PC: The Mount
What began as Edith Wharton’s purchase of 113 acres in Lenox, Massachusetts, for $40,600 became far more than a country retreat. The result was a substantial residence covering about 16,850 square feet, with its western entrance elevation rising four storeys and its garden-facing eastern side extending three storeys. What began with Wharton’s purchase of 113 acres for $40,600 has therefore endured as a physical expression of her literary, architectural and gardening interests, preserving the world she created in Lenox for future generations.
The house was designed by Wharton with architects Ogden Codman Jr. and Francis L, according to The Mount’s official website. The estate’s official description calls it “an autobiographical house, one that embodies the spirit of its creator”. The celebrated American writer turned the property into The Mount, a carefully planned estate where architecture, gardens and landscape were one vision. Built with her husband, Teddy, the house reflected Wharton’s deep interest in design, drawing on French, Italian and English traditions while adapting them to the surrounding countryside. She also designed the gardens, creating a setting where she could write and live for a decade. V. Hoppin, while R. W. Curry served as the builder. Its design drew inspiration from Belton House in England and from classical Italian and French influences.
Today, The Mount remains a protected landmark closely associated with Wharton’s life and work. Today, The Mount is recognised as a National Historic Landmark and stands among the small proportion of such landmarks dedicated to women.