Colgate Toothpaste Magnate’s Gilded Age Estate That Looks Worthy of a Jane Austen Novel Is Listed for $7.5 Million

Swirling mists, elegantly landscaped gardens, and a foreboding residence standing at the heart of a stately property.

While that might sound like the opening scene of a period drama—or even a spooky movie—it is in fact a very real-life property that recently hit the market in Connecticut, having been built as the grand abode of the heir to the Colgate toothpaste fortune.

Set in the rolling hills of Litchfield County, the awe-inspiring Gilded Age abode, which is on the market for $7.5 million, offers much more than meets the eye. 

Known as Filston, the dwelling boasts 12,057 square feet of living space set on an incredible 106 acres of lush grounds. It comes with nine bedrooms, five full bathrooms, three powder rooms, and a fascinating history.

The home was built in 1903 for businessman and investor Romulus Colgate, grandson of Colgate-Palmolive founder William Colgate. It was designed by architect William Cromwell Jr.

Despite its grandeur, the home was—at its heart—a family sanctuary, designed as a safe space where Romulus and his wife, Sharon, could raise their family.

"Romulus and Susan Colgate created not merely a home, but a place to live beautifully," the listing notes. "Today, Filston Estate remains an invitation to do the same—to escape the urgency of the modern world, and rediscover the art of repose beneath maples and marble."

The home remains remarkably preserved 122 years later, its neoclassical design infused with Italianate, Palladian, Neo-Gothic, and French Empire influences.

Original details are found throughout the home, with every molding, column, and curve rooted in its turn-of-the-century construction.

Among the impressive features are Circassian walnut and English oak, eight fireplaces, marble mantels imported from Italy, and ceilings embellished with gold leaf.

"The fabled Filston Estate rests gracefully like a secret kept from time," the description adds. "Built at the dawn of the 20th century it is less a home than a living reverie—an opulent relic of the Jazz Age, where beauty was built to last and life was measured not in hours, but in moments of golden leisure."

There have also been changes to the property since the Colgate family moved in—namely, a significant downsizing of the original estate, which once measured 300 acres.

Walking the land, the estate’s storied past seems to come alive along the property’s many equestrian trails winding through pristine woodlands and among the majestic trees framing its rolling lawns.

One can't help but feel transported back to days gone by, when well-to-do men and women would stroll the grounds.

"Step beyond the grand threshold of Filston Estate and into a time capsule," the listing goes on. "The gardens—once the site of carriage rides and moonlit strolls—remain a quiet sanctuary.

"Wisteria-draped trellises, sweeping lawns, and hidden stone pathways invite you to wander slowly, as if time itself has loosened its grip. The large reflecting pool, bordered by aged statuary and climbing ivy, holds still the golden light of Connecticut afternoons."

A carriage house, offering more than 5,700 square feet of living space across three stories, speaks to a time of service wings and tenant living. In recent years, the property has seen several important upgrades, with all electrical systems redone, wiring buried to preserve sightlines, and trails reopened with careful landscape restoration.

Inside, the home offers a total of 19 rooms, with a balance of public and private spaces, including a grand parlor and multiple libraries.

Tucked within Sharon Valley, the estate offers a peaceful rural setting while being just two hours from New York City and within easy reach of Hudson Valley towns like Millbrook and Rhinebeck.

For a buyer seeking a home with both pedigree and possibility, Filston offers a once-in-a-generation chance to own a living piece of Gilded Age history.