This grand home is the culmination of two houses, a small 3 story hipped roof wooden structure that faced Main Street during the 1850’s and the large granite portion constructed in the 1880’s. In 1882 when Emory McClenahan, one of the owners of the McClenahan and Brother Granite Quarries, wanted a home that suited his status, he allegedly reached a compromise with his wife who liked the small wooden structure. Emory picked up the house rotated it counterclockwise 90 degrees, pushed it back on the lot and then constructed the granite mansion in front. The completed house is nearly 7500 square feet, and features 11-foot ceilings on the first floor, 5 & ½ bathrooms, 9 bedrooms, and five rooms on the main floor. There are 4 Chimneys, one of which towers nearly sixty feet above Main Street with decorative corbelling, 9 fireplaces, 6 of which were originally functional, two staircases and two porches. All of the windows in the newer portion of the house have internal shutters that can be closed or stored in pockets in the window casings when opened.
The house still retains most of its original appointments including several crystal gasoliers that were found in the brief era during the transition from gas to electricity in the late 19th century. There are ornate tiled mahogany mantle surrounds, large closets featuring built in cabinetry, pocket doors, stained glass windows, a gilded plaster frieze, mosaic tile and original heart pine hardwood floors throughout nearly the entire home.
The current occupants are the 5th owners of this wonderful home, and are in the process of renovating and restoring it while continuing to reside here, doing most of the work themselves. They have affectionatley named their home "Cliffcote".
