Boston – Historic New England, in partnership with The Trustees of Reservations, finalized agreements to protect portions of the historic and scenic Langwater property, owned by the Oliver F. Ames family, in North Easton, Massachusetts. This includes the historic Ames Gate Lodge designed by the prominent architect H. H. Richardson and nationally recognized as one of his most celebrated buildings. The Ames Gate Lodge and 2.6 surrounding acres will be protected through a preservation easement held as part of Historic New England’s Stewardship Easement Program, while the remaining 13.0 acres will be protected by a conservation easement held by The Trustees of Reservations.

In addition to the acreage around the 1880-1881 Ames Gate Lodge, Historic New England’s easement protects all exterior elevations of the building including its orange tile roof, eyelid dormers, massive stone walls, interior woodwork, built-in furniture, and a carved-sandstone fireplace mantle by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and glass tile chimney breast possibly by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Historic New England and The Trustees of Reservations thank the Oliver F. Ames family for their generosity and support of this conservation and preservation vision. “Historic New England recognizes the dedicated care of the Ames Gate Lodge by the Oliver Ames family since its construction and is delighted to have a formal role in assuring the protection of this nationally-significant building forever through our stewardship easement program,” adds Carl R. Nold, President and CEO, Historic New England.

This is the eighty-sixth property protected through Historic New England’s Stewardship Easement Program and expands the scope and range of architectural styles protected by the organization.