Some interior shots of William D. Guthrie's 'Meudon' in Lattingtown. Click HERE for more on 'Meudon'.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Meudon Interiors
Some interior shots of William D. Guthrie's 'Meudon' in Lattingtown. Click HERE for more on 'Meudon'.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Picture of the Day
The front of Harold Pratt's 'Welwyn' in Glen Cove with a large dead elm tree on the front lawn. Click HERE to see 'Welwyn' with its front lawn full of elms before they died from Dutch Elm Disease.
Friday, July 10, 2009
A Long Island Country Estate
An article from the December 10th, 1904 issue of Town and Country on what would become 'Clayton', the Childs Frick estate in Roslyn. Click HERE for more on 'Clayton'.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Onderdonk Mansion
The residence of Horatio Gates Onderdonk and his wife Elizabeth, built c. 1836 in Manhasset. Onderdonk was a county judge for Kings County. When Levitt & Sons purchased a piece of the property to develop in 1933 into 'North Strathmore' the house was used as their office. Upon completion of the development and the formation of a resident's association, they handed over the home to the Strathmore Association to be used as a community facility. Click HERE for a complete history on the Onderdonks. Click HERE to see the Onderdonk mansion on google earth.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Sagamore Hill Revisited

'Sagamore Hill', the residence of Theodore Roosevelt designed by Lamb & Rich c. 1884 in Cove Neck. Click HERE for more on 'Sagamore Hill'.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Harbor Hill: The Founding of an American Estate
From the August 16th, 1902 issue of Town & Country, an article on 'Harbor Hill', the Clarence and Katherine Mackay estate in Roslyn. Click HERE for more on 'Harbor Hill'.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Meudon in B&W
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Picture of the Day
An old postcard of Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury. Click HERE for more on the Roosevelt Raceway.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Fairleigh
'Fairleigh', the George Brewster estate in Brookville, built by Trowbridge & Livingston c. 1914. Click HERE for more on 'Fairleigh'.
Friday, July 3, 2009
When H.C. Phipps and Gladys Mills Wed
From the Dec 14, 1907 issue of Town & Country, an article on the wedding of Henry Carnegie Phipps and Gladys Mills at the Ogden Mills residence in Staatsburg. The two would go on to purchase 'Spring Hill' in Old Westbury as their Long Island residence.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Chelsea's Garden Ruins
Some kind of garden feature on the side of Benjamin Moore's 'Chelsea' in Muttontown. There is a half moon of trees around a derelict pergola looking structure and all along the outside are the wooden polls seen in the foreground.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Brookville Reformed Church
The Brookville Reformed Church, the fourth church to be erected on this site built in 1924. From the Village of Brookville's website: "In 1732, the Dutch bought the property at the intersection of what we know as Wheatley Road and Brookville Road to establish a church. There were many springs and a brook on the property, and it is said that the wolves gathered there to drink. Thus, the Dutch called Wolver Hollow. The church, which was built at that time, was known as the Reformed Dutch Church of Oyster Bay. Four different structures have been built over the years and the present stately and beautiful building was dedicated in 1924. It was renamed the Brookville Reformed Church and still stands on the original site."
Monday, June 29, 2009
SPLIA & Long Island's Endangered Properties

The Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities (SPLIA) is the regional advocate for historic environments on Long Island. This year the Society is launching its first Endangered Properties List to increase the visibility of threatened historic resources and stimulate greater support for their preservation and reuse.
