| Revision as of 19:20, 24 October 2008 editCydebot (talk | contribs)6,812,251 editsm Robot - Moving category Registered Historic Places in Fairfield County, Connecticut to National Register of Historic Places in Fairfield County, Connecticut per CFD at Misplaced Pages:Categories for discussion/Log/2008 October 18.← Previous edit | Revision as of 01:24, 23 December 2008 edit undoJohnWBarber (talk | contribs)7,521 edits →Mansion history: add links to LeGrand LockwoodNext edit → | ||
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| ==Mansion history== | ==Mansion history== | ||
| The estate, then called "Elm Park," was built by LeGrand Lockwood, who made his fortune in banking and the railroad industry.<ref>{{cite book | author=Lauren Keach Lessing | title=Presiding Divinities: Ideal Sculpture in Nineteenth-Century American Domestic Interiors | location=Ph.D. dissertation | publisher=Indiana University | year=2006}}</ref> Construction began in ] just west of the ] in Norwalk and was completed four years later. Designed by European-trained, New York-based architect ], the mansion "is considered his most significant surviving work," according to the association. Both American and immigrant artisans worked to construct and decorate the house.<ref name=hist/> Prominent New York decorating firms, including ] and Leon Marcotte were contracted to furnish the mansion's interiors. Financial reversals in 1869 and Lockwood's death in 1872 resulted in loss of the estate by Lockwood's heirs. In 1874 the family lost the mansion and grounds through foreclosure.<ref name=hist/> | The estate, then called "Elm Park," was built by ], who made his fortune in banking and the railroad industry.<ref>{{cite book | author=Lauren Keach Lessing | title=Presiding Divinities: Ideal Sculpture in Nineteenth-Century American Domestic Interiors | location=Ph.D. dissertation | publisher=Indiana University | year=2006}}</ref> Construction began in ] just west of the ] in Norwalk and was completed four years later. Designed by European-trained, New York-based architect ], the mansion "is considered his most significant surviving work," according to the association. Both American and immigrant artisans worked to construct and decorate the house.<ref name=hist/> Prominent New York decorating firms, including ] and Leon Marcotte were contracted to furnish the mansion's interiors. Financial reversals in 1869 and Lockwood's death in 1872 resulted in loss of the estate by Lockwood's heirs. In 1874 the family lost the mansion and grounds through foreclosure.<ref name=hist/> | ||
| Charles D. Mathews, a prominent importer originally from ], New York, and his wife, Rebecca, bought the property in 1876. The Mathews family continued to live in the mansion until 1938.<ref name=hist/> | Charles D. Mathews, a prominent importer originally from ], New York, and his wife, Rebecca, bought the property in 1876. The Mathews family continued to live in the mansion until 1938.<ref name=hist/> | ||
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| ] and greenhouse]] | ] and greenhouse]] | ||
| In the 2000s, statues and furniture that had originally been in the mansion were bought and placed back in it. Two marble statues, sculpted in 1859 by ], an American artist, and bought by LeGrand Lockwood, were purchased for $185,000. A $165,000 sofa original to the home was also acquired and brought back to it.<ref name=mb37>Breslow, Matt, "Mansion director out of work after filing complaint", news article in ''The Advocate'' of Stamford, Norwalk edition, page 1, ], ]</ref> | In the 2000s, statues and furniture that had originally been in the mansion were bought and placed back in it. Two marble statues, sculpted in 1859 by ], an American artist, and bought by ], were purchased for $185,000. A $165,000 sofa original to the home was also acquired and brought back to it.<ref name=mb37>Breslow, Matt, "Mansion director out of work after filing complaint", news article in ''The Advocate'' of Stamford, Norwalk edition, page 1, ], ]</ref> | ||
| Paramount Pictures paid the museum $400,000 to restore the rotunda, which was used as a filming location for the second version of ''The Stepford Wives''.<ref name=ts515/> | Paramount Pictures paid the museum $400,000 to restore the rotunda, which was used as a filming location for the second version of ''The Stepford Wives''.<ref name=ts515/> | ||
Revision as of 01:24, 23 December 2008
United States historic place| Lockwood-Mathews Mansion | |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| U.S. National Historic Landmark | |
 South side of the mansion | |
  | |
| Location | 295 West Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Built | 1864 |
| Architect | Detlef Lienau |
| Architectural style | Renaissance, Other |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000836 |
| Added to NRHP | December 30, 1970 |
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion is a Second Empire style country house, now a museum, in Norwalk, Connecticut. It was featured in the movies The Stepford Wives and House of Dark Shadows.
