Major restoration work is underway at the historic Merestead estate in Mount Kisco.
The Westchester County-owned park straddles the village/town’s border with Bedford and contains about 130 acres of woodlands, rolling fields, and 2.3 miles of walking trails, which remain open to the public.
The former Sloane-Patterson estate was deeded to the county in 1982. Full possession was assumed in 2000, making Merestead the largest land gift that the county has received to date.
The estate was home to Margaret Sloane Patterson, daughter of William Sloane, president of a renowned luxury furniture company, and her husband, Dr. Robert Patterson, a distinguished Manhattan orthopedic surgeon.
Now a cherished public resource, it offers visitors the opportunity to explore its historic buildings, scenic grounds, and formal garden and to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding valley.
There is even an old pet cemetery.
(Its entrance is located at 455 Byram Lake Road.)
In June, the county announced that it had launched Phase 1 of a capital project and that it’s investing more than $3 million in preserving Merestead’s farmhouse and related structures.
The restoration follows the lifting of a longstanding order that granted “greater autonomy over management of the property and unlocked additional funds for community use,” the county said.
The restoration is part of a larger $5.4 million capital improvement initiative focused on safeguarding Merestead’s architectural and historical integrity.
With the formation of the nonprofit Merestead Conservancy, the county is “providing direction and a path forward,” said Peter Tartaglia, the county’s acting Parks, Recreation, and Conservation commissioner.
Phase I of the project includes extensive restoration of the farmhouse’s exterior and foundation and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Phase II will focus on renovating the building’s interior and upgrading essential infrastructure, including the water supply and sewage-disposal systems.
Merestead (Scottish for “farmland”), with its 28-room, brick Georgian Revival mansion, is on the National Register of Historic Properties.
The 2.5-story home was built around 1907 and was designed by renowned architects William Adams Delano and Chester Holmes Aldrich.
The farmhouse, portions of which date back to 1860 and the early 1900s, is among the oldest buildings on the estate, along with the dairy barn.
It’s not in good shape, having been let go for “many, many years,” according to Tartaglia.
The county plans are to “envelope” the wooden building.
“We save it. We protect it. We beautify it. It’s going to look like it did in 1860,” he said.
Jason Lumish, construction inspector with the county’s Department of Public Works and Transportation, pointed out that the farmhouse was built in two sections, one that was built in the 1800s and the other, in the 1900s.
The entire perimeter of the structure is being waterproofed. The old shoring has been ripped out and the whole basement reframed, Lumish said.
According to Tartaglia, if the windows “can be saved” they’ll be restored. Porch work and a full roof replacement are also planned.
Lead, asbestos, and mold will also be removed during Phase 1 if necessary.
Rob Lopane, the county’s director of Parks Planning, has been involved in reviewing the drawings. He’s working with consultants and “highly qualified” architects and engineers on the project.
“When it’s complete, you will see a brand-new building, beautifully painted,” he said, adding that the county hopes to restore the roof’s “historic cedar shake shingles” as well as all the stonework.
“It will then bring you back to history, to what it once was,” Lopane added.
For more information, visit parks.westchestercountyny.gov/merestead
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