Part 7/11:
Tragedy struck early in 1902 when Charles Sprague suddenly died at age 44 while the couple was abroad in Egypt. His passing left Mary as the sole guardian of their sprawling estate. Demonstrating resilience, she dedicated herself over the ensuing two years to transforming and expanding the property, aligning the house with the grandeur of Plat’s gardens.
She engaged Herbert Brown once more, this time to clad the wooden house in brick, radically altering its appearance from a simple summer residence to a majestic building blending Italian Renaissance elegance with Georgian charm. They added a third floor—notably taller than the originals—resulting in a imposing three-and-a-half-story façade.