Chesterwood

A Brief History: Chesterwood, the summer home of famous sculptor Daniel Chester French is located at 4 Williamsville Road, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Born in 1850, Daniel is best known for his sculptures of the Minute Man and Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln memorial. 

Wanting to escape New York, Chesterwood served as the sculptors relaxing and inspirational summer home for 35 years.  He and his family and a couple of maids moved into the farmhouse on a sprawling 121 acres in May of 1897. French used the barn as a makeshift studio until he commissioned his friend Henry Bacon to design not only a studio, but also a complete residence for him. All renovations were completed by 1901.

            After his death in 1931, French’s wife Mary lived in the home until her death in 1939. After their death, their daughter Margaret French Cresson lived in the home year-round and eventually established the home with the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a historic site.

 Haunted History: There have been claims of seeing a woman in white wandering around the house, which people believe it to be Daniel’s wife Mary.  Staff has also claimed to see a man looking at the sculptures and then just disappear.