Victorian Society Summer School!

This week I was a featured speaker at The Victorian Society Summer School program held in Newport, Rhode Island.  It's a wonderful program----10 days of lectures, walking tours, and field trips!  A fabulous experience for adults of all ages.  I attended as a student in 1998, and have been asked twice to come back to lecture on Peabody & Stearns--I NEVER refuse an opportunity to join this group!  We toured a private home designed by Robert Peabody in 1885, and then I spoke on the firm:  "An Architect's Sketchbook" included background information on the partners, an overview of the firm's commissions, and some wonderful sketches and plans and elevations that related to the homes in Newport.  For more information on The Victorian Society in America, check their website, http://www.victoriansociety.org/, and for info on the Summer School program, click http://www.victoriansociety.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=77.
Newport, Rhode Island is the perfect place to speak on Peabody & Stearns---they had at least 20 summer "cottage" commissions there during the period of 1870-1917, and many of the homes are still extant.  Salve Regina University owns several--Althorpe (now Founders Hall, photo above), Vinland and The Hennery plus farm buildings (now Macaulay Hall, and Stonor and Drexel Halls).  Thank goodness the University is there to be such good a steward of the historic architecture in town.  Check their website http://www.salve.edu/ for more information about their buildings and their programs!  Other Peabody & Stearns designed homes are private homes, and one is an inn and restaurant.

Another Peabody & Stearns house on the market!

I received word over the week-end that Merrywood, in Lenox, was auctioned on Thursday, May 26.  No word yet on the result of the auction proceeding, but you can read Nini Gilder's account at this link to the Berkshire Eagle:  http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_18141556?source=most_viewed.  As soon as I know more, I'll give you the rest of the story!!

Peabody & Stearns and Real Estate!

Lots of people ask me if I know of Peabody & Stearns-designed homes that are currently for sale.  Well, of course I do!  And wouldn't I love to have one!  .....  For those of you who are yearning for your own P&S house, I will try to include links to current listings on my blog site from time to time.  Right now I know of at least two homes: 
In Newport, Rhode Island, there is a wonderful home, Honeysuckle Lodge, that is offered for sale.  I first visited Honeysuckle Lodge about 14 years ago, when I was working on my master's thesis.  And, I visited it a couple of weeks ago, with the group from the Peabody & Stearns symposium hosted by the Newport International Tennis Hall of Fame--we had three lectures (I was one of the invited speakers...), had lunch, and then visited three P&S homes in Newport.  The weather was wonderful, for a change, and I think that everyone loved Honeysuckle Lodge the best.  See the listing information on the Gustave White website http://www.gustavewhite.com/..  Listed at $10,900,000, it is an exquisite property, but so very liveable!  Here's their video and presentation materials....  If you buy it, be sure to tell them that I sent you!!  http://www.seetheproperty.com/presentation_v2/presentation.php?order_id=65125&mode=branded&ws=1&from=http%3A//www.google.com/url%3Fsa%3Dt%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D8%26ved%3D0CEQQFjAH%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.seetheproperty.com%252F65125%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dhoneysuckle%2520lodge%2520newport%2520ri%26ei%3DkaHdTenIGcH40gH_ibHfDw%26usg%3DAFQjCNGCV-XkpccQdbTXXJ-RsSI9RMTxzw

For those who want a city propety, try the Bradley mansion in Boston:  http://www.thebradley.com/ offered by The Campion Company.  OR, for 22 Irving Street in Brookline....a wonderfully restored P&S home with LOTS of special P&S history....http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/homes-for-sale/MA/Brookline/22-Irving-St-300_71168782.htm.  Offered by Movoto Real Estate.

So, hope that helps all of you looking to buy an authentic Peabody & Stearns designed home.....let me know about others, and I'll be happy to post them!  More info on all of these in future blogs!

Peabody and Stearns: Book Review

I am happy to share a review of Peabody and Stearns:  Country Houses and Seaside Cottages, that appeared in the latest edition of Nineteenth Century, The Magazine of The Victorian Society in America.
I hope that you enjoy!! http://www.docstoc.com/docs/80002130/?key=ZGI4NzFiODQt&pass=NzMxNi00NmMw  For more information about the book, (or to purchase!) feel free to contact me!

We win an award! Peabody & Stearns!!

I am thrilled to be able to report that  my book, Peabody & Stearns:  Country Houses and Seaside Cottages, has been awarded the Henry Russell Hitchcock Award by The Victorian Society in America.  This honor is given to an outstanding book on 19th century architecture.  The presentation will be made at the Annual Meeting of The Victorian Society in America, to be held in Portland, Oregon, the end of May.
While I will be receiving the award, many thanks go out to everyone who helped me research and write this book---as Roxie and Velma say, "We couldn't have done it without you!!"

Other P&S notes:

I will be the featured speaker at the annual meeting of the Radnor, Pennsylvania, Historical Society next month---I am looking forward to returning to the Main Line, and to renewing friendships and acquaintances there.  Of course, there will be a booksigning!! 

AND  please take note of the first ever 1-day symposium to celebrate the architecture of Peabody & Stearns:   http://www.tennisfame.com/node/771 .  This is being held in Newport, Rhode Island, at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and will include a morning of lectures (including me!!), and an afternoon visiting 3 Peabody & Stearns' designed cottages in Newport.  Visit the linked website for registration information.

Reflections of Kraysyde

For those of you who have attended one of my lectures on Peabody & Stearns:  Country Houses and Seaside Cottages  this summer or fall, you will know that one of the elments of current architecture that has intrigued me is the number of times that contemporary architects have consciously called upon the iconic image of Peabody & Stearns' Kragsyde for inspiration.  Kragsyde was built in Manchester-by-the-Sea, on the North Shore of Massachusetts, in 1884 for George Nixon Black.  It was demolished shortly after Black died in 1928.  Since then, and perhaps more specifically since its inclusion in Vincent Scully's book on The Shingle Style, it has influenced an increasing number of new houses.  I see this as a recurring validation of the relevance of Peabody & Stearns' artistic vision.
Earlier this month I was perusing New Architecture Maine Traditions (Joan Whitney Payson Gallery of Art, Westbrook College, Portland, Maine, 1983) and was pleased to find another residence to add to my growing list of Kragsyde supporters:  the MacDiarmid House, designed by Maine architect Christopher Glass, and constructed in Camden, Maine, in 1977.  Enjoy!

Book Reviews!

Hi Everyone!
This is the entry that I have waited months to write!  My book, Peabody & Stearns:  Country Houses and Seaside Cottages, was published in March by  W. W. Norton (click here to see their website entry for the book!)  So far, the reception to the book has been excellent!  It was reviewed in the Portland Press Herald on Sunday, May 23--please follow this link to read William D. Barry's review!  It has also received several favorable reviews on internet book review sites.  You can purchase the book from W. W. Norton directly, from Amazon.com, or from many of your local booksellers.

I am so grateful to the many people and organizations that helped me research and write this book.  I hope that you are all pleased with the outcome.

I would love to hear from any and all of you with input, corrections, or suggestions.

Thanks to you all,
Annie Robinson