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.

The Hunt for Red Oktober

One of most interesting things about owning an historic property is uncovering its many secrets. An antique house will inevitably keep some secrets tucked away, forever hidden in the past, and others will be revealed only with great effort, such as during a renovation. Many secrets, however, are in plain sight, like puzzles waiting to be pieced together. And so it is with the enormous galvanized steel tank secured with industrial sized rivets that lies in the far corner of our huge cellar at Resthaven. All who enter the cellar inquire about the tank, which I have affectionately named "Red Oktober" in honor of the Tom Clancy book. (It's fun to tweak my young son's imagination with stories about the Soviet era submarine in our basement.) Of course, the truth about Red Oktober is far less exciting. After wondering about it's purpose for years, I was informed that it is simply a huge water tank, a vestige of the Seabury era, when Resthaven served as a girl's boarding school. Water was pumped into the tank from Spring Brook, and then up to the main living areas for household use. Today, it is no longer hooked up the plumbing system, and is simply a reminder of a page in the history book of Resthaven.

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 Dam at Spring Brook

One of the outdoor winter pleasures of old Resthaven was ice skating on the pond created by a dam at Spring Brook. One can see the remnants of the old dam, and where it once stood, as well as a nearby dug-out area which once served as the ice house, in which blocks of ice were cut and stored to last through-out the summer. Ice skating on the pond is mentioned as a winter activity in both the 1916 Resthaven School for Girls brochure, as well as an article written about Resthaven in "The Churchman" (the pre-eminent newspaper for the Episcopal Church) in 1924. I'm not sure whether it was Mother Nature or man which caused the eventual collapse of the dam, or when it burst, but the pond no longer exists, and the days of ice skating there remain only in the memories of the those who once shared in the winter-time fun.