Please join in this effort to protect what matters. If you know of a threatened historic resource, nominate it today. A nomination form (in Microsoft Word format) can be accessed from SPLIA's website HERE, or you can enlarge and print the nomination form directly from the images below. The deadline for nominations is October 15th, 2009.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Bayville Bridge
The Bayville Bridge, the fourth incarnation of the bridge built in 1938. Below is a good powerpoint history of the bridge I found on google. Click HERE to see the Bayville Bridge on google earth.Bayville Bridge
View more documents from janesutton48.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sefton Manor
'Sefton Manor', built for Lillian Sefton Thomas Dodge by Colonel James Hollis Wells of the firm Clinton & Russell, Wells, Holton & George in 1923 in Mill Neck. Dodge was the president of Harriet Hubbard Ayer Co., a cosmetics giant later purchased by Lever Brothers, Inc.. Today the house belongs to the Mill Neck Family of Organizations and had been used as the Mill Neck School for the Deaf, with the house taking on the new name of 'Mill Neck Manor'. Click HERE to see 'Sefton Manor' on google earth. The following pictures were taken with my cell phone immediately after a thunderstorm so the quality is not great but I hope to return soon to take better photos.Click below to see 'Sefton Manor' in a 1966 aerial shot.Friday, June 26, 2009
Oak Knoll
'Oak Knoll', the Bertram G. Work estate designed by Delano & Aldrich in Mill Neck in 1916. Work was the president of B.F. Goodrich Company and had Billy Delano design him this residence atop a hill with a view of Oyster Bay. The formal gardens were also designed by Delano. Click HERE to see 'Oak Knoll' on google earth.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
An Italian Palace on Long Island
Published in Town and Country magazine on June 25th, 1904, 105 years ago to the day, is an article on what would come to be known as 'Spring Hill', originally the William L. Stow residence and later the Henry C. Phipps estate designed by John Russell Pope in 1903 in Old Westbury (what was then Roslyn). Mrs. H. Du Puy, who wrote the article, describes the estate as follows, "Unmistakably a palace, and true to its period, with a frontage of one hundred and fifty by ninety feet, it is surely an imposing sight. Passing on to the south side of the house the regal magnificence of the mansion is fully realized. In stateliness this Renaissance villa rises from a long marble terrace, which is level with the windows of the great hall on the first floor. The terrace is supported by a massive retaining wall of marble, paneled and arched in its middle length, but having a gradual slope at both ends, where a flight of marble steps lead downward and are each flanked by two marble lions resting heavily on marble blocks. The southerly view from this terrace is one of unusual beauty, commanding fifteen miles of landscape, including the Meadow Brook Plains, with the ocean in the distance." The following pictures of the interior accompanied the article.
"A magnificent fifteenth century hall, occupying more than half the entire ground floor, serves for ballroom and music-room. It's four windows open directly upon the spacious marble terrace. At the farther end is a Florentine chimney-piece, its carved marble panels representing the four seasons. The serpentine columns at the sides were taken from an Italian church. The paneling is in black oak and the side walls of beautiful workmanship have open arches supported by columns richly carved. Above, the wall is covered with a Venetian red velvet brocade. The ceiling is an exact copy of one painted by the last of the great Italian painters of the Renaissance, Tiepolo."
"To the right of the chimney piece is the Gold Salon, bearing the stamp of the gorgeous Spanish Renaissance in its carved and heavily gilded woodwork. Not only does this carving extend to window frames and door frames, but the doors themselves are marvels of carved gilding. The walls are hung with a pale green brocade, while the gilded frames of the furniture show to advantage their Gobelin coverings. The mantel of amber Sienna marble carries this golden tone in its simpler lines, relieved by Russian malachite. A portrait of the Duchess of Parma is set into an elaborate monumental gold frame."
"At the opposite end of the hall one enters en suite - the dining room - which is large and imposing and entirely finished in marble. The floor is in Renaissance mosaic. The walls are covered with green velvet demasse of Genoese design. Sculptured marble sideboard tables on scroll pedestals keep up the true Italian marble treatment. The ceiling is squared off into green and gold panels, having a center painting, 'The Youth of Bacchus," by Domenichino. Enormous bronze torch standards, branching out into numerous electric lights, give to the room an unusual brilliancy when used."
