Wednesday, September 14, 2011

'Wrexleigh'

'Wrexleigh', the John A. Garver estate designed by Stephenson & Wheeler c. 1913 in Oyster Bay Cove. Click HERE for more on 'Wrexleigh' and HERE to see the estate as it looks today. Spread from House Beautiful, 1914.



7 comments:

The Devoted Classicist said...

While I do not fully appreciate the quirky porte cochere that the writer of the article goes on about, I am grateful that the house, stables, and greenhouse seem to have been kept relatively intact with the adaptive use as a school.

The Ancient said...

TDC --

I agree about the porte-cochère. I wouldn't want to change it now, but doesn't it look oddly clumsy, as if it ought to be attached to some rambling pile in the Adirondacks?

(Perhaps the pictures don't do it justice.)

magnus said...

Not the prettiest, most graceful house I've ever seen. Even in its youth it looks like the institution it eventually became.

lil' gay boy said...

It's nice that Wrexleigh has survived at all, because to be honest, even from the original photos, the only thing that holds this composition together is the miracle of physics...

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with all of the above comments. The original casement windows flung open in the original photos are at least on charming aspect of this house. Sadly, they've been replaced with double-hung, white vinyl trailer-trash windows and air-conditioning units that lessen the overall appeal and increase the instituional feel. Still, I am grateful it is extant along with its stable and greenhouse!

Doug Floor Plan said...

LOL, I'm just now catching up to the comments -- perhaps fate dictated that "Wrexleigh" survive & become a school for girls for the greater purpose of teaching modern young ladies of privilege the very important lesson that: Just because you spend a lot of money on something doesn’t keep it from being crappy.

I seriously hope that lesson is woven into the curriculum somewhere.

But I am also grateful this house still stands & was not replaced by some brick & glass box from the 1960s.

HalfPuddingHalfSauce said...

It looks well cared for. I would like to see original interior photos. I envision beautiful woodwork, tile and stained glass. I like its quirky style!