On Air Now
Calm Classics with Ritula Shah 10pm - 1am
7 August 2012, 17:32
Developers are looking to purchase Charles Ives' house and knock it down for development.
The house that American composer Charles Ives lived in with his wife from 1912 until his death in 1954 is up for sale. Developers are reportedly interested in destroying the house to maximise development opportunities.
Located in Redding, Connecticut, the house still contains many of Ives' possessions and is in perfect period condition. A recent visit to the house by cellist Zoe Martlew and composer Oliver Knussen led Martlew to comment: "The realāestate agent, an expert on historical buildings in the area and sympathetic to the cause, explained ruefully that property investors are snapping at his heels to get their hands on this prime bit of real estate."
The estimated value of the property is $1.5m. According to the Redding tourism and history website, Ives was in opposition to all modernity regarding the site - he would routinely run into the garden and shout, "Get off my property!" when planes flew overhead.
Ives' legacy in the area includes the Ives Collection at Yale University. Upon his death, Ives' wife, Harmony, also bequeathed any further music royalties to the American Academy of Arts and Letters for the Charles Ives prize.