The Sheldon Mansion
An Historic Inn
The Sheldon Mansion An Historic Inn
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History There are a number of interesting or unusual aspects to the Sheldon Mansion. The building itself is a unique example of historic architecture. The original owners were interesting and innovative. The history of the estate is unusual. The restoration was a story of overcoming difficulties and finding a special romance. The current use as an Inn is a new yet age-old approach to hospitality. We have tried to provide a view into these based upon our best understanding after years of research. We have also included some Newspaper Articles that may be of interest.
The estate was converted into a small local hospital during World War II. This was a trend at the time and the new institution provided maternity and other services that today would be handled in an “Outpatient” facility. Much of the original building was changed to meet the institutional needs. In the 1970’s the hospital moved to a new, larger facility and the property became an assisted living facility with further renovations. The home for the elderly closed in the late 1990’s and the building was allowed to deteriorate. By 2001 the vacant property was in serious disrepair and was marketed unsuccessfully as a health care facility. Potential buyers thought of other possibilities such as offices, a funeral home, a restaurant or even demolition and new development.
Less than a month after they became engaged, in January of 2003, a terrible tragedy struck Stephen and Marianne. They had worked hard for months, often long into the night, and had made strong progress together. Then a fire sprinkler pipe in a closet on the third floor froze during record-breaking cold and broke while they were away at work and an estimated twenty thousand gallons of water gushed out at high pressure, flooding most of the building. The scene was surreal as Stephen came home to enter a darkened house with water flowing everywhere inside and ice as much as two feet thick already formed on the outside walls. Marianne arrived shortly after and broke into tears. They were devastated. It was thought that the building was a total loss but they were determined to save it. Two tractor-trailer size generators were brought in to run pumps, heaters and dozens of dehumidifiers. They carefully dried everything out and started over on what was now a much more daunting project.
Stephen served as the General Contractor for the restoration. He comes from a family of engineers, architects and builders and credits his father as his mentor for this type of project. The conversion to a health care facility had taken a toll. The utilitarian needs had obliterated many artistic embellishments. The original oak parquet floors had been coated with a thick layer of black tar and covered with heavy linoleum to provide an impermeable surface. Additional layers of plywood, linoleum and carpeting had been added over the years. Ceilings had been lowered. Moldings and paneling had been removed or covered with sheetrock. Walls had been rearranged. Precious features had Stephen and Marianne took heart when they discovered wonderful features such as hidden artifacts, “pocket doors” and walled over fireplaces. They studiously researched the history of the estate. Fortunately, they met a lovely 96-year old lady who had lived across the street for her entire life and was now their neighbor. Lorraine O’Brien along with her sister Edna Hitchcock had been the two little girls growing up the street across from the Sheldons. They were both as sharp as a tack and recalled numerous accounts of Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon as well as details of the original features of the mansion. Lorraine described the original tapestry in the dining room in detail and months later while removing a non-original wall; Stephen discovered a 6”strip of it hidden by the wall. Through careful removal and corroboration many colors and details have been restored to their original condition. Stephen and Marianne have also collected photographs, memorabilia and actual postcards of the mansion from over the last century. There are a number of photographs and videos of the restoration. There are also newspaper articles on the original construction, Mr. Sheldon’s accidental death, Mrs. Sheldon’s passing, and more. With special thanks, we have received various artifacts related to the Mansion including a Knight Templar ceremonial sword engraved with Mr. Sheldon’s name and his medallion as a delegate for New York to the Republican National Convention in 1932.
