Wednesday, February 23, 2011

'Templeton' II

'Templeton' II, possibly built for Elbridge T. Gerry II c. 1924 and later owned by Winston Guest and wife C.Z. after they moved from their other estate known as 'Templeton', which can be seen HERE. The house and 15 acres is currently for sale for $9,700,000 after carrying a $20 million price tag a year or so ago. Click HERE to see the listing via Daniel Gale / Sotheby's. Click HERE to see 'Templeton' II on google earth and HERE on bing.




Listing photos from Daniel Gale / Sotheby's.

31 comments:

The Ancient said...

If Cornelia would throw in that Diego Rivera portrait of her mother, she could probably get the price back up to the original figure.

Anonymous said...

looks like a certain missy sold the Savonnerie's and Aubuson's and the Meisen, maybe not.

The Down East Dilettante said...

Ha-ha-ha, Ancient!

Maybe the Meissen went for skeet shooting?

Marvelous how there's still a sense of infinite land, considering how hemmed in the place really is.

Equally amazing how nobody wants the place. Glad to hear there's been a price correction. I was just looking up a certain newish house up here, with Bunny Williams interiors, for sale for 15,900,000, which is on the tax rolls for only 7 million, and several comparable properties in the area are for sale, also languishing around 4 million. Guess not everyone knows the party is over.

Anonymous said...

I love the stable area!!


Everytime I drive down I.U. Willets I fear developers will get their hands on the surviving estates and build more of those monstrosities like those built where the old Dunbar Bostwick estate once stood.

The Ancient said...

I wondered about the rugs, too, but then I remembered she's got eight or so dogs, which have the run of the place.

Dilettante --

I don't think interior decoration goes into the sale price of most houses. (It's consumption, not investment.) Do you disagree?

Doug Floor Plan said...

I can see why when the Guests moved from Templeton I to Templeton II they left behind all that white marble facade from their former family mansion at 1063 Fifth Avenue (see Zach's January 1, 2009 post)-- times & tastes were clearly changing.

Anonymous said...

as the taxes are $125,000.00 before the feds and the state collectors grab their share you need to ring the bell in a big way to pay those bills. having said that it is a spectacular place.

The Devoted Classicist said...

I do think exceptional interior furnishings add to the cache of a property even when they are not included in the sale price. Certainly a well decorated house sells faster than an otherwise comparable house that is empty, or -- heaven forbid -- poorly decorated. Templeton II could be really delightful with just minor adjustments and some cash.

The Down East Dilettante said...

Ancient, Yes. No. Yes. No.

See devoted classicist. And in the case of an old place a couple miles from me, I think that the drab, untouched for 75 years, decoration is part of the reason an otherwise apectacular property isn't moving. By the same token I think that the other place i mentioned is dealing with wishful thinking with its Hamptons price and hoping that Bunny Williams alone can get them there.

magnus said...

Look at the photo of the drawing room. Nice portrait of old Mrs. Phipps and baby Winston by Sargent. Every family should have one. I love the interiors- haute WASP taste at its finest, rugs or no rugs.

A dear friend was a week-end guest there 20 years or so ago. Diana Vreeland was a fellow houseguest. it was a typical mid July Long Island week-end: 87 degrees with the humidity not far behind. Naturally, the only airconditioning to be had in all the 28 rooms was a wheezing old window unit in CZ's bedroom. The houseguests all assembled for drinks on the terrace before dinner, but Mrs. Vreeland was nowhere to be seen. Finally, my friend was dispatched to find her. He came upon her prostrate on the guest room bed, sweat pouring profusely through her kabuki like manquillage with two of CZ's enormous dogs lying on top of her. "I think I'm dying", she said. My friend shooed the dogs away and frantically fanned Mrs. Vreeland with a magazine. She finally composed herself sufficiently to take his arm and join the rest of the party for dinner.

Anonymous said...

"And in the case of an old place a couple miles from me, I think that the drab, untouched for 75 years, decoration is part of the reason an otherwise apectacular property isn't moving. By the same token I think that the other place i mentioned is dealing with wishful thinking with its Hamptons price and hoping that Bunny Williams alone can get them there."

More wishful thinking: might links to the listings of these polar opposite properties of which you speak be available, DED? Curious to see precisely which specks of the BW fairy dust convey and which ones do not, if possible. Just point me in a rough direction, and I'll ferret from there.

Ms. Williams is SUCH a social signifier, she doesn't touch even the smallest job without a stratospheric retainer. Gives me hives, but I have to credit someone who's that good at buiding a lavish brand around herself.

The Down East Dilettante said...

Flo, it just so happens that I'm preparing a Down East real estate story for NYSD next week, and all will be revealed

HalfPuddingHalfSauce said...

The Phipps mansion is missing. Does anyone know where it went???

