Description
One of just twenty homes built by Onteora Club founding member George Agnew Reid, this 1904 Arts & Crafts cottage occupies a quietly extraordinary position between the Mountain Top Arboretum and thousands of acres of forever-wild land. Set on parklike grounds amid natural splendor, the sense of place feels enduring, with turn-of-the-century craftsmanship thoughtfully balanced by modern updates.
A wraparound porch leads to the original Dutch door, opening into a double-height great room with soaring ceilings, a grand fieldstone fireplace, and a minstrel's gallery adorned with Hudson River School murals, a hallmark of Reid's cottages. Equally suited to large gatherings or quiet evenings by the fire, it is the architectural and social anchor of the cottage. From here, the formal dining room connects to an eat-in kitchen with ample cabinetry and a central island, opening directly to the stone patio for effortless al fresco dining.
The floor plan is roomy yet intimate; a gentle, meandering configuration that creates warmth and privacy. Upstairs, two ensuite primary bedrooms sit at opposite ends of the great room. Two additional bedrooms and a shared full bath occupy the western wing. A finished attic level adds a bedroom, den, and 3/4 bath.
Original millwork, exposed timbers, divided-light windows, birch banisters, and characteristic Onteora masonry express the home's distinct lineage. These details, in concert with four stately fireplaces and south-facing views of the Catskill Mountains, evoke an elemental harmony in dialogue with the surrounding landscape. That harmony is affirmed and carried outward in the subtly staggered, trapezoidal roofline, seemingly an echo of the mountains beyond.
Amenities include a naturally cooled wine cellar, a first-floor gym with steam shower adjoining the patio, a fire pit, and a wood-paneled billiards room. Recent improvements add a new eight-zone propane heating system, a new septic system, refinished hardwood floors, and extensive masonry repointing throughout. The property benefits from a Kohler standby generator and buried electric service from the road.
The cottage's two exquisite acres are dotted with mature hardwoods and fronted by a circular drive, sixteen apple trees, and a dry-laid stone wall. Connecting the meticulous hardscaping, a stone walkway runs from the porch to a front patio graced by mountain views, and onward to the secluded rear patio with a bespoke stone table.
Across the road, land owned by the Mountain Top Arboretum preserves open views. To the rear, the property abuts thousands of acres of forever-wild land extending north toward Colgate Lake and the Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness. Deer Mountain Inn and the historic Onteora Club are just minutes away, offering golf, tennis, swimming, and dining within a storied mountain setting. The next steward of the property will have the opportunity to apply for Club membership.
This is a rare offering for those seeking an upstate escape with architectural provenance, protected views, and proximity to the cultural and natural amenities of the Catskills--5 minutes to bustling Tannersville, 10 minutes to Hunter, 15 minutes to Windham, and just over 2 hours from the GWB.
