4 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1,720 square feet
Built in 1900
I know the exterior isn’t anything over the top. And I know it’s rough around the edges. But I think this Carpenter Gothic called The English House pops in all the right ways! I’m getting some enjoyably gloomy vibes, and God only knows what’s lurking in the basement.
Here’s the realtor’s description.
“The English house. Carpenter Gothic in the strongest sense of the word, this four bed two bath house has a dramatic Oval theme that just wont quit. Fantastic solid wooden doors with giant ovals carved into them. Voluptuous sculptural wooden stair rail with solid wooden ovals. Original fireplace and full size walk out casement windows surround the huge livingroom. Original carved wood cornucopia details throughout this carpenters handyman special that needs every bit of loving a buyer has to offer. Perfect for the DIY craftsman. House is being sold as-is. Hold Harmless disclosure required for entry at own risk. Do not enter the basement from inside the house. Please use exterior bilco door access. Historically 145 North Street’s early life, was known as The English House. In the first decades of the 20th century, its owner, Minnie English ran a guest house hotel that catered to the black middle classes of the cities of the Northeast. Catskill itself had a number of such hotels. As the Catskills began to emerge as a summer escape for many different communities, black Americans had few places that they were welcomed. The social pages of the black press of the time often had advertisements for the English House. These pages, known as The Green Book, were a kind of social media of the time, and travelers would share tales of their travels on these pages. In papers such as the New York Age one can find mention of the visitors Mr and Mrs. Smithson” of Brooklyn and Dr. James Smith” and his brother Thomas Smithson” of Manhattan spent the weekend at The English House in Catskill, NY.” One frequent visitor was Robert Cole, at the time a famous black composer, performer and writer.One local historians theory is that the patrons were often entertainers for The Mountain House and would board the train through the backyard where there is still a trace of a train station house. The freight train still runs past the east side of the property in very dramatic form.Go see it and find our for yourself.”
