Seven to Save 2021: Percy MacKaye Home and Studio

A major “jewel” of the Cornish Colony “necklace” is the home and studio of Saint-Gaudens which has the distinction of being the only National Historical Park in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance’s 2021 Seven to Save list includes two other Colony gems that need a preservation and stewardship boosts to survive and thrive.

A Notable Career

The home of Percy MacKaye, a nationally known poet, playwright, and dramatist joins the home of the Colony’s founder Charles Beaman (Blow-Me-Down Farm in Cornish).

At the height of his career, in 1905, Percy MacKaye moved his family to the Cornish Artist Colony. In 1913, he purchased land there, moved his writing studio and built a house. Here he produced some of his best work, creating pageants, masques and communal theater events both for the Cornish Colony and throughout the nation. His Bird Masque, performed first locally in 1913, became an inspiration for a national bird sanctuary movement. His Masque of Saint Louis for the 150th anniversary of that city in 1914, was a culmination of his ideas for a civic theater, had a cast of 7,500 volunteer citizens and drew an audience of 75,000 on opening night.

Family Legacy on the Property

Percy’s brother, Benton MacKaye, who spent all his summers during the last half of his long life at the Cornish Colony home of his brother, is considered the father of the Appalachian Trail. He wrote of his idea for that trail in 1921. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has just published a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of that initial publication and their hopes to fulfill Benton’s far-reaching ideas for conserving a broader landscape than just the trail itself.

Percy’s granddaughter and Benton’s grandniece, artist Ky Ober, would like to see her family’s property preserved and enjoyed and the collection related to the work and life of her grandfather and great uncle made available to the public. Sale on the open market would likely lead to demolition. After learning that her property was not a candidate for the National Park system, she explored other stewardship options and has signed a one-year agreement with The Landmark Trust USA. The Landmark Trust USA (LTUSA) is a non-profit corporation established in 1991 to carry on historic preservation work in America according to the model established by The Landmark Trust UK. The one-year agreement will allow The Landmark Trust USA to complete the necessary due-diligence to determine if this property will benefit from our stewardship model.

The Landmark Trust USA’s Impact on Historic Preservation

The Landmark Trust USA philosophy of sustainable stewardship relies on the income from short-term vacation rentals to preserve and maintain the integrity of each distinctive building. Each stay at a Landmark Trust property supports our nonprofit mission, bringing new life to heritage buildings. With the possibility of adding this New Hampshire property to its current portfolio, which includes Rudyard Kipling’s home, Naulakha, nearby in Vermont, The Landmark Trust USA could not only find a winning preservation/conservation solution for the MacKaye property but also build our network of exceptional historic properties across the region and the country.

Click to learn more about our Seven to Save program and view past listees:

Thanks to our generous 2021 sponsors: Anagnost Companies, Chinburg Properties and Milestone Engineering & Construction, Inc. Also: Great Bridge Properties | JLT Painting | Turnstone Corporation | American Steeple & Tower Co., Inc. SMP Architecture | Dennis Mires, P.A., The Architects | Ciborowski Associates | Fisher Engineering | JR Graton Historic Restoration, LLC | Misiaszek Turpin, PLLC | Peter W. Powell Real Estate | Graham & Veroff, P.C. Summit Engineering | Yeaton Associates, Inc. | Ambit Engineering, Inc. | DB Architects, LLC | Altus Engineering, Inc. | Erie Landmark Co. Emanual Engineering, Inc. | Alba Architects, LLP | Enviro-Tote, Inc. | Arch Weathers Historic SashWorks, LLC | Udelsman Associates Hamblet Electric | Samyn-D’Elia Architects | Abatron, Inc. | Nobis Engineering, Inc.

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