The Ephraim Chapin House, a.k.a the ”Landlord Abel House’,’ was built in Chicopee, Mass., c. 1725. In 1979 this handsome home and tavern was dismantled and relocated to Southfield. There it was re-erected upon a new foundation atop a hill, where it now resides on a 51-acre estate straddling the banks of Konkapot River. Once the beloved retreat of an artist and a serious collector of early American art and antiques, this 3-story 4-bedroom home has been painstakingly rebuilt and restored. Original wainscoting in the ”keeping room” is a rare example of interior decorative painting by the Scroll Painter, a documented but unnamed American decorative artist active the 1790’s. Other details include original floorboards, exposed chestnut beams, and center chimney with 6 brick fireplaces.
The 1st floor includes 2 stately front parlors, the “keeping room,” and a Shaker-style kitchen, with sunroom addition designed by architect Paul Clark in 2000. On the 2nd floor, the primary suite features its own dressing area and a full bath. The northwest bedroom and the southeast “Victorian bedroom” share a Jack-and-Jill bath. A foyer near the rear staircase leads to a fourth bedroom suite above the garage. On the 3rd floor is a heated atelier with soaring vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, surrounding the massive floor-to-ceiling brick chimney. Formerly used as a painting studio, this beautiful space has utility sink, a ½ bath, and enviable views of the valley to the South.
With lush pastoral views, forest areas, and walking trails along its river frontage, this estate marries an unusual level of historic detail with modern amenities. Poured concrete foundation, modern HVAC system, spray foam insulation, and a two-car garage. Plumbing and electric systems recently replaced. AC on 1st floor and in Primary Suite. 20 minutes to Great Barrington. Less than a mile south of Umpachene Falls.
What is the most compelling thing about this property?
It’s rare to find a home in a setting like this—but even more so to find an antique home here. Grand homes from this era are typically found along main roads, where once-quiet villages have evolved into bustling towns, busy thoroughfares and highways. This particular home was thoughtfully relocated to a 51-acre parcel, where it was reconstructed atop a southwest-facing hill, surrounded by pastures tucked into the trees. The Konkapot River winds through the heart of the property, making it a truly unusual find.
For whom is this house perfect?
This house is perfect for someone who wants an antique home with original detail without compromising on the reliability and comfort of a modern foundation, insulation, electrical, plumbing and mechanicals.
What is the most fun thing to do within five miles of this property?
Eating! New Marlborough has become such a wonderful destination for a delicious life. Local fine dining includes the Gedney Farm, the Old in On The Green, and Cantina 229. Local favorites the Southfield Store and the Mill River General Store are just minutes away. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the abundance of walking & hiking opportunities, including Umpachene Falls Park just a mile away and the Goodnow Preserve only three miles from the property.
If this house could talk, what secrets would it tell you about its history?
What a wonderful history this house has enjoyed! Most recently it was the beloved home of Peter and Barbara Goodman. Peter was a renowned collector of early American folk art and antiques. His extraordinary collection sold at auction at Christie’s in 2022. Barbara, a talented painter, found inspiration in the home’s third-floor studio—a stunning space with a vaulted ceiling, framed by massive chestnut beams.
Built well before the American Revolutionary War, this home possesses centuries of history and may have even served as a tavern at one time. It’s easy to picture lively discussions unfolding around the grand fireplace in the “Keeping Room.” If these walls could talk, they’d have 300 years of stories to tell!
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