"In the adjoining library a veritable Venetian gem in the way of a chimney-piece attracts the eye by its panel carvings of historic interest. The walls are in black oak carved panels, copied from the Cluny Museum. Low bookcases are carved to match. Every third case is filled with rare vases. Antique censors of gilded brass hang in each corner and are fitted for electric lighting."Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens - Welwyn
'Welwyn', the Harold I. Pratt estate in Glen Cove. All images are from the Garden Club of America Collection. (Click for info on the above photo). Click info for additional photos.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens - Burrwood
'Burrwood', the Walter Jennings estate in Lloyd Harbor, designed by Carrere and Hastings c. 1898 with landscaping by the Olmsted Brothers (1916-1938). All images are from the Garden Club of America Collection. Click the photo info for additional photos. (Click for info on above photo)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens - Fairleigh
More from the Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens: 'Fairleigh', built by the firm of Trowbridge & Livingston for George S. Brewster c. 1914 in Brookville. James L. Greenleaf did the landscaping and Alfred Hopkins designed the estate's farm group. Click HERE to see 'Fairleigh' on google earth. (Info on above picture)Click below to see 'Fairleigh' in a 1966 aerial shot.
All images are from the Garden Club of America Collection.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Planting Fields Statuary
One of the numerous statues that dot the property of William R. Coe's 'Planting Fields' in Oyster Bay.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens - Chelsea
I found a bunch of photos in the Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens taken in 1930. First up is Benjamin Moore's 'Chelsea' in Muttontown. (Info on above photo)All images are from the Garden Club of America Collection.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Long Island Traditions - South Shore Portal
LongIslandTraditions.org has a section of their site devoted to "documenting the South Shore’s maritime traditions and architecture through architectural surveys, oral histories, ethnographic photography and historic research tools." Click HERE to view their estates page, or click HERE to see their home page.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Beacon Towers
'Beacon Towers', built for Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont (Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont) by Richard Howland Hunt c. 1917-18 in Sands Point. The house was sold to William Randolph Hearst in 1927 and was demolished in the early '40s. Click HERE to see where 'Beacon Towers' stood on google earth.

Saturday, June 13, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Pembroke's Indoor Tennis Court
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Picture of the Day
The rear entrance to 'Next Door', the guest house to W.R. Grace Jr.'s 'The Crossroads' in Old Westbury.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Roosevelt Raceway
The Roosevelt Raceway, a harness racing track that operated from 1940 until 1988 in Westbury. The track was sold in 1984 and eventually deteriorated to the point it was closed. The site became host to a flea market and was eventually demolished. Click HERE for more on the Roosevelt Raceway's history.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Timothy J. Shea Residence
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
William H. Dixon Residence
Monday, June 1, 2009
East Farm
Archibald Brown of the architectural firm of Peabody, Wilson & Brown purchased this 18th century farm house and enlarged it into what would become 'East Farm', his estate in Smithtown c. 1914. Click HERE to see 'East Farm' on google earth.Click below to see 'East Farm' in very good shape with the surrounding property undeveloped in a 1954 aerial shot.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Orchards II
Above, the George Rathbone Dyer Sr. house designed by Charles Platt c. 1909 in Brookville, featured HERE last week. Below is the end result of Bradley Delehanty's renovations done in 1939 for Dyer's son Elisha Dyer VII. This is Delehanty's only International Style country house on Long Island.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Harbor House
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Picture of the Day
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
More on the National Red Cross Pageant
More on the rehearsals of the National Red Cross Pageant at Roland Conklin's 'Rosemary Farm' in 1917. See below for more on the pageant.
Rosemary Farm & The National Red Cross Pageant
Rehearsals for the National Red Cross Pageant in 1917 at the Olmsted designed open air theatre at 'Rosemary Farm', the Roland Conklin estate in Lloyd Harbor. While the silent film is presumed to be lost, the cast included John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Ethel Barrymore and Douglas Wood. Click HERE to view the program for the event. Vogue Magazine wrote about the production on November 15, 1917: "In the open-air theatre at “Rosemary Farm,” the Long Island estate of Mr. Roland R. Conklin was given, early in October, a most gorgeous pageant, which proved to be, at the same time, one of the most successful of war benefits. This pageant, which consisted of episodes from the history of each of the Allied nations, and the presentation of the case of each Ally before the bar of Truth, Justice, and Liberty, was organized by actors and actresses of the American stage as their contribution to the American Red Cross. It had been long in preparation, and many noted men and women had given generously of their time and effort, --an effort which found its reward, for this single performance brought a net profit of fifty thousand dollars, and the motion picture films which will carry the pageant all over the country will afford an additional income to the Red Cross for some time to come.
