Brookside - Great Barrington Massachusetts

In the early 1900's William Walker, who purchased "Brookside" estate from William Stanley.

Garden casino and garden were designed by Ferruccio Vitale, 1912-1918 and became known as one of the most beautiful Italianate Gardens ever built.

The early history of the estate, when owned by David Leavitt, was the location of the largest barn in New England which used the adjacent pond and waterflow for cooling.  During Leavitt's time the original Brookside mansion burned.   Stanley rebuilt the mansion and in so doing hoped to create a fireproof home.  The new Brookside was designed by Carrère & Hastings, 1910 with 1912 alterations and additions for William Hall Walker. 

Boat landing architect: Walter Bradnee Kirby. Landscape: Garden casino and
garden by Ferruccio Vitale, 1912-1918

Altaraz school purchased the property from Gertrude Walker.  Brookside was sold to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1957 (Now the URJ - Union of Reform Judaism).  It became known as the Joseph Eisner Camp for Living Judaism.

The campers in the early years of Eisner Camp were surrounded by what had been the estate that Walker had developed.  Over the years there were significant changes to the property.  Remaining from the Walker years is Manor House, some of the Green Houses, Carriage House, barns and several other buildings.  All of the buildings, over time, have been modified and developed to meet the needs of the Camp, with the exception of the small fire pumphouse, at the center of the camp, that has been restored to what was thought to be its original condition.

The Brookside Book is a pictorial representation of what the property looked like in the early 1900's when it was developed as an estate.

Limited quantities of the book are available.

Contact bibliotique@gmail.com for information