fbpx

Merwin House (c. 1825)

Experience tranquility in the Berkshires (Stockbridge, Massachusetts)

William and Elizabeth Doane purchased this late Federal-style house in 1875 as their summer retreat. During this period, Stockbridge, in the heart of the Berkshires, became a popular summer destination for New Yorkers like the Doanes. In 1900 they added a Shingle Style wing that wrapped around the back of the house and included a covered porch overlooking the Housatonic River.

The Doanes and their daughter, Marie Vipont Merwin, traveled extensively, collecting European and American furnishings and objects to decorate their summer home. Merwin House today houses the family’s collection, tells Mrs. Merwin’s story, and is the site of the Berkshires office of the Housatonic Valley Association, dedicated to protecting the Housatonic watershed.

Plan Your Visit

Location

14 Main Street
Stockbridge, Mass. 01262

 

EXPLORE DIGITAL TOURS

Days & Hours

Saturday, June 1
Sunday, July 14
Sunday, August 18
Sunday, September 15

Sunday, October 27

Tours on the hour
11 AM – 3 PM

Admission

$10 adults
$9 seniors
$5 students

Free for Historic New England members and Stockbridge residents.

Accessibility

Tour involves standing, walking, and stairs. Visitors with limited mobility may be able to enjoy a first floor tour of the house and grounds. Visitors can access a virtual tour of the museum from their own digital device onsite. Folding chairs are provided for visitors who would like to use them while on tour. The site is not equipped with ramps, elevators, or lifts. Service animals are welcome. We are happy to work with you to make your visit an enjoyable one and we encourage visitors with questions or requests to call ahead.

Directions

Take I-90 to Exit 10. Follow Route 102 west to Stockbridge. Merwin House is the seventh house on the left after the Red Lion Inn.

Parking

There is limited parking available in the Merwin House driveway. Street parking is available.

 

Contact Information

A House Called "Tranquility"

The Doane family's Shingle Style renovations altered what was originally a classic Federal-style structure.

of
  • A House Called "Tranquility"

    The Doane family's Shingle Style renovations altered what was originally a classic Federal-style structure.

  • Parlor

    The Doanes removed the original stairway and central hallway to make a more open and spacious room, seen here.

  • The Heart of the Berkshires

    When the Doanes moved to Merwin House, the Berkshires were becoming the thriving summer destination we know today,

Wnahktukook

For thousands of years the territory of the Mohicans extended from the Hudson and Housatonic River valleys south to Long Island Sound. Archeological evidence suggests generations of Mohicans settled either seasonally or permanently at Wnahktukook  (“bend in the river” or “great meadow”) where Stockbridge is now located. Fur trading and other commercial exploits brought European colonists north and west into the Hudson and Housatonic valleys.

John Sergeant, a student at Yale, came to Wnahktukook with the hope of converting the Mohicans from their traditional spiritual practices to Christianity. In 1738, after four days of deliberation, four sachems, led by Konkapot, decided to grant permission to Sergeant to start a mission in the village. Those Mohicans who were interested in being missionized moved to Wnahktukook, which became known as Indian Town. The Mission House, where Sergeant lived, is now located across the street from Merwin House. The land where Merwin House now sits was originally part of a larger piece of property that Konkapot gave to his interpreter and friend, Dutch trader Johannes Van Volkenburgh.

Within a few years, the area was incorporated as Stockbridge. Konkapot and Umpachenee, another respected leader, were elected selectmen. In 1783, in recognition of the dedication and sacrifice of the Stockbridge Mohican soldiers who served and died during the American Revolution, George Washington hosted an ox roast for the Mohicans in Stockbridge. Even as that tribute was taking place, some unscrupulous colonists were plotting to seize land from Mohican owners, and to move them out of their own village—first to western New York and eventually to Wisconsin, where they are now known as the Mohican Stockbridge-Munsee Band. Visit Footprints of our Ancestors produced by the Stockbridge-Munsee Community for a Mohican history walking tour and additional information.

The Dressers

The title for this 2.3-acre plot of land changed hands several times before Francis Dresser, a Stockbridge carpenter, bought it in the 1820s. He built the late federalist-style home on what early town records identify as the same spot Van Volkenburgh’s dwelling was built when this land was given to him by the Mohican sachem Konkapot.

