7 Ferncliff Drive, Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Steeped in the storied legacy of the Hudson Valley, the ''Gatehouse'' at the entrance of what once was Ferncliff Farm, offers a rare opportunity to rescue and own a piece of Gilded Age history. Established in 1854 as the gateway to the Astor family's legendary ''Ferncliff'' country seat on the Hudson, this structure served as the threshold to an empire of innovation and prestige. Once the residence of farm superintendents and later the chauffeur for John Jacob Astor IV, the gatehouse has watched nearly 170 years of American history unfold from its position along the historic carriage routes of Rhinebeck. Today, the residence stands in a state of poetic though significant deterioration, offering a ''blank canvas'' for a dedicated preservationist. While the elements have reclaimed much of its early ornamentation, the home's noble architectural detail and unparalleled provenance remain. This is a call to a visionary steward--one who sees past the current decay to the architectural...