Diego Suarez, a prominant landscape architect, married Evelyn Marshall Field (former wife to Marshall Field III of 'Caumsett') in 1937 and eventually went on to design and build this house for them c. 1952 in Brookville. There isn't a whole lot of information about this estate. Suarez is best known for his work designing the gardens at 'Vizcaya'. Click HERE to see the house on google earth.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
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After her divorce from Marshall Field, and before downsizing to this house, Evelyn Field built a very beautiful house call 'Easton' in Muttontown next to the Hudson-King Zog estate, designed by the great Chicago country house architect David Adler. Although its upper floor has been removed, the house still survives in otherwise beautiful condition, and is definitely worth checking out
I have always found this women fascinating! She leaves the life at Caumsett in 1930 with the stigma of divorce and sets up shop in a 2.5 million dollar estate EASTON and marries a Columbian landscaper. Scandal in the 30's with a capital S! Two questions - things I have read about Easton is that the WHOLE middle section was demolished{1953} not just the upper floor leaving the 2 wings intact. Later{1989} a simpler version of the original was constructed???? 2nd some info has her being called "Bunnie" others say that was not the case???????
Very interesting about the rebuilding of Easton. Actually, no real scandal. Diego Suarez was to the manor born, very socially proper and acceptable, son of a South American Diplomat, and was the designer of probably the finest renaissance garden ever constructed in America, at Vizcaya in Miami, and later had a career as a fashionable society architect in the firm of De Suarez and Hatton in New York. It is likely that he was the designer of the house pictured here.. Incidentally, Evelyn Marshall Field's sister-in-law, Mrs. Charles Marshall, later became better known, by her next marriage, as Brooke Astor.
It is interesting to see these pictures and read about Diego and Evelyn Suarez. I grew up on their estate (Easton). My father, Raymond Becker, was the estates superintendent from 1952 to approximately 1976. As a young boy I worked part time on the estate and used to ice skate on the large reflection pond at the rear of the house. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Suarez on several occasions. They were very good and generous to my father.
Margarita Blanco : I am writing the biography of Diego Suarez. Lance, I would be very interested in speaking with you. You can contact me at margaritablanco@hotmail.com.
That's interesting because Easton, was sold in 1952 to a man named Bruce Wood Hall.He demolished the top portion of main house and started building what was suppose to be an Aviary and greenhouse but it was never completed. The Hall Family lived in what was called the winter cottage to the left of the main house.His daughter, lived there until 2000 when she relocated to another home in Syosset. The family owned and maintained the property until the 200O's when it was sold. I know this because I also lived there with the daughter in the late 90's and she is now sitting next to me as I write this and knows you never lived there when you claimed to. Perhaps you are refering to the estate where Mrs. Field / Suarez moved after leaving Easton? But it was not at 1868 Muttontown Rd.
The person who claimed to havelived on the estate known as Easton in Muttontown did not. Lance Becker may have confused it with the next home the Suarez's lived in in Brookville but it was certainly not Easton.I know because I am very good friends with the family and lived there in the late 90's. My Aunt worked for the family for over 30 years. I know that was an old post but I thought you might like true facts. Have some pictures of the inside before the main house was demolished.
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