Villa Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Villa Virginia
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ice Glen Rd., Stockbridge, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 54.1 acres (21.9 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Architect | Harry Ellis |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003930 |
| Added to NRHP | November 29, 1983 |
Villa Virginia is a beautiful old country house located on Ice Glen Road in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It was built between 1914 and 1915. This grand home is one of the last "Berkshire Cottages" ever built in Stockbridge. It's a great example of Mediterranean Renaissance Revival style architecture. Villa Virginia was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's an important historical site.
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About Villa Virginia's History
Villa Virginia sits on the east side of Ice Glen Road. It's near the start of the Ice Glen hiking trail. The property is quite large, covering more than 50 acres. This includes land on the western side of the Ice Glen ravine.
Early Days and Famous Visitors
In the late 1800s, this land was owned by John and Isabella Wyman Winthrop. They had a large farm here. It was a special kind of farm, often called a "gentleman's farm." This meant it was run more for fun and show than for making a lot of money. A very famous dancer, Isadora Duncan, even danced on the lawn of their property!
Building the Grand Villa
Later, a man named William H. Clarke bought the property. He decided to tear down the older buildings. In 1914, he hired architects Hiss and Weekes to build a brand new estate. They designed Villa Virginia to look like a Tuscan villa from the Renaissance period.
Even though it was a grand home, Villa Virginia was also a working farm. It had many large buildings for animals and farm machines. The beautiful gardens and outdoor areas were designed by Ferruccio Vitale. These formal gardens included a lovely lily pond, a hidden grotto, and a walled garden.
Restoration and New Life
By the 1970s, many large homes like Villa Virginia were hard to take care of. They were sometimes called "white elephants" because they cost so much to maintain. Villa Virginia became empty and needed a lot of repair.
But then, from 1979 to 1998, the artist Kazys Varnelis lived there. He used it as his home and a private art gallery. Kazys Varnelis worked hard to fix up the house and its grounds. He brought Villa Virginia back to its beautiful condition.
