nearest city | Newburgh |
| Area | 2.6 acres (1 ha) |
| Built | 1881 (substantially renovated 1891) |
| Architect | Mead and Taft |
| MPS | Hudson Highlands MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001211 |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1982 |
The Amelia Barr House, also known as Cherry Croft, is a historic home in Cornwall on Hudson, New York. It sits on the side of Storm King Mountain. This house was once home to Amelia Barr, a very successful writer from the 1800s. She wrote many books here during the most active part of her career.
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Who Was Amelia Barr?
Amelia Barr was an amazing writer. She was born in England in the 1800s. She became one of the most published American female writers of her time. Her stories often shared strong messages and were very popular.
From England to New York
Amelia came to the United States from England when she was 19. She first lived in Texas. After facing some very sad personal losses, she moved to New York City in the early 1870s with her daughters. This is where she started writing fiction.
Her Writing Success
In 1885, Amelia and her daughters began spending their summers in Cornwall. They stayed at a local boardinghouse. Her novels became so popular that she could buy her own cottage in 1891. This cottage was once rented by a famous artist named Abbot Handerson Thayer.
After buying the cottage, she hired local builders, Mead and Taft, to make it much bigger. She then renamed her new home "Cherry Croft." Many of her books written during this time are known as the "Cherry Croft novels." She spent her summers there until 1915. Then, she moved to White Plains to live with her daughter.
About Cherry Croft
The Amelia Barr House is a special place. It shows how homes were built and lived in during the late 1800s. It's a great example of the style of that time.
What the House Looks Like
Mead and Taft made big changes to the house. It became a large, three-story home. It has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a library, a living room, and a dining room. There's also a big porch that wraps around the house.
Amelia Barr had a special writing room added upstairs. This room had a small tower, or "turret," where she could write. Many of the original parts of the house are still there. This includes the windows and their frames.
A Historic Home
The house was once brown with red trim, which Amelia Barr liked. Today, it has been repainted white and black. The house was lived in continuously for many years after Amelia Barr left. In 2006, it became empty. However, work is being done to fix it up.
In 1982, the Amelia Barr House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important building. It is recognized for its history and connection to Amelia Barr.
