About The Residence, Galleries and Gardens

We've taken some photographs to pique your interest, but they just do not begin to convey the beauty of the property, the house and the two galleries.

First settled in 1775, South Egremont, in the heart of the Berkshires, is the quintessential New England village known for its peaceful and bucolic character. Situated in the southwest corner of Massachusetts, just minutes from Connecticut and New York, it is equally distant, just 2-1/2 hours, from New York City and Boston.

The Berkshires are a four season region. Second homeowners are largely from New York, Long Island, Westchester and Boston, but also Florida and Texas. Visitors and tourists are drawn from around the country and the world attracted by the theatre, dance and music, fine dining, museums, galleries and upscale lodging. The area is the perfect setting for hiking, biking, canoeing and golf, boasts a spectacular foliage season and nearby ski areas. Our business over the years has flourished in this environment.

The residence and two galleries are situated on 1-1/4 acres encompassing a stream, field with massive pines and mature plantings, and a four stall horse barn out back. Continuing up the hill beyond is an additional three treed acres, separately deeded and a buildable lot, overlooking the hills beyond.

The main house itself is the oldest dwelling in town dating from 1730 and was originally the village blacksmith shop. Early rusted horse shoes can still be found in Karner Brook, the stream that runs behind the house and under the back deck which looks toward the fields. The smithy had his forge against the back wall of the house and we've preserved the original ballast brick (now enclosed and illuminated within a large picture frame), but except for that and the laid stone foundation, little else remains of the original post and beam structure. Ongoing renovations to the buildings over the years and the planting of extensive perennial gardens throughout the property have created a most extraordinary and unique complex of private and public space.

One enters the gallery attached to the house (originally a separate structure, but now joined) through a charming oriental garden replete with tile roofed teahouse, koi pond and bridge, and a sculptural Japanese maple. Between this two story gallery and the freestanding barn gallery, there are approximately 3,000 square feet of display space -- all designed and track-halogen illuminated to showcase both two and three dimensional objects. Additionally, in the barn gallery there is a half bath, a woodworking shop, and a private guestroom with full bath overlooking the fields and stream. The gallery spaces could easily be converted to additional living space and/or commercial space of a different nature.

The house itself, another 2,000 square feet, is unique and striking in its design with white stuccoed walls, a dramatic two story entry, and many windows and skylights. On the lower level there is a small office, a powder room, a large living room on two levels, a country cook's kitchen, and windowed dining room leading to a deck over the stream and looking out onto the fields. On the second level is a large office (or bedroom) with an adjacent greenhouse, the master bedroom and bath, marble Jacuzzi enclosure, walk in closet, and guest bedroom with its own full bath -- all bright with sunlight from the many windows and skylights.

In the full basement, there is a photographic darkroom complete with an 8 foot stainless steel sink. All the systems, including plumbing, heating and electrical, have been upgraded and all the buildings are centrally air conditioned. A new Title V certified septic system was installed just two years ago.

Take a few minutes and look at some images of the buildings, the property and the interiors. Please call us -- Martin and Kitty Jacobs -- at (413) 528-5755 to ask any questions and arrange to see the property.



Images of House, Galleries and Properties