Hawkskill is a rare offering- a quintessential Hudson Valley country house set far back off a country road amidst 40 serene acres and accessed by a long private tree lined driveway. In the front of the home, which stands on a rise framed out by stately trees, a bubbling brook winds its way through a meadow and off towards the Roeliff Jansen Kill. At the back of the house a large flagstone terrace -with lovely established plantings , a deep electric awning and millstone fountain- leads towards a gentle sloping lawn revealing an expansive and magical view out over a romantic eight acre private lake. Here you can fish, frolic and paddle in the summer or ice skate in the winter to your hearts delight! The lake, meadows, stream and surrounding woods are rich with wildlife from turkey to deer, heron, owls and water birds of all kinds not to mention turtles, fish and the occasional fox sighting.
Hawkskill is referred to as a Livingston tenant house, one of four in the area built by the Livingston family in 1859 as gifts to some of their more valued tenant farmers. The English Crown granted a large patent of land to Robert Livingston in 1684. This land grant became known as Livingston Manor and made the family the controlling manorial family in southern Columbia County for generations. By the mid-19th century when Hawkskill was built, the manor system was fading after tenant revolts and American expansionism westward, making a handsome home on a large tract of land an appropriate gift to a valued worker.
The heart of the original home remains, with a welcoming front porch, center hall construction, lovely new paned windows to let the light stream in and beautiful wide plank pine floor boards. Upstairs are three sun filled bedrooms and two bathrooms renovated in a classic style. Downstairs the living room, with a wood burning fireplace and French doors out to the terrace, opens into a dining area that flows into the open plan country kitchen- making for a wonderful entertaining floor. A recent renovation to the ground floor addition is lined with windows and boasts a soaring cathedral ceiling with architectural wood beams, built in bookcases and media center, plus a third full bathroom. This space is currently used as a library/den but could certainly serve as a fourth, ground floor bedroom as well. A secret door off of the dining room leads to a large, full basement with an ample ceiling height and housing the updated systems for the house that includes central air conditioning throughout.
Additionally there is an original historic barn, which has been updated to create a three bay garage with electronically controlled doors downstairs and a stair built to the second floor, providing additional storage or the space to create a charming guesthouse.
Hawkskill is a peaceful retreat surrounded by rolling farmland and open spaces. The property is just minutes away from all that is on offer in neighboring Red Hook, Tivoli or Germantown, and equidistant to the trains at Hudson or Rhinebeck for easy access in and out of Manhattan.
