The Robert E. Strawbridge Jr. Residence

The Robert E. Strawbridge Jr. residence designed by William Lawrence Bottomley c. 1935 in Old Westbury. Strawbridge was a partner in the investment firm of Reynolds, Fish & Company, was a prominent polo player in the '20s and '30s (rated at 9 goals) and served as chairman of the United States Polo Association for two decades. He married Florence J. Loew, granddaughter of George F. Baker and daughter of William Goadby Loew who lived next door at 'Loewmoor'. The residence is currently for sale for $5,750,000, click HERE to see the listing from Automatic Real Estate via the NYT. Click HERE to see the Strawbridge residence on google earth and HERE on bing.

Listing photos from Automatic Real Estate.

The Dedication of Heckscher State Park

A photo of Robert Moses standing on the front porch of the George C. Taylor residence in East Islip at the dedication of Heckscher State Park in 1929. Click HERE for more on the Taylor estate. Photo from Ray Spinzia.

The George C. Taylor Estate

The George Campbell Taylor (1835-1907) estate built c. 1885 in East Islip. Below, the house c. 1924 after alterations. Photos and the following write up from author Ray Spinzia: George Campbell Taylor was the son of the wealthy merchant and banker Moses Taylor from whom George inherited the income from $20 million. After acquiring the Plumb estate, George and his common-law-wife/housekeeper Betsy Head alternately stayed at the Plumb and Taylor mansions. They became despondent and turned to alcohol when Betsy’s eighteen-year-old daughter Lena married their gardener. Local lore has it that Taylor’s alcoholism became so acute that he was unable to climb the stairs to his second-floor bedroom and resorted to drinking himself into a stupor in a log cabin on the estate (seen below). George and Betsy died in 1907 within three months of each other but not before disinheriting Lena, whose husband went on to be the foreman at William Kissam Vanderbilt, Jr.’s Lake Success estate 'Deepdale'.

'Deer Range Farm'

Today's photos and write up come from author Ray Spinzia. Sarah Ives Plumb (1840-1877) purchased 'Deer Range Farm', the 400-acre estate of Edwin Augustus Johnson, Sr. in 1872 in East Islip. After her death, her husband James Neale Plumb (1834-1899) inherited the estate and altered the house to the pictured structure (c. 1884). Upon his death, his son James Ives Plumb inherited the estate. In 1903 he sold the estate, which over the years had increased to 700 acres, to George Campbell Taylor who merged it with his adjoining estate to create a 1,500-acre estate. The Plumbs and Taylor continued to call the estate 'Deer Range Farm'. With Taylor’s death in 1907, the combined estates passed to the Taylor/Pyne family corporation which in 1909 demolished the Plumb mansion, portions of which were incorporated into buildings in the Islip and Bay Shore area (seen below). The remaining Taylor mansion and 1,500 acres remained in the family corporation until 1924 when it was confiscated by Robert Moses and became Heckscher State Park. August Heckscher, Sr. gave Moses the money to acquire the land, hence the name of the East Islip park and parkway. Moses subsequently demolished the Taylor mansion.

The 'Erchless' Tea House / Pool Cabana

One of the two tea houses/pool cabanas at 'Erchless', the Howard Phipps estate designed by Adams & Prentice c. 1935 in Old Westbury. Click HERE for more on the tea houses.

The End of 'Lands End'

Above, one of the last shots I ever took of 'Lands End', the John Scott Browning estate built c. 1911 in Sands Point. The real point of today's post though is to send you HERE where you will see the last photos photographer Jen Ross took of the remains of the residence.

'Lands End' Demolition - The Most Dramatic Photo Yet

Here's a picture from the Associated Press via the Wall Street Journal, what I believe is the most shocking demolition photo we've seen yet of 'Lands End', the John Scott Browning estate built c. 1911 in Sands Point. Click HERE to read the WSJ blog article which gives a mention to both Old Long Island and photographer Jen Ross (click HERE to see her photos of 'Lands End'). Click HERE for more on 'Lands End'.

'The Creeks'

'The Creeks', the Albert Herter estate designed by Grosvenor Atterbury c. 1899 in East Hampton. Click HERE for more on 'The Creeks' and HERE to see 'The Creeks' on google earth. Photo from Architectural Record, 1905.

'Villa Marina'

'Villa Marina', the Frank C. Henderson estate designed by Warren & Clark c. 1920 in Roslyn with landscaping by Hatton & DeSuarez and a golf course by Devereux Emmet (who resided at 'Sherrewogue' in St. James). Henderson was an Oklahoma oil operator, his obituary said that after college he "followed the sea" before he entered the oil business where "he made a fortune". The Hendersons also owned a home in Palm Beach named 'Land's End' (what are the chances?). The home was subsequently owned by Harold Henry Will before it became the Pierce Country Day School & Camp (of which I attended as a little kid and remember this house well). Click HERE to see 'Villa Marina' on google earth and HERE on bing.

