Project Details Page

synopsis

The impressive estate of George Nixon Black Jr. was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted during the early 1880s. The shingled house, built by famous architectural firm Peabody & Stearns, is settled upon the top of a rocky bluff overlooking the Massachusetts Bay. Working together in the project, the design team oriented the structure westwardly to maximize the coastal views.

The impressive estate of George Nixon Black Jr. was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted during the early 1880s. The shingled house, built by famous architectural firm Peabody & Stearns, is settled upon the top of a rocky bluff overlooking the Massachusetts Bay. Working together in the project, the design team oriented the structure westwardly to maximize the coastal views. An 1882 diagram shows the position and arrangement of the house, inclusive of a carriage house, stable, laundry yard, and house yard. (Plan 00686-Z6). One of the most interesting features of the site was an archway built into the side of the house to allow for passage and visibility to either end of the property. The surrounding landscape was decorated in the taste of natural scenery with low shrubs and native trees, as a way to compliment the character of the iconic house.

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