Superb Manor House

Let me describe Resthaven, and how it struck me upon first laying eyes upon it 12 years ago. As I dr0ve by the property, the first thing I noticed were the centuries old stone walls lining the road. And then, turning into the driveway, past the old stone pillars, there it is, sitting majestically high on a knoll. "WOW" is all I could think. The house's granite block construction and Greek Revival massing give it a presence of solidity, enormity, and a sense that neither Mother Nature, nor time, can touch this place. Pulling up the driveway, lined by six 150 year old Maple trees, feels like something out of a novel. The 4.9 acre property, with its extensive lawn and mature plants and trees, gives the feeling of stepping back in time to an English country manor. Again, stonewalls are everywhere, and tucked into the back corner of the lawn, by the woods, sits a storybook-like stone chapel. Although I can't see it from here, I can hear a brook's rushing waters. As we enter the side door of the house, I see a warren of small rooms, and the kitchen. A plant-room/mud room with skylights, off to the left, leads to the two car garage. The kitchen was designed for a maid, not a family. That will have to change, I think. A swinging door leads to a grand dining room, complete wih a fireplace, built in china cabinet, and wainscotting. French doors on either side lead out onto the front porch, and the back granite patio, for al fresco dining. The floors strike me. They are wide heart pine, something I've never before seen, and they stretch endlessly as I look down the long corridor ahead. There is a powder room, and a reading alcove with a fireplace (very cozy!), and a library with french doors and bookshelves, along with a huge closet. Great family room spot. We enter the grand front-to-back foyer. I could drive a car down these hallways, they are so wide. The grand main staircase is there by the front door. Next comes a double sized living room, reaching from one end of the house to the other. Its like a ball room, with a huge fireplace and built-in cabinets. The 7 huge windows give off incredible light, which is something I've noticed through out the house. The windows are big, and numerous, so every space is filled with natural light. I notice the window sills, which are two feet wide, thanks to the granite construction. Gorgeous moldings everywhere. Upstairs, the rooms are large, especially the master, which sits above the double living room. Again, windows and light everywhere, and looking out at the branches of the enormous maples, I feels like I'm in a treehouse. Enormous shower in the master bath, and three closets, with one walk-in. Closet space is NOT an issue here. We head back to the other end of the house, passing 4 more bedrooms, and 2 more full baths, and numerous closets. The place seems enormous, but at the same time, it feels comfortable. Like home. We head down the "good morning" staircase, and out to the back yard. Except it's not a "yard", it's more like an estate. I mentioned the chapel and brook, but there is also an in-ground pool, a carriage shed, and a complete sense of privacy. There is a huge blossoming lilac bush, along with too many other flowering trees and bushes to count. Without even knowing yet of the significant history of the property, I am hooked.

Gone Fishin'

At Resthaven, we are fortunate to have picturesque Spring Brook flow through both the western and northern portions of the property, providing a wonderful and natural buffer of privacy. It's clear, rushing waters provide a soothing backdrop to the ears, and it's coolness prevails throughout the summer, so that one can notice a significant temperature difference when sitting by the mossy stone covered banks. Ferns and spruce trees abound, and it's location down a small ravine creates an atmosphere in which one could imagine being out in the middle of the wilderness. I often see deer peering through the trees there, their well-worn paths clear to even a child's eye. Because the brook's water is clear and cold, and it's topography such that it is fast-running, combined with areas of calm, dark pools, it is the perfect environment for fish, and in particular, trout.

I am not much of a fisherman, but have seen others fishing certain favorite spots on Spring Brook successfully. My attempts at catching "the big one" usually end up with fishing line wrapped around myself and tree branches. I figure I am more of a danger to myself than the fish, and so have given up hope of bringing home dinner. Former resident of Resthaven, Sally Ashkins, wrote me, however, with fond memories of how her father, Dr. Ashkins, would frequently wake up early in the morning and go down to the brook to catch trout for his girls' breakfast.

The Pet Cemetery

When we first moved to Resthaven, I came upon what appears to be a headstone tucked into the woods just beyond the edge of the lawn between the chapel and the pool area. There is no hint of writing or engraving on the granite stone, and it's somewhat imperfect shape and solitary placement made me wonder if it indeed belonged to someone, or if it was just a rock coincidentally shaped like a grave marker. I finally came upon the answer when I met with Dr. Ashkin's daughter, Sally, last year. Sally told me that her father always had cats and dogs (the dogs often named Bo), and that the area where the "headstone" is located is the Pet Cemetery, where generations of Resthaven's pets were buried. The Pet Cemetery dates back before the Ashkins' ownership of the property, although how far back, we'll probably never know. Nonetheless, it is another unique little part of the history of Resthaven, where beloved pets (including our own- see Kayla in photo) happily roamed the woods and fields over the past 180 years.

"Resthaven" After Ashkins Renovation 1942

The Amazing Dr. Ashkins and His Not-So-Magnificent Flying Machine

Of all of the people who have lived at Resthaven, Dr. Joseph Ashkins is tops on my list of those who I wish I had met. A prominent local surgeon, he and his family lived almost a life of celebrity in the small town of Mendon, in which their every vacation, personal achievement, and party held at their estate was documented in the local newspaper. Daring and adventurous, Dr. Ashkins was a man who knew what he wanted, and set out to get it. He purchased Resthaven in 1940 from the Resthaven Trust established after the death of C.R. Seabury in 1929, and took two years to painstakingly renovate the house back into a single family home. I met with his daughter, Sally, who kindly shared photos and memories of her father and their lives at Resthaven.

