Overview
The Parsonage is an outstanding and brilliantly preserved example of 18th-century stone architecture in the western Hudson Valley. This stately home was established by the Palatine Germans and Dutch in the early 1700s as the clergy house for the Katsbaan Church a couple of miles down the road. Perched on the highest point of its 32 rolling acres, the stone-clad farmhouse overlooks the Catskills with an unobstructed view of the Kaaterskill High Peak, a favorite subject of the Hudson River School painters during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Parsonage was built using a rare combination of blue stone and limestone, and is subtly ornamented with simple gable trims, the original anchor plates peppered throughout the facade, and wavy-glass windows. The French-blue front door leads to a wide foyer, with the light-filled dining room to the left and the cozy living room to the right. The ceilings are unusually high for a stone house of that period, with taller windows that allow abundant natural light at all times of the day. A large hearth fireplace anchors the dining room, currently outfitted with a wood stove. The living room is lined with built-in bookshelves and cabinetry and features a wood-burning fireplace with brick surround. Towards the back of the house is the fully renovated kitchen, which is substantial in size and filled with beautiful detailing, including reclaimed wide pine wood floors, Bertazzoni appliances, custom cabinets, and exquisite slabs of lightly-veined soapstone. Above the kitchen is an office with far-reaching mountain views. A recently renovated powder room completes the first floor. The second level has three generously proportioned bedrooms, all large enough to accommodate king-size beds. The primary bedroom has an ensuite bathroom, and the other two bedrooms share an additional full bathroom. The large rooms and substantial closet space are fairly uncommon for a home of this architectural style and vintage. In this home’s nearly 300 years of existence, its breathtaking view of the Catskills has not changed. Approximately 15 of the 32 acres are meadows with walking paths meandering through it. Two well-seasoned blue stone patios, off the kitchen in the back, create spaces for a relaxing and peaceful outdoor experience. Surrounding the house are mature plantings that bloom from spring to autumn, a stone fountain, and a fenced vegetable garden. Impressive trees are interspersed throughout the property, from an enormous and ancient Catalpa tree to the twin oaks that frame a perfect view of Kaaterskill Peak. An additional structure with electric and featuring barn trims and an exterior woodshed is currently used as a workspace and tool storage, as well as a garage. The Parsonage is ideally located just 5 minutes from the charming town of Saugerties, 15 minutes from downtown Kingston and the village of Woodstock, 25 minutes to Hudson, and under an hour and 45 minutes from New York City.