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Locust Grove (Samuel F. B. Morse House)
Encyclopedia
Locust Grove, also known as the Samuel F. B. Morse
House, is located on US 9 in the Town of Poughkeepsie
, New York
, USA, on a small hill overlooking the Hudson River
. It was designed for Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, by Alexander Jackson Davis
in an Italianate
style
and completed in 1851
.
couple, John and Isabella Montgomery. They moved farming operations to the lower-lying lands closer to the river and built a cottage at the present house site.
Morse in turn bought the land from them in 1847, three years after his breakthrough with the telegraph. He hired Davis in 1851 and began working with him to remodel and expand the Montgomerys' cottage into an Italianate villa. He continued to improve the landscape
around the house for the rest of his life.
After his death in 1872, his family continued to live there for a few more years, but eventually moved elsewhere and rent
ed out the estate. One of their tenants, William Young, bought the property from the Morses in 1896. He and his wife Martha realized its historic importance and began to preserve
it in 1901, redecorating it as it had been in Morse's lifetime. They also added the large dining room
at the north end, the last significant renovation to the building. They also had a large art
collection, which they displayed in many of the house's 40 rooms.
The Youngs' efforts continued through their lifetime. Their daughter, Annette, also worked to preserve and restore the house, an effort rewarded when it was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1964, the first estate
in the Hudson Valley
to be so designated.
Annette Young died in 1975, establishing in her will
a trust
so that the house and property could be opened to the public. Four years later, it was. Today the site offers guided tours, lectures and other special events. A visitors' center
was opened in 2001
, where paintings, sculptures and other artwork by Morse, and some of the Youngs' collection, is on display. Three miles (5 km) of trail
s have been built in the woods around the house. Admission to the grounds is free; there is a fee for guided tours of the mansion.
Samuel F. B. Morse
Samuel Finley Breese Morse was an American contributor to the invention of a single-wire telegraph system based on European telegraphs, co-inventor of the Morse code, and an accomplished painter.-Birth and education:...
House, is located on US 9 in the Town of Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (town), New York
Poughkeepsie is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 42,777 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the native term, "Uppu-qui-ipis-in," which means "reed-covered hut by the water."...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA, on a small hill overlooking the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. It was designed for Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, by Alexander Jackson Davis
Alexander Jackson Davis
Alexander Jackson Davis, or A. J. Davis , was one of the most successful and influential American architects of his generation, in particular his association with the Gothic Revival style....
in an Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
style
Architectural style
Architectural styles classify architecture in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials, time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture...
and completed in 1851
1851 in architecture
The year 1851 in architecture involved some significant events.-Buildings:* The Crystal Palace, home of the Great Exhibition is erected in Hyde Park, London...
.
History
The property had acquired the name Locust Grove long beforehand. Henry Livingston Jr. had given it the name in 1771, when he purchased it from his own father, who had farmed it since 1751. After his death, his heirs sold the property to a wealthy New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
couple, John and Isabella Montgomery. They moved farming operations to the lower-lying lands closer to the river and built a cottage at the present house site.
Morse in turn bought the land from them in 1847, three years after his breakthrough with the telegraph. He hired Davis in 1851 and began working with him to remodel and expand the Montgomerys' cottage into an Italianate villa. He continued to improve the landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
around the house for the rest of his life.
After his death in 1872, his family continued to live there for a few more years, but eventually moved elsewhere and rent
Renting
Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property owned by another. A gross lease is when the tenant pays a flat rental amount and the landlord pays for all property charges regularly incurred by the ownership from landowners...
ed out the estate. One of their tenants, William Young, bought the property from the Morses in 1896. He and his wife Martha realized its historic importance and began to preserve
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
it in 1901, redecorating it as it had been in Morse's lifetime. They also added the large dining room
Dining room
A dining room is a room for consuming food. In modern times it is usually adjacent to the kitchen for convenience in serving, although in medieval times it was often on an entirely different floor level...
at the north end, the last significant renovation to the building. They also had a large art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
collection, which they displayed in many of the house's 40 rooms.
The Youngs' efforts continued through their lifetime. Their daughter, Annette, also worked to preserve and restore the house, an effort rewarded when it was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1964, the first estate
Estate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
in the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
to be so designated.
Annette Young died in 1975, establishing in her will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
a trust
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
so that the house and property could be opened to the public. Four years later, it was. Today the site offers guided tours, lectures and other special events. A visitors' center
Visitor center
A visitor center or centre , visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to the visitors who tour the place or area locally...
was opened in 2001
2001 in architecture
The year 2001 in architecture involved some significant events.-Buildings:* March 17 – Eden Project opened to the public in St Austell, Cornwall, by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners....
, where paintings, sculptures and other artwork by Morse, and some of the Youngs' collection, is on display. Three miles (5 km) of trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s have been built in the woods around the house. Admission to the grounds is free; there is a fee for guided tours of the mansion.
Further Reading
- Great Houses of the Hudson River, Michael Middleton DwyerMichael Middleton DwyerMichael Middleton Dwyer is an architect practicing in New York City known for renovating historic structures and designing new ones in traditional vocabularies. He is also a writer of architectural history who was the editor of Great Houses of the Hudson River and author of Carolands...
, editor, with preface by Mark RockefellerMark RockefellerMark Fitler Rockefeller is a fourth-generation member of the Rockefeller family. He is the youngest son of Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller and Happy Rockefeller...
, Boston, MA: Little, Brown and CompanyLittle, Brown and CompanyLittle, Brown and Company is a publishing house established by Charles Coffin Little and his partner, James Brown. Since 2006 it has been a constituent unit of Hachette Book Group USA.-19th century:...
, published in association with Historic Hudson ValleyHistoric Hudson ValleyHistoric Hudson Valley is a not-for-profit educational and historic preservation organization headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, in Westchester County...
, 2001. ISBN 082122767X.