In 1833, Francis married Clarissa Dowd, who had come from Connecticut the year before at her uncle’s urging, to teach school in Lee, a neighboring town, at a salary of $2 per week including board. Francis died in 1847, leaving Clarissa to raise their four surviving children. One of those children, Charlotte, remained with her mother for several years. The 1870 census identified Charlotte as a “music teacher.”
Clarssa lived in Stockbridge until she died. She was remembered as a “tender mother, a wise counselor, and a kind and helpful neighbor.”

Merwin House, Stockbridge, MA. Parlor.Summer Retreat in the Berkshires

The arrival of the railroad in the 1850s brought great change to the Berkshires. With the addition of a casino, golf course, and the resulting glittering social scene, Stockbridge had changed from a quiet rural community to a vacation destination for wealthy New York families like the Doanes. Elizabeth and William bought Dressers’ house in 1875 to use as a summer home for them and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Marie Vipont. Around the turn of the century the Doanes added the shingle style ell and covered porch overlooking the Housatonic River. The additional space and updated interiors created a more comfortable summer retreat for the family.

Mrs. Vipont Perry Webb Merwin

Marie Vipont, the Doanes’ younger daughter, married three times. Her first husband, Ensign Newman Perry, died a hero in a horrific accident aboard the U.S.S. Bennington in 1905 in San Diego harbor, when they had been married less than two years. In 1909 Vipont married Edward Webb. This marriage was kept secret for four years until the New York Herald confronted her with the marriage certificate in 1913. That union ended in what was reported as a “Reno Consolation.”

William, Marie Vipont’s father, died in 1923. That same year Vipont, as she was now called, married Edward Payson Merwin, a Harvard man with a seat on the New York stock exchange.
Elizabeth Doane died in 1932. At that time, her daughter Vipont and Edward Merwin decided to live in the house on a more permanent basis. They named the house “Tranquility” because of its location on a peaceful bend of the Housatonic River. After the sudden death of Edward Merwin in 1936, Vipont continued to live in the house with her two loyal servants, Catherine and Albert Martinengo, until 1965 when Marie Vipont Merwin died. She is buried in the Stockbridge cemetery across the street from her home of so many years, along with the Doanes, the Martenengos, Ensign Perry, and Edward Merwin.

Becoming a Museum

Marie Vipont Merwin left her home and all its furnishings to Historic New England with the express wish that it serve “as an example of an American culture which is fast becoming extinct.” From its inception as a museum, Tranquility has told of one woman’s desire to be remembered in New England history: Marie Vipont DeRiviere Doane Perry Webb Merwin. Her story includes her athletic prowess, her love of animals, her marriages (one of them secret) and her home.

Historic New England now shares Merwin House with the Housatonic Valley Association: the organization responsible for monitoring the health of the Housatonic, the river which flows behind “Tranquility” and meant so much to Vipont and Edward.

Property FAQs

Find out about parking, photography policy, and more.

Learn More
  • Can I walk to Merwin House from downtown Stockbridge?

    Yes, Merwin House is located at 14 Main Street, just a short walk from the shops and hotels in the center of town. Sidewalks on both sides of Main Street make it an easy and safe journey.

  • Where is the best place to park?

    There is limited parking available in the Merwin House driveway. Street parking is available along Main Street.

  • What else is near Merwin House?

    There are a number of attractions in the Stockbridge area. The Mission House, across Main Street in Stockbridge, offers an earlier perspective on New England’s history. The Norman Rockwell Museum is also located in Stockbridge. The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home, located in nearby Lenox, offers a glimpse into the life of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Main Street in Stockbridge also offers a number of shops, galleries, and eateries for visitors.

  • Can I schedule a private group tour of Merwin House?

    Yes, group tours of ten or more people can be arranged from June through December. Email us or call 617-994-6662 for more information.

  • Do I need to take a tour or can I just look around?

    All visitors to the house receive a guided tour.

  • Can I take photographs at Merwin House?

    Interior and exterior photography for personal use is allowed at Historic New England properties. For the safety and comfort of our visitors and the protection of our collections and house museums, we ask that you be aware of your surroundings and stay with your guide. Video, camera bags, tripods, and selfie sticks are not permitted. Professional/commercial photographers and members of the media should visit the press room for more information.

  • How do I become a member of Historic New England and get more involved?

    Join Historic New England now and help preserve the region’s heritage. Call 617-994-5910 or join online.

  • Do you provide admission discounts for EBT cardholders?

    EBT cardholders from all fifty states can show their card for $2 admission to house tours for up to four guests per card.

Related to this Property

Visit Roseland Cottage in Woodstock, Conn.

Learn More

Visit the Codman Estate in Lincoln, Mass.

Learn More

Become a member and tour for free.

Learn More