Aberdeen - a grand Greek Revival residence
Aberdeen: Perched high on a hill, presiding over a rolling green expanse to the mighty Hudson River below, sits a grand and exquisite Greek revival home known as Aberdeen. Built in 1828 in West Park, a hamlet of Esopus, New York, Aberdeen sits amongst many glorious, historic riverfront homes built by some of America's most notable families. Many well know historic figures have crossed the threshold over the years, with lore that Cornelius Vanderbilt would come to play cards, Henry Ford was once thwarted from an attempt to purchase the home and Eleanor Roosevelt would serve as guest lecturer during a period when the home was used as a school for young working woman. Considered to be Ulster Counties most impressive Greek Revival house, every original detail of this architectural beauty has been carefully restored and respected, while being elegantly updated with luxurious custom fixtures and materials of the highest quality, all referencing the homes rich history. As impressive as the interior of this 6 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom home is-the experience of stepping out onto the rear portico with its two storied fluted ionic colonnade- taking in the river views and the Vanderbilt Mansion perfectly framed out across the water, is simply breathtaking. There are 9 private acres in total, comprised of handsome stone terraces with stairs down to rolling lawn, open fields and wooded areas, all leading to the waterfront with over 400 feet of rare private river access.Upon entering the home through the elegant western facing portico, and standing in the central gallery that leads to the river beyond, one is struck by the grand proportions of the rooms, the remarkable refinement of the original details that have impressed for hundreds of years and the lovely light throughout. To the right is a double parlor, bisected by pocket doors framed out with fluted half columns with ornate Corinthian capitals and featuring lovingly restored cast plaster crown moldings, ceiling rosettes and the rose colored marble mantles of 2 of the 9 working fireplaces in the home- four of them outfitted with gas. To the left is the exceptional formal dining room with oversized windows, detailed original woodwork, prominent marble mantle and working fireplace. From here a door to the winding back stair leads from the attic level down to the beautifully restored basement with a discrete laundry room and a romantic wine cellar and tasting room. The enormous eat-in kitchen wing of the home is accessed via a handsome butler's pantry with exposed beams, custom cabinetry, a sink overlooking the river, dishwasher, ample storage and a wood fired oven built into the wall. The chef's kitchen is a wonderful mix of rustic original beams and exposed brick of the fireplace, contrasting with high end modern appliances such as the Bertazzoni Heritage range, luxurious marble counter tops and backsplashes, custom cabinetry and two sinks. French doors open onto a covered porch and bluestone terrace beyond where you can entertain in style overlooking the river. The floors in this wing were salvaged from a 300 year old home that was razed in Concord Massachusetts, and meld gracefully with the original flooring throughout the rest of the home. A serene study lined with book shelves and a curved formal central stair that winds its way to the second floor complete the ground level.Upstairs, four bedrooms are accessed via a wide central gallery that extends from the front of the house to the back, illuminated by large scaled windows framing the views beyond. Just as it does on the first floor, the Hudson River features prominently and comes in and out of view as one passes from room to room. An amply sized primary bedroom suite sets a luxurious tone; first with a stunning up close look through the windows at the architectural scrolls crowning the portico capitals which perfectly frame the views beyond. A gas fireplace adds to the ambiance as does a quietly opulent bath en-suite featuring gorgeous floor to ceiling tile work, claw foot tub, massive overhead rain shower, patterned marble floor and a gorgeous double marble sink with handsome brass fixtures throughout. There are three other beautifully appointed bedrooms in this central portion of the house which share another similarly appointed bathroom, with direct access to one of the bedrooms. A fifth bedroom and en-suite bathroom is tucked away quietly at the end of the second story wing and accessed through a cozy upstairs den.The guesthouse is situated opposite the kitchen terrace- accessed via a charming planted parterre-and is comprised of a cathedral ceilinged living room with substantial stone fireplace at one end, a wall of floor to ceiling windows looking out to the river, a full bathroom, and another oversized space with walls of glass. This space with a kitchenette, was originally conceived as a bunk room but can be configured in a variety of ways. Additionally the property boasts a separate heated and plumbed two car garage and adjoining room intended for use as a home gym. All of the systems of the main house and out buildings are either new or have been upgraded to the highest standards with central AC and all modern conveniences throughout. There are also opportunities to build a boat house and dock or even another waterfront home, creating a true family compound.Aberdeen is situated in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley, and there is no shortage of things to do. Nestled among the Catskill Mountains, there are endless trails to hike including the neighboring Black Creek Preserve, where one can visit Slabsides- the rustic cabin of naturalist John Burroughs and the Esopus Meadows Preserve with trails along the water to the historic Lighthouse there. Or trace the trail of abolitionist Sojourner Truth who walked west to freedom. Just 15 minutes to the north is the heart of historic Kingston with fine dining, shopping and a multitude of points of interest. Fifteen minutes to the south are both the Amtrak and metro North trains out of Poughkeepsie for easy access to New York City. Still, with all of the luxury, comfort and serenity that this home and grounds provide, you may be tempted to simply stay put and wander down to your private beach where you can kayak, canoe or just revel in the beauty of the Hudson River itself.