Property Description

Brook House. A legacy of creativity on South Mountain Road. A masterful restoration and expansion of charming 1880s house and rebuild of large cottage, which is a legal two family but not rented out. 4,600sf total. Many outbuildings and the West Branch of the Hackensack River scenically flows through the property. Not just a residence, but an important American history chapter. Nestled within the legendary South Mountain Road artist community, this 5.5 acre compound offers total privacy and is a rare combination of 19th-century architecture and 20th-century avant-garde soul. For over a century, Brook House has been a sanctuary for world-renowned creators. It has seen only 4 owners in the last 110 years, serving as a testament to its enduring appeal. Kurt Weill & Lotte Lenya, the celebrated composer and singer lived here for over 30 years. It was within these walls that the sounds of The Three Penny Opera - Mack the Knife and Alabama Song echoed. Rollo Peters, a prior owner, was a prominent American stage actor, director, and best remembered as a co-founder of the Theater Guild. Current owners of Brook House for the last 33 years, seamlessly blended mid-19th-century charm with modern structural integrity. They worked with a NYC based interior designer, Gail Jacobs, who liked the provenance of the property and designed homes of other musical luminaries, including Leonard Bernstein's apartment at the Dakota in NYC. Gail worked through the years collecting the right pieces locally and abroad, to fit perfectly into Brook House. Her curated collection can be purchased separately. Many of the light fixtures are Ann-Morris, New York, and antique holophane style lighting. The home boasts ancient hand-hewn beams and breathtaking old boulders/stones, that make up some of the interior and exterior walls of the home and property. The main house features 4 fireplaces. Mantels include 19th century wooden design and a c. Louis XV style French limestone mantel. The interior boasts tall ceilings in the living room with wide white oak floor boards, tray ceiling, and French doors that lead out to the garden. The layout of the MAIN home includes 7-8 rooms, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The guest house and outbuildings give an estate like feeling the minute one drives through the electronic gate. The property is zoned as a legal two-family, offering versatility for guests, a creative studio, or rental income. It features a fireplace in the living room, full kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, and a walk-ou

Property Features

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