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The Architectural Legacy of George Ross Mackenzie

June 3, 2014 by John Conway 16 Comments

BurnBraeoldFew places in Sullivan County have a more interesting history than the hamlet of Glen Spey in Lumberland, NY.  And fewer places still, possess the architectural treasures that grace that area.

So much so, in fact, that architect Robert Dadras has dubbed the area “Sullivan County’s Newport,” referring, of course, to the Rhode Island resort city where so many of the millionaires of America’s Gilded Age built their remarkable summer “cottages.”

That, more than anything else, is why Glen Spey is included as part of “The Magical History Tour,” this year’s Architectural/Historical Bus Tour, scheduled for June 7.

“There is no place in Sullivan County, with the possible exception of Loomis, that possesses the kind of architectural treasures we find in Glen Spey,” Dadras says.  “And it has a certain historical significance, as well.  I always love including it in one of our itineraries.”

The architectural treasures that make Glen Spey so special are largely the legacy of George Ross Mackenzie and his family. Mackenzie, born in Scotland, worked his way up from a line mechanic to become the fourth president of the multi-national Singer Sewing Machine Company in 1882. By that time, he had already purchased property in what was then known as South Lebanon and begun the transition to what he called Glen Spey, or “valley of the spring.” His own castellated mansion, The Homestead, is no longer extant, but several other buildings connected to him are, including three of the mansions built by his children. George Ross Mackenzie died in March of 1892, after periodic bouts of ill health that began with the death of his wife two years before.

Although there is no direct evidence to prove the point, it is likely that at least some of the Mackenzie era buildings were designed by the renowned architect Henry J. Hardenbergh, who had been commissioned by Mackenzie friend and colleague William F. Proctor to design the nearby Loch Ada mansion he used as a summer residence, as well as other structures on his estate. There are considerable similarities between some of the Mackenzie buildings and those of Proctor.

Hardenbergh, of course, is most known for designing the original Waldorf-Astoria hotel, the world famous Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, and the Dakota apartments on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Today, the Mackenzie legacy includes the mansions once known as Ardmore, Woldcroft, and Burn Brae, as well as a number of smaller– but in some cases no less architecturally splendid– buildings that once served those mansions. Mackenzie was also instrumental in the construction of the school house– now part of the Lumberland Town Hall.

Ardmore, built in 1891 for Mackenzie’s daughter, Rebecca Mackenzie Vanderbeek, has recently been restored and is currently operating as part of the Mountain View Manor Resort.  The grounds of the Mountain View Manor also include the former site of another mansion, Bramble Brae, built for Mackenzie’s daughter, Grace Mackenzie Ewing. It was demolished in 1975, but a few outbuildings remain.

Woldcroft, another of the mansions of George Ross Mackenzie’s children, built for his son, James Stone Mackenzie around 1890, is readily visible from the road and will also be studied. Woldcroft has not been restored, but its exterior remains in mostly original condition.

The newest of the so-called Mackenzie mansions is Burn Brae, which was painstakingly restored years ago by bicycling legend Mike Fraysse, and, interestingly, served as the location for the reception on one of the earliest Architectural Bus Tours years ago. Burn Brae was built in 1908 for Mackenzie’s daughter Margaret Ellis.

The Magical History Tour this year is being sponsored by The Delaware Company in collaboration with The Museum at Bethel Woods and The Liberty Museum & Arts Center.  The theme of the tour is “Revolution to Revolution” in that it will highlight the area’s history from the Revolutionary War era through the cultural revolution of the 1960s.

