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Packard Mansion

The Packard Mansion in Lakewood, NY, has stood for 100 years.

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A Brief History

Many visitors to Lakewood (when it was a summer resort in the late 1800s) remained in the area as permanent residents. Warren Packard, from Warren, Ohio, was among the most prominent of those transplanted citizens. He arrived in 1873 as Lakewood was emerging as a vacation and recreation spot along Chautauqua Lake. His son, J. Ward Packard, married Elizabeth (Bess) Gillmer in 1904 and they made plans to build the mansion on the location where earlier cottages stood. A remarkable relocation of these cottages took place from 1905 to 1910. "Nothing in the cottages was packed or removed, and at the end of the journey, not a dish was broken, or an artifact damaged." (Post-Journal, 1962) Many of these cottages still exist in Lakewood. The neo-Georgian mansion was first occupied in July of 1912. It had 32 rooms and its own electric light plant in the basement. The grounds included formal gardens around the home, cutting gardens, perennial gardens, vegetable gardens and an extensive assortment of hardwood trees. A machine shop was located on the second level of the three-car garage, and houses for the chauffeur and servants were located on the property.

The boathouse contained Packard's power boat, his special pride. He also operated the first hydroplane on the lake. Both Mr. and Mrs. Packard were philanthropists, donating their time and resources to many community and educational activities.

In 1962, the estate was purchased by Norman R. Turcotte, who planned to create six or seven multiple room apartments. The apartments were developed to maintain the size, character and gracious atmosphere of the existing estate. Then in the 1980s, these apartments were converted to condominiums, and two additional condominium buildings were added.

The presence of the Packard family remains visible throughout Lakewood and especially in this historical mansion on Chautauqua Lake.