Anonymous said...

The Phipps mansion is there, as is Erchless east of that, head east on I.U. Willets, just over Old Westbury Road.

Anonymous said...

In case you haven't already seen it, here's Cornelia's tour of Templeton...

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/cornelia-guest-gives-us-a-tour-of-her-dollar-11-9m-templeton-estate/1d2flifnf?from=truveo

Zach L. said...

Anon 4:24...HPHS was referring to 1063 Fifth Avenue, the Henry Phipps mansion in NYC.

HPHS...it seems to have been moved due to the viaduct construction. I thought I caught a glimpse of it further up the road closer to the shore.

The Ancient said...

This link works better -- at least for me.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/open-house/Cornelia_Guest_Gives_Us_A_Tour_Of_Her__11_9M_Templeton_Estate_New_York.html

HalfPuddingHalfSauce said...

Zach - When you say "up" is that east? West Shore Road?

Old (former) Long Islander said...

Speaking of infinite space, did any of you ever notice that the allee of trees at the rear of Templeton II is merely a continuation from the Old Westbury Gardens driveway. After it crosses Old Westbury Road it continues up a small rise and then far beyond to the end of Guest's property. It must be protected by covenants since no one has disturbed it in over a century. As you drive from Westbury house toward the front gate, your thoughts are often so absorbed by the beauty of the allee, both surrounding you and in front of you, that it comes as a surprise you've reached the road. And the yard went on forever. OWG is truly a masterpiece on so many levels. Definitely worthy of preservation.

OFLI

Anonymous said...

Sorry.....I was wondering why the link lead to an empty space in what appeared to be the city....I thought that mansion was demolished in the 20's.

HalfPuddingHalfSauce said...

Brother Robert lived next door - new photo link added -

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=40.7738144&lon=-73.6071754&z=17&l=0&m=b&show=/17504722/LIGC-Robert-Gerry

Before the Gerry's owned land MapWorks shows John S. Phipps as owner of land. Which follows OOFI story about the trees.

Anonymous said...

Cornelia is wonderful...classy and down to earth. I think it's sad that she's selling her family home, maybe the fact that it's not selling is a sign that she should stay.

Anonymous said...

It is sad, but good for her.She might not want to live stuck in a time warp. I admire her.She hopefully will do something with that fabulous archive.Wonder where she will hang her straw hat?

Anonymous said...

I don't believe living in a family home is living in a "time warp". Family homes are meant to evolve and expand with each new generation...to grow and stay within the family. At least that's what I feel many of these parents, grand-parents and in some cases great grand-parents of these homes intended.

I know times are hard, even for the wealthy, but what's wrong with bringing in extended family, friends and lovers and keeping a home a home? I see nothing wrong with a few generations living under one roof...especialy a roof as big and grand as many of the homes showcased on this site.

Anonymous said...

@The Ancient... you're right, that is a better link.

Anonymous said...

While I agree that it is sad that Cornelia is selling the family home and that family homes are meant to evolve and expand with each new generation, we all have to agree that Old Westbury is a drastically different neighborhood than it was only 30 years ago... perhaps much less. The Las Vegas style casino that replaced Dunbar Bostwick's home would be enough to make me head for the hills.
The Guests are amongst the last of the holdouts in that once lovely village. I sure hope that Templeton II finds a loving new owner.

Turner Pack Rats said...

i want some marbelized door lintels in my house.
disagree with anon about being stuck in family homes. i'm still here since 1865 but whose got money to leave. not me. so as it decays around me, hopefully i'll decay first.
and speaking of maine houses, i thought we were the champs when it came to run-on or long sets of buildings but this complex must be 300 feet. by the time you walked from one end to the other, you would have forgotten what you went down there for. it must be in two different zip codes.
DED - glad you're writing an article as "a picture is worth...." and i love to see dilapidated houses since i live in one. when folks say, "what color is your house" i tell them its appealing yellow - it's a peeling right off the house. they don't make paint like they used to. we last painted the house in 1952 and it's coming off already.

security word def - "hiterna" - where i live. (a 700' high ridge in

Turner Pack Rats said...

re: the las vega casino where the bostwick place was. - i think those two pilot the ghadafi wanted to strafe the libyans with might be free this weekend and it looks like there are others in that neighborhood they could hit at the same time.

security word def - "bugger" - my tender sensibilities prevent me from staining my otherwise fine character by defining this word. i leave it to the crass, the crude, the residents of mcmansions on oli.

Anonymous said...

I said, maybe its like living in a time warp..maybe its not. Maybe its the money, VOW has changed so much, her therapist advises her to move on? who knows.

The Ancient said...

Do they let you ride horses on the beach in Montauk?

Anonymous said...

@Turner Pack Rats: Great idea! I'm sure we can come up with quite an extensive list... lol.