The bus will leave the parking lot at The Museum at Bethel Woods at precisely 9 AM and besides Glen Spey will visit the existing and vanished hamlets of Kauneonga Lake, White Lake, Black Lake, Forestine, Wellstown, Sullivantown, Eldred, Glen Spey, Pond Eddy (Kilgour), Barryville, Minisink Ford, Narrowsburg, Heirsville and Bethel.  Stops will include the Minisink Battleground Park, operated by the Sullivan County Division of Public Works, the Delaware Aqueduct or Roebling Bridge, where a National Park Service interpreter will talk about the oldest wire rope suspension structure in North America, and the Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History in Narrowsburg, where a picnic lunch will be served before the group tours the Fort.  The bus then visits the Woodstock site, and returns to the Museum at Bethel Woods for a tour of the museum.

The tour is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, and seats must be reserved in advance by June 1.  Reservations can be made by calling Debra Conway at 845-557-0851, but as space is limited, seats will not be reserved until payment is received.  Seats are $45.00 each, which includes lunch and admission to all sites.  Checks should be made payable to The Delaware Company and mailed to Debra Conway/P.O. Box 185/Barryville, NY 12719.

Photo: Burn Brae, built in 1908, is one of the extant mansions in Glen Spey that served as summer residences for members of the family of George Ross Mackenzie. Pictured here as it appeared in its heyday; it has since been restored.

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Filed Under: History Tagged With: Architecture, Historic Preservation, Sullivan County

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ann says

    July 26, 2014 at 9:29 AM

    This site is such an exciting find!

    I’ve lived on the former Brookwood Manor site in Glen Spey since 2008 & have always wanted to find out more. So many in the area tell vastly different stories. I did just recently -& very serendipitously- find a 1923 sales brochure (7-pages) for the property in it’s entirety when the mansion was still intact & bought it online. It’s pretty priceless & indicating the structures are designed by Hardenbergh.

    It also states it’s put up for sale by William Ross Proctor, son of William F. Proctor. The prior history is what I’m having trouble piecing together > was it called something else before Brookwood? I think I understand correctly that W. R. Proctor -an architect- actually designed the complex of structures & did marry a Singer (sewing machine heiress) but divorced.

    I am very interested in knowing the full arc of the story surrounding Loch Ada (the lake, not mansion) -for example, is it man-made? or in fact dredged in the shape of a heart as an offering to the magnate’s sweetheart Ada. Was it originally called Sand Pond? the estate originally built by the Singer sewing machine family? Etc.?

    Also- is this Proctor family the -or related to- Proctors of Proctor & Gamble?

    I would also be happy to share the contents of the sales brochure mentioned above. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Katherine Mubareka says

    October 5, 2014 at 7:07 AM

    Good morning,
    I am the great-great granddaughter of James and Mary (Porter) Gillespie of Glen Spey, NY.

    While putting together a book on the Gillespie family, I came across your site. You have done history justice in preserving information about the buildings and the people.

    Thank you so much and keep up the excellent work.
    Kathy

    Reply
  3. William Baran says

    April 18, 2015 at 1:28 PM

    I am the grandson of John (Ivan) Baran who owned the Baran Riverview Lodge in Pond Eddy. He and Anna ran it for years and were very supportive of the Glen Spey facility in its early years. As a small boy in the early 50’s we toured some of the Mansions on the property. I remember 13 being mentioned. The main one had some neat artifacts, cases of Indian artifacts, knight’s arm our, big pool table and in the basement a collection of irons to press early 1900 clothing. It was a wonderful place for a young boy from Chicago.

    Reply
  4. Geoff Bowman says

    October 14, 2015 at 9:33 PM

    Some 20 years ago I bought at auction in Tucson a small two-tiered table with a large carved monogram WRP and the date 1905. I am trying to find if there is any connection between
    the table and the architect William Ross Proctor (a hobby piece?). The table is heavily
    carved on the legs and both tiers. I have a couple of photos if you’re interested.

