Normandy Grange facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Normandy Grange
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West (front) elevation of gatehouse, 2008
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| Location | Garrison, NY |
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| Area | 48 acres (19 ha) |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architectural style | Norman |
| MPS | Hudson Highlands MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001250 |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1982 |
Normandy Grange is a unique house and farm complex located near Garrison, in New York, United States. It was built in the early 1900s. This special place is designed in the Norman style, which looks a bit like old European castles.
It was first meant to be the gatehouse for a much larger estate called Dick's Castle, which was never fully built. The family who owned it, the Dicks, lived in Normandy Grange during the castle's construction. They liked it so much that they decided to stay there! In 1982, Normandy Grange was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site worth protecting.
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What Makes Up Normandy Grange?
Normandy Grange sits on two pieces of land today. One part is a four-acre (1.6 ha) area with the main gatehouse. This gatehouse faces Route 9D, but trees hide most of it from the road. The other part is a much larger 44-acre (18 ha) area with the farm buildings. A driveway winds through the property, past the farm buildings, and then goes uphill. There are five main buildings that make this property special.
The Gatehouse
The gatehouse is a three-story building with a stucco (a type of plaster) outside. It has a very steep roof that looks like a "jerkin" (a type of jacket). You can see the wooden rafters (beams) under the roof. It also has sixteen steep dormer windows, which are windows that stick out from the roof. Three porches with slanted roofs add to its charm. The chimneys have cool arched brick covers on top. Later, a garage and a greenhouse were added to the gatehouse.
The Barn
Behind the gatehouse, to the east, is the barn. It's built into a hillside, so it has two stories. The barn also has a steep slate roof, like the gatehouse. On top of the roof is a small tower called a cupola. There are also dormer windows placed randomly on the roof. Inside, the upper level has stalls for horses and a hayloft for storing hay. The lower level is a barn for calves. Attached to the barn is a small, one-story building for pigeons and doves.
Carriage House and Servants' Quarters
Further up the hill to the east, you'll find the combined carriage house and servants' quarters. This building is shaped like the letter "H" and is made of stone. It's one-and-a-half stories tall. Its roof looks similar to the gatehouse, with exposed rafters and stucco chimneys that have arched tops.
The Turkey House
Next to the carriage house is a small building known as the Turkey House. The original owner, Mr. Dick, enjoyed playing card games here. It's not clear if turkeys were ever actually raised in this building, despite its name!
History of Normandy Grange
Mr. Dick started buying the land for his estate around 1880. This land was once part of a larger property. He planned to build a grand castle on the hilltop. He named the smaller buildings, like the gatehouse, Normandy Grange. This name came from their unique Norman architectural style, which was not common in the United States at the time. While the castle was being built, Mr. Dick and his family lived in the Grange houses. They found they really liked living there.
Over time, the property was divided into the two separate lots we see today. Some changes were made, like adding the greenhouse and garage to the gatehouse. One of the carriage bays in the gatehouse was also closed off. The property eventually left the Dick family. However, it has remained a private home, with only small changes made since those early modifications.
In the 1990s, there was a legal issue involving the gatehouse property. This case helped change laws in New York State. Before this, buyers were mostly responsible for checking a property's condition themselves. But this case helped create new rules that protect buyers from sellers who might hide important problems with a property.
