"The brainchild of Friendly's Ice Cream co-founder S. Prestley Blake, who has undertaken numerous building projects in recent years, the estate was a swan song of sorts as he approached the century mark. Blake held his 100th birthday party in the newly constructed residence this month."
"After tearing down an existing church and home on the land, Blake worked with Laplante Construction Inc. to precisely replicate the brick neoclassical-style exterior of Monticello, using the same materials Jefferson employed to create his plantation home."
"Inside, the five-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom home is more modern. A blue sky ceiling mural in the entryway, however, recalls the skylight in Jefferson's dome room."
S. Prestley Blake, co-founder of Friendly's Ice Cream, commissioned construction of a 10,000-square-foot Monticello replica on his Connecticut estate as a personal project near his 100th birthday. The home sits on 10 acres connected to Blake's 80-acre property via wooded horse trail. Construction began last year after demolishing an existing church and residence. The exterior precisely replicates Thomas Jefferson's neoclassical brick design using identical materials, while the interior features five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and modern amenities. A blue sky ceiling mural in the entryway echoes Jefferson's dome room skylight. The property is listed for $6.5 million through William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty.
#monticello-replica #luxury-real-estate #neoclassical-architecture #connecticut-estate #historic-home-replication
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