While the grandiose Sullivan County summer colony envisioned by the late 19th century developers never quite materialized, this rambling cottage is one of a handful of residences that were built for investors.

The seasonal cottage on the market at 173 Park Road was constructed as part of the Sullivan County Club development in Wurtsboro, near Mastens Lake.

Launched in 1893 by New York City investors after the purchase of roughly 5,000 acres of land, the Sullivan County Club plan called for the construction of a substantial clubhouse and cottages for shareholders. For $100 shareholders were entitled to a half-acre building lot. By April of 1893, the developers boasted in an advertisement that over 300 shares had been sold in the spot that was convenient to the city and yet was a locale where “cholera does not climb hill tops.”

images of the sullivan county club
The Sullivan County Club grounds in 1898. Images via ‘Summer Homes Among the Mountains on the New York, Ontario & Western Railway

The pitch for Sullivan County Club certainly was made to Brooklynites, with ads running in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle in 1893. It must have worked — in 1894 the paper declared the Sullivan County Club was “almost a Brooklyn institution” with well-known Brooklynites among those visiting the area.

Sanitary Engineer Charles F. Wingate was charged with the layout of the site. He assured investors it was a sound plan and not one of those “stag affairs that fostered dissipation” but a wholesome, and inexpensive, way to summer. The clubhouse, dubbed the Mamakating Inn, and 21 houses were under construction when Wingate’s glowing write-up was published in May of 1893 and membership prices had gone up to $125.

According to the Mamakating National Register Historic District nomination, only the clubhouse and 22 cottages, all constructed by 1903, were ever realized as an economic depression, which began in 1893, took its toll.

a headline about the murder
An 1897 headline about the murders. Image from The World via Old Fulton

Perhaps another factor didn’t help. The club made an appearance in scandalous headlines in 1897 after a shocking double murder and the disappearance of the perpetrator, a contractor hired to build some of the cottages.

It all played out on September 27 in front of a cottage on the Sullivan County Club grounds. The cottage belonged to Wallace J. Christian, a contractor who built his own house at the development after being hired to build cottages for shareholders. That same day, Horace J. Pritchard, along with Constable James Manning, arrived at Christian’s cottage to serve a subpoena.

While newspaper accounts differed on the nature of the business disagreement between Pritchard and Christian, most reported that rather than accept the papers, Christian shot both men “in a fit of anger“, killing Pritchard and grievously wounding Manning, who later died from his injuries. At the inquest, Christian’s family testified that he was going to turn himself in but ultimately vanished. While there were reports of sightings and even a potential skeleton found in 1907, Christian was never found.

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

The Sullivan County Club development was sold in foreclosure in 1901. While the cottages stayed in the hands of the original owners the rest of the property was sold to the Mamakating Park Company. The hotel survived and was part of an active summer community until a fire claimed it in the 1970s.

Twenty surviving cottages, including this one, are included in the Mamakating National Register Historic District and the report dates the house to 1894. The club was designed by architect Dehli & Chamberlain and a mention in the Real Estate Record and Guide in 1893 credited the same firm for the design of the cottages. According to the designation report, most of the cottages featured wide porches, gable roofs and an eclectic mix of decorative elements. On the interior, many included large brick or stone fireplaces and rooms encased in beadboard.

This five-bedroom home has both interior elements, a rustic stone fireplace with a wood stove dominating the first floor and plenty of beadboard — painted white on the main level and left natural in the bedrooms above. The first floor also has wood floors, a wood stair and a fairly open floor plan. You can see more details in the video tour.

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

The renovated kitchen has white cabinets, a beamed ceiling and room for dining.

All five bedrooms are upstairs and have a suitably woodsy, summer cottage feel. The renovated full bath, one of two in the house, includes a soaking tub. There is a bonus room in the attic that could be used for more bedroom space.

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

Outside the large wraparound porch includes a screened-in section. Other amenities include a stone patio, an outdoor shower and a small shed.

The house is being offered fully furnished so for anyone looking to quickly set up a seasonal home it might be an option. The listing describes it as a three-season house that, with some investment, could be converted to a year-round dwelling. There is baseboard heating but the house is not insulated and is typically prepped for winter closure in November.

In addition to the furnishing, the purchase price includes access rights to a private beach on nearby Masten Lake and a personal cabana.

Listed with Danny Romero, Chelsea McGowan and Megan Brenn-White of Keller Williams Hudson Valley the property is priced at $450,000.

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

interior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

exterior of 173 park road wurtsboro

lake near 173 park road wurtsboro

lake near 173 park road wurtsboro

lake near 173 park road wurtsboro

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