Heaton Hall was an expansive hotel which dominated Prospect Hill in Stockbridge. The above image was taken circa 1910. Overlooking downtown, the impressive structure opened in 1904, its mystical spires and scenic veranda providing a “Shangri-La” appearance. Its longtime owner, Congressman Allen Treadway, named the hotel after his son Heaton – who eventually sold the business in 1955.
During its heyday, the inn was host to many celebrities, political gatherings, and famous folks – Calvin Coolidge, Henry Cabot Lodge, Earl Wild, Aaron Copland, Pierre Monteux, and Van Cliburn, to name just a handful. But the aging hotel became increasingly costly to repair and maintain. It finally closed in 1969 and was torn down in 1972.
Several years later, Heaton Court senior housing opened on the site. A portion of the apartment complex is shown below.