    Reply
  5. Oleh Kaniuka says

    March 7, 2017 at 12:27 PM

    “Bramble Brae, built for Mackenzie’s daughter, Grace Mackenzie Ewing. It was demolished in 1975″… not exactly accurate. It burned to the ground when a few of the winter caretakers decided it would be a good idea to light a fire in one of the fireplaces that had probably not been used, cleaned, or inspected in 50 years. By the time the firemen ran an input hose into the lake and gotten to the mansion, all that was left was some masonry and the chimneys. Anyway- that’s the official story. The actual cause of the fire has been the subject of controversy for over 40 years.

    Reply
  6. Suzy Burlock says

    February 7, 2018 at 6:07 PM

    On correction, you said “Burn Brae was built in 1908 for Mackenzie’s daughter Margaret Ellis”. Her name was Margaret Ross MacKenzie and she married George E Elkin. It is Elkin not Ellis. My grandmother was Margaret and George’s daughter.

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Lee Gilroy says

      February 24, 2019 at 12:41 PM

      Hi Suzy,
      I was going to point out that mistake as well. Good catch. My Great grandmother was Hugh Ross Mackenzie (Margaret’s Brother) and Harriett’s daughter.
      Thanks

      Reply
      • John Conway says

        February 24, 2019 at 1:02 PM

        The reference to Ellis as opposed to Elkin was an inadvertent typo. No question Elkin is correct. My apologies for the error.

        Reply
  7. Valerie Preston says

    January 19, 2019 at 8:17 PM

    George Ross Mackenzie was my grandfathers uncle! Just reading George’s mothers diary with quite a tribute to him. Fascinating. Would love to hear from any family members!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      February 24, 2019 at 12:35 PM

      Hi Valerie,
      George Ross Mackenzie was my 3rd Great Grandfather. I am working on our ancestry. It’s all very fascinating and truly a puzzle trying to figure out things. You can email me at lgilroy@gmail.com if you would like to chat more. I am sure you may have information i don’t have.
      Thanks.

      Reply
  8. Valerie Kaye Frank says

    January 5, 2021 at 9:39 AM

    George Ross Mackenzie was my great great uncle. My great great grandfather, Alexander Mackenzie, and his wife, Anne McPherson Mackenzie lived and subsequently died at Glen Spey NY in a house known as Glen Roy. They immigrated from Scotland in 1865. Been trying to locate the house. Any information you can supply would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
  9. Colin Wilkins says

    March 27, 2021 at 8:49 PM

    It may be of interest to some that whilst the Glasgow Singer factory was being built in Scotland (circa 1882) George Rose McKenzie was overseeing the building of a church makes for the minister in his boyhood home of Kingussie on Speyside.
    The building still stands as the Scot House Hotel today. It has his initials carved in the stonework above the main door with the date 1884. My wife any I can this hotel for ten years, and our son, who lives in Maryland, still owns the building.

    Reply
  10. Valerie Frank says

    March 29, 2021 at 6:35 AM

    Fascinating stuff. Hope to visit Kingussie in 2023 and see the hotel. Funny thing, I live in Virginia. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  11. Constance Corey says

    August 20, 2021 at 3:29 PM

    We have family in the Pond Eddy/ Glen Spey area since the 1800s and in attempting to track down some info on Wing J Corey I found him as a servant in the 1915 New york state census for Grace Ewing and George RM … my Wing Corey is later found as a chauffeur in NYC. but he drops out of the written record after this and so I continue to search. which brings me down this rabbit hole to this wonderful site. I do thank you so much for this historical info.

    Reply
  12. Fast Forward says

    February 14, 2022 at 2:04 PM

    Wonderful research. We have owned the house across the road from Burn Brae for more than 20 years . Always a pleasure to view the mansion from our windows. Mike and Pat have done a tremendous job of upkeeping Burn Brae. I am 50% scottish so we are still carrying the Scottish flag in Glen Spey!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My Passion – Two Mutts and a Camper says:
    April 14, 2018 at 3:07 PM

    […] the ocean to Scotland and Germany including stories of wealth from my great-great grandfather George Ross MacKenzie, the fourth President of Singer Sewing Machine […]

    Reply

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