Mosford Estate for Sale After Generations of Family Memories
In 1986, when John McMurray was just ten, his parents purchased a dilapidated 19th-century farmhouse in New Lebanon, New York, close to the Massachusetts border.
“We didn’t even want to get out of the car at first,” he recalls. “But my dad fell in love with it immediately. I get it now; it’s tucked away on gorgeous land.”
Fast forward nearly 40 years, and the Mosford Estate is on the market for the first time at a price of $2.47 million, as listed by Anthony Dalgio from Hoolihan Lawrence.
This picturesque property covers 144 acres in the Hudson Valley, boasting a main house that spans 3,686 square feet, along with an antique barn, ponds, tennis courts, and expansive meadows enveloped by forests.
The house, dating back to around 1800, was left untouched for years before the McMurrays bought it. It had previously served as a boarding house.
“My parents poured not only love but also a significant amount of money into it over the years,” McMurray explained.
Working alongside Hudson Valley architect Jeremiah Rusconi, they raised the foundations and brought back the house’s original charm, preserving features like wide plank flooring and hand-painted doors.
“Some of the hardware has been there since the inception, and the glass—imported from Germany—has a unique wavy texture that’s hard to find in the U.S.,” he noted.
Their renovation approach was thorough.
“They certainly exceeded their budget in renovations, spending several times more than they purchased the house for,” McMurray shared. “But the way they did it is just remarkable. If you walk in today, you might think it was constructed recently because the quality is truly exceptional.”
The repairs not only enhanced durability but also infused warmth into the space. A standout feature is the elevated den, which was formerly part of the barn and has a beam reminiscent of an Adirondack lodge.
The kitchen area, especially the breakfast nook and fireplace, often served as the family’s gathering spot.
“That’s where we came together for Christmas, Easter, and all our big family meals,” McMurray reminisced.
The second floor primary suite includes a cozy fireplace, while three more bedrooms are connected through hallways that lead to a reading corner.
Over the years, the furnishings were collected from antique shops in the Hudson Valley by McMurray’s parents, who painstakingly tracked down pieces and even reconstructed original chairs.
McMurray mentioned he might consider selling some of the furniture to the next owners, including a vintage car his father acquired in his last year.
For him and his brothers, the estate offered a childhood that felt worlds away from their Manhattan lives.
“There was so much land for hunting, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, and hockey. It was a real adventure,” he said. Summers were filled with swimming in the pond, and winters with skating on its frozen surface.
“It was such a wonderful escape. We drove tractors, we fished—my dad had this vision for the place,” he recalled.
In the later years, the estate became his father’s primary residence.
“My dad took excellent care of it over the years, but he passed two years ago,” McMurray said with a hint of sadness.
“We just don’t have the time to enjoy it as a family now, especially with my younger brother and his family living in Florida,” he noted.
He acknowledged that deciding to sell will be emotionally challenging.
“It’s definitely going to be tough, but with my dad gone, it’s not the same. Even if we held on to it, those moments would fade away. Someone else will love and appreciate it, but I think I’m ready to move on,” he remarked, reflecting on the bittersweet nature of this transition.
