Wellscroft was built Circa 1900 for Jean and Wallis Craig Smith of Saginaw, Michigan as a summer home. The construction of Wellscroft was part of a growing trend that began in the 1860's of large, self-contained retreats built in the mountains of the Adirondacks. Jean was the daughter of Charles and
Mary Wells who were native to Upper Jay, New York,hence the connection to Saginaw. Charles Wells was an industrialist who, by accident, discovered one of the largest Iron ore deposits in what is now Minnesota's Messabi Range. Combined with timber and related wood products firms, the Wells Family
amassed great fortunes.
Wellscroft was among the largest of the Adirondack Country Estates built in Essex County at the time. It was designed to be a large, self-contained summer retreat, which included the 17,000 square-foot mansion, a caretakers house, fire house, stables, ice house, power house, carriage house, maple syrup house, golf course and children's playhouse. Wellscroft generated its own electricity by hydroelectric, portions of which are still intact. There were many gardens and trails for walking. The Smiths enjoyed Wellscroft for nearly three decades. However , the stock market crash of 1929 severely diminished the Wells family fortune to the point where the dividend income could no longer support the ownership of the property. In 1942, the property was sold to private interests. Over the next fifty years through several changes in ownership, Wellscroft was used both as a private home and as a public resort and endured virtual abandonment 26 of the last 30 years.
ARCHITECTURE
The main structure of Wellscroft has been described as the "quintessential" Tudor-Revival/Arts and Crafts style home and the refinement of its style represents a kind of high water mark. The exterior of the house displays the main attributes of the Tudor- Revival style, including a steeply pitched roof dominated by several prominent gables , stone and decorative half-timbering on its facades, narrow diamond-paned windows and massive chimneys. Wellscroft is an exact duplicate of a home in Scotland that Jean and Wallis fell in love with. The foundation stones and the main structural timbers were shipped from Scotland as well as the stonecutters to assemble it. The fieldstone used in the exterior was obtained locally from the Ausable River bed.
The interior displays the Arts-and-Crafts Style with liberal use of wood flooring, oak and chestnut trim, beamed ceilings, wainscoting, fireside nooks, window seats and built-in furnishings. There is a heavy English historical style as popularized by William Morris as well as the furnishings styled by Stickley.In spite of the vandalism and abandonment, most interior features remain intact including the bathroom fixtures that were procured from Belgium. Wellscroft promises a stay that will be remembered far into the future for its unique style and warmth.
Wellscroft Lodge LLC Bed & Breakfast P.O. Box 7, Upper Jay, New York 12987
Phone: (518) 946-2547
http://www.wellscroftlodge.com
Email: info@wellscroftlodge.com
You are the visitor. Thank you for stopping by.
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Wellscroft was built Circa 1900 for Jean and Wallis Craig Smith of Saginaw, Michigan as a summer home. The construction of Wellscroft was part of a growing trend that began in the 1860's of large, self-contained retreats built in the mountains of the Adirondacks. Jean was the daughter of Charles and
Mary Wells who were native to Upper Jay, New York,hence the connection to Saginaw. Charles Wells was an industrialist who, by accident, discovered one of the largest Iron ore deposits in what is now Minnesota's Messabi Range. Combined with timber and related wood products firms, the Wells Family
amassed great fortunes.
ice house, power house, carriage house, maple syrup house, golf course and children's playhouse. Wellscroft generated its own electricity by hydroelectric, portions of which are still intact. There were many gardens and trails for walking. The Smiths enjoyed Wellscroft for nearly three decades. However , the stock market crash of 1929 severely diminished the Wells family fortune to the point where the dividend income could no longer support the ownership of the property. In 1942, the property was sold to private interests. Over the next fifty years through several changes in ownership, Wellscroft was used both as a private home and as a public resort and endured virtual abandonment 26 of the last 30 years.
The main structure of Wellscroft has been described as the "quintessential" Tudor-Revival/Arts and Crafts style home and the refinement of its style represents a kind of high water mark. The exterior of the house displays the main attributes of the Tudor- Revival style, including a steeply pitched roof dominated by several prominent gables , stone and decorative half-timbering on its facades, narrow diamond-paned windows and massive chimneys. Wellscroft is an exact duplicate of a home in Scotland that Jean and Wallis fell in love with. The foundation stones and the main structural timbers were shipped from Scotland as well as the stonecutters to assemble it. The fieldstone used in the exterior was obtained locally from the Ausable River bed.
