Photo Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
CD2005.823.2 |
Object Name |
CD |
Description |
CD containing 28 photos (most at high resolution, some JPEG and some TIF files). Copies of these photos are in F298 and are accessioned under Ps2005.823.1-28. "Buxton Hall" was the name given to Alvah Kittredge Lawrie's country estate on West Main Street in Williamstown. Born in 1852, Mr. Lawrie served as president of the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA). In 1911, he married Frances Thornton Innes of Kentucky, who was nearly thirty years his junior. The following year he purchased the former Danforth Farm in the Buxton section of Williamstown for $100 and in 1916 built a gray stone Tudor revival house on the property. Mr. Lawrie died in 1936, leaving an estate worth close to $12 million. His widow inherited Buxton Hall and maintained it as her summer home until her death in 1951. The Sprague Electric Company purchased the estate in 1953 for $82,500 with plans to convert it into a research center. However, the company abandoned that plan, demolished the house in 1960, and subdivided the property into lots for Sprague executives. The Buxton Hall estate contained 52 acres, on which stood the main house, an 1835 cottage for Mr. Lawrie's sisters (which still stands), a barn, a four-car garage, greenhouse, two smaller cottages for workmen, and extensive formal gardens. The main house was 110 feet long and 25 feet wide, with six formal living rooms, a kitchen, pantry, and servants' dining room on the ground floor. There were five bedrooms and three baths on the second floor, as well as three maids' rooms. Mrs. Lawrie was the 21st of 22 children and had many young nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she welcomed as summer guests at Buxton Hall. Since she had no children of her own, there were always a number of young relatives present, all of whom had marvelous times in the elegant surroundings. They played croquet on the lawn, waded in the lily pool, helped out at haying time, and walked to the movies on Spring Street. Mrs. Lawrie, known as Aunt Frances or "Ma," generously gave financial assistance to the families of the children and supported a number of youngsters through college. Every year in October the house was closed up. Mrs. Lawrie and her staff, always including her loyal servants, Jesse and Isadore, would then travel by car to "Boxhall Plantation," her winter home in Thomasville, Georgia. They returned regularly to Williamstown for the summer. |
Date |
1916-1960 |
Title |
CD containing 28 photos of Buxton Hall and people associated with the house |
Collection |
Photos Homes-B |
Accession number |
CD2005.823.2 |
Lexicon category |
6: T&E For Communication |
Received date |
03/03/2005 |
Year Range from |
1916 |
Year Range to |
1960 |
Catalog date |
2005-05-10 |