Tuesday, October 6, 2009

When 'Minden' Was For Sale

A brochure advertising 'Minden', the John Berwind estate designed by Grenville Snelling c. 1912 in Bridgehampton. Click HERE to see 'Minden' on google earth.



Brochure courtesy of SPLIA.

Click below to see a 1954 aerial of 'Minden' with the surrounding area relatively undeveloped.

12 comments:

The Down East Dilettante said...

Interesting to compare this to his brother's opulent Newport summer home, 'The Elms' by Horace Trumbauer.

Zach L. said...

To make it easy for anyone interested:

http://tickets.newportmansions.org/mansion.aspx?id=1002

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for doing this! I believe Minden is the place where my youth group used to go on retreats when I was a teen in the 1960's. Do you have any other information about the place?
Janice Hegeman

Zach L. said...

This is unfortunately all that I've got on Minden.

Anonymous said...

"Minden" is now the home of Leonard Riggio, CEO of Barnes and Noble. The grounds feature his collection of modern sculpture, most prominently a huge Richard Serra wall of undulating steel.

Anonymous said...

Family and family friends spent many summer vacations at Minden in the late 60's thru late 70's. I have very fond memories as well as pictures and 8mm films of this beautiful home.

Anonymous said...

Family and family friends spent many summer vacations at Minden in the late 60's thru late 70's. I have very fond memories as well as pictures and 8mm films of this beautiful home.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Berwind made his fortune on the backs of immigrant coal miners in Pennsylvania in the early 1900`s by paying them slave wages.

He should not be admired in the slightest.

Richard Dubriske said...

Minden was donated to The Presybyterian Church (National) by the Berwinds(I Think), for use as a Retreat Center. I stayed there many times with Church Group visits in the 1960,s. (First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Vernon, NY). I do not know when the church unloaded the estate.

Dan said...

I lived at minden as a child from 1974 to 1978. It was a spectacular place to explore as a young kid. Memorial day to labor day groups from various presbyterian churches around long island would come for retreats. My parents were the care takers and we lived in the carriage house. At the time it was in its original condition with sunken formal garden, huge specimen trees, incredible woodwork and panelling and plaster relief ceilings.

Dan said...

I lived there as a child of caretaker parents. Would love to see old pictures.

Anonymous said...

I worked there once and stood a week. I remember a caretaker called karen. Beautiful property. Fond memories.....