Cole Porter's Berkshire Retreat, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 8th 2011 at 1:01PM

Today's property, a beautiful 40-acre expanse in Massachusetts' tranquil Berkshire Mountains area, was once the home of songwriter Cole Porter. In June 1940 Linda Porter, Cole Porter's wife, chose the estate as the couple's summer residence. The couple also frequently entertained here, offering members of the royal, theatrical, and jet-set society a weekend in the countryside. Cole Porter continued to visit the home until his death in 1964 and completed many of his important numbers in the home.

The land includes formal gardens, woodlands, stone walls, hedgerows, terrace and fountains and two miles of nature trails while still offering easy access to picturesque Williamstown. The main residence has lovely floor-to-ceiling windows, large living and dining rooms, a wood paneled library, eat-in kitchen and four fireplaces. There are five bedrooms including the first floor master suite. The grounds are also home to a pool with a 1940s pool house with changing rooms, a prep kitchen, tennis court, greenhouse and potting shed. There is also a guest cottage with two large suites, a livestock barn that offers an additional 700 square feet of living space, and a carriage barn with a three-bedroom apartment above. This home is listed at $4.495 million with Alton & Westfall.

Gallery: Cole Porter's Berkshire Retreat

[Thanks, Spec.]

Tags: berkshires, cole porter, estate of the day, massachusetts real estate, williamstown

Filed under: Estates

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JLS Feb 8th 2011 4:13PM

Beautiful retreat for sure. Love the fountain (large round one with the singular plume of water)-of course it looks like one of mine lol. Don't care at all for the grey distressed cupboards or much of anything in that kitchen. It is in dire need of an overall update. Bathrooms need an overhaul as well.

I think the home should have more glass being in this setting. Lots of tiny paned windows don't show it off.

Nice history here. Cole Porter was a gentle and brilliant man.

pdkjr Feb 8th 2011 10:39PM

I know that the pictures for the cottage and livestock barn can be found at: www.buxtonhill.com It is truly one of the last remaining "Country Gentleman's Estates" in Berkshire County. Beautifully renovated and kept up, amazing gardens and grounds.