Dr. Ashkins was an avid pilot who owned several small airplanes throughout his lifetime. His last flight was a solo trip to Clearwater, FL at age 71, with his faithful dog, Bo III by his side. It was December, and as he flew off the coast of New Jersey, both engines on his Cessna-310 quit without warning. When he crash landed into the heavy surf about 250 yards off of the beach, he became trapped inside by the pressure of the mounting water as the plane sank. "I never thought I'd get out", he told his friends. "I wasn't so much afraid to die, but I thought to myself- what a way to go." He managed to get out, but was unable to save his labrador retriever, which was afraid of the water. He then swam the 250 yards to shore, where a local judge who had seen the plane go down was able to assist him.

It was the second time that Dr. Ashkins narrowly escaped death. More than 15 years before, while enroute to his home from Milford Hospital after operating until late at night, he dozed off and flipped his car into a gully, severing an artery. The doctor took off his belt and applied a tourniquet around his leg, and then dragged himself up the embankment to the highway, where a passing motorist found him. Despite Dr. Ashkins brushes with death, he lived well into his 90's, and is now buried near his beloved Resthaven.

A Little School for Little Girls

In 1912, Miss Catherine R. Seabury realized her dream of opening an Episcopal college preparatory boarding school for girls at her country estate, Resthaven, in Mendon, MA. Various artifacts from the era remain to this day, including nine small dormitory rooms on the third floor of the large granite house. Each room features beadboard paneling, 100 year old wallpaper, and a small closet or niche for storage of personal items. Although the dorm rooms have not been used as living space in almost 80 years, and are quite rustic by today's standards, one can feel a presence there, almost as if walking back in time. It is not hard to imagine the girls preparing for their school day, which consisted of a rigorous program meant to encourage the growth of body, mind, and soul.

The girls' day began with breakfast at 7:45 am, followed by Morning Prayer in the chapel, Swedish gymnastics, singing, lessons, and school duties, so that by 3:00, everyone was out of doors. Then some of the girls would drive down to the village to the tiny post office, play games, or walk the fields and woods, collecting whatever was in season, be it blueberries, grapes, or ferns with which to decorate the chapel. The academic schedule included typical subject matter such as Literature, English Composition, History, and Mathematics, as well as Latin and French, Biology or Physics, Music (including weekly forays to the Symphony in Boston, and occasionally to the Opera House), and Bible study. Meals were also a source of instruction, so that the girls would naturally develop a talent for polite and "earnest discussion of worthwhile things". Each day ended with an early supper, study time, and story-telling before bed. According to the brochure, the Resthaven School for Girls charged $1000 for tuition, room and board, and incidentals for the 1916-1917 school year.

Resthaven Chapel and the Tiffany's

In my efforts to document the history of Resthaven, aka the Nathan C. House, I have often stumbled upon some truly interesting connections. I treasure each and every bit of information I dig up, but some bits have obstensibly more WOW factor to the world at large than others. One such piece of history is the relationship of Resthaven Chapel to the iconic Tiffany family.

The Nathan C. Aldrich House was purchased in 1892 by Catherine Regina Seabury, a woman with a prominent family history in the Episcopal Church, whose goal was to create a country retreat for women factory workers from Boston. Her brother-in-law, The Rev. Henry A. Parker and his family, came to Mendon from Cambridge on Sundays to provide religious services. In 1899, Rev. Parker's sons designed and built Resthaven Chapel on the grounds from local field stone. The architect was Gurdon Saltonstall Parker, the eldest son, who was a student at Harvard Scientific School. Alas, Gurdon was called back to Harvard for football camp before the chapel could be completed, and so that first year the celebrants held services with only a roof of branches over their heads. Gurdon eventually went on to become an architect in Manhattan, and married Julia DeForest Tiffany, the daughter of Louis Comfort Tiffany. (A special thank you to George Parker for providing the above photo of C.R. Seabury and the Parker family. Gurdon is the young man sitting quite upright in the front row).

Resthaven: A Storybook Estate with a Past

Our beautiful property, Resthaven, is for sale. This is undoubtedly not the best time to market any property, and a million dollar estate is no exception. Resthaven is not just a house with some land, however; but rather a property with a past. A past which is part of what makes it so special today, because one cannot walk the property without feeling a little piece of those who came before. The Quaker stone masons who meticulously built the house, the teacher who utilized all of her resources to advocate for the education of women, the girls whose lives were transformed by their time spent at Resthaven, and the adventurous physician who always came back to the place he loved most. We have left our mark as well, and are now part of the fabric of the place. My two children grew up there, wandering the lawns and woods, peeking inside the old stone chapel to feel the cool, still air on their skin, playing down by the brook with its little rushing waterfalls and dark, shallow pools. It is a storybook place to grow up; the kind of which I had always dreamed. My greatest hope is that its next caretakers will cherish the property as much as those of us who have shared in its past.