Well established in Warren, Ohio, the Packard family found a new home in Lakewood, New York on the shores of Lake Chautauqua, and the village held a special place in the hearts of generation after generation of Packards. Brothers, Warren (father of James, William, and Alaska) and John, decided to invest in the village of Lakewood, making them some of the earliest investors in the community. They purchased property known as the Lakeview tract and built the first large hotel on the lake known as The Lakeview Hotel. Warren built the first family home (a $3,000 villa), close to the hotel. In the 1890’s, an additional adjacent 25 acres of property was purchased with the intention of building Gothic-style lakeside cottages, two of which the brothers built explicitly for themselves. A great deal of lumber was needed to complete all of the building projects, so they opened a saw mill near the railroad tracks to accommodate the extensive demand.
Warren’s sons, James and William, spent time building and living in Lakewood and the Chautauqua Institution, just 11.5 miles away from Lakewood. James began building the Packard Mansion in 1905 by moving the original cottages built by Warren to make room, which allowed proper construction to begin in 1911. It is said that when the original cottages were moved, every single dish and artifact made it to their new location unbroken despite nothing being properly packed. The mansion featured an accurate replica of a classic 18th century Georgian building entrance, as well as stone bands, made from stone specially imported from Scotland, which circled the house. An electric light plant was constructed in the basement to power the house.
The thirty-two-room mansion was ready for James and his wife, Bess to move in on July 1, 1912. The couple used this house as their primary residence until James’ death in 1928 and Bess’ death in 1960.
Some Packard buildings still remain in Lakewood. The mansion was redeveloped into the Packard Condominiums, and a section of the original garden has been used to build the Packard Townhouses. A garage was renovated to become a residence and a few of the cottages still stand in the villages tucked in close to the lake.
J. Ward Packard Mansion – Lakewood, NY.
Manana on Chautauqua Lake – James Ward Packard’s Yacht
James Ward Packard with Seaplane on Chautauqua Lake
Second Packard House Hotel, Bemus Point, NY
James Ward Packard’s Boats at Chautauqua Lake
Packard Historical Marker- Lakewood, NY