The book of the pageant was written by Joseph Lindon Smith, of Boston, and Thomas Wood Stevens, director of dramatic arts at Carnegie Institute and President of the Pageantry Association of America, and the rehearsals were under the personal direction of Mr. Stevens, Daniel Frohman, and B. Iden Payne, while decorators and artists collaborated in the settings and costuming. The result was a pageant of rare beauty and dramatic worth, as well as of historic accuracy and patriotic inspiration.
Of the two parts which composed this pageant, the first was given over to historic episodes in the lives of the Allied nations and presented a glowing and sumptuous picture. The prologue, spoken by Edith Wynne Matthison, dedicated an altar to Peace and was followed by rhythmic dancing by Florence Fleming Noyes and her pupils. A scene from early Flemish days followed, and four famous cities, Bruges, Ghent, Ypres, and Louvain paid their allegiance to Flanders, personated by Ethel Barrymore in the gorgeous costume familiar in Flemish painting.
The Italian scene which followed was succeeded by the scene of the birth of English liberty, as represented by King John signing the Magna Charta, and Medieval Russia was personified by John Barrymore as a tyrant borne upon the shoulders of his serfs. Most dramatic of the events of this first part, however, was the French episode, in which Ina Claire appeared as Jeanne D’Arc riding her white charger and the whole audience sprang to its feet in silent tribute to France.
In the second half of the pageant, called “The Drawing of the Sword,” each nation among the Allies appeared to present its case before the court of Truth, Justice, and Liberty. Serbia entered first and told her story of the opening of the war, to which Truth spoke assent. Belgium followed, and to her aid came England and France, while Russia came to the support of her ally, Serbia. Next, England called upon her overseas colonies, and Japan also, brought her pledge to maintain the cause of liberty on the Pacific. Armenia came to tell her wrongs; and Italy, shaking off the bonds of the Triple Alliance, cast her lot with the defenders of liberty. The grand climax was reached with the entry of America in the person of Marjorie Rambeau."
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Captain Albert Rogers Residence
Built for Captain Albert Rogers, a whaling captain, in 1843 in Southampton. In 1899 the house was purchased by Samuel Longstreth Parrish, an attorney, who went on to add numerous additions eventually doubling the size of the house as well as moving it back 100 feet from Main Street. Click HERE to see the house on google earth, and click HERE for info on the museum that operates in the house.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Crossroads' Sunken Indoor Tennis Court

The James O'Connor designed sunken indoor tennis court to W.R. Grace Jr.'s 'The Crossroads' estate in Old Westbury.

Friday, May 22, 2009
Picture of the Day
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The Orchards
'The Orchards', the George Rathbone Dyer Sr. residence designed by Charles Platt c. 1909 in Brookville. Dyer was a partner in the brokerage firm of C.I. Hudson & Co. and later Dyer, Hudson & Co.. C.I. Hudson being Charles Hudson, owner of 'Knollwood' in Muttontown. Dyer was the son of Governor Elisha Dyer of Rhode Island, and was also the chairman of the New York Bridge and Tunnel Commission which oversaw the Holland Tunnel construction, as well as the chairman of the New York Port Authority. His son Elisha Dyer inherited the house and had Bradley Delehanty design alterations c. 1939.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Samuel R. Outerbridge Residence
The residence of Samuel Roosevelt Outerbridge, designed by Electus D. Litchfield on Centre Island. Outerbridge was an investment banker and partner in the shipping firm of A.E. Outerbridge & Co.. Click HERE to see the Outerbridge residence on google earth.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Picture of the Day
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Picture of the Day
A bench under the pergola at one end of the Italian Blue Pool Garden at William R. Coe's 'Planting Fields' in Oyster Bay.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Stonehouse / Wenlo-on-the-Bay
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Grounds of Planting Fields
The courtyard outside the rear of William R. Coe's 'Planting Fields' in Oyster Bay.
