Scribner House (Cornwall, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Scribner House
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South profile of house, 2008
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cornwall, NY |
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| Nearest city | Newburgh |
| Area | 10 acres (4 ha) |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Mead and Taft |
| Architectural style | Shingle style, Colonial Revival |
| MPS | Historic and Architectural Resources of Cornwall |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000157 |
| Added to NRHP | March 8, 1996 |
The Scribner House is a special old home located on Roe Avenue in Cornwall, United States. It was built in 1910 as a large summer home for Charles Scribner II. He was a famous publishing executive from New York City, meaning he helped run a big book company called Charles Scribner's Sons.
This house is unique because it mixes two different building styles. The outside looks like the "Shingle style" and has some ideas from the "Arts and Crafts Movement". The inside, however, has a "Colonial Revival" look. After the Scribner family sold the property, most of the land was sold off. Only this house and about 10 acres of land remain today. In 1996, the Scribner House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building in the United States.
Contents
What Does the Scribner House Look Like?
The Scribner House sits on a 10-acre (4 ha) piece of land. It's on a street with other homes, just outside the village of Cornwall-on-Hudson. Tall evergreen trees surround the house. These trees help keep it private and offer lots of shade.
Outside the House
The house is two-and-a-half stories tall. It's made of wood and has a special roof called a gambrel roof. Both the roof and the sides of the house are covered with wood shingles. There's a big stone chimney in the middle and a smaller brick chimney on one side.
The house has different parts that stick out, called pavilions. These are separated by windows that come out of the roof, called dormers. One side of the house has a wing with a gambrel roof. Another side has a two-story wing with a gabled roof. There's also a porch on the north side with a flat roof.
The main entrance is on the west side. It has two wooden doors that are set back a bit. The doors have fancy wood around them and glass panels on the sides. Above the doors are patterned glass windows called transoms. This entrance leads to a porch with a stone base and steps. The porch roof is held up by two round columns. A wooden railing runs along the top of the porch.
Inside the House
The inside of the Scribner House still has many of its original features. You'll see lots of oak wood, including fancy wood panels on the walls and ceilings. The main staircase has a detailed newel (the main post at the bottom) decorated with garlands. The railing of the staircase also has a classic design.
Inside, you can also find brick fireplaces, a wood-burning stove, and the original light fixtures. These details show how the house looked when it was first built.
Architectural Styles and Design
The Scribner House is a great example of a large country estate. It was built to offer views of the Hudson River and the nearby Hudson Highlands. Its detailed design makes it stand out from older homes in Cornwall.
Shingle Style and Arts and Crafts Influences
The outside of the house mainly shows the "Shingle style." This is clear from the wood shingles used on the walls and roof. Other features like the projecting dormer windows and strips of windows also show this style.
The house also has ideas from the "Arts and Crafts Movement." This movement focused on connecting people inside the house with the nature outside. Houses from this period often had large windows and open spaces. This helped bring the outdoors inside. The Scribner House uses natural designs like leaves and flowers in its wood details and stained glass. This is another sign of the Arts and Crafts influence.
Colonial Revival Interiors
Most of the inside of the house shows the "Colonial Revival" style. This style was popular when the house was built. The most noticeable parts are the beautiful oak woodwork. This includes the grand staircase, the wood panels on the walls, and the corner fireplaces.
History of the Scribner House
The Scribner family built this house in 1910. At that time, Cornwall was a very popular place for summer vacations. The house was part of a much bigger estate, like a large park, outside the main village. The architects who designed it were Mead and Taft. They were a local company that also designed other summer homes in Cornwall.
In the 1950s, a large porch on the second story was removed. This is the only major change ever made to the house. The Scribner family's children sold the property in the 1960s. Over time, parts of the estate were sold off until only the current 10 acres remained.
