A House With A Past

Built in 1790, the Kittle House was originally constructed as Reisig and Hexamer's Barn on Ivy Hill Farm, a nursery and fruit farm. Some time in the late 1800's the farm was taken over by the Kittle family and was renamed The Kittle Barn and Carriage House. In 1890, Moses Taylor V, one of the area's most prominent and wealthy businessmen and entrepreneurs, bought the property and along with the surrounding 500 acres, established the expansive Annandale Farm where he bred and raised his prize cattle.

Taylor later refurbished the barn into a seventeen-room home as a wedding present for his daughter, Marion. Since Marion refused to live in a "barn", the gift was used instead as a guesthouse for Taylor's various business associates and friends. The entire estate was parceled off after Taylor's death in 1928.

During the gray years of Prohibition, the Kittle House began to develop its livelier, though more discreet, reputation by serving the public as a roadhouse. In 1931 the roadhouse was once again converted--this time into the Noble School for Girls. Unsuccessful, the school was closed after five years and thus The Kittle House tradition as a restaurant and inn began.

The Kittle House, under the proprietorship of the Lawrence family, thrived during the following summers as The Lawrence Farms Inn. The Westchester Playhouse, located on the adjacent property of what is now the Mt. Kisco Country Club, was in its prime. The birthplace of many an illustrious career, the inn often played host to several famous and soon-to-be-famous actors and actresses including Henry Fonda, Margaret Sullavan and Talullah Bankhead. In fact Fonda's performances in the Playhouse helped to launch his legendary career.

One of the most memorable incidents that took place at the Kittle House was on an "explosive" Fourth of July, when Sullavan quenched an argument with Fonda by pouring a glass of ice water on his head. In 1949 the inn was sold to William Carlson who shortened the name to "The Kittle House".

Since then the Kittle House has changed hands several times and many additions have been made. In the late 70's, a beautiful Mahogany bar with quite a history of it's own was added. The bar, originally bought by Fanny Brice as a birthday present for Dutch Shultz, spent some time in Shultz' Bronx speakeasy before making it's way to the Kittle House taproom about a half of a century later.

Since 1981, the Kittle House has been owned and operated by The Crabtree Family who have returned the House to its former glory through extensive renovations and enhancements. The grounds have been transformed with the planting of various intimate gardens where brides' memories are recorded. The Beautiful Atrium Dining Room has been expanded to hold elegant affairs of up to 225 guests. The main dining rooms have been lovingly restored and decorated with original 19th century artwork. the 12 guest rooms each offer a cozy retreat for weary travelers. And the former stables have been transformed into a wine cellar that holds one of the greatest collections of fine wines on earth.

These amenities, along with the friendly, professional Hospitality Staff and dedicated, talented culinary team, result in what noted food writer Gerry Dawes refers to as:

"All in all one of the most refined and Civilized Restaurants in these parts, and that includes New York City."