After over five years of dedicated effort the Sheldon Mansion now serves guests in the manner of the early 1900’s when friends would come to stay in beautifully appointed rooms for some good old-fashioned pampering. Stephen and Marianne provide personal attention and ensure that everyone has a pleasant stay. There are always home-made treats and a full stock of complimentary foods and drink. Breakfast is an event. The guests enjoy their own section of the mansion with an elegant Parlor, English Study, Sitting Room, Formal Dining Room and Solarium. The bedrooms and baths are appointed with fine linens and furnished with beautiful antiques. The artwork includes old masters and regional artists with some lovely originals. Each room has a subtle theme with art, books and memorabilia from places in the area. The Granville Suite is the original master bedroom suite. The Saratoga Room has original items from the Saratoga Race Course and Saratoga casinos that had their heyday in the early 1900’s. The Eagle Bridge Room has unique pieces related to Grandma Moses and her descendants, friends of the family. The Arlington Room features Norman Rockwell. The Champlain focuses on the Lake and Fort Ticonderoga. Unlike at typical hotels and Inns, guests at the mansion are treated as visiting friends who want for nothing. Stephen and Marianne are happy to provide advice on dining, attractions and activities. Within an hour drive there are numerous vacation spots including Saratoga, Lake George, Lake Champlain and Vermont. There are seven major ski resorts within the area including Killington. The estate provides a quiet base from which to explore or just relax. |
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The Sheldon Mansion 48 North Street Granville, New York 12832 (518) 642-0000 Copyright © 2007 [The Sheldon Mansion]. All rights reserved. |
The thirty-four room, 10,000 square foot Sheldon Mansion was built on a ten acre village estate in 1906 by slate baron Frederick Sheldon who owned numerous quarries including virtually all of the most rare, red slate. It is believed that this is the only building in the world constructed with red slate stone walls. The exterior walls are 18 inches thick and the foundation is two feet thick. The home was designed as a true mansion with the ornate first and second floors reserved for Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon and their guests. It has been said that there was a ballroom on the third floor for special parties. Three intricate and beautiful stained glass windows adorn the original Dining Room. Seven servants had work areas and quarters on separate floors with their own stairway for unobtrusive access. The original commercial size kitchen is still located on the basement level. The architecture includes dozens of beautiful columns and extensive use of quarter-sawn oak for English paneling, woodwork and flooring. The old world craftsmanship is exceptional and highly detailed. 
Frederick C. Sheldon came to Granville near the turn of the century from North Adams, Massachusetts. He rose from lowly means to become one of the country’s most important slate manufacturers and the President of the National Slate Association. As a diversion he also owned one of the finest farms in New York State. Fred married Bertha Thorne, the daughter of a local financier and they both were quite involved in charitable, civic social and political activities. Sadly, they never had children. Fred died in a tragic accident on the estate in 1934 and Bertha passed away in 1960 at the home they had built, but it was under a new use by then. 
Stephen Lynch came upon the property by chance while reading a regional travel magazine. The realtor had a simple ad with a photo of the building that caught his eye. He is a structural engineer and was intrigued by the architecture. He called the realtor and told him that he would be passing through the area on business and would like to study the structure, but he was not in the market. The realtor obliged his request. As Stephen first walked through the building he recognized the quality of the original construction and was saddened by the deterioration. Much of the initial detail was hidden or long gone. Stephen envisioned what it must have been like in its heyday. He decided that he should save and restore the estate even though it made no sense as a home for a bachelor and his dog, Amanda. Stephen justified the project to himself by conceiving of the use as an inn with a limited number of guest rooms. He had traveled extensively and knew what he liked and did not like in an Inn or B&B. When Stephen called his widowed mother to tell her that he had placed an offer on a decrepit 100-year old 34 room mansion to restore, she simply asked “Are you all right dear?” Later, she saw the property and could also see the potential. 
One month after purchasing the property Stephen met the woman who would become his wife. Marianne is a Special Education teacher. Their courtship paralleled the restoration. Both spent countless hours on everything from demolition to painstaking refinements to decorating and furnishing the home with beautiful antiques. But the most notable aspect was the romance that took place as they labored. You hear stories of some couple’s trials while updating a single bathroom. They courted during a major restoration and learned what a wonderful team they made. On New Year’s Eve, 2002 Stephen proposed, appropriately, on the Piazza of the mansion and Marianne accepted. They were married at the mansion in July, 2004 on the Piazza, on the same spot he proposed, with friends and family gathered around them. Their home has come to symbolize their relationship; starting from the beginning with hopes and visions of what could be, building upon those dreams, facing difficulties and even tragedies together, pushing forward to achieve their goals and celebrating their triumphs with family and friends.
been damaged without regard. The task of restoring the property was long and arduous. The hardened tar over the original quarter-sawn oak parquet floors could not be sanded, planed or chemically removed. It was recommended that new flooring be installed, but Stephen and Marianne were determined to restore the original. After thoroughly searching for any other possible way, it became evident that the only way to remove 60 year old tar was to tediously scrape and chip it off with a dull putty knife to avoid damage. Just the tar removal alone required over two thousand man-hours, most of which was done by Stephen on his hands and knees. He and Marianne knew that they had made the right decision when they finished the work and saw the beautiful original floors, which had a different pattern in every room. The floors also provided an accurate “floor plan” with their unique patterns to determine the original placement of walls, some of which had been altered over the years. Other aspects of the project were costly and tedious including the restoration of custom moldings. The crown moldings are composed of up to twelve separate custom moldings combined to create an impressive effect. The thirty four original 100-year old cast iron radiators, some weighing close to a thousand pounds, had to be disconnected and carefully sandblasted outside to remove multiple layers of wall paint that had obscured their beautiful filigree details. Today they serve both functionally and as beautiful focal points in each room. 