The Italian Blue Pool Garden and tea house, designed by Guy Lowell and Andrew Sargent between 1915 and 1918 (currently undergoing restoration).Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Planting Fields in Spring
'Planting Fields', the William R. Coe estate designed by Walker & Gillette in 1919 in Oyster Bay pictured in Spring. Click HERE for more on 'Planting Fields'.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Picture of the Day
A fountain on the side of 'Next Door', the guest house to W.R. Grace Jr.'s 'Crossroads' in Old Westbury.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Caumsett's Walled Garden & Greenhouse
Friday, May 8, 2009
Picture of the Day
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Winfield Hall on Video
'Winfield Hall: The Woolworth Estate' uploaded to YouTube courtesy of '12pud12sce' who writes, "I was given permission to download WINFIELD HALL THE WOOLWORTH ESTATE by Bob Ghent to youtube courtesy of The Glen Cove Public Library. Because of the 10 minute max On each download I had to break the video into 2 parts. Search 'winfield hall' at youtube.com. On top of that I compiled a companion video using readily available photos pairing it with a 1925 auction brochure when Winfied Hall was put on the market".
Windy Hill
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Maxwelton
More on 'Maxwelton', the John Rogers Maxwell Sr. residence, built in 1898 by William Tubby in Glen Cove.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Chateau des Thons
In 1928 Ashbel Barney had a French chateau, originally called 'Chateau des Thons' and located outside of Dijon, France, disassembled and shipped to Upper Brookville. According to Monica Randall, the home was first built in the early 16th century and purchased by Voltaire in 1734 (this has however been dispelled). It was apparently abandoned when it was found by Ashbel Barney. Barney was the grandson of Ashbel H. Barney, the one time president of Wells Fargo. Click HERE to see 'Chateau des Thons' on google earth. The house has been for sale for quite some, the listing of which can be found HERE(MLS #: 2172415).
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Woodside
'Woodside', the residence of James Abercrombie Burden Jr., designed by Delano & Aldrich between 1916 and 1918 in Muttontown. The gardens were designed with help from the Olmsted Brothers along with Delano & Aldrich. Today the estate is the Woodcrest County Club, click HERE to see 'Woodside' on google earth.Click below to see 'Woodside' in a 1966 aerial shot.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Hannibal Ford Residence
The residence of Hannibal Choate Ford, designed by Leon H. Smith c. 1930 in Kings Point. Ford was an industrialist and inventor who held over fifty patents. Click HERE to see the Ford residence on google earth.
Caumsett's Polo Stables
An interior shot of the polo stables (October 12, 1933) at Marshall Field III's 'Caumsett' in Lloyd Harbor. Photo brought to you via Shorpy.com.
Overfields
'Overfields', the residence of George deForest Lord, built in 1927 by William Harmon Beers of Beers & Farley in Syosset. Lord was a partner in the law firm 'Lord, Day and Lord'. Ellen Biddle Shipman designed the gardens. Click HERE to see 'Overfields' on google earth. Photo by James Hogarty.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Harrie Lindeberg Houses
West Gate Lodge
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Bayberry Hill
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Babbott Mansion
I was flipping through a magazine earlier when I saw an advertisement for 'The Lincoln', a recent condo conversion in the Park Slope Historic District in Brooklyn. 'The Lincoln' is the former city residence of Frank Babbott, designed by Lamb & Rich in 1887. Babbott had the architects design him a residence on part of the Pratt estate in Glen Cove in 1890 which can be seen HERE.