The 62-room mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971.
It has been described as "one of the earliest and finest surviving Second Empire style country houses ever built in the United States." "The Museum's mission is to conserve the building while creating educational programs on the material, artistic and social culture of the Victorian era," according to the museum organization's Web site.
A master plan for renovating the mansion was expected to be completed in 2007. Plans for renovation work at the museum include adding an elevator, and systems for heating, air conditioning, and sprinklers. Renovation costs are likely to total about $6 million, museum officials said in May 2007, before the master plan was complete.
In a decades-long Christmastime tradition, interior decorators deck out about a dozen rooms in the mansion with holiday decorations. An annual "community celebration" is held in December with Christmas music, refreshments and a Santa Claus. In 2007, 10 interior decorators volunteered their services and materials for the event.
The mansion, at 295 West Ave., sits in Mathews Park, where the Stepping Stones Museum for Children is also located.
Mansion history
The estate, then called "Elm Park," was built by LeGrand Lockwood, who made his fortune in banking and the railroad industry. Construction began in 1864 just west of the Norwalk River in Norwalk and was completed four years later. Designed by European-trained, New York-based architect Detlef Lienau, the mansion "is considered his most significant surviving work," according to the association. Both American and immigrant artisans worked to construct and decorate the house. Prominent New York decorating firms, including Herter Brothers and Leon Marcotte were contracted to furnish the mansion's interiors. Financial reversals in 1869 and Lockwood's death in 1872 resulted in loss of the estate by Lockwood's heirs. In 1874 the family lost the mansion and grounds through foreclosure.
Charles D. Mathews, a prominent importer originally from Staten Island, New York, and his wife, Rebecca, bought the property in 1876. The Mathews family continued to live in the mansion until 1938.
In 1941 the estate was sold to the City of Norwalk, which designated it a public park. In the 1950s, the building was threatened with demolition, but local preservationists succeeded in saving it. They formed Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, Inc. to run the site, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971.
The museum has hosted an annual antique show since 1978. In 2006 the show was held the last weekend in October and attracted dealers from Ohio and Pennsylvania as well as Connecticut.
In the 2000s, statues and furniture that had originally been in the mansion were bought and placed back in it. Two marble statues, sculpted in 1859 by Joseph Mozier, an American artist, and bought by LeGrand Lockwood, were purchased for $185,000. A $165,000 sofa original to the home was also acquired and brought back to it.
Paramount Pictures paid the museum $400,000 to restore the rotunda, which was used as a filming location for the second version of The Stepford Wives.
The mansion has been used by survivors and victims of the September 11 attacks.
References
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23.
- ^ "Lockwood-Mathews Mansion". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-10-05. Cite error: The named reference "nhlsum" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- Marilyn Larew (February, 1978), Template:PDFlink, National Park Service
{{citation}}: Check date values in:|date=(help). Template:PDFlink - ^ http://www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.org/3.html "History" Web page of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Web site, accessed July 27, 2006.
- ^ Breslow, Matt, "Mansion director out of work after filing complaint", news article in The Advocate of Stamford, Norwalk edition, page 1, March 26, 2007
- ^ Stelloh, Tom, "Museum will get an upgrade", article in The Advocate (Stamford) of Stamford (Norwalk Edition), pp A7, A8, May 15, 2007
- DeLoma, Jamie, "Designers get mansion ready for the holidays", article in The Advocate of Stamford, pp 1, A4, Norwalk edition, November 29, 2007
- Lauren Keach Lessing (2006). Presiding Divinities: Ideal Sculpture in Nineteenth-Century American Domestic Interiors. Ph.D. dissertation: Indiana University.
- "Antiques show will benefit museum" in "Area briefs" feature, The Advocate of Stamford, October 25, 2006, page A18, Stamford edition, "... the 29th annual Lockwood-Mathews Antiques Show ..." Remember, if the 29th was held in 2006, the first would have been held in 1978, counting must be done the way we count centuries such as the "first century" from the years 1-100 AD.
External links
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Topics | |
| Lists by state |
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| Lists by insular areas | |
| Lists by associated state | |
| Other areas | |
| Related | |
