Glen Tonche

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Glen Tonche is an estate atop Mount Tonche, near Shokan, Ulster County, New York. The home was built in 1928 as the summer family compound of glass magnate Raymond Pitcairn, whose family founded PPG Industries.

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[edit] Design

Under Pitcairn ownership the 18,740-square-foot (1,741 m²) compound on 22 acres (9 ha) (the balance of Mount Tonche - over 1,000 acres (4.0 km²) - under restrictive preservation) was comprised largely of two main wings connected by a covered walkway.

The property as a whole reflects a blend of Tudor architecture with some Arts and Crafts influences. The south wing was a pentagon configuration housing the main kitchen, two servants' quarters, six guest bedrooms, six full baths, and a massive glass-enclosed mountaintop porch. The wing also featured an impressive 29' x 36' dining hall capable of seating 100 or more guests. The north wing housed the library, 11 bedrooms, seven full baths and 2 1/2 baths, three-room servant's quarters, as well as a great room with 30-foot (9.1 m)-tall floor-to-ceiling windows and 60-foot (18 m)-high vaulted ceilings.[1]

Additionally there was a seven-room caretaker's cottage and a seven-stall garage.

[edit] Transfer from Pitcairn Ownership

The estate remained in the Pitcairn family until it was put on the market in 1995 for $3.9 million, then $2.9 million, then in late 1998 down to $1.95 million[2] at which time it was sold to photographer Randall Wallace.[3]

After substantial renovation, it served from 2001 to 2007 as the commercial base of Wallace's Allaire Studios, where artist such as David Bowie recorded his 2002 album Heathen.[4] Norah Jones and her breakthrough debut album Come Away With Me was recorded there in 2001.

[edit] Listed For Sale Again

Today, somewhat reconfigured, the main house includes 19 bedrooms, and there are three separate apartments on the property. The estate was listed on the market in 2007/2008 with an asking price of $13 million.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rob Grant & Associates Real Estate
  2. ^ Rob Grant & Associates Real Estate - Adirondack Real Estate, Catskills Mountains Estate, Hudson Valley Retreat, New York Real Estate, Adirondack Real Estate, Catskills Mountains Estate, Hudson Valley Retreat, New York Real Estate, Adirondack Real Estate
  3. ^ Golson, Blair. "Bowie's Bower", New York Observer, 2003-07-21. 
  4. ^ Smith, Jesse J.. "Ch-ch-change of scenery awaits Bowie in Shokan", Daily Freeman, 2003-08-02. 
  5. ^ "Real estate listings page". Retrieved on 2008-01-10.