Picture of the Day
The entrance to the Camellia House at W.R. Coe's 'Planting Fields' in Oyster Bay, designed by Guy Lowell between 1917 and 1922.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Pembroke's Japanese Gardens Then & Now
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Mar-A-Lago Interiors - Palm Beach Edition
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Mar-A-Lago - Palm Beach Edition
'Mar-A-Lago', built for Marjorie Merriweather Post and Edward F. Hutton in Palm Beach by Joseph Urban between 1924 and 1927. Marjorie Post had a collection of houses including 'Hillwood' in Brookville. Click HERE to see 'Mar-A-Lago' on google earth. Interiors to come tomorrow. Click below to see 'Mar-A-Lago' in a 1979 aerial shot.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Mrs. F.S. Phillips Residence / Grey Gardens
Built in 1897 for Mrs. F. Stanhope Phillips by J. Greenleaf Thorp in East Hampton. Later on the home would become the residence of Big and Little Edith Bouvier Beale, infamously documented in 'Grey Gardens'. Click HERE to see 'Grey Gardens' on google earth.Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Winfield Hall Front Gate
The triumphal arch that is the entrance to Frank W. Woolworth's 'Winfield Hall' by C.P.H. Gilbert in Glen Cove.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Old Orchard
'Old Orchard', the residence of Walter Gibb, purchased c. 1902 with alterations between then and the 1920's and located in Glen Cove. Gibb was president of Mills & Gibb, a wholesale clothing store. His sister Florence married Herbert Pratt who resided at 'The Braes'. For a detailed history of 'Old Orchard' click HERE, written by the previously referenced and always informative Bruce A. Thanks Bruce!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Kensington, Great Neck
After a short period of this being an 'unknown', the always informative Bruce A. supplied the following: "It appears that Kensington was a "tony" development in Great Neck. The developer was one Charles E. Finlay and that his "estate" within Kensington was called "Bonnie Manse" the gardens of which are probably the subject of your second photo. My guess is your first photo is of the main gates of the development (it appears that there is a sidewalk within the gates)."
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Westbury House Front Gate Then & Now
The front gate to Jay Phipps' 'Westbury House' in Old Westbury pictured in LIFE (sometime in the '50s I imagine) and below in 2008.
Labels:
Old Westbury,
Old Westbury Gardens,
Phipps,
Then and Now
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Braes - First Edition
In 1902, Herbert Lee Pratt commissioned Brite & Bacon to design him this shingled Georgian Revival in Glen Cove on the Pratt's Dosoris holdings. At some point in the following decade Herbert Pratt seems to have tired of his 'country cottage' because he had James Brite build an entirely new house for him in 1912, one on a far grander scale, which can be seen HERE.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Maxwelton
Friday, April 10, 2009
Deramore
'Deramore' was built for Edgar Farrar Bateson Sr. c. 1933 by Mott B. Schmidt in Cold Spring Harbor. Bateson was a lawyer from Manhattan who had Schmidt design his city residence as well. Click HERE to see 'Deramore' on google earth.Click below to see 'Deramore' in a 1953 aerial shot.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Picture of the Day
Some of the original lawn furnishings at 'Roslyn House', the Mortimer/Garvan estate in Old Westbury.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Lynrose
'Lynrose' was built for Mrs. Herbert Shipman in 1931 by William Lawrence Bottomley in Roslyn Harbor. Pieces of the house have been removed over time including a portion of the servants wing. Click HERE to see where 'Lynrose' is on google earth.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
When Templeton was for Sale
'Templeton' was built in 1916 by Carrere & Hastings, originally named 'White Eagle' for Alicia du Pont. In 1921 the house was put up for auction and bid on by numerous neighboring estate owners, the description of which can be read in a NY Times article entitled 'Rich Bidders Vie For DuPont Estate'. Two days later a follow up article clarified who was actually going to occupy the house, Frederick Guest and his wife Amy Phipps ('Mrs. Guest Buyer of DuPont Estate'). Today the house belongs to NYIT.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
J.A. Young Residence
The residence of John Alvin Young in Glen Cove. Young was the president of the Windsor Trust Company. There is not much info on the place, but a 1907 NY Times article calls the house 'Dosoris' and says it was one of the show places in Glen Cove. It also mentions a robbery by pirates who came off the Long Island Sound, click HERE to read it.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Picture of the Day

One of the terrace levels at Walter Jennings' 'Burrwood' in Lloyd Harbor, the tea house is in the distance.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Pembroke
The entrance drive and main residence at Joseph R. DeLamar's 'Pembroke' in Glen Cove, designed by C.P.H. Gilbert c. 1916. Click HERE for more on 'Pembroke' (my personal favorite).