'Lands End' - No More

'Lands End' was demolished this weekend, click HERE to read about it on CBS News. Click HERE for more on 'Lands End'. Photo from CBS News.

'Erchless'

'Erchless', the Howard Phipps Sr. estate designed by Adams & Prentice c. 1935 in Old Westbury. Click HERE for more on 'Erchless' and HERE to see 'Erchless' in 1936.

'Broad Hollow House' Barn

The stable and barn of 'Broad Hollow House', the F. Ambrose Clark estate designed by Rogers & Zogbaum c. 1912 in Old Westbury. Click HERE for more on the barn and 'Broad Hollow House'.

'Topping'

'Topping', the John H. Eden II estate designed by Greville Rickard c. 1927 in Kings Point. Eden was an original incorporator and a former trustee of the Village of Kings Point. He served with the New York National Guard on the Mexican border in 1916 and was a Second Lieutenant in the Army during World War I. Click HERE to see 'Topping' on google earth and HERE on bing.

'Gray Horse Farm'

'Gray Horse Farm', the Geraldyn Livingston Redmond estate designed by James O'Connor c. 1924 in Upper Brookville. Click HERE to see the previous post on 'Gray Horse Farm'. Click HERE to see the residence on google earth and HERE on bing.

'Thornham'

'Thornham', the Landon Ketchum Thorne estate designed by William F. Dominick c. 1928 in Bay Shore, with landscaping by Umberto Innocenti and Ferruccio Vitale. Thorne was president and partner of the banking firm of Bonbright & Co. among many other positions and was at one time the commissioner of the Long Island State Parks Commission. His granddaughter, Julia Thorne, was the first wife of Senator John Kerry. The house was demolished in 1976. Click HERE to see where 'Thornham' stood on google earth.

Photos from the Library of Congress.

'Kirby Hill'

'Kirby Hill', the Joseph Sampson Stevens estate designed by Warren & Wetmore c. 1900 in Muttontown. Stevens was a director at Chemical National Bank, his father F.W. Stevens served 56 years as a director at Chemical, the longest tenure of any bank director in the country at the time of his death in 1928. Joseph S. was also a corporal in T.R.'s 'Rough Riders' and related to Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Jefferson and Madison. He was related to the Livingston, Newbold and Rhinelander families. The estate was later owned by Byam K. Stevens Jr. (not his son). In 2000 the estate was sold for development and while the rest of the property has been broken up and built on, 'Kirby Hill' still stands and is for sale on 7 acres for $3,499,000, click HERE to see the listing via Daniel Gale Sotheby's (listed with Larsen Realty). Click HERE to see 'Kirby Hill' on google earth and HERE on bing.

Listing photos from Larsen Realty via Daniel Gale Sotheby's.

'Westbrook Farm' / 'Knollwood'

An advertisement for 'Westbrook Farm' / 'Knollwood', originally the Charles Hudson estate designed by Hiss & Weekes between 1906 and 1920 in Muttontown. Click HERE to see the brochure from when 'Westbrook Farm' / 'Knollwood' was for sale.

'Ivycroft'

'Ivycroft', the Eliot Cross estate originally built for Perry Tiffany by Gage & Wallace c. 1891 and enlarged by Cross (of Cross & Cross) in 1925 in Old Westbury. The estate is currently for sale for $7,888,000 with Daniel Gale Sotheby's. Click HERE to see the brochure from when 'Ivycroft' was for sale. Click HERE to see 'Ivycroft' on google earth and HERE on bing.

Listing photos from Daniel Gale Sotheby's.

'Kidd's Rocks'/'Lands End'

'Kidd's Rocks' / 'Lands End'. the John Scott Browning estate designed c. 1911 in Sands Point. Click HERE for more on 'Kidd's Rocks' / 'Lands End'.

'Westbury House'

This past weekend marked the opening of the season for Old Westbury Gardens, the John Phipps estate designed by George Crawley c. 1905 in Old Westbury. Click HERE for more on 'Westbury House' and click HERE to visit the Old Westbury Gardens website.

'Bagatelle'

'Bagatelle', the Thomas Hastings estate designed by himself c. 1913 (after the 1908 version was destroyed by fire) in Old Westbury. The estate has been for sale for the better part of four years, it is currently listed at $10,800,000, click HERE to see the listing on Daniel Gale Sotheby's. Click HERE and HERE for more on 'Bagatelle'. Listing photo from Daniel Gale Sotheby's.