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History of
Beechgate
This amazing
house named Beechgate after the two large Beech trees in the yard may
not be as old as some houses in Anchorage, but it has a colorful and
interesting history.
Built in 1940
by Robert and Florence Kaiser, the house is a Neoclassical Revival style
residence that originally sat on a 32 acre tract. Mr. Kaiser was an
architect, and designed the original house himself, later adding the large
porch, supported by six square columns and a roofline balustrade. When
Prohibition ended, he formed the wholesale liquor firm, Brown-Kaiser, and
eventually became the owner of Caufield & Shook Photography.
Beechgate
Estate contained another house built for Grandfather Caufield, two cottages
– one for the cook and one for the gardener, three barns, a riding ring and
a greenhouse that provided flowers for almost every public event in
Anchorage. The Kaisers raised their children there, and the house was the
site of many lavish parties. The ladies’ organization of the Anchorage
Presbyterian Church held their annual style show in the Kaisers’ beautiful
garden. According to Florence Lee Kaiser Wescott, “the house contained a
gymnasium that was eventually converted to a family room when we stopped
shooting baskets and started drinking.” The gymnasium hardwood floor can
still be seen today.
After their
children were grown, the Kaisers sold the estate in 1964 to Joan and
Jeremiah Lloyd, a lawyer, who continued the tradition of fabulous Kentucky
Derby and garden parties. Their three children, Joan, James “Buck” and
Jennifer, remember the many guests who regularly visited Beechgate – one in
particular – a friendly ghost, nicknamed George, which was frequently
sighted wearing a top hat as if caught in a time warp of never ending
festivity. Although three family weddings and a reception took place at the
house, it wasn’t all play at the Lloyd family farm. Jennifer remembers that
they all had chores to do including caring for the horses and cows.
The estate
was gradually subdivided and all that remains today are 4.06 acres and the
main house. Mrs. Lloyd passed away in 1998 and in 2003 Mr. Lloyd passed
away. The Lloyd heirs, Joan Cooper, James and Sue Lloyd, and Jennifer and
Chip Harkins currently own Beechgate.
Information
for this brief history of Beechgate was gathered from The Village of
Anchorage by Samuel W. Thomas, Anchorage by Leone W. Hallenberg
and memories of Jennifer Lloyd Harkins. |