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Harbor Hill's Dairyman's Cottage
The dairyman's cottage to Clarence Mackay's 'Harbor Hill' estate in Roslyn. The dairyman's cottage was designed by Warren & Wetmore, as were the stables, dog kennels and polo pony stables. Only the cottage remains. Click HERE to see the dairyman's cottage on google earth, the development behind the cottage used to be a very large open field.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Enlisted Men's Club at Mitchel Field
The Enlisted Men's Club at Mitchel Field, or Mitchel Air Force Base in Garden City. Mitchel Field was home to a number of Air Force units including a number of fighter groups, and was in use from 1918 to 1961. After the Air Force turned over possession of the property to Nassau County the land was redeveloped and today hosts a number of things including the Long Island Children's Museum and the Cradle of Aviation Museum.Friday, March 27, 2009
Seamoor
'Seamoor' was built for Charles Millard Pratt c. 1890 by Lamb and Rich. C.M. Pratt was the eldest son of Charles Pratt, and was secretary, director and treasurer of Standard Oil Co., as well as the head of the syndicate that ran the LIRR and was the president of the board of the Pratt Institute. His estate, the first of the Pratt homes to be built in the Dosoris section, was named partially after his wife Mary Seymour Morris and was at one point close to 150 acres. The house is no longer standing.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Broadhollow
Built for Winthrop Williams Aldrich c. 1926, possibly by William Truman Aldrich, in Brookville. Aldrich was president and chairman of the board of Chase National Bank and U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain for 5 years in the 1950's. The estate sat on over 100 acres and was eventually sold to Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II who owned the house for half a decade. The property has since been subdivided. Click HERE to see 'Broadhollow' on google earth.Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Advice from Michael Kathrens
From 'American Splendor, The Residential Architecture of Horace Trumbauer' by Michael Kathrens...
"In the United States the era of the great house lasted a mere half-century, from 1880 to 1930. In these 50 years, a tradition barely developed, and there has been pitifully little research done by scholars to document it. Until very recently, only a small group of devoted adherents believed the subject worthy of serious research at all. Many in the academic community dismissed these structures as grandiose architectural aberrations created by parvenu families such as the Vanderbilts and the Astors. When English historian Clive Aslet began doing research for his 1990 book, The American Country House, he was told by friends and associates on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean that the subject was certainly not broad enough for an entire publication. Fortunately, Aslet ignored their inaccurate if well-intentioned advice, thereby documenting a multitude of structures that might otherwise have been consigned to undeserved obscurity."Indeed.
Spring Hill Pond
Buried in the woods on Henry Carnegie Phipps' 'Spring Hill' in Old Westbury is this former pond, which was fed by a grotto and accessed by horse paths.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Historic Aerials
Check out Historic Aerials for some very interesting views into Long Island's past. Try 77 Crescent Beach Road Glen Cove NY and click the 1966 map to see 'Winfield Hall' and Glen Cove frozen in 1966, or try 1 Wheatley Road Old Westbury NY to see 'Crossroads' and Old Westbury (click the pan button to move around). There is really nothing quite like this.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Picture of the Day
The garden wall at Henry Carnegie Phipps' 'Spring Hill' in Old Westbury pictured at the end of winter.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Burrwood Ruins 2
Walter Jennings, vice-president, director and secretary of Standard Oil Co. had Carrere & Hastings design him an enormous home in Lloyd Harbor c. 1899. He also had the Olmsted Brothers design extensive landscaping for the property between 1915 and 1938. Click HERE to see what 'Burrwood' looked like.
