Greycourt State Park is a public recreation area covering atop the partially restored ruins of the
Charles H. Tenney
Charles Henry Tenney (July 9, 1842 – April 27, 1919) was proprietor of C. H. Tenney & Co., established 1868, and become one of the most successful commissioned merchant and hat dealers in the world. He was also a director of the Bank of the M ...
estate in
Methuen,
. The
state park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...
is a satellite of
Lawrence Heritage State Park managed by the
Department of Conservation and Recreation
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. The DCR's mission is ...
and the City of Methuen.
[
]
History
The construction of Grey Court, also known as the Tenney Castle, was begun in 1890 and completed in 1892.[ The mansion, which was modeled after the ]Château d'Yquem
Château d'Yquem () is a '' Premier Cru Supérieur'' ( Fr: "Superior First Growth") wine from the Sauternes, Gironde region in the southern part of the Bordeaux vineyards known as Graves. In the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, Ch ...
, stood on the hilltop until it was destroyed by fire in 1978. A small portion survived when the majority of the ruins were razed in 1985.[ The ]Tenney Castle Gatehouse
The Tenney Castle Gatehouse is a historic gatehouse at 37 Pleasant Street in Methuen, Massachusetts, United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 20, 1984. It is the only surviving element of the large est ...
, which is associated with the property, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
and is home to the Methuen Historical Society.
In 2001, the Massachusetts legislature
The Massachusetts General Court (formally styled the General Court of Massachusetts) is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the earliest days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, w ...
approved $1,750,000 for the rehabilitation and repair of Greycourt State Park, including public safety improvements and courtyard renovations.[
]
Activities and amenities
The park offers wooded walking trails and scenic landscape from dawn to dusk and hosts city activities such as the annual Fall Festivals and other events.[
]
References
External links
Lawrence Heritage State Park
Department of Conservation and Recreation
{{Authority control
Methuen, Massachusetts
State parks of Massachusetts
Parks in Essex County, Massachusetts