JEREMY FRECHETTE PHOTOGRAPHY , COURTESY OF CHESTERFIELD
The Revival of a
B y E r i n D e C e l l e
A t the end of a long , winding driveway at the top of a pinecovered hill in Great Barrington sits an old bungalow . The property , known to many as “ Aston Magna ,” consists of 50 acres of land overlooking beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the nearby Green River . It holds a century ’ s worth of connections and coincidences , often in the most unexpected ways .
The current estate is comprised of five buildings : the main house , a music studio , a guest cottage , the caretaker ’ s cottage , and a barn . ( A portion of the property containing a sixth building , a hunting lodge , was sold off in 1980 .) Its occupants are a long line of notable art enthusiasts , beginning with Charles Lang Freer ( whose collections of oriental art now reside in the Smithsonian Institution ); Albert and Mary Spalding ( the former , a famed violinist ; the latter , a major benefactor of the Berkshire Museum ); Lee Elman ( co-founder of the Aston Magna Festival ); and Caroline and John “ Jack ” Baughman , the latest owners who are on their way to making it their permanent home .
Caroline describes how they found the estate — it was almost as if it were waiting for them . Unlike the previous owners , whose livelihoods were dependent on the arts , the Baughmans ’ business is centered around the boutique law firm they run together , Baughman Kroup Bosse PLLC , with 16 attorneys and offices in New York City and Norfolk , Virginia . Jack is the managing partner while Caroline , who has a finance background , is the executive director and chief financial officer . That ’ s not to say they don ' t have a connection and interest in the performing arts . Caroline ’ s parents were in theater , and her creativity comes through in the form of renovating and restoring homes .
After a successful career in financial services , Caroline changed tack and over a ten-year period built a portfolio of beach rental properties in the Outer Banks of North Carolina . After maximizing the portfolio ’ s yield and market valuation , Caroline chose to sell her business and return to professional services , working with Jack at the law firm they established in August 2020 . The Baughmans ’
44 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Spring 2024