One of the higher points on the property, this area has a low wall around the perimeter and an outcropping in the distance.

Beneath the balustrades sits a reflecting pool. When this was in working order you could have walked around either side and down a level.
The view from just beneath the southern terrace which is original to the house. The home had an incredible view over Cold Spring Harbor and out towards the Long Island Sound. Click below to see 'Burrwood' intact and still standing in a 1953 aerial shot.
Labels:
Burrwood,
Estate,
Lloyd Harbor,
Olmsted,
Thomas Hastings
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Rosemary Hall
When Foxhall P. Keene's 'Rosemary Hall' in Old Westbury was pictured HERE last summer the house was still awaiting the four Corinthian columns that support the portico to be reinstalled. The renovation seems complete as the columns have been put up and the house once again looks as it did 100 years ago.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Muttontown Road Cemetery
Along the side of Muttontown Road in Muttontown is this small cemetery that dates to before the Civil War. Most of the names on the headstones have weathered away making it rather hard to know who any of these people were, but they all seem to have died in the first half of the 19th century. Click HERE to see the cemetery on google earth.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Chelsea's Derelict Gardens
Benjamin Moore's 'Chelsea' as seen from across the Ferrucio Vitale designed pond in Muttontown.
There used to be formal gardens next to the house, designed by Innocenti & Webel. Today they are completely overgrown and falling apart.Monday, March 16, 2009
Hempstead House / 'Kings' Castle
For anyone who watched NBC's 'Kings' last night, you probably noticed a whole lot of Daniel Guggenheim's 'Hempstead House' in the show. The entrance to King Silas' home was the Apthorp apartment building in NYC. The interiors (where they threw the banquet and played the piano) were the interiors of 'Hempstead House'. They used the exterior of 'Hempstead House' as a different residence, one they said was at 'the vineyard'. So they were able to get quite a bit of use out of the home, which I imagine will be seen in a bunch of upcoming episodes.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Overland House
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wardenclyffe Tower
The Wardenclyffe Tower (or Tesla Tower) was built for Nikola Tesla in Shoreham c. 1902 by Stanford White (who designed the main building). Tesla was trying to build a wireless electricity and communications tower and the core of the structure was never fully completed. By 1907 the place was more or less shut down as Tesla had run out of financing. Click HERE to see where the Tesla Tower stood on google earth.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Manse / William Collins Whitney Estate
An aerial view of William Collins Whitney's 'The Manse' by McKim, Mead & White in Old Westbury. This view gives you an idea of how immense this house was. Click HERE for more on 'The Manse'.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Picture of the Day
The front of George duPont Pratt's 'Killenworth' estate in Glen Cove. Click HERE to see more on 'Killenworth'.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Home Acres
'Home Acres' was built for George Whitney Sr. by Delano & Aldrich c. 1915 in Old Westbury. Whitney built the house on the estate of his father-in-law Robert Bacon (whose estate was named 'Old Acres'). Whitney was chairman of the board of J.P. Morgan and Co. as well as a founder and partner in the firm of Markoe, Morgan & Whitney. Click HERE to see 'Home Acres' on google earth.













































































































































































































