The Mount (Lenox, Massachusetts) facts for kids
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The Mount
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Edith Wharton's The Mount
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| Location | 2 Plunkett Street, Lenox |
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| Nearest city | Lenox, Massachusetts |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Ogden Codman, Jr. and Francis L.V. Hoppin |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000900 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 11, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | November 11, 1971 |
The Mount is a beautiful country house in Lenox, Massachusetts. It was built in 1902 and was the home of a famous American writer named Edith Wharton. She designed the house and its gardens herself. Edith Wharton called The Mount her "first real home."
This special estate is located in an area called The Berkshires. Today, it is open for everyone to visit. In 1971, The Mount was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical place.
The Mount is now a cultural center and a historic house museum. More than 50,000 people visit it every year. Visitors can explore the house and gardens. They can learn about Edith Wharton's life. You can take tours and even sit in the rooms. There are exhibits that show what life was like for Wharton and her staff. They also show her efforts to help others and her impact as a writer. The Mount also hosts many events. These include talks, plays, music, and workshops.
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Discovering The Mount's History
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The main house at The Mount was inspired by an old English house from the 1600s called Belton House. It also has ideas from old Italian and French buildings. Edith Wharton used the ideas from her first book, The Decoration of Houses, when she designed her home. She believed that good buildings should have order, balance, and look good together.
The front of the house has three floors. The back, facing the garden, has two floors. It opens onto a large stone terrace. The house is a striking white color. It has dark green shutters that stand out. The bottom part of the house is made of rough field stone. White chimneys and gables rise from the roof. The roof also has a decorative railing and a small tower called a cupola.
A smaller building called a gatehouse is also on the property. There is also a stable and a restored greenhouse. Edith Wharton worked with an architect named Ogden Codman, Jr. on the design. Her niece, Beatrix Farrand, designed the kitchen garden and the driveway. Beatrix Farrand was a very important landscape architect.
Who Lived at The Mount?
Edith Wharton and her husband, Edward, lived at The Mount from 1902 to 1911. After they moved out, the house had many different owners. It was a private home for a while. Then it became a dormitory for girls attending the Foxhollow School. Later, a theater group called Shakespeare & Company used it.
Eventually, a group called Edith Wharton Restoration bought the house. They have worked hard to bring the property back to how it looked originally. They now manage The Mount and keep it open for visitors.
The Mount's Beautiful Gardens
The house sits at the highest point of its land. The original property was very large farmland. Today, the estate is still quite big. The gardens have been carefully restored. You can see an Italian walled garden, a formal flower garden, and an alpine rock garden. There is also a lime walk and large grassy areas.
Exploring The Mount's Mysteries
Some people have reported strange things happening at The Mount. In 1942, the house became part of the Foxhollow School for Girls. Students and staff living there reported unexplained noises. They also had strange experiences in the living areas.
After the school closed in 1976, the mansion was empty for several years. Then, Shakespeare & Company used it for actors to live and perform. Actors also reported hearing strange sounds. They even saw figures that looked like people from the past.
In 2009, a TV show called Ghost Hunters filmed an episode at The Mount. Over three days, they said they found evidence of activity. They reported hearing footsteps in empty rooms. They also heard voices that seemed to come from nowhere. The show returned for a follow-up episode in 2015.
See Also
