The Black Rock House Then and Earlier

We remembered this view as the Reeds homes and the Beach as Black Rock Beach, Cohasset, MA. Here’s how it looked in 1898.

And that large building on the left before Reed’s Beach is… “The Black Rock House!” Edition 2 shown here following in more detail:

This Black Rock House 2 predated the one we are familiar with, Black Rock House 3, following.
Tom Dempsey explains that Sarah Smith employed the newly formed architectural partnership of Newhall and Blevin who created this magnificent iconic structure. In Tom’s words, “Upon review I suggest that the Black Rock House was an architectural masterpiece. Such variety of forms holding so well together.”

This photograph of the Black Rock house from the landward side from above Jerusalem road and inland from “Images of America, Cohasset”

The Black Rock House became an iconic symbol

… and as their first major project it launched the famous success of Newhall and Blevin who built Questenmere at the end of Marblehead Neck, 419 Ocean Avenue 1n 1908

They also moved this tasteful design skill to more urban settings with the design of Burton Hall, residences at 10 Dana Street, Cambridge (the “Castle”)

Here, my sketch of the Black Rock House, from the beach side, after a photo my uncle Bud Dempsey took of it just before its razing in 1968.

An unsourced aerial view of Black Rock House used in a real estate posting. Posted by Dean and Hamilton Realtors in 2005 with house listing at site. http://www.deanandhamilton.com/property/blackrockhouse.html

Black Rock House, Green Hill, Cohasset
Photographer: Abdalian, Leon H., 1884-1967
Date: 1913
Format: Glass negative
Location: Boston Public Library
Permalink: https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/gt54kz661

Before the Fall.

All Photos, Bud Dempsey, 1968