Juniper Hill Farm-Maxwell Evarts House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Juniper Hill Farm-Maxwell Evarts House
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 Location in Vermont
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| Location | Juniper Hill Rd., Windsor, Vermont |
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| Area | 14 acres (5.7 ha) |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Evarts, Maxwell; Ayers, Harvey |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001044 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 1988 |
Juniper Hill Farm, also known as Juniper Hill Inn and the Maxwell Evarts House, is a historic estate in Windsor, Vermont. It was built in 1902 by Maxwell Evarts, a well-known lawyer from New York. This large house is a beautiful example of Colonial Revival architecture.
Maxwell Evarts hosted two presidents of the United States at this home. After his son passed away in 1936, the property was used for different businesses. In 2016, it reopened as the Windsor Mansion Inn under new owners. This special place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Discovering Juniper Hill Farm
Juniper Hill Farm sits on top of a hill northwest of Windsor's main village. You can reach it by a winding road called Juniper Hill Road.
What Does Juniper Hill Farm Look Like?
The main house is a big, U-shaped building made of wood. It has 2-1/2 stories. The open part of the "U" faces north, looking out onto pretty terraced gardens. The middle part of the house has a hip roof with dormer windows. The two side sections are two stories tall, also with hip roofs.
The original front door is in the middle of the south side. It has a small gabled porch over it. There are windows on either side of the door and a semi-oval window above it. Inside, you can still see many original details. These include fancy wooden decorations, a butler's pantry with old cabinets, and a library. The library has wood-paneled walls and nice oak shelves.
The Story of Maxwell Evarts and His Famous Guests
Maxwell Evarts was the son of William M. Evarts, who was also a very important lawyer. William M. Evarts was known for his role in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, a former president. Maxwell followed in his father's footsteps and became a lawyer too. He was also involved with the Union Pacific Railroad, which meant he met many important political figures.
The Evarts family was close friends with the famous sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. His summer art studio, which is now a National Historic Site, was just across the Connecticut River in Cornish, New Hampshire.
Maxwell Evarts designed this house himself, and it was built in 1902. The land for the estate was gathered by his father. Maxwell lived here until he passed away in 1913. During that time, he welcomed Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson to his home.
The property stayed in the Evarts family until 1944. After that, it was sold. Since then, Juniper Hill Farm has mostly been an inn and restaurant. It has also been used as a retreat center and a nursing home. In 2016, after many improvements, new owners renamed the property "Windsor Mansion Inn."
