Poughkeepsie New Yorker

Poughkeepsie, NY Saturday, July 1, 1944

IBM Buys Kenyon Estate, "Cliffdale"

"Cliffdale," the attractive estate of Helen Kenyon, two miles south of Vassar college, has been purchased by the International Business Machines corporation, and for the time being will accommodate a research and engineering laboratory of the IBM, it was learned today.

Miss Kenyon, daughter of the late Clarence Kenyon, who was a widely known raincoat and tire manufacturer, reported having signed a contract for sale of the 217-acre property to the IBM. The consideration was not made known, but it was understood that the property was held for somewhat less than $100,000.

Simultaneously, the purchase was made known in a prepared release by Walter J. Niles, general manager of the IBM plant No. 4 of Poughkeepsie. The release set forth that the Kenyon property would be "used temporarily as the research and engineering laboratory" of the firm.

Definite assurance that IBM plans call for establishment of a permanent modern research and engineering laboratory here was seen from the release of the company, which said:

"When priority for materials can be obtained, a modern research and engineering laboratory will be built in Poughkeepsie. In the meantime, the buildings on the Kenyon property will be used for laboratory purposes."

"As soon as homes can be located for them, members of the company's East Orange, N. J. laboratory and of another IBM laboratory will be moved to Poughkeepsie."

Ernest I. Hatfield, local real estate broker, handled the deal. Miss Kenyon was represented in the transaction by Earl Hawley, and the IBM by John B. Van De Water, both local attorneys.

With the purchase of the Kenyon property, the IBM has increased its Poughkeepsie area holdings to 855 acres. The company earlier this month purchased the 300-acre property of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dickerson in the South road, and through Charles A. Kirk, vice president in charge of manufacturing, it was learned that the Dickerson tract was acquired by the IBM "for extension of the Country club and Post-war housing for the IBM employes."

Miss Kenyon, who long has made her home at Cliffdale, in recent years having lived in one of the smaller of several dwellings on the property, has not completed plans for her future residence. In close association with Vassar college for 25 years, Miss Kenyon was a member of its board of directors for 15 years and the board chairman for 10 years. Since the outbreak of the war, Miss Kenyon has been pinch hitting as Chairman of the Alumnae Fund of the college; she does not expect to continue in this responsible post after the war. She is devoting much of her time at present to the Congregational church denomination, having last winter accepted the chairmanship of the Missions' Council of the Congregational Christian churches. She is the first woman to hold the post.

Clarence Kenyon, jointly with the late James E. Sague, of this city, bought Cliffdale in 1909, and Kenyon built the large 23 room house on the place prior to 1913. Mr. Kenyon died on July 30, 1934.

Mr. Kenyon, and his wife, the late Emma J. Kelsey, were natives of Brooklyn, and the manufacturer was raised and built up his business in that city. He was a manufacturer of clothing at first and latter rubber products. The clothing company, no longer existent, was know as the C. Kenyon company. It was a wholesale firm. The rubber business was known as the Vulcan Roofing company, and is still in existence in Brooklyn and is engaged in war work. The business is conducted by Miss Kenyon's two brothers, Harry L. and Clarence.

Cliffdale, at the time of it purchase by Messrs. Kenyon and Sague, contained about 600 acres, but it was divided. Mr. Sague retaining upwards of 400 acres embracing the present Smithfield development and the property now owned by Colonel George A. Carruthers, of Spackenkill road. The portion retained by Mr. Kenyon included the woods, cliffs and ponds.

The original owner of Cliffdale, and the one who gave it that name, was Andrew Boardman, a New York attorney. Shortly after the Civil War, he bought 14 farms and combined them to form Cliffdale. His mansion, remodelled by Mr. Sague, is now occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Carruthers.

Two Sections to Purchase.

There are two sections to the property which has been acquired by IBM. Spackenkill road cuts through the property. The larger portion north of the road, of 152 acres, contains the big Kenyon house and others of the estate's dwellings, garages and smaller buildings. The other smaller portion of the tract, containing 65 acres, lies south of Spackenkill road, and contains the picturesque cliffs; which suggested the name for the property.

The large section north of Spackenkill road contains the big house plus two garages with apartments over them, and three smaller dwellings and a barn. Two of the dwellings are some distance from the big house and west of Boardman road, private roadway which leads from the main highway adjoining Vassar college, and take a course south through the Kenyon estate grounds.

The big house has attracted attention because of it elevation, Spanish tile roof and stucco walls, and the informal landscaping. Among the 23 rooms are six baths, four master bedrooms, three guest bedrooms and six servant bedrooms. There are living quarters on three floors, and the basement contains a billiard room with wide, stone fireplace. The house is heated with a vapor steam system. There are several acres of well kept lawn, with shrubbery, evergreen trees, rock garden and a tennis court, all enclosed by woodland. The tact south of Spackenkill road has one cottage and consists mostly of dense woods, traversed by trails and bridle paths. In these woods is a small spring-fed pond.

Miss Kenyon pointed out that after her father and Mr. Sague purchased Cliffdale, the latter and Mrs. Kenyon, who were first cousins, learned that they were living on ancestral grounds, as Matthew DuBois had purchased all of this property in 1730. They were direct descendants of him.

At present living with Miss Kenyon is her cousin, Mrs. O. W. Beach, and her daughter, Kelsey, and son, Brewster. The former was graduated from Skidmore college this month and Brewster is serving with the Army. Kelsey and Brewster are well known members of the younger set in Poughkeepsie.

In recalling the years of the Kenyon family's residence at Cliffdale, Miss Kenyon made particular mention of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. King. Mr. King, who started as Mr. Kenyon's chauffeur, has continued in charge of the residence property until present. Miss Kenyon said that it was entirely due to Mr. King that Cliffdale has been maintained in its present beautiful condition.

Miss Kenyon is a first cousin of Mrs. E. Sterling Carter, member of the Poughkeepsie Board of Education, and Mrs. Vincent Liversage, of Nairobi, East Africa; she has also been a close friend of the present Mrs. James E. Sague since college days. Miss Kenyon is a graduate of Vassar, and Mrs. Sague is a member of its faculty.