William J. Kemble is reporting in the Daily Freeman the non-profit organization, Historic Hudson Valley has agreed to transfer ownership of Montgomery Place to Bard College. The college is located just north of the 19th century riverfront estate. Bard and Historic Hudson Valley have a contract of sale in place for the 375-acre Northern Dutchess property. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year. The college announced the acquisition plans Wed., Sept. 30. The financial details of the transfer were not disclosed. Historic Hudson Valley has owned Montgomery Place since the mid-1980s. Bard will use Montgomery Place as a teaching space for various programs, including the arts, the humanities and environmental sciences. Bard President Leon Botstein said in a prepared statement, “The college has every intention of respecting the significance of the property in terms of historic preservation, public access and agriculture.” The main building at Montgomery Place is a Federal-style house built in the early 19th century. It was originally used by members of the Livingston family. The estate was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992. The house has been open for tours since May 2010. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.